A Breath of Eyre (32 page)

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Authors: Eve Marie Mont

BOOK: A Breath of Eyre
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The music was faint out there, distant and haunting, like it was coming from another place and time. I placed my arms around his shoulders, and he gripped my waist for support. Leaning into him, I felt intoxicated by his nearness. His spicy sea-air scent made me dizzy with longing. I dropped my head against his chest and breathed him in.
“I can’t do anything but move in circles,” he said.
“That’s okay.”
And it was, because dancing requires little else. At one point I noticed Gray had stopped moving. I pulled back to find him looking down at me, a dazed expression on his face. “You’re here,” he said. “I can’t believe it.... I was sure you ...”
Before he could finish his thought, I placed a hand on the back of his neck and pulled his face down to kiss me. The moment our lips touched, it was like we’d been born to do only that. We stood out there on that balcony for hours, swaying and kissing, dancing under the laws of gravity, but feeling like our feet no longer touched ground.
C
HAPTER
34
T
here are certain things I will never understand about that year. Did I dream myself into Jane’s world? And if so, how do I account for my A in French class? Or the fact that Jane’s voice still comes to me when I need her most? Although our voices are so similar now, it’s hard to tell which is which.
 
Gray picked me up at school after final exams and drove me home. When we entered Hull’s Cove, I welcomed the sight of the fishing marinas and crab traps, and even managed not to scowl at the new vacation homes that had sprung up on the waterfront. I was so glad to be home again.
Gray pulled into my driveway, but I wasn’t ready to go inside. “Come for a walk with me,” I said. “I want to see the beach.”
We sat on the sand and undid our shoes, then went down to the water’s edge and began walking along the surf. This was it—the beginning of our summer together—three months of bliss before Gray had to leave for Coast Guard training in September.
“I can’t believe I won’t be able to talk to you for eight weeks,” I said. “I can’t even call you?”
“Not during boot camp.”
“But I can come to your graduation, right?”
“You better.”
“I’m determined to get my license this summer so I can drive down myself.”
“I’ll teach you to drive stick.”
“Really?” I raised an eyebrow teasingly, and he broke into laughter.
“Emma, you’re making me blush.”
We walked past the lighthouse until we’d reached the spit of land where Gray had called to me the afternoon of my birthday almost a year ago. The sun was starting to set, and I knew my father and Barbara would be waiting for us for dinner, so we decided to head back.
Just as we neared my street, an enormous black-and-white dog ran toward us. Gray moved in front of me, and as if in slow motion, the dog pounced on him. I screamed and lunged to pull the dog off, but instead of attacking, the dog pinned Gray down on the sand and began licking his face in a frenzy of kisses. I tried my hardest not to laugh as I reached out to help Gray stand up.
The dog crouched in play pose, tongue hanging out, begging for us to play. He seemed to know me. “Are you lost, little guy?” I gave him a solid scratch behind the ears and searched for a tag but found nothing. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d seen him before. He pranced around us gleefully, even nipping the bottom of Gray’s shorts. A name suddenly popped into my head.
“Pilot,” I said. The dog’s ears perked up, and he sat obediently.
“Pilot?” Gray asked. “How did you know his name?”
“I have no idea.” But the truth was, I’d met this dog before. This was Rochester’s dog, or at least a dog that looked very much like him. The world felt a little unhinged suddenly.
Gray brushed the sand off his pants and looked over at me. “You all right?” he said. “You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.”
I crinkled my brow and shook my head. “No,” I said. “It’s just a coincidence.”
The dog must have spied something more interesting down the beach—perhaps his master—because he went running off. I had to resist the urge to look around for signs of a man fitting Rochester’s description. But the truth was, I had my own Rochester right here.
I looked up at Gray and caught him staring at me. For once, those hazel eyes didn’t look sad. “Truth,” I said. “What were you just thinking about?”
He hedged for a second, then replied, “Nothing,” and bit his cheek.
“Oh my God!” I said. “That’s it!”
“That’s what?”
“Your tell! When you’re bluffing, you bite your cheek.”
“I do not.”
“You do, too! Come on, tell me what you were thinking. Do I make you nervous?”
He laughed, but I could tell he was holding something back. “You really want to know what I was thinking?”
“Yes, I really want to know.”
“Okay. I was thinking how lucky I am that you didn’t give up on me.”
“And ... ?”
“And how I really hope you don’t find some other guy while I’m away at boot camp.”
“And ... ?”
“And what?” he said.
“Tell me what you were really thinking.”
He flashed me his devastating smile and raised an eyebrow. Now it was my turn to blush.
Gray laughed and reached for my hand. I thought back to that roller-coaster ride we took when we were little, the way Gray had grabbed my hand just before we went over the top. That was how I felt now, like wheels had been set in motion and we were about to plunge together into something terrifying and exhilarating and entirely unknown.
If you got lost in a book, which literary character would you be? Take the quiz to find out! As you answer the questions, keep a tally of your responses.
1.
What is the most important principle to live by?
a.
Be kind to others.
b.
Be true to yourself.
c.
Embrace life’s possibilities.
d.
Find love, no matter the cost.
e.
Have fun.
2.
What is your dream job?
a.
A teacher or a nurse; a job where I can make a difference
b.
A challenging profession that requires brains and persistence, like a lawyer or journalist
c.
Something wild and outdoorsy where I’m my own boss; maybe a forest ranger or ski instructor
d.
A career requiring skill and creativity, like fashion or graphic design
e.
Job? What’s a job?
3.
Which song title best describes your love life?
a.
Beyoncé’s “Broken-Hearted Girl”
b.
Taylor Swift’s “Sparks Fly”
c.
Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance”
d.
Kelly Clarkson’s “Beautiful Disaster”
e.
Rihanna’s “Only Girl (In the World)”
4.
Your dream vacation would be:
a.
A cozy chalet tucked into a mountainside
b.
A magnificent bed-and-breakfast overlooking the ocean
c.
A four-star hotel in exotic Marrakesh or Bali
d.
A tropical oasis far away from everyone
e.
An all-expense-paid cruise where I’m wined and dined 24/7
5.
Your idea of the perfect date would be:
a.
Snowy walks by day; firelit conversation by night
b.
A romantic picnic by a lake; good food and good conversation
c.
An all-day adventure through museums, street fairs, and cobblestoned alleyways
d.
A secret rendezvous on the beach at night
e.
An expensive meal followed by dancing and nightlife
6.
What are your thoughts on love?
a.
True love takes time, but it’s worth the wait.
b.
Love happens when you’re least expecting it.
c.
Love is intoxicating and dangerous, like a leap off a cliff.
d.
Love is a secret you hold close to your heart.
e.
Love is a ring on my finger and a house in the Hamptons.
7.
What aspect of your life has given you the most trouble?
a.
My childhood
b.
My family; they can be so meddlesome
c.
My own recklessness
d.
A terrible mistake from my past
e.
My ambition
8.
How would you describe your fashion sense?
a.
Simple and practical
b.
Tasteful and classic
c.
Flowy and romantic
d.
I generally wear all black, but a hint of red is nice
e.
Flirty and feminine
9.
Your favorite romantic movie is:
a.
Casablanca
b.
When Harry Met Sally
c.
The Phantom of the Opera
d.
Romeo and Juliet
e.
The Notebook
10.
People often describe you as:
a.
sensible
b.
smart
c.
free-spirited
d.
individualistic
e.
charming
11.
Which animal is most like you?
a.
An optimistic songbird
b.
A clever fox
c.
A wild horse
d.
A fearless cat
e.
An elegant peacock
12.
How do you react when you don’t get what you want?
a.
I keep going after it; I’m nothing if not persistent.
b.
I pretend I didn’t want it anyway—sour grapes and all that—but I’ll secretly pine.
c.
I tend to pout and behave badly.
d.
I suffer in silence.
e.
I always get what I want.
If you got mostly A responses, you’re:
Jane from
Jane Eyre
.
You are fiercely intelligent, independent, and loyal. You usually do the right thing, even when it goes against your own desires, and you always speak your mind. While you don’t call attention to yourself, you have an inner poise and beauty that attracts men, particularly troubled souls who are drawn to your strength. You enjoy reading, deep conversation, and long walks in any kind of weather.
 
If you got mostly B responses, you’re:
Elizabeth Bennet from
Pride and Prejudice
.
 
You have a quick wit and a sharp tongue that can sometimes put people off, but if they are able to get past your defenses, you make an incredibly passionate partner and a loyal friend. Your sense of humor and charm make you an excellent guest at any social gathering. You enjoy traveling, games of mental agility, and verbal sparring.
 
If you got mostly C responses, you’re:
Catherine Linton from
Wuthering Heights
.
 
You are free-spirited, energetic, and prone to exuberant passions and deep emotional attachments. But with this passion comes a reckless nature and a fiery temper that frequently get you into trouble. You have a tendency to become listless if you don’t get what you want. You adore extreme sports, romantic novels, and the outdoors.
 
If you got mostly D responses, you’re:
Hester Prynne from
The Scarlet Letter
.
 
You are rebellious and proud by nature, with a vivacious beauty and sensuous nature that attracts men to you. Women, however, are threatened by your confidence and self-sufficiency and may attempt to sully your reputation. But those who know you best have witnessed your caring and compassionate side. You love creative pursuits, children, and private places by the sea.
 
If you got mostly E responses, you’re:
Daisy Buchanan from
The Great Gatsby.
 
You are beautiful, elegant, and poised, with a magnetic charm that draws people to you. You tend to flirt shamelessly, aware of the power you have over men. While you can be shallow and selfish at times, in your heart, you’re a true romantic. You enjoy shopping, socializing, and the finer things in life.
 
If you enjoyed this quiz, come visit my website (
www.evemariemont.com
) for the follow-up quiz, “Who is your literary soul mate?” plus book trailers, playlists, an author Q&A, and much more!

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