Chasing Shadows (19 page)

"Well, I hope you and your assigned reading have a fabulous time tonight. Remember, call me tomorrow with the details."

Jenny giggled, sounding happy. "I will. Talk to you later."

I waited impatiently for Sarah to come home and then pounced on her before she could even take off her coat, shepherding her back outside so we could go grocery shopping. I was relieved that Kendra wasn't with her because I didn't want her big eyes watching me while I vented about her brother.

I told Sarah about my vision and my encounter with Neal on the drive to the grocery store. I frowned when she started laughing.

"Caitlin, you have to admit—it
does
sound like you were hitting on the guy."

"Can't you ask someone of the opposite sex over for dinner and not be hitting on him? A dinner with other people, no less!"

"I guess, but not out of the blue and not with someone you don't even know. And having a pretend conversation at a bar doesn't count as knowing someone. Honestly, I don't blame Simon for being annoyed."

I crossed my arms, not expecting her response. "But you should've seen the way he acted. He practically ordered me to make sure Neal understood that I belonged to him.
Belonged
to him. Have you ever heard of anything so archaic?"

Sarah glanced at me with an amused expression and then turned her attention back to the road. "Actually, I think it's kind of romantic. He wants you so much that he can't stand the thought of any other guy thinking he has a chance with you."

I sighed, knowing that I wasn't going to sway Sarah to my side. "Hopefully Simon will get his head on straight when he sees that Neal isn't interested in me tonight. Right now I can only concentrate on shopping for food. Vanquishing vardogers and jealous boyfriends will have to wait until later."

I filled Sarah in on my conversation with Jenny while shopping, and she was as amused as I was by their evasive tactics. I started making dinner as soon as we got home, assembling the lasagna and nervously checking the clock as it got closer to seven. Taking steps to actually get to know the people in my visions was unchartered territory for me, and I hoped I was up to the task.

I jumped when the doorbell rang but I let Sarah answer it since I was knee-deep in garlic bread. I was relieved when I heard Grant's voice and I quickly put the bread in the oven.

"Hey, Grant," I said as I walked into the living room. I gave him a quick hug, shivering from the cold that was still clinging to his body from the frigid temperatures outside.

"Hi, Caitlin." Grant put his nose up in the air. "What's that I smell? Garlic?"

"Garlic bread and lasagna."

Grant's eyes lit up and Sarah socked him lightly in the arm. "Plus salad. I made the salad."

Grant grinned, wrapping his arm around Sarah. "Luckily, that's my favorite. No one can chop lettuce like you, babe."

Sarah laughed, pushing him away as he leered jokingly at her.

"I hate to break this up, but I just wanted to let you know, before he gets here, that someone new is coming over tonight. His name is Neal."

"Neal? Who's Neal?"

Although Grant knew about my visions and the existence of vardogers, neither Simon nor I had told him about what really happened in Connecticut, and I had sworn Sarah to secrecy. When we first came back to Maxwell, I had told Grant that I wanted to concentrate on building my life back up, not on shadows and death. Grant had immediately agreed and had never brought up the subject. It was as if he wanted to forget what he had seen, pretend like it had never happened. Sarah told me he never even broached the subject with her and she believed that he was blocking it out because it was too hard to fathom. I didn't blame him.

I decided to tell Grant the story I had told Neal. "He's someone I met during one of your shows. He seems like a nice guy so I invited him over for dinner."

Grant raised his eyebrows. "Does Simon know?"

I sighed. Maybe I was the dense one. I didn't have much experience dating and everyone seemed to think it was odd to invite Neal over for dinner.

"Yes, he knows. He was standing right next to me when I invited him."

Grant shrugged at my answer and Sarah distracted him by pulling him into the kitchen to get something to drink. I tensed when the doorbell rang, but I was relieved when Simon just smiled at me when I opened the door as he and Kendra stepped in, leaning down to kiss me hello. He seemed to have shaken his earlier bad mood and I was grateful that it was one less thing I had to deal with tonight.

Kendra was her usual ball of energy, talking a mile a minute about what she had bought today with Sarah and the tour of campus Simon had apparently given her before dinner.

"Jenny and Marcus can't make it, but Grant's in the kitchen with Sarah."

"Where's the guest of honor?"

"Simon, don't start."

Simon held up his hands innocently. "Just joking."

The doorbell rang again as Grant and Sarah walked back into the living room carrying bottles of beer. I was still right next to the door so I opened it, preparing myself for seeing Neal.

I gulped when I saw him. Not because of the flashbacks of my vision that were rushing through my mind. It was because he was standing there holding a single rose, looking at me warmly. I suddenly got a very bad feeling.

"Hi, Neal," I said weakly, stepping back. "Come on in."

Everyone's eyes seemed to immediately hone in on the flower Neal was holding, but he didn't seem to notice. He held it out to me with a sweet smile.

"Just a small token to thank you for inviting me over."

That was all it was. A token of gratitude. I tried to clear my mind of misgivings as I reached out to take the rose. "Thanks. That was really sweet of you." I suddenly felt a heavy arm settle around my shoulders. I didn't have to look up to know who it was.

"Hi, Neal." Simon's tone sounded far from friendly, but it didn't seem to affect Neal's sunny disposition.

"Hey, Simon. Good to see you again." He held up a bottle of wine that he had been holding in his other hand. I had been so focused on the flower that I hadn't even seen him holding it. "What should I do with this?"

Sarah was suddenly beside me and she grabbed the bottle. "I'll take that. I'm Sarah, Caitlin's roommate."

Sarah took over the introductions, smoothing over the awkwardness. Grant was friendly and Kendra was her bubbly self, but Simon was boring holes into Neal with his eyes. He glanced down at me, scowling at the rose in my hand.

"I need to go check on the food. I'll be right back." I grabbed Simon's sleeve, pulling him along with me. "Why don't you help me?"

Simon allowed me to drag him into the kitchen, although he shook off my hand when we got there.

"Simon, please," I whispered fiercely, dropping the flower on the counter. "Don't go all caveman on me tonight. I'll make it clear to Neal that I'm not available, but I can't alienate him either."

"This is bullshit. Some asshole is drooling all over my girlfriend, bringing her goddamned flowers, and I'm supposed to just take it?"

I placed my hands on his chest, trying to soothe him. "Remember what this is all about. His vardoger is after him. I need to help him. Simon, I need to save his
life.
After I succeed, I'll never have to see him again."

Simon stared at me for a few moments, and then he closed his eyes. I could see the tension on his face and I reached up, running my hand across his jaw and kissing him gently. "Simon, I love you. Only you."

Simon groaned, deepening the kiss. When he finally pulled back, he gave me a grim smile. "I'll go along with it, but don't think I won't be there every step of the way, reminding him that you're off limits."

"Okay, okay." I pushed Simon out of the kitchen. "Now, play nice."

I grabbed a wine opener and glasses before joining everyone in the living room. Grant and Sarah were sitting on the couch along with Neal, who was chatting with them. Kendra was sitting on the floor, interjecting comments into the conversation every so often, and Simon was just standing there, watching them.

"Who wants a glass of wine?" I asked cheerily, deftly opening the bottle of wine. Grant and Sarah declined since they were drinking beer but Kendra looked up at Simon hopefully.

"Please? Just one glass?"

Simon sighed and crossed his arms. "Fine, just one glass." He glanced over at me. "A
small
one."

Neal got up and walked over to me with an easy smile. "Why don't I give you a hand?"

"Thanks," I said nervously. He handed me a glass to pour wine into and I jumped when his fingers brushed against mine. I inwardly lectured myself. All this talk about Neal was making me jumpy for no reason. I needed to get a handle on my emotions.

I poured a small glass of wine for Kendra, which Neal handed to her with a grin. "Don't go drinking all of this at once because I have a feeling you won't be getting a refill."

Kendra smiled at him dreamily as she took the glass, obviously affected by his golden California good looks. I couldn't help noticing he had the body of a surfer, lean with broad shoulders. I guiltily pushed the thought away, feeling disloyal. Despite Neal's surface appeal, he was no competition for Simon.

I glanced at Simon watching me and gave him a half-smile, praying that he hadn't been able to read my thoughts. "Simon, do you want a glass?"

"No." I watched as he stalked into the kitchen and heard him grabbing a bottle of beer from the refrigerator. Neal walked back over to me, holding out another glass.

"I hope you'll try some. I'm not a wine aficionado but the guy at the wine store recommended it."

"Of course. But guests first. Let me pour you a glass." I reached to take the glass from Neal's hand and I wasn't sure if I just imagined his hand purposely grazing mine. My eyes shot up to his but he was just smiling at me guilelessly. I quickly filled the glass and handed it back to Neal before I poured my own, taking a large gulp.

Simon came back from the kitchen and sat on the arm of the recliner, studying the scene before him with narrowed eyes. Sarah looked up from talking to Grant and smiled at Neal.

"Neal was telling us earlier that he's a senior too. I didn't realize seniors lived in Bowery Hall."

Neal reclaimed his seat on the couch next to Grant and Sarah and I made my way to the recliner. Simon immediately started stroking the back of my neck when I sat down, and I didn't miss the propriety statement he was making.

Neal glanced over at us before answering. "Yeah, it's mostly a freshman dorm but there are other seniors who live there too. I've lived there since I was a freshman and it's convenient. I'd only move if I were able to live in an apartment, but I'm on scholarship so my housing is already paid for. I figured it wasn't worth the extra cost of living off campus."

"Where are you from?" Kendra asked eagerly. I could already tell she was smitten with Neal.

"Southern California. Let me tell you, the winters here have been brutal."

Sarah laughed. "You should talk to our friend Jenny. She's from Florida and she acts like she'll never last through another winter."

"What about you?" Neal asked, looking directly at me. "Where are you from?"

I started from his sudden attention. I cleared my throat, feeling everyone's eyes on me. "I'm from Philadelphia."

"The city of brotherly love," Neal commented with a grin. "And cheese steaks."

Simon's hand on my neck tensed so I leaned into him, trying to reassure him. "We're all from the east coast. My boyfriend is from Connecticut."

I looked up at Simon and he gave me a half-smile, knowing that my obsequious use of the term boyfriend was meant to send Neal a signal. He leaned down and gave me a soft kiss, gently massaging my scalp. I flushed as we broke apart, acutely aware of our audience.

Kendra grinned at Neal, oblivious to the tension in the room. "Don't mind them. They're always like that. It would be gross if it wasn't so romantic."

Neal was staring at us, an enigmatic expression on his face. He then looked down at Kendra, smiling. "Thanks for the tip."

Kendra monopolized the rest of the conversation, continuing to talk a mile a minute even after we started eating. Most of it was directed towards Neal and I tuned most of it out, thinking about the task I had before me. I didn't know how I was going to stay close to Neal without giving him the wrong idea. I pondered telling him the truth but realized that he would just think I was crazy and keep his distance. That was the last thing I needed.

"Look outside." Simon's voice was low as he spoke close to my ear. I smiled in glee when I saw big, fat snowflakes drifting down outside.

"It's snowing!" I squealed, getting up and walking over to the window. There was already a light dusting on the street, and the cars and trees were rapidly becoming covered with snow.

Sarah jumped up to join me at the window and laughed as she glanced at me. "Jenny is probably freaking out right now. Her first date with Marcus and it snows."

I felt arms slip around me and I leaned back into Simon's warmth. Sarah gave us a knowing look and went back to join everyone in the living room. Simon and I stood there for a few moments, watching the snowflakes swirling around.

"I love snow."

Simon's arms tightened around me, his lips close to my ear. "It's our first snowfall together. We're going to have a lot of firsts together."

I bit my lip. If only he knew the biggest first that I would experience with him. Because I knew despite wanting to wait, I wanted my first experience with making love to be with Simon. I wanted him as my first, my last and everything in between.

We watched the snow for a few more moments and then joined the rest of the group. Neal was a perfect gentleman for the rest of the evening, treating me like just a new friend. I was relieved that Neal seemed to easily accept that friendship was the only thing he was going to get from me.

Chapter Nineteen

I woke up Monday morning to a winter wonderland. A thick layer of snow coated every surface outside and made the sun shining into my room even brighter than normal. The vision of Neal that had occurred last night faded as I quickly got ready for class, although I was really preparing to see Neal again.