Free Lovely Shadows by Kendra Kilbourn Page B

about him. It isn't like he's just a random guy passing through your life; it's like he's a part of you—a soul mate.
    “I know you don't believe in soul mates, but you should because Aidan's got a hold of you in ways you don't even see.”
    We finished cleaning in silence, each of us lost to our own thoughts. Elder Parker arrived and whisked Grandpa away to check on the elderly members of the church. He reported no deaths, only six houses totaled, but otherwise, Browton remained untouched. Luke offered to drive Billie home, leaving Levi and I alone. Both of us were tired after all the excitement and cleaning, so we curled up on the couch and held each other. After watching Aidan vanish in front of me, then going to the crash site and talking to Margie, followed by the storm, I was wore out. My frazzled nerves couldn't handle much else. Billie's assessment of my situation with Aidan disturbed me. How could Aidan be my soul mate? I didn't believe in soul mates, and if I did, shouldn't Levi be my soul mate? It would only make sense that the guy I'm dating fill that position.
    What was a soul mate? Was it someone who was exactly like you? Or was it someone who completed you, someone who was the missing puzzle piece in your life? Prior to Aidan, I felt whole. I never felt like I lacked anything. Now that he was gone, I realized just how empty my life was without him. Maybe that defined soul mates: someone who was such an integral part of you that without them, a part of you would always be missing.
    Levi twirled a strand of my hair around his finger as I thought things out. Obviously, breaking up with Levi would be stupid. Aidan wasn't here, and I didn't know if he'd ever be back. Even if he did come back, he would still one day leave again. I didn't know what to do. I wasn't comfortable cheating on Levi, yet I didn't want to be without him, either.
    It wasn't a matter of wanting my cake and eating it, too. It was wanting what I could never have because life wasn't that kind.

    Levi left an hour later. When it became obvious my distractions weren't going away, he left me to my thoughts. I appreciated his understanding; still, without him there to provide a buffer, my thoughts were overwhelming.
    Grandpa returned before midnight, exhausted and hungry. I made him a sandwich and poured a glass of milk. He consumed his snack then retired for the evening. Luke shuffled in the door a few minutes later, bleary-eyed and grumpy.
    “What is your problem?” I asked, noting that he was almost fifteen minutes late.
    “Ever since I dropped Billie off, I've been helping people move debris. Honestly, just because I'm Paul Grace's grandson doesn't mean I want to be charitable. Sometimes being related to him sucks.”
    “Oh, stop whining, Luke. Helping people isn't a horrible thing.”
    “Right, but do you ever notice that when we need help, it's the same five families every time? Yet Grandpa makes it a point to visit and help everyone he can.”
    The kid had a point; I just didn't feel like arguing.

    As the early morning hours arrived, I tossed and turned in bed, unable to get comfortable. Without the air-conditioner working, my room was hot and stuffy. I threw open the window and pressed my face against the screen. Cool air blew in, caressing my skin. I luxuriated in the comfort of not feeling sweat sticking to me. For the first time all night, I felt peaceful.
    I still couldn't sleep.
    Grabbing a flashlight I made my way up the tiny stairway to the attic. I found Aidan's blanket nestled between totes of Christmas decoration under the window. I curled up on the blanket and brought the fabric to my nose. More than anything I wanted to smell him, to have some kind of evidence that the last six weeks weren't some crazy dream. Maybe if I just closed my eyes and thought of him hard enough, he would magically reappear.
    It didn't work.
    I woke up to sunlight pouring through the window. My muscles protested from a night spent on the hard floor