Page 62 of Shattered By the Currents

“Before we go,” she said slowly, “can you do something for me?”

He stopped and frowned. “What?”

“I need you to close your eyes. Please.”

Tears shone in his wary gaze. But he nodded and closed them.

“What color are her eyes?” Raven asked.

“Whose?”

“Lila’s.”

The older man paused. “Green.”

Raven’s were blue, but some people said they looked green in certain lights. “What about her hair?”

“She had the most magical long blonde curls. She called it frizzy, but it wasn’t. It was like sunshine.”

Raven’s hair was straight. “What did her voice sound like?”

His frown deepened, like remembering pained him. “Like the most tender lullaby you’d ever heard. It was soft. Unless she was angry. And shedidget angry, but only when I didn’t take my medication.”

“She sounds beautiful,” Raven whispered, a sorrow settling in her chest for the loss this stranger had experienced.

He opened his eyes, but he looked at her differently now. Like he didn’t know her at all.

Slowly, his fingers released her arm. “She was the most beautiful person you could ever meet. And the day I lost her…” A tear fell down his cheek.

“Herbert?” Briar walked up behind them and touched his back. “Are you okay?”

He frowned at the woman, blinking back his tears. “I think I need to lie down.”

“Okay.” Briar looked at Raven. “Are you all right?”

She nodded, even though her heart broke for the man.

Briar’s gaze lingered on Raven for another second before she helped Herbert back to his room.

A lump formed in her throat, but she swallowed it and hurried out to the car. She’d just slid behind the wheel when a message came through on her cell.

Connor: The guys and I are at Bloom. You should come. I’ll order you a caramel latte.

Ha.Sheshould be orderinghima drink after everything he’d done for her lately.

She nibbled her bottom lip. She could use a distraction. And Connor and some great coffee would definitely offer that.

Raven: You had me at latte.

Connor checkedBloom’s front door again as Polly set a coffee in front of him.

“Waiting for someone?” she asked, a grin on her face.

“Raven.”

“So things are going well between you two?”

They hadn’t fallen asleep together again, but it felt like they were making progress. “Yeah.”