satisfied smile as the engine purred.
“This is the gearshift. See the letters down the side?” Her finger traced them. “You start out in park. So move it down to the D when you want to go forward and the R when you need to back up.”
Bram slid it into the D spot, and his head crinkled. “Why aren’t we moving?”
Ilisha giggled. “Sorry, I forget how foreign this is to you. You need to take your foot off the brake, that’s the pedal you’re pushing down on.”
His foot came off, and the car rolled forward. Bram’s hands left the wheel, and he looked frightened. “What did I do?”
“New plan, switch me seats for sec. Put the car back in Park.” She climbed out of the car and ran around to the other side.
Bram leaned over to watch her feet as she put the car in drive and pushed on the gas, then reversed and parked again.
“Got that?” she asked as he sat up.
“Sure, easy.”
“I’ll take us for a little drive so you can get the hang of it.”
His eyes took in every movement, like she was a father teaching him how to ride a bike. “Does it make more sense now?” she asked.
“Got it.”
“Is picking up on things easy for an angel?”
“Compared to a human, I guess so. I have the ability to perceive more than you.”
“Like what?”
“I can smell things you can’t, see things at further distances, and sense presences.”
“So what did you pick up from watching me drive that I couldn’t get if it was reversed?”
“I could tell how much pressure you put on the brake and gas, how fast you took off, and how much you turned the wheel.”
“I wish I could’ve picked up my college courses that easily.”
Bram drove them back to the barn as smoothly as if the car was part of him. “Hungry?” he asked, getting out.
“Sure.”
As Bram made sandwiches Ilisha said, “Just to let you know, I’m going back to Columbus to pack my stuff in couple days.”
“I know.” He handed her a sandwich.
“Of course you do.” She smiled taking a bite.
He motioned for her to follow him, opening the door to the balcony. They sat on the deck that jutted from the upper floor and looked out on the forest.
“Why do you always extend your wings when people aren’t around?”
“They cramp up on me when I have them curled up inside me all day.”
“Like sitting on your legs too long?”
He chuckled. “More like having a charlie horse.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah, not a great feeling. They occasionally need to be stretched.”
“You never told me what happened at the park. I waited patiently, but now I’m insisting.”
“I’m sure you know the answer. Damon tried to attack you that night, and we battled.”
“What was all the black and white powder?”
“From our wings. It’s a part of us, kind of like an organism. That’s why I was so anxious for you to get those pants off. He could have killed you.”
“That’s alarming.”
Silence filled them and both stared out into the trees. For the first time, Ilisha realized that it would only take a small amount of powder from Damon’s wings to kill her and it made her feel truly uncomfortable. Finally she broke the silence. “You’re driving me home, come on,” Ilisha said, tugging on his shirt.
“Thanks for the driving lesson. It was fun.” Bram walked her to the door.
“It may come in handy. You really can’t live a human life and not drive.”
Bram didn’t make a move to come inside.
“Are you coming?” Ilisha motioned with her arm toward the door.
Bram stared into her eyes. He lingered and she thought he may actually kiss her, instead he cleared his throat. “I’ll be watching you. Don’t worry, you’ll be safe.” He smiled at Ilisha as he walked away.
Ilisha packed her bags and then drove over to get Bram, who had volunteered to help her move. She had protested by saying she was sure there were better things he could be doing. He had countered by saying, “My life has and always will be dedicated to
“This is the gearshift. See the letters down the side?” Her finger traced them. “You start out in park. So move it down to the D when you want to go forward and the R when you need to back up.”
Bram slid it into the D spot, and his head crinkled. “Why aren’t we moving?”
Ilisha giggled. “Sorry, I forget how foreign this is to you. You need to take your foot off the brake, that’s the pedal you’re pushing down on.”
His foot came off, and the car rolled forward. Bram’s hands left the wheel, and he looked frightened. “What did I do?”
“New plan, switch me seats for sec. Put the car back in Park.” She climbed out of the car and ran around to the other side.
Bram leaned over to watch her feet as she put the car in drive and pushed on the gas, then reversed and parked again.
“Got that?” she asked as he sat up.
“Sure, easy.”
“I’ll take us for a little drive so you can get the hang of it.”
His eyes took in every movement, like she was a father teaching him how to ride a bike. “Does it make more sense now?” she asked.
“Got it.”
“Is picking up on things easy for an angel?”
“Compared to a human, I guess so. I have the ability to perceive more than you.”
“Like what?”
“I can smell things you can’t, see things at further distances, and sense presences.”
“So what did you pick up from watching me drive that I couldn’t get if it was reversed?”
“I could tell how much pressure you put on the brake and gas, how fast you took off, and how much you turned the wheel.”
“I wish I could’ve picked up my college courses that easily.”
Bram drove them back to the barn as smoothly as if the car was part of him. “Hungry?” he asked, getting out.
“Sure.”
As Bram made sandwiches Ilisha said, “Just to let you know, I’m going back to Columbus to pack my stuff in couple days.”
“I know.” He handed her a sandwich.
“Of course you do.” She smiled taking a bite.
He motioned for her to follow him, opening the door to the balcony. They sat on the deck that jutted from the upper floor and looked out on the forest.
“Why do you always extend your wings when people aren’t around?”
“They cramp up on me when I have them curled up inside me all day.”
“Like sitting on your legs too long?”
He chuckled. “More like having a charlie horse.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah, not a great feeling. They occasionally need to be stretched.”
“You never told me what happened at the park. I waited patiently, but now I’m insisting.”
“I’m sure you know the answer. Damon tried to attack you that night, and we battled.”
“What was all the black and white powder?”
“From our wings. It’s a part of us, kind of like an organism. That’s why I was so anxious for you to get those pants off. He could have killed you.”
“That’s alarming.”
Silence filled them and both stared out into the trees. For the first time, Ilisha realized that it would only take a small amount of powder from Damon’s wings to kill her and it made her feel truly uncomfortable. Finally she broke the silence. “You’re driving me home, come on,” Ilisha said, tugging on his shirt.
“Thanks for the driving lesson. It was fun.” Bram walked her to the door.
“It may come in handy. You really can’t live a human life and not drive.”
Bram didn’t make a move to come inside.
“Are you coming?” Ilisha motioned with her arm toward the door.
Bram stared into her eyes. He lingered and she thought he may actually kiss her, instead he cleared his throat. “I’ll be watching you. Don’t worry, you’ll be safe.” He smiled at Ilisha as he walked away.
Ilisha packed her bags and then drove over to get Bram, who had volunteered to help her move. She had protested by saying she was sure there were better things he could be doing. He had countered by saying, “My life has and always will be dedicated to
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