Eternal Starling (Emblem of Eternity Trilogy) (14 page)

If I thought there was a chance Emil and I could forget our past relationships and move on together, I would do it in a second. Emil was a good guy who treated me well. Aside from everything else, there was no denying the connection we had. I had wanted to make it work, but after today, I realized that probably wasn’t possible.

Obviously, Emil was in love with someone else. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized I still had feelings for Alex and needed to deal with them. I didn’t know the best course of action to take. On one hand, I really liked spending time with Emil and didn’t want to give that up, but he was emotionally unavailable, and so was I. Maybe that was a good thing, though? Maybe that would be the reason a friendship with benefits could work. If we both had feelings for other people, we didn’t have to worry about hurting each other.

I got out of the shower and put on some pajama pants and a T-shirt. I grabbed my copy of
Gone With The Wind
from my bookshelf and started reading at one of my favorite parts. The last thing I remembered was Rhett and Scarlett arguing, reminding me of the men in my life. I drifted off into sleep, images of Alex and Emil clouding my dreams.

Chapter 10

The next morning
I was in the middle of curling my hair when the phone rang. I walked to my room and answered, “Hello?”

“Hi, sexy,” I recognized Emil’s voice on the other end. Considering what happened on our hiking trip, I wasn’t sure how to react.

“Hi.” My voice was indifferent, but he didn’t seem to notice, or ignored it if he did.

“How’d you sleep?”

“Good. I slept in this morning, it was nice.”

“What are you doing this afternoon?” he asked.

“Just some homework,” I answered. “Why?”

“I’d like to see you,” he said. “I was thinking about going to a movie. Do you want to come?”

I did have homework, but it was only light reading and research for papers I was working on. I wasn’t sure about seeing Emil, but decided that aside from the minor issue of us both having unresolved feelings for other people, there was no reason we shouldn’t spend time together. “A movie would be good, what time does it start?”

“Three-thirty,” he answered. “I’ll pick you up around three.”

“Okay. I’ll see you soon.” As I hung up the phone I wondered if spending time with Emil would be awkward now. The tone of our relationship had changed yesterday—for me at least.

I knew I was being hypocritical, given that every day, I secretly hoped Alex would show up on my front porch professing his feelings for me and giving me a full explanation. I knew his appearance in the college parking lot was probably as close as I would ever come to that fantasy. That day I had still been so furious I hadn’t even wanted to talk to him. Even then, he wasn’t asking me to be with him—he was asking me not to be with Emil. I sighed, thinking of what might have been with Alex.

I made a cheese sandwich and took it back to the table. I pulled my books from my bag and was engrossed in reading when I heard a knock. I glanced at the clock and realized it was later than I thought. I left my books on the table, and got up to open the door.

Emil’s jeans hung low on his hips, a black t-shirt snug over his chest. One corner of his mouth curved up. “Hey, are you ready to go?” he asked.

“Not quite, I lost track of time.” I pushed the screen door open and Emil walked inside. “I need to change clothes. I’ll be right back,” I yelled as I ran up the steps to my room. I quickly pulled on dark blue jeans, a white T-shirt, and sandals.

Emil whistled as I came down the stairs. “Damn, you’re hot.” I smiled, but it was more of a courtesy than an acknowledgement of his compliment. I grabbed my purse and keys from the side table and followed Emil out of the house. He held the screen door open while I locked the deadbolt. He rested his hand lightly on my back while we walked to his BMW.

Once we were on the way to the theater, Emil glanced over at me, concern in his eyes. “What’s wrong, Evie?” I wondered how long it had taken him to realize the change in my mood. Had he been ignoring it since yesterday afternoon, or hoping it was something that would go away?

“Nothing,” I answered in typical girl-speak.

His face was indignant. “Don’t do that,” he said. “You’re not the type of girl who’s afraid to speak her mind. Don’t start holding back now.”

I looked out the car window, silent.

“If you don’t want to tell me what’s going on, that’s fine . . . as long as it doesn’t have anything to do with me.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Even if there is something wrong, what makes you think it involves you?”

He took a deep breath. “When I picked you up yesterday morning you couldn’t wait to spend the day with me, but by yesterday afternoon, you acted like I had mono.”

“How observant of you,” I said, folding my arms across my chest.

“So your mood
is
because of me.” The statement was not a question.

“I didn’t say that,” I answered. “I said you were oddly perceptive for being a guy.”

Though he was trying not to show it, I could tell Emil was getting aggravated. He was silent as he found a parking spot and shut the car off. He turned his head toward me and looked me square in the eyes. “You
will
tell me what’s bothering you at some point today.” It was a command, not a question—and I don’t handle commands well.

I opened the car door instead of answering. I heard Emil heave an exasperated sigh. I waited for him to get out of the car, and walked beside him into the theater. I wasn’t sure why I was so upset with him. I had no reason to be jealous of Cassandra. I’d never met her, and I had feelings for someone else myself. The situation shouldn’t have bothered me so much.

As I was thinking, Emil bought my movie ticket. I said I would get the popcorn since he got the tickets. After standing in line for our butter-soaked snack and drinks, we walked into the theater, sitting down about seven rows from the back wall. The movie wasn’t a new release and it was the middle of the day on a Saturday, so the theater was relatively bare. Aside from a few people sitting in front and to the side of us, no one else was there.

We only had to wait a few minutes for the movie previews to start and I was grateful I wouldn’t be having another discussion about my mood with Emil until after the movie. I had no idea what I should say to him.
I
didn’t understand how I was feeling, so how was I supposed to explain it to
him
?

Halfway through the movie, I heard someone come into the theater. They must have sat behind us because I didn’t see anyone walk up either aisle, and didn’t hear the theater door open again. After the standard ninety minutes, the movie ended and the few people in front of us began filing out of the theater.

“Are you ready to go?” Emil asked, picking up his empty cup and some napkins. He was trying to pretend nothing was wrong.

“Yeah,” I said, putting my trash in the popcorn bucket so I could throw it away. Everyone sitting in front of us had left and we were alone in the theater. I stood, and Emil followed me. As we walked toward the door, I saw someone step into the aisle from a shadow on our right. I gasped and froze. My thoughts immediately turned to the strangers with the red web scars on their arms.

I twisted to look for another exit and find out how far behind me Emil was. As I did, I saw Emil, still and staring straight ahead at the man in the aisle, his eyes on fire and his face fuming. The man in the aisle—still in shadow—turned his head toward me, then back to Emil, and started walking slowly forward. Emil did the same.

As the man got closer, he walked into the beam of one of the theater lights and my breath caught in my throat. I didn’t know whether to be relieved, happy, or angry. I decided on a combination of all three. I was glad he wasn’t one of my stalkers, and happy I got the chance to see him, but angry because he had followed Emil and me to the theater and I didn’t know why.

Alex and Emil stopped within a few feet of each other, glaring. I was standing slightly behind Emil, watching and worried. Alex gave me a quick glance, his emerald eyes bright even in the low lights of the theater. His face was apologetic as he said, “I’m sorry, Evie. I know you told me to leave you alone, but this time, I can’t.”

I looked at Alex, confused, and saw the rage intensifying on Emil’s face. I wasn’t sure what was happening, but one thing was clear: Alex and Emil knew each other. I had no idea how, but their shared look of hatred made it evident. The conversation I had that day with Alex in the parking lot came flooding back to me. The questions Alex posed to me about Emil and the possibilities of him being dangerous, it couldn’t be true, could it? Confusion was erupting as my eyes tracked from one guy to the other.

Alex and Emil stared each other down until Alex spoke. “It wasn’t enough to hurt her with your lies once, now you have to do it again?” Alex’s teeth were clenched, the question accusatory.

Emil glowered and shot back, “Like you didn’t leave her in shambles. How could you claim to love her, yet stand back and watch as she went through that kind of pain? Don’t act so noble. You know you’re the reason she came to me. To
me
, Night,
she
wanted
me
.” Emil’s entire countenance changed, even his voice. Everything about him became darker.

Alex fisted his hands. “She didn’t come to you, Stone,” he said, almost spitting the name. “You manipulated her. You’re an expert at that.”

Emil’s eyes narrowed. “You have no idea what you’re talking about. Make
no
mistake that
you
are the one who made her so vulnerable.”

Alex seemed resigned and angry. “I know what my lapse in judgment caused, that’s why I’m here now. You already know this, but I feel the need to make myself clear. I am watching.”

Emil laughed dryly. “Of course you are.” He inclined his head. “What were you thinking? Your relationship made the bond stronger and easier to track.”

Alex gave Emil a pointed look, nodding toward me as if to say they weren’t alone. I stood, watching, the confusion painted across my face.

“I didn’t say I made the right decision, I said I’m going to make sure no more repercussions occur because of it.” Alex’s voice resounded in warning.

“I think it’s a little late for trying to make amends in this situation,” Emil said.

Alex stepped forward and in a low, threatening whisper I could barely hear, he said, “Make no mistake, Stone. If you hurt Evie, I
will
kill you.”

Emil gave a hostile smile. “
I
wouldn’t hurt her, and killing me is quite a threat considering the penalty for you.”

Alex’s eyes were ominous and cold as he told Emil through gritted teeth, “It’s a sentence I’m more than willing to risk. I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but I will find out.”

Emil scowled as Alex turned to me, his face pleading. “Evie, I’ll take you home if you want me to.”

I wasn’t sure what I wanted. I didn’t even know what had just happened. Before I could say anything, Emil answered for me, “She’s been fine without you for weeks, she’ll be fine now.”

“She was never without me, and my question was for Evie, not you,” Alex growled.

“I think Evie would argue about your presence in her life.” Emil turned toward me. “She is
my
girlfriend.
I
will take her home.”

Alex looked at me. “Is that what you want, Evie?” he asked.

I glanced at Alex, then Emil, both of their faces hard, waiting for my response. “Emil can take me home.” I wanted to spend time with Alex, but thought I might have a better chance of getting answers about what was going on if I went with Emil.

Alex’s face fell and Emil gave him a cruel smirk. “I guess you don’t mean as much to her as you thought you did.”

I wanted to protest, but I couldn’t get the words to leave my mouth. Alex glanced at me again, pain in his eyes, and I tried to convey on my face what I couldn’t say. Alex walked away, leaving me stunned and Emil still upset. Once he was gone Emil turned to me, frustrated. “Are you ready?” His voice was short and still dark. I didn’t know if I wanted to go home with him given his current mood, but I nodded my head and followed Emil out of the theater to his BMW.

By the time we got in the car, I had regained some of my senses and wanted an explanation. I put my seatbelt on, laced my hands together, and stared at Emil. He put the key in the ignition and started the car. He pulled out of the parking lot, never meeting my inquiring gaze.

I thought he would say something, but we drove to my house in silence. We pulled into the driveway and Emil turned the car off. He gazed down before looking over to see my infuriated face. He took a deep breath and said, “Your ex-boyfriend is going to be a nuisance.”

That was it? That was all he was going to say after everything Alex and Emil had said to each other? He wasn’t even going to tell me how he knew Alex? There was no way he was getting out of this without giving me more details. “What the hell was that all about?” I asked, my voice much louder than normal, but not quite a yell.

Emil looked blankly out the window as if he hadn’t heard me. “Nothing really. An old rivalry.”

I was irritated and doubtful. “How do you know Alex?”

Emil gave me a strange, mischievous grin. “You could say we’re part of competing fraternities.”

I was confused. “Alex isn’t in college anymore.”

Emil laughed softly. “He certainly isn’t.”

“What did I have to do with your conversation?” I asked.

“It doesn’t matter, Evie.”

I was becoming more and more irate. “I just watched my current and ex-boyfriend almost get into a fist fight. You can sure as hell bet it matters.
Tell
me what you were talking about!” Emil was silent and I was mad. “So you aren’t going to say anything?” I asked.

Emil draped his wrist over the steering wheel. “It’s nothing you need to know right now.”

My anger was growing into full-on rage. I decided I needed to leave or I’d say something I shouldn’t. I opened the door. “My relationship with Alex ended because he couldn’t be honest with me. When you decide you want to tell me what’s going on, call me.”