Charade (7 page)

“I’ll be fine,” Logan said and I caught a glimpse of the darkness in him that I sometimes saw. I looked up at Sam to see if he finally noticed, but he was busy glaring at me.

“I’ll hide it,” I blurted.

“What?” Sam’s glare softened.

“I agree that I shouldn’t carry it around with me anymore. You’re right; it’s just too risky.”

“Finally,” Sam muttered.

“But, I don’t think anyone else should carry it around, either. It just isn’t safe, so I’ll hide it.”

Sam nodded. “It could work.”

“It will work,” I said, hope seizing me. This way I could keep it away from Logan, and they would be safe.

“Where are you going to hide it?” Logan asked. Why was he so interested in the scroll all of a sudden?

“I’m not sure,” I said, glad it was the truth so I didn’t have to lie.

“We’ll figure it out,” Sam said, pulling me out of the bathroom, toward the couch.

Just as we sat down my phone rang again. I glanced at the screen to see who it was and my stomach dropped to my knees. It was Cole. I knew he had to be going crazy, wondering what was going on. I grasped the phone tightly, considering what would happen if I answered it.

“Don’t,” Sam murmured, his lips brushing my ear.

I looked up and his face was so near mine. His eyes were tawny and pleading. How could I defy that look? I couldn’t. I wouldn’t risk another argument or a feeling of hurt between us today so I hit the ignore button on my phone. Tension seemed to melt from Sam’s shoulders and he lifted me from the cushions next to him and settled me on his lap, cuddling me close. Logan made a rude noise, but Sam ignored him and brushed a kiss along my forehead.

Thank you.
His voice was just as deep and delicious floating through my mind as it was when he spoke out loud. I kissed the underside of his jaw before settling my head in the crook of his neck and shutting my eyes.

It was almost enough.

Still, I couldn’t forget the fact that someday soon, Cole would confront me and I was going to have to make a choice: defy Sam and tell the truth
or
lie and drive away someone I cared about more than I probably should.

Chapter Four

Heven

Clink, clink, clink. Tap, Tap, Tap.

The light sounds startled me in the quiet of the house and I jumped. Warily, I glanced over at the window. Something was hitting the panes, making them tremble in the night.

A few disturbing thoughts went through my head with startling force.

I was alone.

Sam wouldn’t make sounds at the window; he would let himself in.

The window was unlocked.

Clink, clink, clink.

I swallowed the fear lodged in my throat and climbed out of bed, taking with me the heavy flashlight I had been using to read. I told myself it wasn’t a demon. What demon knocks before attacking? I looked over my shoulder at the clock; it was just after eleven. Not awfully late, but not early either.

Tap, tap, tap.

I took a breath, slid the window up and peered out into the night, clutching the flashlight like a bat. I expected some growling demon to burst into my room. I did not expect to hear my name being called from the ground.

“Heven?”

The voice was very familiar, but different somehow and it gave me pause. This was a trick. A trick from a smart demon, it wanted me to come out so it could attack. Still, I said, “Hello?”

“It’s me. Can you come down?”

“Cole?” I asked, shining the light down into the yard. It bounced off his face and he cringed.

“Geez, Hev, are you trying to blind me?”

I couldn’t stop the smile. But then I frowned at the way he slurred his words. “Are you drunk?” I demanded.

“I had a few,” he mumbled. “Are you coming down or what?”

I debated, still wondering if it was a trick. I looked down at his aura, the colors still visible in the dark. It was the same as always, the same magenta color that no one else had. He couldn’t fake that. The way his aura pulsed and waved told me that he had more than a few drinks.

“Did you drive here?” I hissed.

He made a noise. “Fine, if you won’t come down, I’ll come up.” He stumbled toward the side of the house, crashing into something in the yard. “Owww!” He howled.

I winced. “I’m coming down. Meet me on the porch.” I hurried to close the window and snagged a plush blanket off the bed before quietly making my way downstairs into the kitchen. Briefly, I thought about sending Sam a thought, telling him that Cole was here. I knew that he would drop what he was doing with Logan and come right over because he didn’t like Cole, and because he sensed that there might be more between us than friendship. Ashamed, I brushed the thought away as quickly as it came. I wouldn’t manipulate him that way. I wouldn’t use his feelings against him just to get his attention.

Even if I sometimes wanted to.

There were a few nights that Sam spent with Logan, but mostly he slept here, even if he didn’t arrive until very late. I hadn’t heard that he was staying at his place so I knew that he would be here soon. The thought gave me pause. I’d better get Cole out of here before Sam arrived and found us both together with me in my PJs.

It wouldn’t be good.

I switched on the porch light and opened the door. Cole was there, lounging against the frame, a drunk but very cute smile on his lips. “Hey.”

“What are you doing here?” I scowled.

He pushed away from the door and came in, his arms brushing mine as he walked into the kitchen. He bumped into a chair and swore.

“Shhh!” I insisted and switched on the small light over the sink, hoping it would be enough for his drunkenness to see.

He laughed and turned the chair around and sat down in it backward, resting his arms on the back. He looked rumpled with his shirt half tucked in. There was a hole in his jeans at the knee, and one of his shoes was untied. His face was flushed and his eyes were bright, but bloodshot, and I could smell beer on his breath.

“You’re a mess.” I sighed and wrapped the blanket around his shoulders, pulling it closed. Then I bent and tied his shoe lace, double knotting them both for good measure.

“Thanks,” he said, his voice only slightly slurred.

Still bent low at his shoe, I looked up. His face was just above mine and I could see all the different blues that made up the color of his eyes. He reached down and swept my hair out of my face. I pulled back and stood. “What are you doing here, Cole?”

“You didn’t answer my calls.”

“Do you want some water?” I avoided his questioning stare and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. To my surprise the distraction worked. He took the water, gulping it down.

“What’s going on with you?” I asked. Getting drunk and showing up at my house was something he had never done before. In fact, he’d never been here at all. Aside from the fact that he walked in on something freaky including me, an ice cream shop and a demon and got no explanation, things seemed a little… different… with him anyway.

He sighed and sat the water aside. “I don’t know.”

“How are things with you and Kimber?” Given the phone call I got from Kimber and all the jealousy she carried with her, I knew they couldn’t be great.

“I don’t love her anymore.” Cole said matter of fact. It startled me and I looked up sharply.

“You don’t?”

He shook his head. “Haven’t since we broke up that last time when she used Sam to get back at me for kissing Jenna.”

I swallowed down the guilt I felt for that situation because Sam had used Kimber too, which only made her relationship with Cole worse. “But you forgave her.”

He nodded. “I always do.”

My heart sank. He had always forgiven her and I never once wondered what all those times cost him. Until now. “I’m so sorry.” I went over and placed a hand on his shoulder. Being friends with Kimber was difficult so I couldn’t imagine what it was like to date her.

“Hell, I’m the one who kissed Jenna in the first place. It had been just a stupid bet, but…” His words trailed away.

“But?” I squeezed his shoulder.

“Part of me wondered what it would be like to be with someone else. Someone less difficult.”

“Jenna is not less difficult,” I muttered.

He laughed, then looked up at me. “I’m not into Jenna.”

My heart began pounding. “That’s good,” I whispered.

“But I’m not into Kimber anymore, either.”

I let out the breath I didn’t know I was holding. I wanted to tell him to be honest with her, but Kimber was my best friend. How could I tell her boyfriend to break up with her?

“Things are changing,” Cole went on. “And not just between me and Kimber.”

“I don’t know what you mean,” I said, backing away from him. I prayed he didn’t hear the lie in my voice. I busied myself by refolding the dish towels by the sink.

“Even my mom is acting weird.”

“Like how?” I lied again, even though I knew exactly what he was talking about.

“I don’t know.” He shook his head. “It’s almost like she’s hiding something.” I looked over at whatever I heard in his voice. His blue eyes speared me with a look so clear I would have sworn he was sober. “Just like you.”

I sucked in a breath, wondering what to do. Did I have it in me to make up another lie? To laugh off his words and pretend that it was all in his head? Wasn’t he my friend? He was hurting and confused, and I identified with those feelings way more than I wished I did. Yet, if I said anything, I would be betraying Sam. He’s given up so much for me and never once asked for anything in return.

I opened my mouth, unsure what was going to come out when suddenly the overhead light came on, startling in its brightness. Cole moved fast, almost like on instinct, coming to block me from whatever entered the room. I blinked in shock before stepping around him. “Gran.”

“I heard voices,” Gran said, her aura and body relaxing as she realized it was only me.

“I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“I thought Sam had gone home hours ago,” Gran said, looking at Cole. Her eyes rounded as she saw that it wasn’t Sam.

“This is Cole, Gran. You’ve heard me talk about him before.” I grabbed his arm and pulled him forward, praying he wouldn’t act drunk.

“Of course!” Gran said, staring at him.

We both waited for her to continue with how late it was and that friends shouldn’t be visiting at this time of night. She didn’t say anything. She just stared at him, her eyes skimming his face over and over again.

Cole cleared his throat. “I’m sorry to have come by so late, Mrs. Uhhh…”

“Just call me Gran, honey,” she said, still staring.

Cole nodded. “Gran.”

Cole continued to talk, to give an explanation of why he was here so late, but I didn’t hear it. Gran’s aura was shifting and changing so rapidly that I had a hard time keeping up. Yellows, reds, blues, browns, mustard even some pink bloomed around her. I had no idea what it meant. How could so many colors, a range of so many emotions come into play at once and make sense?

“Gran, are you feeling okay?”

Gran finally pulled her eyes away from Cole to look at me. “Of course. I’m just a little fuzzy-headed because I was sleeping.”

Cole stepped forward and grasped her arm. “Would you like to sit down?” He led her over to the table and pulled out a chair. When she was seated, he wrapped the discarded blanket around her shoulders.

“Aren’t you a nice young man?” Gran said. I heard the slightest catch in her voice.

What in the world was going on?

Cole didn’t seem to notice anything wrong and he took a seat across from Gran. He chatted with her for a few minutes about nothing and they both laughed at a joke he told.

“I really should be going,” Cole said, standing. He turned toward Gran. “I’m really sorry to have woken you.”

“You’re leaving? You can’t drive in your state!” Gran said, standing.

Cole and I both stared at her in shock.

She chuckled. “I may be old, but I know when someone’s drunk.”

A laugh bubbled out of my throat. Cole grinned.

“I’ll get some blankets; you can sleep on the couch.”

Cole seemed about to disagree, but I cut him off. “You can’t drive, Cole. We’ll worry.” I would worry.

He nodded.

Gran disappeared and came back seconds later with an armful of blankets and pillows. “Here we go.” She was almost chipper.

“I’ll get that, Gran. You can go back to bed,” I said, swallowing and wondering if she would give me that look I would most certainly get from Mom. Leaving me alone at night with a boy…

“Thank you, honey. I’ll see you in the morning. I’ll make a big breakfast.” I nodded, blinking back the tears in my eyes. She actually trusted me. Gran turned to Cole and patted his cheek. “I’ll see you at breakfast.”

“I’m sorry again,” Cole said.

Gran smiled. “I’m not. I’m so glad to have met you.”

We both stared after her as she left the room.

Cole spoke first. “I need some air.” He opened the door and walked out into the cool summer night.

“Cole?” I followed behind him. He staggered a bit by the stairs and wrapped an arm around the post and pulled back. I heard a great ripping sound.

“Oops,” he said, turning to look at me.

I laughed. There was a huge rip in the front of his shirt.

“This was my favorite shirt,” he muttered, and in one swift movement, he pulled it up over his head and tossed it at his feet. I averted my gaze, but not before I noted how wide his shoulders were and how toned his muscles had gotten from playing football.

“I’ll go make up the couch.”

“Heven, wait.”

I stopped and turned back. In two great strides he was standing in front of me. “Do you ever think about what it would be like?”

“What?”

“To kiss me?”

“N-no.” I shook my head back and forth, backing away.

“Never?” He stepped closer, almost prowling toward me, and lowered his head.

“I’m in love with Sam.” There was no hint of doubt in my voice because I did love him.

Cole’s lips covered mine, silencing my words. It was a light kiss; his lips were warm and he smelled like beer. I pulled back, stumbling. He reached out to steady me.