Cherry Red Summer (Emely and Elyas Book 1) (6 page)

Was it worth sitting next to Elyas in such a tight space if it meant riding in the car I’d dreamed my whole life of having?

I nodded OK, trying as hard as I could to hold myself up on my own. Naturally, my pigheadedness made our progress toward the car much more sluggish, but increased body contact with Elyas would have been the worse alternative by far.

“I can still help you,” he said, walking close to me as I tottered.

“Dream on,” I mumbled. “You’ve taken plenty advantage of the situation already.”

“Yeah, this is my dream come true,” he said with a soft laugh. “If I had seriously wanted to take advantage of the situation, the first thing I’d have done is shove a gag in your mouth.”

“No one’s forcing you to talk to me,” I said, and then kept my mouth shut until we had reached the Mustang. I took in the sight.

“Like my car?” Elyas asked.

“I love it, to be exact,” I said. “The only thing I don’t like is that it’s yours.”

He laughed softly again, annoying me. No matter how mean I was to him, all he did was laugh. Couldn’t he take something personally even just
once
?

He put his hand in his pocket, pulled out the keys, and held them out in front of him. “Wanna drive?”

I stared at him. Had he seriously just offered to let me drive his car? “Really?” I asked, about to jump for joy, though that would not have been the best idea, given my condition. I was
about
to jump, mind you, because with his next breath, Elyas started belly-laughing, and my joy vanished like a grain of sand in the wind.

“No way,” he said. “No one drives this car except me. Sorry, sweetums.”

My jaw dropped. At some point I was going to kill him! One day he would drive me too far, and then the party would be over! Still grinning, he held the passenger door open, and I climbed in, still annoyed.

But my annoyance quickly passed as I checked out my surroundings. I liked them. I liked them
a lot
. Sitting inside my dream car for the first time was better than I’d imagined. Just the scent—I took a deep breath of new-car smell and smiled. Not even Elyas, sliding into the driver’s seat, could distract me from my contentedness. And
that
was something.

“Here,” he said, handing me the bottle of Coke. “You should still be drinking a lot of liquid.”

I nodded and, as I waited for the car to start, even briefly forgot the embarrassment of my fainting spell. When he turned the key and the engine roared loudly, a sound I loved more than anything, it was as though I were drunk. The revving even vibrated my butt—and, damn, I loved it!

The only thing that marred my excitement was that Elyas drove like a lunatic. He had apparently never heard of speed limits, and why take soft turns when you can cut them sharp just as well? Though I should have been terrified, I felt at peace. Despite his maniacal driving, Elyas radiated confidence and seemed to know exactly what he was doing. I couldn’t explain why I felt I was in such good hands.

The breakneck speed had one disadvantage: our spin was over all too quickly. Still, I had fully savored every single second in that car.

When we got out, Elyas insisted he should accompany me upstairs. I objected because it would require spending even more time with him. But no matter what I said, he would not be swayed. He stayed right on my heels. By then I felt considerably better—mostly thanks to the ride in the Mustang—but I was still shaky on my legs. That didn’t keep me from pushing Elyas away every time he tried to help.

After a long struggle, we finally reached my room, and Eva was visibly surprised to see who I had in tow. In fact, she was so into Elyas that she didn’t notice my shaky condition.

“Hi,” she said in a breathy voice, twirling a long strand of black hair around her index finger. “I’m Eva. Who are you?”

I rolled my eyes, walked away from the two of them, and let go of my last bit of strength, dropping onto my bed like a wet sack.

“I’m Elyas,” he said, offering her his hand. “Nice to meet you, Eva.”

“The pleasure is all mine,” she said.

He smiled at her in his charming way, the smugness twinkling in his eyes again. Then, most regrettably, he turned back to me and came to the side of my bed. “Do you need anything else, Emely?”

“Um, yes—to be left alone,” I growled.

He raised an eyebrow. “How about: ‘Thanks, Elyas. You saved my life. How can I ever repay you?’” I grumbled and bit my lower lip because everything inside me resisted thanking him. Sadly, though, he was right. I was being ungrateful, which wasn’t like me at all.

“Thanks, Elyas,” I managed to make my mouth say, trying not to show how much it took for me utter those two stupid words. In response I got a proud smile.

Now please take your red life preserver and get lost, David Hasselhoff!

“You’re welcome,” he said. “Same time tomorrow?”

“Very funny,” I mumbled, still feeling like a total fool.

“What’s the matter, Emely?” Eva said, interrupting. Her face still showed the shock of seeing
me,
of all people, bringing a male visitor to the room.

“She kind of overdid it jogging,” Elyas said.

Eva probably thought she had misheard him. “Jogging?” she repeated.

“Yeah.” Elyas grinned. “She was trying to impress me, probably.”

I glared at him in fury, and would have loved to throw something at him, but nothing was in reach.

He kept up his stupid game with his stupid comments for the next ten minutes, until he finally said good-bye. Eva could hardly wait for the door to click shut behind him before she leaped like a madwoman struck by lightning to sit next to me on the bed.

“
That’s
Elyas?” She was bug-eyed.

“Yeah.” I shrugged, not seeing what the big deal was.

“The same Elyas who’s been hitting on you for, like, ages?”

“Yes, unfortunately.” I scrunched up my face and cuddled into my duvet.

“You could have maybe mentioned how freaking hot he is!”

“What does that have to do with anything?” I said, sighing and hoping Eva would just let me take a nap. My body needed to recover, and I could hardly keep my eyes open.

“It has everything to do with
everything
now that I know what he looks like!”

“Eva, you should know by now that I think a person’s personality is way more important than how they look.” I yawned, and my eyelids became heavier.

“He didn’t come off at all like an assh—,” she started to say, thinking aloud. Of course she had instantly fallen for him, the way most girls did.

“You know what they say: Smile if you want to have sex,” I mumbled.

She nodded, at first confused. Then she seemed to get it. I was already drifting off, exhausted, into dreamland.
What a crappy day
was my last thought before I finally fell asleep.

C
HAPTER
5

I
MMACULATE
C
ONCEPTION

D
ear Emely,

Did you know I’ve been running to my computer every five minutes all day to see if maybe you wrote back? Pathetic, huh?

Plus—sorry to disappoint—but I’m nowhere near done with my questions. For instance, I was just wondering what your favorite books are, or who your favorite writers are.

What does a lit major read in her free time? I’m sure you’ll surprise me.

And why did you tell me to remind you not to go jogging again? Now I’m curious about that.

Hope to hear from you soon! (Ideally within the next five minutes so my next check of the computer won’t be for nothing.)

Yours,

      Luca

Sitting in my room in front of my laptop, I sighed contentedly. I counted my good graces that I was alone and no one could see me, because the whole thing was starting to become genuinely embarrassing. I don’t just mean the humiliating fact that I, at age twenty-three, had an Internet boyfriend, no. It was also the stupid grin I got on my face whenever I received an e-mail from him.

Since I didn’t have anything better to do, I replied right away.

Hi Luca,

Actually the question is, what’s more pathetic? Your running to the computer every five minutes, or my reading e-mail with a stupid grin on my face? As far as being pathetic goes, let’s just roll with the assumption that it’s not like either of us to be so pathetic.

And here I was worrying you wouldn’t think up more questions. How did I ever suppose that you might run out of them?

But unlike your other questions, this one is easy to answer.

My favorite writers are Chuck Palahniuk, Edgar Allan Poe, and Franz Kafka. With that information, you should know my favorite books, assuming you’ve heard of those writers.

What do you like to read?

And as far as the topic of jogging goes
. . .

God, I wish you hadn’t asked.

Let’s just say when klutziness was being handed out, I got way more than my fair share. I’m guessing I was in line for boobs but tripped and ended up in the klutz line twice. So no boobage here, just klutziness.

Maybe it’s good you asked, since I can at least give you fair warning: If we ever meet in person, don’t be surprised if I randomly fall over and break a leg or other essential limb. This is normal for me.

I’m not exaggerating, either, when I say I know my local emergency room workers by their first names (knowledge that is quite practical, it turns out).

Now you can never claim I didn’t warn you.

So today is Saturday. What are you up to tonight?

Yours,

      Emely

P.S. Sorry you had to keep running back to check your computer for nothing!

Was it possible to like someone you’d only known for two weeks and had never—at least not knowingly—seen in the flesh? Though it was hard for me to get used to the idea, apparently it was in fact possible, since I had started to like Luca.

I wasn’t head over heels, but I had enjoyed our several daily e-mails more than I had ever expected.

As I contemplated whether this was a positive or negative development, my cell phone rang me out of my reverie. I got up from the desk and ran over to my bed. The name
A
LEX
blinked on the display.

“Yes?” I answered.

“Hey, baby. I’ve got some good news for you!”

“Elyas was the guy on the news who drove his car into that café?”

“Uh, no,” she said, giggling. “Much better, actually!” Now I was really excited, because it would be hard to top her brother’s demise.

“Today is the day you finally get to wear my top,” she sang.

Though Alex had been studying fashion design for only five weeks, she had recently designed her first top. Alex could be so sweet. Keeping a promise she had made, she had dedicated her first piece to me, and I had to admit I was pleasantly surprised by it. It was a little daring for my tastes, but it still fell within tolerable limits.

“What’s going on?” I asked, frowning because she sounded way more upbeat than she should have been.

“Now please don’t reflexively say no, but hear me out, OK?” she said.

I hated it when she started with “Now please don’t reflexively say no.” That was a major red flag. She was going to suggest something I wouldn’t want to do but would give in on because she would keep pestering me until I did.

“Spit it out, then,” I said with a sigh.

“OK, pay attention. I told you about Sebastian, right?”

“Sebastian?”

“Elyas’s friend,” she reminded me, impatiently.

Oh, right. His hot friend who was into Alex, though she had never said more than hello or goodbye to him. And yet somehow she was in love with his “personality.”

“Yeah, I remember. I just didn’t remember his name,” I said.

“We-e-ll,” she started, drawing out the word. “I happened to overhear Elyas and him talking earlier, and they’re planning to go out to a club tonight. I sort of asked if I could come along, so then it occurred to me that if you came with m
e . . .
We’re going to own that dance floor tonight!
”

I did my best to laugh at her little joke, but then gave her a firm no.

“Emely-y-y,” she whined. “Please, please, pretty please! I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t absolutely necessary! I totally get that you are not into spending an evening out with my brother, but
pleas
e
!
I won’t know anyone there, and I really want your opinion on Sebastian. So please, please, pretty please! It would be a perfect opportunity for you to strike up a conversation with him.” Even over the phone she sounded as though she were on her knees, begging. I hated when she played the pity card like this.

“God, Alex,” I grumbled.

“Please, please! What am I supposed to do without you there?”

“It’s so underhanded the way you go directly for my conscience,” I moaned. “Your mouth is big enough I’m sure you can manage on your own. Plus, it’s not like I’m going to be much help since you’re going to have to
talk
to him yourself eventually.”

“No! You’d be a ton of help. You’d
be
there with me, and that alone would be a huge help!”

I pinched the bridge of my nose.

“Emely,” she started again, “I can’t bring myself to go out alone. I’d feel way too lame. And you do want me to land a good guy, right? Someone I’d be happy with?
Please!
I’ll protect you from my brother, too.”

I grimaced and let loose a snarl.

“Is that a yes?” she squeaked.

How the hell did her groveling and whining evaporate, just like that?

“No, that was not a yes. I’ll only think ab—”

“You’re the best, Emely!” she interrupted. “We’ll pick you up in an hour at the main entrance to campus, OK?”

“Alex, I don’t have any—” I said, starting to protest.

“I knew I could count on you. I’ll totally make it up to you. You’re the best friend anyone could wish for, did you know that? You can’t believe how grateful I am and what a huge help this is!” She chattered on without periods or commas, leaving me no opportunity to say anything, though I was standing there, mouth agape.

Alex knew how to make me feel just guilty enough to always say yes. I hated her for it. When she finally paused for breath, I said, “Alex, I swear to God, you so owe me!”

“Anything, Emely! Just name it! Thank you, thank you, thank you! You’re so awesome!”

I rolled my eyes.

“See you in an hour,” she reminded me. “And wear the top!”

“We’ll see.”

“No, not ‘we’ll see.’ Definitely wear it! Thanks, baby. I’ll see you in a bit!”

“Bye,” I snarled into the phone and hung up.

How did she always force me into doing things I didn’t want to do? And why did I freaking
let
her do it to me again and again? I always asked myself that question, and I never came up with an answer. Today was no exception.

A night on the town with Elyas, for Pete’s sake. Should I just kill myself now, or wait until afterward? It was a tough decision.

I had already run into him twice since the embarrassing fainting incident the previous week. He hadn’t made any annoying comments about it yet, but that didn’t mean he was going to spare me.

And why did they have to be going to a
club
, anyway? What was wrong with a bar?

As I realized what I had gotten myself into, I sighed in frustration. And I realized I barely had enough time to get ready, since I was now going to have to shave my legs.

I grumbled my way to the shower, and forty-five minutes later—I’m a long showerer—I finally left the bathroom and started browsing through my closet for something to wear. I found Alex’s top, pulled it off the hanger, and considered whether I really wanted to wear it.

It was made of a thin, black fabric with a wide band over the bust. Inside the band was a cord you could tighten so it would stay up without straps. The waistline also had a band in it, but without a cord because it was tailored perfectly to my hips. The fabric featured a discreet gray floral pattern. I liked it a lot.

So even though I would never have bought it myself, I liked it. I wondered if I’d change my mind once I was out and about with it on. There was only one way to find out, so I pulled it on and studied myself in the mirror.

I liked that it wasn’t skintight, unlike the clothes Alex usually tried to talk me into. At first, I was still afraid it might slide down, but once I adjusted the cord, it felt firm—“earthquake-proof,” as Alex said. Not having big boobs has its advantages from time to time. If I had D cups, the top definitely wouldn’t have worked so well.

What I didn’t like in the mirror was how pale my skin was. My cleavage, my shoulders, and my arms—they all looked a shade too light. It was no wonder I was so ghostly looking. I spent most of my time in the library, after all, even when it was nice out. I had long ago realized I wasn’t the sort of person who would ever look like I’d just returned from the Caribbean, but tonight I wished I were. Then there was the issue of feeling naked up top, since I wasn’t used to showing so much skin.

I decided to wear at least a little jacket over it. Out of habit I reached for my hoodie, but then thought better of it. I didn’t want to have to sleep with the bouncer just to get into the club, so instead I opted for a short black cardigan with a single-button at chest height.

The second I added the jacket I liked my reflection much better. But there was always the risk of ruining the whole outfit if I picked the wrong slacks. I took out some dark-blue jeans that matched the top nicely and slid them on.

I left my hair down, and since I practically never wore makeup, I didn’t bother putting any on now, either. Even if I had wanted to wear different shoes, I was stuck with sneakers because that was all I owned. Once I had them on, I checked to see if Luca had e-mailed. Sadly he hadn’t, and since it was close to my pickup time, I grabbed my purse and phone and left the building.

It took only two minutes for the Mustang of my dreams to stop in front of me. I sighed.

God, it looked even better in the twilight.

Alex opened the passenger door and gave me a hug hello. “It’s so great you’re coming,” she squeaked as I gave her some serious stinkeye. It’s not like I was here voluntarily. But she just grinned.

Alex looked great, as always, though I found her getup almost over-the-top. She wore some freaking-tight jeans and a dark-blue halter top, with her long curls cascading over her shoulders. She basically looked like an angel who was ready for some action.

I kept expecting her to criticize my cardigan, but oddly that didn’t happen.

“Wow, you look really good,” Alex said instead as she studied me. “The cardigan works great with that.”

Now I was suspicious.

“I can only concur with my sister,” Elyas chimed in from behind. He had opened the driver’s door and gotten out, watching us with his chin in his hand and his elbow on the roof of the car. His cinnamon-colored hair was a bit messed up, as I now knew it usually was, but his admittedly pretty eyes somehow seemed to glow, even in the falling darkness. He was wearing a black button-down shirt with a tailored fit and the collar open. To be honest, he looked pretty damned hot.

Too bad he was such an
ass
.

“That the cardigan looks good on me?” I pressed.

“No,” he said, smiling. “That you look great, of course.”

I rolled my eyes but noticed he was totally checking me out. Then that devilish grin reappeared on his lips.

“It makes your boobs look bigger somehow,” he said.

Jerk!
I silently cursed him as I glared his way.

“Alex, you sit in front!” I said, leaving no room for debate.

Evidently, she thought she would debate it. “The back is pretty cramped, and I’m a lot shorter than you,” she said.

“You remember when the saucepan lid fell behind the cabinets and you had me crawl back there to get it? I don’t seem to recall your being very interested in how cramped I felt then.”

She smiled. “All right. I was just trying to help you avoid getting one more bruise.”

“I’m so glad to have you as a friend,” I said drily as I pushed past her and climbed silently into the backseat. Since the Mustang was a three-door, the passenger seat back had to be folded down for me to climb in back. And yes, it was pretty damned cramped. But someho
w . . .
so nice. Better cramped than having to sit next to Elyas. Alex raised the front seat back into position and slid into the passenger seat.

“Well? Do you have enough room?” Elyas asked as he also got in.

“Plenty,” I replied curtly.

He nodded, bent toward Alex, and fumbled in the glove compartment for his iPod. He inserted it into the sound system before starting the engine and driving off.