Watch Over You Read Online Free Page A

“Think of it as a thank you for saving my life.” He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “Please. I’ll feel so terrible if you don’t,” she added, fearing he was going to reject her offer again. “Besides,” she indicated to her clothes by pulling at the hem. “We’re both sopping wet. Maybe it’ll be nice to get somewhere warm and maybe dry off a little.”
    His eyes searched her face, but he didn’t speak. She didn’t even feel uncomfortable under his gaze, and she wasn’t one for being stared at. But with him, it was different. With him there, somehow, the entire world ceased to exist. A strange sense of hope filled her heart while at the same time, tiny slivers of trepidation and twinges of guilt stabbed through her. This wasn’t something she could just dismiss, though. She’d been dead inside for what felt like forever. Nothing seemed to raise a tear or a laugh. Nothing seemed to raise joy or wonder. She just was – existing in limbo. Her hopes began to dwindle. She was sure he was going to say no. But then, he smiled. “Sure,” he said, and she couldn’t keep the smile from her own face.
    They walked back to town together, side by side. They didn’t talk although Tara tried. She tried a few times, and he turned his head, waiting. Then she shook her head and dismissed it as nothing. She felt like a giggling school girl with the boy she’d been staring at for the last year finally spending time with her. It was completely stupid and she knew it.
    Tara thought they would go back to Taylor’s, but when they went into the precinct, instead of going right, as she thought he would, he went straight on to the escalator. Tara followed.
    They walked past a calendar stall, which had hundreds of different calendars. Everything from 80’s pop bands to current television programmes, to celebrities and today’s popular boy bands. Tara didn’t recognise any of the current stuff. She didn’t watch television or really keep up with the latest music. Mostly, the television was on at night because she was alone. It felt like having another voice inside the house – something to keep her company, even if it wasn’t real. Next to that, there was a stall for eyebrow threading. It looked painful, Tara thought to herself. One woman leant over her client with string. She slid it back and forth as if she was flossing the woman’s forehead. It was a bizarre sight. None of them paid any attention to her or Devan. They were an unlikely duo too - him in his tatty clothes, and her with her Regatta jacket, slim-fit jeans and dolly shoes. Even though they were the same age, they looked miles apart.
    There was a coffee shop just ahead of them, nestled in a corner. It had outside seating, although it wasn’t really outdoors as the entire thing was inside the shopping centre. Next to that was a homemade cookie stall, tucked neatly away. She hadn’t had one of those cookies since Eric was alive. He had loved them. She remembered the taste and it made her mouth water now. “Wait,” she said to Devan.
    He stopped and turned. “Changed your mind? It’s okay if…”
    “No,” she said. “Detour. Come with me.” She grabbed his arm without thinking and pulled him along to the stall.  Whether it was her who gasped or him, she didn’t know. She glanced down at her hand around his wrist. “I’m sorry,” she stammered. “I didn’t mean to…” The world around them vanished, closing them in a bubble together. She didn’t want to let go. She was holding onto home.
    Reluctantly, she uncurled her fingers and let go of his wrist. He rubbed at it as if it hurt, but it was the expression on his face that unsettled her. She couldn’t quite decipher it, but it made her feel terribly guilty. Disconcerted, she murmured another apology.
    “It’s okay,” he said. He peered down into the glass counter. There were so many different cookies. Tara watched him looking. She couldn’t help it. She wanted to reach out