Night of Destiny Novel by Vanessa K

Angela was standing on higher ground, making her half a head taller than Richard and allowing her to look at him from an angle she never had seen before. She took in his defined brow bone and the straight line of his nose.

He had his gaze down as he helped put a band-aid over her finger, and his dark eyelashes hid the steely look in his eyes. He looked almost… gentle, the most tender she had ever seen him..

Startled by the contrast between his present demeanor and his usual stoic self, Angela could only gape at him speechlessly. After a while, she blushed and said apologetically, “I’m sorry for what I did earlier. I hope I didn’t offend you.” She was filled with regret over how forthright she had been.

“Just don’t do it again,” Richard said as he looked up at her, his eyes like two clear pools. He seemed unaffected by the kiss as if it meant nothing to him, like a piece of lint on his coat.

Disappointment flashed in her eyes as she pulled her finger away from him. Then, she took a breath and promised, “I won’t do it again.”

He eyed her darkly for a second, then slung his backpack over his shoulders as he declared, “Let’s call it a day and go back to base.”

have no self awareness, and she knew

that, she took the first step to dismount from higher ground, but

she could fall, a large hand gripped her shoulder and

but she felt defeated. Did the kiss mean nothing to him? Doesn’t he feel

said, “Come on,

and her mind wandered for a brief few seconds. He was always there when she needed his help, making sure she didn’t get hurt. He didn’t look like he knew how his gestures could give her the wrong idea, and

said, turning him down with a smile as

they came. From the back, her slender frame looked like

stared at her

beat or two

but very