Last Kiss Goodnight - By Gena Showalter Page 0,114
wasn’t sure he liked that trade.
“I am,” he replied. “No thanks to you.”
Dr. E appeared on the desk, glaring up at him. His hair was tangled, hanging limply around a gaunt face. His eyes were sunken, his cheeks hollow. “Why not? I helped you.”
“You only ever got me into trouble.”
The being hissed at him, and if there had been tiny pebbles on the desk, Solo felt certain they would have been hurtled at his head. “You won’t ever listen to me again, will you?”
“No.” He liked to think he learned from his mistakes.
Dr. E popped his jaw. “X was given to you the day of your conception, a gift from your parents to minister to your needs, to protect and teach you, but he was never to override your free will, even when it got you into trouble.”
“I know that,” Solo said, sitting up straighter.
“I used to be like him. Did you know that? Long, long ago, I was an Altilium. But I chose a different life, chose to take rather than ask and wait for an answer, and the source of my power drained. I had to find another. So I joined you and X without permission. Had you ignored me, I would have been forced to leave, but you did not. You listened to me, welcomed me, and I was able to attach myself to you and feed off you.”
“Like a parasite,” Solo gritted.
A dismissive wave of Dr. E’s tiny hand. “I prefer the term ‘energy receptor.’ ”
“Whatever. Go on. You have a point, I’m sure.”
Before the little guy could open his mouth, Vika poked her head into the room, and said, “Solo?” Her mass of pale hair was brushed and gleaming. Her eyes were once again the color of plums, and though they were sparkling, she was frowning.
Solo jumped to his feet. “Everything all right?”
“Everything’s fine. But I’m deaf again, and I just wanted to make sure you could hear.”
“I can,” he said.
Relief painted the edges of her sudden smile, dazzling him. “I’m glad.” She came the rest of the way inside and leaned against a wall. She must have dug through the dresser drawers, because she now wore an oversize sweatshirt that had to be rolled at the wrists and pants that had to be rolled at the ankles.
Never had she looked younger, fresher, and his heart actually swelled in his chest. But he wanted to see her in clothing he had bought for her. Or clothing he had first worn. Wanted her surrounded by his things—their things. Wanted to give her . . . everything.
“I wonder why the switching of our senses keeps happening,” she said. “I know you said you think it’s because we vowed to share all that we are, but do you think there’s more to it than that, since nothing’s sticking?”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know.” A shrug. “I was hoping you’d be able to tell me.”
Like the fact that he wanted to give her everything? Like the fact that he loved sharing this with her? “I’m glad it’s happening, and I hope you are too. No one else has ever had the chance to see the world through another person’s eyes, but we have. No one else has ever had the chance to hear through another person’s ears, but we have.”
“We’re special?” she said, a question when she’d probably meant to make a statement.
“We are. And maybe the abilities aren’t sticking because that’s what sharing is all about. Give and take. Ebb and flow.”
She nodded, satisfied with that. “Well, Mr. Special, I’m going to raid the pantry and cook up a feast,” she said. “Are you hungry?”
“Always.”
“Give me an hour. Meanwhile, prepare to be amazed.” She blew him a kiss, turned, and padded down the hallway.
“You’ll never give her up, will you?” Dr. E demanded from behind him.
Solo pivoted on his heel and faced the being who had so often given him terrible advice, laughed during his torture at the circus, and abandoned him time and time again, when Solo most needed help. “No.”
Dr. E popped his jaw. “Not even to save my life?”
“Not even.”
A pause. Heavy, oppressive.
“Very well,” the being said. “You have brought this on yourself.” With that, he vanished.
• • •
Vika found green beans, peas, carrots, and potatoes, and mixed them all together. She also found several packages of syn-chicken and was able to heat the pieces over the stove and drizzle them with a tasty butter glaze.
There were so many spices to pick from, she was a little