Milayna (26 page)

“Thank you,” the father said, taking his little girl’s hand and letting her pull him to the next exhibit.

“Better?” Chay looked at me and cupped my cheek in his hand. I leaned into him.

“Yes, but I don’t want to leave while that bear is still there. Another parent might get some crazy idea or, God forbid, a kid. Will you stay here while I go get an attendant to fish it out? I won’t feel good until it’s gone.” Chay waited at the fence while I found a zoo employee to get the bear so no one else would be tempted to try and grab it.

“Here.” Chay held out the second stuffed bear when we walked away from the tiger exhibit. “This one is for you.”

“Really? Thank you.” Hugging the bear to me, I looked up at Chay. I pulled the bear back and looked at it, straightening its bow and smoothing the fur from its plastic, blue eyes. “This is…”

No boy has ever giving me anything like this before. What’s it mean? It’s just a bear, but what if it’s not just a bear? What if it means something more to him? I think I’m going crazy. This love stuff is so hard to figure out. Wait. Love?

Chay tilted his head and looked at me. “What?”

I decided to go the bold route. Slipping my hand behind his neck, I pulled him to me. His lips fit mine perfectly. When I pulled back far enough to speak, I said, “Thank you. I love it.”

“Damn, Milayna, if I’d known you liked teddy bears that much, I’d have been buying them for you every day.”

I sat down on a bench and settled my new stuffed friend in my lap. “Listen, I know we haven’t been here that long, but do you think we could go?”

“Sure.” Chay’s brows knitted together. “Did I do something wrong?”

“No! You… You’ve been great. I’ve had a, um, it’s been really nice being with you.” I gave him a small smile and fidgeted with the bear in my lap. “It’s just… the visions really zap my energy, and I feel so tired afterward. I don’t want to ruin the day.”

“Would eating help?” At my nod, he said, “How ‘bout we get something to eat and see how you feel? If you still want to leave, we can. If you feel better, we can stay and see the rest of the zoo.”

“Okay.” I really wanted to go home and take a nap. A nap with him wouldn’t have been too bad.

“Do you want to eat out here? We could get some burgers and sit on the lawn.”

“Are your parents home?” I looked down at the toe of my shoe when I asked. When he didn’t answer, I looked up through my lashes.

He was watching me with his blue-green gaze that seemed to see straight into me and read all my secrets. He cleared his throat. “Unfortunately, yes, they are.”

I nodded and kicked at the ground with the toe of my shoe. “So are mine.” I looked over my shoulder. There was a long stretch of crisp, green grass. Large oaks and sugar maples surrounded the area. The autumn sun warmed the air and shone through the brightly colored leaves like a stained glass window. “So, let’s lie in the grass.”

He smiled. “Okay, pick a spot, and I’ll grab something to eat.”

I found a place close to a tree and eased myself down onto the cool grass, watching him in line at the concession stand. Actually, I watched the other girls watching him, gloating when he didn’t notice their attempts to attract his attention.

He paid for our food and brought back two burgers and every imaginable condiment. “I didn’t know what you liked,” he said with a shrug.

We made our burgers and ate in silence. I watched people walk by and listened to the birds in the tree above us.

“You’re still exhausted.” Chay’s gaze trailed over my face.

“No, I feel better.”

Sort of. I’m so tired, but I don’t want our day to end. I want every second I can have with you.

“Let me take you home.”

“No! I mean, are you ready to go home?” I held my breath, waiting for his answer.

“No, but I don’t want you to be miserable. Here, lay your head in my lap. Rest for a while and see how you feel.”

I hesitated.

My head in his lap. Oh, man. That is so not going to help me relax.

“Um, okay.” I lay my head in his lap, my hair fanning out over his legs. He ran his finger down the side of my face and smiled down at me, twirling my hair around his fingers. It felt so good when he ran his fingers through my hair. It tickled throughout my body, like a feather was fluttering just beneath my skin. My muscles felt like jelly, and my eyes grew heavy.

I’ll close them just for a minute. Then we’ll get up.

Chay continued running his hand through my hair and down the side of my face. My body felt weightless, like we were floating away. Just him and I. As I snuggled closer, he pulled me to him until there was no space between us, just a beautiful sensation of perfumed peacefulness. It pulled me to it. I heard Chay’s warm voice urging me to go, and with a contented sigh, I gave in.

Opening my eyes, I blinked a few times. I looked around before looking up at Chay. He was leaning back on his elbows, looking into the distance, my head still in his lap.

I pushed my hair out of my face. “I fell asleep. I’m so sorry. How long have I been sleeping?”

And, ohmigosh, did I snore or drool?

“About an hour or so, not too long.” He sat up and looked down at me. “Feel better?”

“Yeah, but I’m sorry I made you sit here.” I started to sit up, but Chay pushed my shoulders down, keeping me in place.

“You didn’t make me do anything. I’m right where I want to be.” He framed the side of my face with his hand. “What do you want to do now? Do you feel like doing something or should I take you home?”

I covered his hand with mine. “I don’t want to go home.”

“Then what do you want to do? We’ll do whatever you want.”

“How about the gardens?” I sat up. Chay’s hand followed me, never leaving my hair.

“Whatever you want.” He wrapped his hand around the back of my neck and pulled me to him. His lips were firm, moist, and molded to mine perfectly. The kiss was soft and slow. He lifted his head, and his gaze held mine. “You’re beautiful.” I felt a blush heat my cheeks. I looked at the ground, turning my face from him. He cupped my cheeks and pulled my face back to his. “Why do you do that? Why do you look away?”

“It’s, um… I’m not…” I dropped my gaze from his.

No one’s ever told me I was beautiful except family and they don’t count, and you’re… like… uh, freakin’ amazing. How could I ever be beautiful standing next to you?

“Look at me, Milayna.” I lifted my gaze to his. “You’re beautiful.” He kissed me gently.

“Thank you,” I whispered around the lump squeezing my throat closed. I remembered back to when Muriel and I called Chay the hottie. It definitely fit. He was a stone-cold fox. I couldn’t figure out how I measured up. It wasn’t like I was a hag, but I didn’t look in the mirror and see someone beautiful looking back at me.

“Let’s go find these gardens you want to see.”

***

We strolled through the gardens hand in hand for the rest of the afternoon until it was too dark to see and we were forced to go home.

“It’s almost tomorrow,” he murmured against my ear as we swayed in the swing in my backyard, watching the stars glimmer against the velvety black sky.

“I know.”

“Think your mom and dad would let me bring you back the day after tomorrow?”

I smiled. “Somehow, I doubt it. Besides, aren’t you tired of me yet?”

“I don’t think I’ll ever be tired of spending time with you.” He ran his finger down the side of my face, across my jaw and to my lips.

My body instantly reacted to his touch. I could feel myself being drawn into him, like an invisible string was pulling me. His lips replaced his finger, moving softly over them. I leaned farther into him, urging him to take the kiss deeper. The air around us grew heated. My heart thundered in my chest. My breath came in small gasps when his mouth moved from mine to travel along my neck and across my collarbone. I sighed.

A ball Ben left in the yard jumped in the air, bouncing against the side of the house.

Chay lifted his head and grinned. “Telekinesis.”

“Yeah. Kiss me again and let’s see what else we can make bounce around.”

He laughed and lowered his lips to mine.

Two weeks, two days until my birthday.

Sunday morning at nine o’clock, I dialed the phone. I listened to the ringing on the other end, tapping my fingernails on my bedside table.

“‘ello,” Chay answered, his voice gravelly.

“Rise and shine,” I chirped.

“What time is it?” I could hear his blankets rustling through the phone.

“About an hour later than you let me sleep yesterday,” I told him.

“Don’t you know weekends are for sleeping in?” Chay asked.

“I want to see you.” I held out my hand and looked at my freshly painted fingernails.

“Isn’t that my line?” he said and yawned.

“Yeah, but it works both ways. I’ll pick you up in an hour.”

He laughed. “Okay, if I have to.”

“You do.”

“I can’t wait,” he said, and I grinned like an idiot.

An hour later, I rang the doorbell at Chay’s house. A pretty blonde answered the door. “Hi, Milayna. Come in.”

“Hi, Mrs. Roberts.”

She wasn’t at all how I expected Chay’s mother to look. She was a pale blonde with fairer skin, and a few freckles dotting the bridge of her nose. He and his mother shared the same unusual eye color, though.

“Chay will be right out. Have a seat.” Mrs. Roberts perched on the arm of a chair and folded her hands in her lap. “You and Chay are in classes together?”

“Yes, ma’am. Three.”

“That’s great. You two seem to be getting along quite well.”

Smiling, I nodded. I could feel a blush fingering its way up my neck toward my face. Nerves made my breakfast roll over in my stomach and play dead.

“So.” Mrs. Roberts smiled and slapped her palms on her thighs. “Do you want to see some baby photos?” I almost laughed. I couldn’t tell if she was serious or not. I mean, my mother liked to pull out the baby albums, but she at least waited until the third or fourth date.

“No, she does not.” Chay jogged into the room, wearing a pair of distressed jeans and a T-shirt that knew all the right places to hug him. “Hi.” He leaned over and kissed me.

When he lifted his head, I put my fingers to my lips and glanced quickly at his mother. She didn’t seem the least bit concerned, but my face was burning.

“Oh, you embarrassed her.” Chay’s mom tsked and waved a hand at him. “Don’t worry, Milayna, we know you kiss. It’s nothing to be embarrassed over.” She smiled and winked.

“But you’d embarrass me with baby photos.” Chay laughed.

“Of course. I’m your mother. That’s my right after twelve hours of labor and a nine-pound baby.”

Chay rolled his eyes and made a blah, blah, blah motion with his hand, but smiled at his mom. “Are you ready?” he asked me.

“Yes.”

“Where are you two off to?” Mrs. Roberts looked between us.

“I don’t know. It’s Chay’s pick today. I picked yesterday.”

“Dear, let me tell you a little secret. Don’t let Chay pick. You’ll find yourself spending the day at the go-kart speedway.”

“That’s okay; he spent the day at the zoo with me.” I looked up at him and grinned like a moron.

“I’m just sayin’. I’d rather spend the day at the zoo than riding go-karts and picking gnats out of my teeth.” She shuddered.

I tilted my head to the side. “Huh. Good point.”

“Okay, see you when you get home.” She kissed him on the cheek and then patted it. “Behave.”

“I always do.”

She snorted a laugh. “It was nice meeting you, Milayna.”

“You, too, Mrs. Roberts.”

We walked outside, and Chay looked around. “Where’s your car?”

“My car isn’t in the best working condition. I was hoping you’d drive.”

“No problem. Wait, how’d you get here?”

“I walked.”

“From your house? You walked around the block? Alone?” His voice rose with each syllable.

“Like my parents would ever let me do that. My dad drove me. I walked up the driveway alone.”

“Don’t do that!”

“What?” I could tell by his voice I’d upset him. Not the best way to start the day.

“Scare me like that.” He blew out a breath.

“I’m sorry—”

He interrupted my apology with a kiss. Not the chaste schoolboy kiss he gave me in front of his mother, but a long, wet, stomach-fluttering, kiss.

“Hasn’t your mother taught you not to interrupt?” I asked when he lifted his head.

“I think she mentioned something about it one day, but I interrupted her.” He grinned at me.

“Cheesy, Chay.” I smiled at him, and he shrugged a shoulder. “So, where are we going?”

“Wherever you tell me to drive.” He opened the car door for me.

“Oh, no. It’s your turn to pick.”

“And if I said I wanted to go fishing?”

“I’d say we’d need to go by my house so I could get my rod and fishing license,” I answered.

“Really?” He made a face.

“What? Girls can’t fish in your world?” I stowed my purse in the backseat.

“No, that’s great. I love that you’d go fishing with me. It’s just that you’re the only girl I’ve dated that would.”

“Is that what we’re doing?” I slid into the car. He jogged around the back of the car and jumped in the driver’s side.

“What? Fishing?” He slid the key into the ignition.

“No. Dating.” I bit the corner of my bottom lip. My heart hammered in my chest as the seconds ticked by, and he didn’t answer.

“Hmm.” He cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck with one hand. “I—”

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything. I don’t want to make the day weird.” My knuckles cracked, and I realized I’d been twisting my fingers in my lap. I forced myself to relax my hands.

“Well, if you wouldn’t interrupt me…” He leaned over and kissed me softly. “I was going to say I hope that’s what we’re doing. Dating, not fishing.”

I let out a breath, and a huge smile spread across my face.

“Does the smile mean you’re happy with the answer, or are you trying to figure a way out of dating me?”

“The smile says I was hoping that would be your answer. I can’t stop smiling, actually.” I laughed. Twisting my fingers through his hair, I pulled his lips to mine. We were both still smiling and our teeth hit when we tried to kiss. Looping my arms around his neck, I pulled my face from his, buried it in the curve of his neck, and breathed him in.

He kissed the side my temple. “Now that we have the logistics of our relationship figured out, where do you want to go?”

I pulled back and looked at him, shaking my head. “Oh no, it’s still your day to pick. This is an equal opportunity relationship.”

“How about the mall?”

“The mall.” I made a face. “I think you’re trying to get me to forget it’s your day to pick.”

“What? Guys can’t like the mall in your world?”

“You don’t,” I said, holding my breath against the pain building in my chest.

“Well, if you can like fishing, then I can like the mall. Besides, I’m thinking about the mall and then maybe the shops at the Waterway.” Chay looked at me, and his brows pulled down. “What’s the matter?”

I pinched the bridge of my nose with my fingers. My head started to pound.

Chay. His car. A bicycle.

“Don’t back up,” I said.

Chay dropped his hands from the steering wheel and brushed the hair from my face. “Tell me when it’s safe,” he said quietly.

Three little boys on their bicycles rode behind his car. The boys were laughing and goofing off, doing all the things boys do. What they weren’t doing was watching for cars.

“Okay?” he asked, and I nodded. Chay put the car in reverse and slowly backed out of the driveway. “You know, you’re as good as having one of those back-up sensors,” he said with a chuckle.

I tried to give him a stern look, but failed and smiled. Reaching over, I pinched his side lightly. He laughed and brushed my hand away.

“Oh,” I raised my eyebrows, “you’re ticklish. That’s a good thing to know.”

We drove carefully up beside the boys riding their bikes, and Chay rolled down his window. “You guys start watchin’ for cars or you’re gonna get hurt.”

The boys looked over at Chay with wide eyes before turning their gaze back to the road. Like a flock of geese, they swerved their bikes to the left and into the bike path in synchronization.

***

I would’ve thought after spending the entire day with him the day before, we’d have run out of things to talk about, especially since before we knew each other, he never seemed to talk in more than monosyllabic answers. But it seemed the opposite was true. The more we talked, the more we found to talk about. It seemed Mr. Dark-and-Brooding was long gone.

We started our day at the mall, laughing our way through the shops, looking at ridiculously priced clothes and shoes. Chay was a good sport about tromping through the stores with me. Even though going was his suggestion, I wasn’t convinced he was all that interested in mall hopping, so I made it a quick visit. A few stops at the clearance racks, the bookstore, and the music store for Chay.

We were coming out of the music store when I tugged on the belt loop of Chay’s lower-than-legal jeans. “Hey. Isn’t that Jeff?”

He leaned in front of me to get a look, cupped his hands around his mouth, and yelled, “Jeff!” But Chay’s voice was swallowed by the sounds of the shoppers coming and going.

“Who’s he with?” I stood on my tiptoes to get a look.

“Trina? Is that her name?” Chay shrugged and looked at me. “Some blonde who’s not nearly as beautiful as you.” He brought my hand to his lips and kissed the inside of my wrist.

I tilted my head and looked at him. “Huh. That one was just on the okay side. I’ve definitely heard better lines. You need to work on your game, Victor.” I patted his check and walked around him. He grabbed me from behind and tickled my side.

“Work on my game, huh?” He laughed.

“Yes,” I giggled. “Hold the cheesy stuff.”

“Okay, I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Let’s go into Victoria’s Secret.” I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing at the pink staining his high cheekbones. “Don’t you want to see what all the fuss is about?” He cleared his throat, sticking his fingers in his pockets. I wrapped a lock of his hair around my finger. “Aren’t you curious to know what the secret is?” I murmured.

His lips parted, and he wet them with his tongue. “Milayna…”

I took pity on him and pulled him past the store. “Okay, let’s get out of here.”

He blew out a breath and gave me a grin. “Hungry?”

We left the mall for an early lunch at a small café on the Waterway, an area next to the river full of art galleries, over-priced shops and street vendors, and every type of restaurant imaginable. We ate outside, watching the boats float lazily down the river.

“Let’s take a boat ride tonight,” Chay said.

“I’d love to take a boat ride! Why not after we eat?”

“It’s prettier at night when the lights are lit. Haven’t you seen them?”

“Nope. Never been past the mall.” I sipped my frozen lemonade and my mind wandered to Chay and me on a boat drifting down the river, engulfed in a coat of darkness. Alone, but for the gentle waves lapping at the side of the boat. My heart started to speed up, and my breath came in small gasps. Oh, hells yeah. I wanted that boat ride.

“A boyfriend has never brought you here?”

“Hmm?” Chay’s question interrupted my semi-naughty—on its way to very naughty—daydream. “Oh. Not until today.” I didn’t mention the fact that I hadn’t had too many boyfriends, and none that lasted more than a few weeks. My heart had always been saved for another. I’d thought it was Jake, but now I knew it was Chay.

“The boat ride is great at night. There are different colored lights lining the water. All the shops and restaurants are lit up, and the boat plays music and has a small dance floor. It’s all very…”

“Very what?” I asked when he didn’t finish.