Fae (29 page)

“Frank, this is Patrick. He goes to Plymouth High School,” I said, introducing the two.

“Nice to meet you sir,” Patrick said politely as he extended his arm.

“Plymouth? That's a long way to come for a meal.” I was glad to know that Frank was just as suspicious as I had been. It made me feel less paranoid.

“I know,” he replied smoothly as he smiled at me. “I actually came out here to see Caroline.”

There I went blushing again.

“Really?” Frank asked still giving him a look over. “Well then, you've got to be hungry.”

“Starving.”

“Have a seat, and I'll fix you something.”

“Thanks, I really appreciate it, especially since it looks like you guys are closing up.” Patrick looked around at the empty restaurant. It was practically a ghost town.

“We're not closing for another hour. We're just real slow tonight,” I told him feeling even more guilty about the way I treated him. We walked to the front of the restaurant, and Patrick took a seat on the stool by the bar. He was rubbing his hands together, trying to ward off the cold air we had just left outside.

“Something to drink?”

“Water is fine.”

I grabbed him a bottle of water from the bar and began pouring it into a glass.

“Your dinner should be out really soon. Frank is quick. And good. Which is equally important,” I told him.

Patrick smiled at me in appreciation as I faced him on the other side of the long wooden bar. I placed both of my hands under my chin and watched as he took a long sip of the water. I couldn't stop myself from wondering how he described me to Maryann, considering that I only seemed to remember giving him my first name on the night that we met.

“Look I don't want you to think that I'm some weirdo. I just thought you were really nice and different from the other girls at my school, and I thought we had a great talk after the game, so I know it's a bit presumptuous, but I really wanted to see you in person,” Patrick said as he placed the glass on the bar.

Presumptuous.

That was another thing. The way he spoke. I could count the number of guys I had met who had a strong vocabulary. And one of them was my dad, and the other was Devilyn. Then I realized it, they were so similar. In so many ways.

Their good looks.

Their mannerisms.

And now their intelligence.

“I don't know what to say.” It was the best I could come up with especially since my mind seemed to wander whenever he started to talk to me.

“There's something else.”

Here it was. This was when he'd pull out a gun or knife and…

“I told Maryann I met you, and she had so many nice things to say about you, which confirmed everything I felt that night,” he said as he smiled up at me. His teeth were so bright and flawless against his tanned skin. “Since I left the game, I just thought I'd chance it and come out here and see you.”

I took a good look at him. His blond hair and blue eyes framed his chiseled face perfectly. He was probably one of the most attractive guys I had ever met. Besides Devilyn of course.

But guys that looked like them were hard to come across. Especially on a small island like Roanoke. He had superstar good looks and a boyish charm to go with his picture perfect features. Where had these boys been hiding?

“That's really sweet. Thank you,” I said, sincerely meaning it, even though the conversation still made me self-conscious, so I thought I'd change the topic.

“So how's your brother?”

“Um, my brother?” he replied, slightly confused.

“Yeah, your brother,” I said, laughing at the look on his face. It was almost like he didn't know what I was talking about.

The light went on.

“Oh yeah, he's doing great. I remember now; the last time we met I brought him up.”

“Yeah, you did.”

“Sorry. I forgot that I told you about him,” he said as he looked down in embarrassment.

“No worries. Is he still playing football?”

“Yeah, still playing.” He nodded his head. “He's determined.”

“That's a good thing,” I told him encouragingly. “Passion brings success.”

“That's a wise thing to say for someone your age,” Patrick said as he took another sip of water.

I raised my brow curiously and couldn't help teasing him.

“Someone my age? And how old are you? Let me guess, an ancient senior?” I watched as Patrick's face turned bright red and laughed away the embarrassment.

“Sorry. It's just that the girls in my school do not sound as grown-up as you do.”

“Well, thanks for the compliment.”

“Anyway, I guess my brother is a lot like me. Once he focuses on something, he can't take his mind off it.” I looked away from him when he said those words.

For some reason, I was uncomfortable again.

“So how's your star quarterback? I've been meaning to try and get in touch with him.” Patrick watched me as I nervously started wiping the counter.

“I guess he's fine.”

“You guess?”

Frank rang the bell and placed the plate on the counter. I turned to grab the burger and fries and placed the food in front of him.

“I just don't see Devilyn that much.”

“You're not friends?” he said with a surprised voice as he took a big bite out of his burger.

“We're definitely friends, but I don't see him outside of school.”

He nodded his head in understanding and stared at me intently, which made me feel like he was trying to catch me in some sort of lie.

“Well, I shouldn't say that. We are working on a school project together, but other than that, just school,” I continued cautiously, hoping that I wasn't rambling.

Something about Patrick made me feel like I shouldn't reveal every detail of my life. Despite the fact that he was incredibly handsome and seemingly kind, there was just something in the pit of my stomach that made me feel like I needed to be more guarded than I normally was, if that was even possible. I suddenly wanted him to be finished with his burger and gone from the restaurant.

Maybe it was his intense stare.

“He must have a lot of friends.”

“Well he's a quarterback, so I think popularity comes with the territory.”

“I'm still surprised you guys aren't dating.”

His questions were suddenly getting a bit too personal. I wasn't sure why he was being so inquisitive or why he even cared. Or why he'd even think that Devilyn and I would be dating each other.

“No, I don't date high school students,” I lied. I should have said that I don't date. That would have been more accurate, but he didn't need to know that.

“Ouch, I guess that's a bad sign for me then,” he replied as he placed his hands on his heart.

I couldn't help but laugh. He really was laying it on really thick. I walked over to grab some napkins and condiments for him, when the doors to our restaurant opened and chimed loudly before I had a chance to answer him. I looked over and couldn't help but smile.

Standing across the room was Devilyn.

A rush of adrenaline ran through my body.

“Speak of the devil,” Patrick whispered.

“Caroline.” The way he said my name was like some ancient Viking or Scottish warlord. “Are you guys still serving dinner?” He casually looked over at Patrick. Even though his voice was calm, I could tell he was tense about something. His arms were at his sides, but one of his hands was balled up in a fist, as if he was preparing for a fight. “I saw your lights on, so I thought I'd take a chance.”

It was fifteen minutes until closing time, but I would have cooked for him myself if I had to. I did not want him to leave. Any uneasiness I felt about Patrick left the second Devilyn walked in. It simply came down to one thing. I felt safe.

Protected.

And something else that I could not put my finger on. I felt a rush when he walked in. A shiver of happiness when his gaze swept over me as if he was making sure that I was okay. Like he cared. Really cared.

I didn't think Patrick would do anything to me. He was just eating a burger at my parents' restaurant. There was no crime in that. I guessed that I just didn't know him and didn't know what his intentions were. Well, I knew what he was after, but I just wasn't interested.

I was only interested in Devilyn.

“I'm sure Frank can cook something up for you real quick,” I told him and motioned to one of the stools. “Have a seat.”

“Thank you,” he said as he walked up to the bar stools and smiled at Patrick.

“Hey,” he said as he reached out to shake Patrick's hand.

“Hi,” Patrick answered as he shook his hand in return.

“Devilyn, this is Patrick. He goes to Plymouth High School,” I said, somehow feeling the need to properly introduce the two.

“Does he?” Devilyn sat down and looked over at Patrick. His eyes were guarded, so I couldn't tell what he was thinking. “You've certainly come a long way for a hamburger. That's not to say that you don't serve the best burgers in town, Caroline.”

“I actually came to see Caroline. The hamburgers are an extra bonus.”

“That's nice of you,” Devilyn replied in an even tone. I watched the two practically stare each other down. The tension in the room was palpable.

“He also wanted to meet you,” I interjected sensing Devilyn's unhappiness. “It's a miracle that you came here tonight. Patrick has a younger brother who plays football.”

“Do you?” Devilyn said softly.

“Yeah. I do. Great sport,” Patrick said evenly.

“It is.”

“You play very well.”

“I try.”

“It doesn't seem like you have to try at all,” Patrick told him.

“Don't I?”

“No. It seems to come so naturally.”

I watched the exchanged and couldn't help but feel like I was listening in on some secret conversation.

“Actually, practice makes perfect,” Devilyn told him.

“It looks like you've been practicing a whole lot.”

“I have.”

“To what end?”

“So I'm prepared.” I placed a glass of water in front of Devilyn, suddenly completely uncomfortable by the tension I was feeling. “Thank you, Caroline.”

I wasn't able to respond.

“There are some plays you can never be prepared for, Devilyn. And there are chinks in everyone's armor,” Patrick said, as if he'd known him for years.

“You'd have to find them.”

Patrick smiled.

“Oh, I think I have.”

I watched Devilyn. He was perfectly composed. But somehow I felt as if there was a mountain of fury lurking beneath his expression.

“I'm not worried.”

Patrick smiled.

“You're quite confident. I like that. So, do you have any tips?” Patrick asked suddenly. He smiled amiably at Devilyn. “For my kid brother?”

“I do, actually.” I could hear the anger rising in Devilyn's voice. “Tell him to practice running. The last thing he'll ever want to do is get caught. Once you're caught, there's no telling what can happen. Because then the rules don't matter.”

Patrick took a long pause as he stared directly at Devilyn. Moments went by as the two sudden rivals glared at each other. If looks could kill, I thought Devilyn's might. I didn't know if I should interrupt or let them continue staring each other down, as it didn't seem like it would end any time soon.

It's funny how they say that some people give off the wrong energy, or that sometimes you instantly either like or dislike someone. I could tell by the way each one looked the other over, that this was not a friendship in the making.

“I'll be sure to let him know,” Patrick said, breaking the silence as he suddenly stood up and reached in his pocket for his wallet. “Unfortunately, it's getting late, and as Devilyn pointed out, it's a long drive back home.”

“Drive safely,” Devilyn replied.

“I will,” Patrick replied as he turned to me. “I'll be in touch, Caroline.”

“That sounds good,” I said as I wiped my hands on my apron and walked around the bar to face him. “It was great seeing you again.”

“Likewise.” Patrick gave me a quick hug.

“I'll walk you to the door.”

When I closed the door behind him, I let out a sudden sigh of relief.

The tension in the room was finally lifted.

I was so incensed I couldn't see straight.

I knew something wasn't right from the second I walked into the restaurant. I had never seen him before, but I knew his kind. I knew where he came from, and I knew what he was made of. I couldn't believe it had been so easy. I couldn't believe that I had played straight into his hand.

I had literally handed her over to him.

I had left her here unprotected, and he had just waltzed right in. He had counted on her hospitality, and she had not disappointed.

I was secretly so relieved that I had decided to swing by the restaurant to see how she was doing. Even though it was fast becoming a routine of mine. Although I wanted to spend every moment with her or around her, that was simply not possible. Whoever was watching me would no doubt see that my attentions were directed on Caroline. They would see my obsession.

And they would immediately know that she was my queen.

I couldn't jeopardize her in any way. I had to play it cool.

Get her to trust me but spend my days cautiously.

Some nights I would sit in my car a block or so away from the restaurant and wait for her to close up the diner. Once she was in her car I'd follow her home and stay parked down the street until the lights went out in her room. I always tried to time it so that it looked like I was going someplace in the direction of her home or diner. So if anyone was watching from afar they wouldn't know.

At least that is what I had hoped until tonight.