Uprising: A Collide Novel Part 57

"Yep. Mrs. Trudy was fierce."

"Hey!" Sherry yelled over the table in the kitchen and came to hug me. "Are you doing ok? Hungry?"

"Starved." I looked knowingly at Miguel and he winked at me. "Don't, Sherry, I'll get it." I grabbed her arm to keep her from heading toward the stove. "Everybody worries just a little bit too much about me around here. Why is that?"

"We love you," Sherry said sweetly.

She meant it. I felt a pang in my ribs. My heart clenched.

"Thanks, Sherry. I love you too."

"And I'm outta her," Miguel said raising his arms, backing away like we were dangerous.

"Miguel?" Sherry asked playfully.

"Girl talk comes out, I hit the road. I can't deal with tears. Literally. I'm allergic."

"Well then you'd better run-"

He took off running and then turned at the door to wink at us before walking out.

"He's crazy."

"He's sweet."

"That too," Sherry said laughing then sobered. "So, how's Cain?"

I stiffened and immediately felt guilty. He'd a.s.sured me he was over her. I shouldn't react this way. They were friends long before I came along. We all live together. I gotta get over this.

"He's ok. I'm letting him sleep. He's just tired."

"Speak for yourself, cutie." Cain walked in behind us and didn't stop until he was flush in front of me, our toes touching. "I don't know about you, but I feel great."

He reached for me, his arm going around my waist, his hand to the back of my neck. He smiled and bent his head down to mine. His lips pressed gently. It was an easy kiss, I think that's what he meant for it to be. But I felt him hesitate. Then he pressed harder, then his lips parted.

I felt all restraint drain from me like water through my fingers. My hands squeezed his s.h.i.+rt hem in my hands and he kept kissing me. Sherry and I had been in the kitchen alone and I distantly heard a little giggle and a girly cleared throat before footsteps retreating.

Cain had somehow walked us back to the wall. I hadn't felt myself move but I felt the wall stop me. Once again, I could tell he was being tentative with me. Gentle. I could also tell this wasn't the end of his list of wants, but he was attempting to reign it in. I remembered we hadn't had any kisses since we'd been home. Not any 'we're safe, we made it home, I'm so glad' kisses. That must be what this is.

I moved my hand to his chin, his cheek, then around to the back of his head to rub and scratch his barely there hair and he groaned and pressed me further into the wall.

Hmm. I think he likes it.

I do it again and he groans- half growls- again then breaks off and looks at me, touching his tongue to his lip like he needs to figure something out.

"What?" I ask breathlessly and thoroughly amused.

"You're not gonna make this whole 'being a gentleman thing' easy on me, are you?"

"I thought you didn't want to pollute my ears with filth talk? That's practically an innuendo, mister."

He laughed and nuzzled my nose with his.

"You are just so amazing. I hope you know that," he said softly, his blue green gaze on my blues.

I just smiled.

Then Danny walks in.

"Oh, for Pete's sake! Can I go in any room in the place and not see the Nature Channel?" Danny said with his hands on his head like he was in pain.

"Please! You and Celeste are twice as bad as anybody in here," Cain said through a laugh.

"Not the point. It's like the Love Boat up in-" Danny was cut off as he turned back around to head in to the commons room.

We burst out laughing. Once we settled, Cain smoothed my hair back, tucking it behind my ear.

"If Danny's complaining, it must be bad."

"Terribly bad. Aren't you concerned?" I said mockingly.

"Not a bit."

He kissed me once more before licking his lips and grinning then he sniffed.

"Is that spaghetti I smell?"

Sherry. Sherry, Baby.

Chapter 38 - Sherry.

"Ok. Um, that's fine, I guess. I've just never worked the store before," I answered Margo not really understanding why she was insisting I learn to operate the store.

"I know. That's why I think it's important for you to learn." Something was definitely going on. She hadn't looked me in the eye since we'd been talking. "I know there's a lot of people here but, what if something happened to all of us who do know how to work it? I think everyone should take a crash course, at least one night, just in case."

Her words were on the verge of a lie. It was the truth but not all of it. I couldn't really figure it out but...

"Well, you have a point. But you know Merrick. He's not gonna like this and he'll probably insist on helping me."

"Uh.." She looked unsure. What is with her? "That's ok. He can stay with you if he wants."

She seemed to be wording things carefully.

"Ok. Well, Lillian, Danny and Celeste have kitchen duty tonight. So I'm free. This afternoon then?"

"Yes. Great. Meet me up there in an hour and we'll get started."

"Ok."

She walked away stiffly. Margo hadn't been the same since that day she was tricked by the Lighters to ring the bell, causing us to investigate outside and some of us died. I understand her guilt but I wish she'd ease up a little. It's depressing to watch her be so depressed.

I march out of the kitchen to the commons room to find Merrick sitting with Lily on his lap in the corner. They looked conspiring. I quirked my brow and watched them with intense fascination. I heard Merrick humming and saw him swaying.

Merrick? Humming?

Then I heard his voice stretch together in long baritone notes that sounded strangely like singing.

Merrick? Singing?

I inched closer, trying to look inconspicuous but failing miserably as I stubbed my toe on the record player console.

"Hi!" Lily said cheerily.

"Hi," I answered and took a seat beside them on the floor. "You two look busy."

"We are. Daddy's teaching me a song."

Daddy... Ahh...

"Really? What song?" I asked then looked at Merrick. "I wasn't aware you knew any songs."

"Well, Cain kinda taught me one, on one of our trips to town."

He cleared his throat, like he was uncomfortable.

"Uhuh. And what song is that?"

Lily took over and belted out the lyrics sweetly, and I was pleasantly surprised. The kid could actually stay on key.

Sherry, Sherry baby. Sherry, Sherry baby.

Sherry baby. Sherry baby! Sherry won't you come out tonight.

Come out tonight! Sherry baby.

Sherry baby! Sherry won't you come out tonight.

"Aww. Lily. Thank you," I could hear the tears choking me response but I held back. "That was so great."

"I wuv that song! I can't believe you have a song with youw name in it!" she said amazed.

"I know," I said, tweaking her nose. "Pretty neat, huh."

"Do I have a song with my name in it?"

"Well," I thought racking my brain. "There is a song by the Pink Martinis called Lily, but I'm not sure it's age appropriate."

"What's age appwopwiate?"

Merrick and I laughed.

"It means not for you. You want a snack?"

"Yes, pwease."

"I see Marissa in the kitchen. Why don't you run and ask her for some crackers."

"Ok."

She skipped away. We need to change her nickname from Bug to Skippy.

I turned to Merrick.

"Margo wants me to work the store tonight. Thinks we should all learn to run it, just in case."

"Hmm. Well...I see her point. I'll come with you."

I laughed, knowing he would.

"I figured. We've got about forty five minutes until we need to head up. Got any ideas of what we could do?"

I bit my lip and he smiled.

"Oh I have ideas. But they aren't what you're thinking."

"Are you sure? I'm pretty sure it's the same."

I climbed onto his lap.

"Mine involves you lying on your back."

I felt my eyes bulge.

"Merrick!" I chided.

"In the practice room."

"What? I don't think we should-"

"You'd be on your back because that's where I'd put you. After I kicked your cute b.u.t.t."

"What-" It dawned on me and I looked up to see his teasing smile. "You want to practice. Like, for real practice. My idea was way better," I grumbled.