Existence 03 - Ceaseless

better mood. Pagan had told me about what happened with the other girl. I wished I could tell her that it would be okay. That the soul she’d loved in Wyatt was the same soul that was living inside Nathan. But I couldn’t. She’d have to figure this out on her on.
    “I got this. She’ll be fine,” Gee replied and led Miranda back out of the door leaving me alone with Pagan.
    “Why do I feel like you just sent them away on purpose?” Pagan asked as she looked up at me through her eyelashes.
    “Because you’re a smart girl. I have a thing for females with brains,” I replied.
    “ Ooooh , that explains why you weren’t attracted to the topless model perfect body who was more than willing to do whatever you wanted with her.” I cringed mentally thinking of the girl who had been in here. I didn’t even want to take Pagan over to the couch and have her sit where the girl had been. It felt tainted now.
    “All I wanted to do with her was get her the hell away from me. Nothing about that train wreck was attractive.”
    Pagan liked my answer. I could see it in her eyes. I was proving to her that I wasn’t the depraved sex - crazed man - whore she assumed I was just because I was a singer in a band. She took a step toward me and I didn’t reach out and touch her. I wanted to see exactly what she was planning to do . If she started to move I may grab her and hold on but right now I wanted her to feel like she was in control.
    “That is very sexy, Dank Walker. Just so you know. Most guys wouldn’t have cared about anything other than her looks.” The awe in her voice made my chest expand.
    “ I’m glad you realiz e I’m a little deeper than you first assumed,” I replied.
    Pagan placed a hand on my chest and ran it up until she was touching the necklace that she’d bought me before my last concert , before her memory was taken from her. She’d said lead singers needed some jewelry. She’d chosen a Celtic knot on a black string. She said the knot was endless and so were we. I hadn’t taken it off since. I kept it tucked inside my shirt unless I was going onstage. I didn’t like people to touch it. Pagan had given it to me. It was sacred. She held the knot in her hand and I felt an odd sense of power at having her hands on it again.
    “It’s a Celtic knot. Why did you choose this?” She asked looking up at me with intrigue in her eyes.
    “Someone gave it to me,” I explained waiting to see if any of this clicked with her. She ran her thumb over the cool metal.
    “The knot is never ending,” she said quietly as if she was repeating a memory to herself.
    I didn’t respond. I didn’t want to interrupt any small memory that may be trying to break through. She dropped her hand from my chest and turned and walked away from me. That hadn’t been what I was expecting.
    “What’s wrong?” I asked almost afraid to speak.
    She shrugged and I heard a small sniffle. Dammit she was crying. Why was she crying? I took two long strides until I was standing behind her and I pulled her back against my chest. “Why are crying?” I asked gently.
    She took a deep breath and shook her head, “I don’t know.” She reached up and wiped away the tears on her cheeks. “I just suddenly wanted to cry. It was weird. I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
    Hope. I had hope. The Celtic knot was triggering something inside her.

Pagan
    Dank was going to think I was an idiot. The lump that had formed in my throat the moment I held the necklace in my hands had been odd. I had to ask about it and he talked about it with such reverence in his voice I couldn’t fight back the sob. My eyes had instantly filled with tears. How crazy was that?
    Surprisingly enough he wasn’t calling security to haul me out of here. He was holding me. Was this guy even real? Most guys would have written me off as a lunatic. His arms were tightly wrapped around me. I rested my head back on his chest and enjoyed it. Something was comforting about letting him hold me. I felt safe.
    “We go onstage soon. Will you come watch me from the side of the stage? I’ d like to be able to look over and see you safely away from the crowd out there. This is one of the wilder clubs we play.”
    His protective streak should annoy me. I just met the guy… but it didn’t. I liked it. Had Jay ever been protective? Had anyone ever been protective of me other than my mother?
    “Okay. What about Miranda and Gee?” I asked still standing with