3 Conjuring (14 page)

Christmas break was exactly what I needed. No school. No roommates. No boyfriend. Okay, that last one was still a small dagger in my heart no matter how hard I tried to convince myself the opposite was true.

Time really did make the heart grow fonder. I missed Aric
so much that I was having trouble remembering why I was so angry in the first place. My pathetic yearning for him was only making me angry with myself, though. I wanted to forgive him and go back to the way things were, but every time I did that I couldn’t help but hate myself a little bit for being so weak.

The problem was, I knew – deep down in my heart, I
knew – that Aric wasn’t hiding things to hurt me. He was stuck. I was stuck. Everyone was stuck.

Tired of my pouting around the house, my mom sug
gested that an outing with my high school friends was just the thing to bring me out of my doldrums. I initially balked at her suggestion, but a few hours of skiing and laughing with a few people I hadn’t seen since the summer actually rejuvenated me.

“So, how is college?”

A small group of us had broken off and gone inside the resort’s lobby and restaurant for something hot to drink. We’d settled around a table in the lobby and had been gossiping for the past hour.

“It’s pretty good,” I said, glancing at my friend Cath
y as she warmed herself by the fire. The truth was, I didn’t feel a very strong connection with my high school friends. That didn’t mean I didn’t like them. I didn’t love them, don’t get me wrong, but things were so much more relaxed when they were around. “You know the drill. Classes during the week and partying on the weekends.”

“Aren’t you dating that really hot guy, though?” Cathy asked.

“How do you know about him?” I asked suspiciously.

Cathy looked taken aback by my sudden vehemenc
e. “I ... everyone saw you two together around town all summer.”

Right. I had to remind myself that not everything was a big conspiracy against me.

“Oh, yeah. I forgot.”

“Are you still with him?”

That was a really good question. “I don’t know,” I admitted.

“You don’t know?” Cathy looked confused.

“We had a fight right before break,” I said. “We’re kind of on the outs right now.”

“Does he live around here?” Cathy asked, puzzled.

“No, he lives down state,” I said. “He went home for Christmas.”

“Then why is he here?”

“What?” Now I was confused.

Cathy didn’t answer; she just pointed to a spot ov
er my shoulder. I swung around and saw Aric standing next to the concierge’s desk. His back was to me, but it was definitely him. I’d recognize that body anywhere.

Aric must have felt my eyes burning into his back, b
ecause he turned around slowly and searched the room. When his eyes fell on me they softened and a timid smile crossed his face.

“Good grief,” Cathy exclaimed. “Could he be any hotter?”

I didn’t think so, but I might have been a little biased. “He’s got a certain something,” I agreed.

“It’s called hotness,” Cathy giggled. “I don’t see how you
could fight with him. I’d just sit there and stare at him every chance I got.”

I did that sometimes.

Aric turned back to the concierge, taking something from her before grabbing a bag from the floor and making his way across the room. “Hey,” he greeted me quietly.

“Hey,” I said. Suddenly I felt really dumb.

“Hey,” Cathy smiled at him warmly.

“Hey.

“I’m Cathy,” she introduced herself.

“I’m Aric.”

“It’s nice to meet you. Zoe and I were just talking about you and then there you were. It’s kind of funny.”

“You were talking about me, huh?” Aric shifted his dar
k eyes over to me and then sat down in one of the empty chairs to my right. “What were you saying?”

If Cathy caught on to the tenseness of the situation,
she didn’t let on. “I was just asking her if you two were still together.”

“Oh, yeah? What did she say?” Aric seemed genuinely curious.

“She said you got into a fight and she wasn’t sure what was going on,” Cathy said guilelessly.

Aric turned to me questioningly. “I guess I’m in the same boat.”

We both sat there in awkward silence. Cathy must have finally picked up on our need for privacy, because she suddenly jumped to her feet and began plodding toward the rest of our friends by the bar. “Um, I’ll leave you two alone. Do you want us to bring your skis up to you?”

“No, I’ll get them,” I said. “Cathy?”

“Yeah,” she turned back around.

“Thanks.”

“Of course,” she smiled. “That’s what friends are for.” She started to move away again and then stopped one more time. “I wasn’t joking when I told you that he’s too good looking to stay mad at.”

Aric chuckled. “Is that the reason you’re going to forgive me?”

“What makes you think I’m going to forgive you?” I asked pointedly, although I had already decided I was ready to make up.

“Because,” Aric said knowingly. “I drove all the w
ay up here, even though my mom was bitching and complaining and threatening to cut me off, all because I couldn’t stand another day without seeing you.”

“Really?” I eyed him dubiously. “That’s your story?”

“It’s not a story,” Aric said, smiling wide enough for his dimples to come out and play. “It’s the truth.”

I pursed my lips to keep from returning the smile. I
wanted him to grovel a little before I gave in entirely. “I don’t know,” I teased. “I still might have some thinking to do.”

Aric reached over and grabbed my hand, pulling me
from my chair all the way over into his lap, and wrapped his arms around me. He buried his face in my hair and inhaled deeply, as though he couldn’t get enough of my scent. Maybe that was a werewolf thing? “I need you to not be angry at me anymore,” he murmured.

“I need you to be honest with me,” I answered slowly.

“I know. I’m not trying to be dishonest with you.”

“I know.”

“This is a learning experience for us both,” Aric said, tightening his arms around me.

“I’m doing the best that I can.”

“I know,” I sighed. “It’s frustrating, though.”

“I know,” Aric laughed, his lips brushing my ear. “I’ve bee
n feeling a lot of frustration this week.”

“God, is that all you think about?” It was all I was thin
king about right now, truth be told.

“Actually, that’s not what I was thinking about at all,” Aric said, shifting be
neath me slightly. “Until now.”

“What were you talking about?”

Aric sighed. “I was frustrated because I picked up my phone to call you ten times a day, every day, for the past week and every time I chickened out.”

“I did the same thing,” I admitted.

“Really?” There was relief in his tone.

“Really,” I said. “I’ve missed you. A lot.”

“Good,” Aric growled into my ear. “Because if you do this again I’m going to have to tie you up and lock you in my closet until you get over it. I can’t go through this again.”

“That sounds freaky.”

“Freaky in a good way?”

“No. Freaky in a freaky way.”

Aric considered the situation for a second and then laughed. It was a welcome sound. “Yeah, that might be pushing things a little too far.”

“I’m not a Fifty Shades of Grey fan,” I replied.

“What’s Fifty Shades of Grey?”

“Never mind. How did you even know I was here?”

“I didn’t,” he replied. “I was just checking into my room. I wasn’t planning on tracking you down until tomorrow. It must be fate or something.”

“Must be,” I mused.

Aric leaned back in his chair, snuggling me into his lap, and brushing a kiss against my forehead. “God, I feel so relaxed now. It’s like everything is just so much better now that you’re here.”

“You do? Feel relaxed, I mean.”

“I’ve been really tense,” Aric admitted. “My mom was pretty sick of me. She said she couldn’t take me brooding anymore. That’s why she ultimately told me to go ahead and leave.”

“You told her why you were upset?”

“Didn’t you tell your parents?”

“No. I told them I had PMS.”

“And they believed that?”

“They had no reason not to.”

“You don’t, do you?”

“What?”

“Have PMS?”

“No,” I shook my head, laughing at the look of relief
that washed over his handsome face. “You missed that little Christmas treat.”

“Good, because I have plans for you,” Aric teased, c
atching my face with his hands and pressing his lips to mine.

When we came up for air a few minutes later, I fixe
d Aric with a hard look. “What would you have done if I did have PMS?”

“Cried,” he answered simply.

“Nice.”

“What can I say? I missed you. All of you.”

“I still have to get my skis,” I reminded him. “And my parents are expecting me to come home tonight.”

“Can’t you just tell them you’re staying at your friend’s house?”

“Maybe.”

“Maybe? Don’t tease me. My poor heart can’t take it.” Ar
ic smiled, lifting me up to my feet as he stood behind me.

“You’re anxious to get in the room, huh?”

“Let’s go get those skis before someone steals them. I have a present for you, too.”

“You do?”

“Of course I do,” Aric smiled. “It’s Christmas.”

“I wasn’t sure, after the fight and all,” I hedged.

“I’ve had your Christmas present for weeks,” Aric admitted.

“You have?”

“I have. I want to see you open it.”

“And then what?” I asked curiously.

“And then we’ll order room service.”

“And then?”

Aric smiled wolfishly. “And maybe then I’ll get a good night’s sleep tonight.” His eyes softened. “And a night without nightmares sounds nice.”

“You had nightmares?”

“The whole last week was a nightmare.”

I couldn’t keep the foolish smile from washing over my face.
“I couldn’t agree more. Your present is at my house, though.”

“It can wait,” Aric said, linking his fingers through m
ine. “You’re all the present I need right now.”

I really had missed him. The fact that nothing had be
en fixed between the two of us was an afterthought right now – one I couldn’t push out of my mind fast enough.

I was ready to open my Christmas present – and the gift from Aric.

Once we got back to school, things were better. Mostly. Laura and Matilda were practically floating they were so happy to be active members of Delta Omicron. Kelsey was excited about new classes -- and acing her finals the previous semester. And Aric and I were back in a good place. Sure, I had a few lingering doubts about our relationship, but I figured that was normal for most couples. Or maybe I was just hoping that was the case.

“So why are we going to the bookstore?”

I glanced over at Aric as he parked behind the university center. He had agreed to act as chauffeur this afternoon – the Sunday before classes started up again -- mostly because it was so cold out that none of us wanted to walk anywhere. I had spent the past half hour complaining to him on the phone until I wore him down and he volunteered his services. I might have promised him a massage, too. Given how he looked naked, though, that wasn’t exactly a hardship.

“We need books,” I replied simply.

“Aren’t most of your books available on your tablet?”

“Not my books,” Kelsey said. “Math books don’t translate to electronic
devices very well.”

“I just want some magazines,” Matilda added from the backseat.

“I need a few computer books,” Laura added sheepishly. “You didn’t have to bring us, though. It was really nice of you.”

Aric kept his gaze fixed on me. “And you?”

“You’re getting a massage out of it,” I reminded him. “Stop your complaining. You weren’t doing anything anyway.”

“That’s not true,” Aric protested. “I had a whole aft
ernoon of NBA basketball on my schedule.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m sure we’ll make it back to your
place in time for you to watch hours of boring stuff.”

“We’d better.”

Once we got inside, everyone split up – even Aric. “Where are you going?”

“I need a few things,” Aric said. “I might as well get
them now. Hey, you’re wearing it.”

I glanced down and watched as he reached for the cha
in under my shirt, pulling out his Christmas gift to me. It was a sterling silver moon on a chain that had been made by a Native American jewelry shop in Arizona. Aric had ordered it special and I had looked on it with a sense of awe and glee when I opened it. I had been wearing it ever since – and it wasn’t just because it made him so happy whenever he saw it.

“Of course I’m wearing it,” I said, snatching it back from him. “I love it.”

Aric smiled and dropped a quick kiss on my forehead. “Hurry up with your shopping,” he instructed. “I figured you could just come home with me after we drop your roommates off.”

“I don’t want to sit around watching basketball all day.”

“That’s not what I had in mind,” Aric winked as he sauntered off.

I felt a little chill rush through me at his words. It w
arred with the warm and tingly feeling I got every time he smiled at me. Yeah, I was a goner where he was concerned. Who wouldn’t be?

I perused the bookshelves for textbooks I might nee
d, but ultimately opted to get them all on Kindle this semester. Three of my classes this term were English courses – two literature and one creative writing. The other two were sociology and history. None of those required physical textbooks. I had made a conscious decision to stay away from journalism classes this time around, mostly because Sam Blake was teaching the only one on my list I could enroll in. I still didn’t know what to think of him, and I figured space was the best way to make sure I wouldn’t have to deal with him any time soon. Sometimes I’m a coward. I choose to think of it as strategy, though.

Since I didn’t need anything for my classes, I boug
ht a gossip rag magazine and a Diet Coke, and sat down at a bistro table to people watch and find another reason to hate the Kardashians.

After about fifteen minutes – and five new reas
ons to outright loathe reality television – I found my righteous indignation and moral superiority interrupted by the arrival of Mark and Paris. “Hey,” Paris smiled brightly and slid into the chair across from me. “What are you doing?”

“Hating popular culture,” I replied.

“I do that on a daily basis,” Paris agreed.

Mark grabbed a chair from an empty table a few fe
et away and drew it over to my table before sitting down. “Oh, Kim Kardashian is hot,” he said when he caught sight of the cover of the magazine.

Paris frowned at him. “You think she’s hot?”

“She’s definitely hot. Wait. Unless you don’t think I should think she’s hot.”

Paris frowned while I tried to smother my laughte
r. “Way to think for yourself, Mark.”

“What?” Mark looked pained. “What did I do now?”

“Nothing,” Paris sighed breezily. “I’m just disappointed to find out you’re a typical man.”

Mark looked suddenly uncomfortable. “I’m going to g
o and get a coffee. You want one?”

Paris nodded, reaching over to pull the magazine away from him as he started to walk away. “I’ll keep this.”

“She’s not hot,” Mark said hurriedly before he scampered away.

“Men,” Paris blew out a disgusted sigh.

“So how was your Christmas break?” I asked. I realized we hadn’t really had a chance to talk in weeks. Our living arrangements and mutually unsatisfactory roommate situation were making friendship a little difficult right now.

“It was good,” Paris said, a small smile playing at her l
ips. “I took Mark home to meet my parents.”

“How did that go?”

“About as well as could be expected. Everyone was home. So it was a full house.”

Paris was one of eight kids. As an only child, just t
he thought of that many people under one roof made me claustrophobic. “Ugh.”

“It wasn’t so bad,” Paris laughed. “He had to bunk
with my brothers, though, and they’re a little rambunctious.”

“When Aric went home with me for Thanksgiving my
dad prowled the halls at night with a gun. Things could be worse.”

“How are things with Aric? I saw him over by the n
otebooks a few minutes ago, by the way.”

“Things are good,” I said. “Now.”

“Now?”

I launched into the story – all of it. I told her about t
he induction ceremony at Delta Omicron and Jessica’s mage pronouncement. I finished up with the confrontation with Aric and how he had showed up at the ski resort to make up. When I was done, Paris sat for a few moments in stunned silence. Finally, she let out a low whistle.

“Wow.”

“Yeah.”

“I can’t believe how much I miss now that we’re not living together.”

“I know,” I lamented. “I really miss being close to you. The fact that I can’t visit your room because of Brittany and you’re not comfortable coming to my room because of Laura only exacerbates things.”

“Exacerbates? Good word.”

“I’m taking three English classes this semester. I figured I should expand my vocabulary.”

“No journalism this semester?” Paris cocked an eyebrow curiously.

“No,” I shook my head emphatically.

“Trying to stay away from Professor Blake?”

“Yup.”

“That’s probably a smart move.”

I glanced around the café to make sure Mark wasn’t in hearing distance and then lowered my voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Has Mark mentioned anything about them?”

Paris shook her head. “I’ve been trying to get informa
tion from him about the group, but he’s really tight-lipped.”

“Are you sure that he’s still part of it?”

“Oh, yeah,” Paris said, tightening her lips to keep from frowning. “He has regular meetings with them.”

“Doesn’t that make you nervous?”

“Truthfully? Yes. He’s Mark, though. He doesn’t have an evil bone in his body.”

I opened my mouth to make an inappropriate joke but
Paris silenced me with a hard look. “Don’t go there,” she said. “So, things are better with you and Aric, though?”

“They are,” I agreed, showing her the Christmas gift
he had so nervously presented me with.

“Oh, that’s pretty,” Paris said, taking it in her h
and and running it through her fingers appreciatively. “That’s really nice.”

“What did Mark get you?”

“A sweater.”

“That’s nice.”

“It’s pink and fluffy.”

Ugh. “Did you thank him?”

“Of course. I just don’t wear it.”

“Doesn’t he ask about it?”

“Nope.”

“Do you think he knows?”

“Probably. My sisters were laughing hysterically when I opened it. I think that might have been a giveaway.”

“Bummer.”

“It’s the thought that counts.”

“Especially when it’s pink,” I laughed.

“Yeah. I know. Like he’s ever seen me wearing pink. Shh. Here he comes.”

“So, what classes are you taking this semester?” I changed the subject smoothly.

“Three art and two crap fillers.”

“I’ve got two of those, too.”

“Here we go.” Mark slid a cup of coffee in front of Paris with a wide smile as he returned to the table. “And Kim Kardashian is still not hot.”

Paris rolled her eyes. “Let it go.”

Mark blushed and cast his eyes downward. “So, how was your Christmas break?” He turned his attention to me as a defense mechanism.

“Bad and good,” I said truthfully.

“What was bad and good?” Aric appeared at the edge of the table, pulling a chair over and plopping down in it, capturing my hand in his.

“My Christmas break,” I replied dryly.

“Better good than bad, though, right?” Aric sent me a wolfish grin, leaning back in his chair and crossing his long legs at the ankle as he relaxed. “Hey, Paris.”

“Hey, Aric. I saw the gift you got Zoe for Christmas. It’s beautiful. Good job.”

Mark’s face fell. I felt a little bad for him. “I heard you got Paris a beautiful sweater,

Mark. That was really nice of you.”

Paris shot me a grateful look.

“It was pink,” Mark offered lamely.

Aric smirked. “I’m the best shopper ever. I should teach a class or something.”

“You’re really modest, too.”

“It goes well with my rugged good looks,” Aric agreed, reaching for my Diet Coke and taking a proprietary swig. “You need to start drinking regular pop. This stuff is gross.”

“Or you could buy your own,” I suggested, not enti
rely seriously. I was too busy basking in the comfort that was emanating from our little group. This was the way it should always be.

“Or,” Aric suggested brightly. “We could go and s
pend the rest of the afternoon naked.”

Mark looked horrified at Aric’s blatantness but Pari
s beamed widely. “I’d take him up on that suggestion if I were you.”

“You would?” Mark looked as though he was physically shrinking in his chair.

I sighed as I got to my feet. “Let’s go. You’re starting to make everyone uncomfortable.”

“Then my task is complete,” Aric smiled. “I knew I would wear you down.”

Sometimes he is just too yummy to deny.