Your Gravity: Part One (8 page)

“
A
re
you sure you’re okay, Greg? You’re looking a bit green there. We can take a break.”

“I don’t need a break. See, I’m fine.” He smiled for a moment before letting out a small moan.

After Cooper and his date’s reaction to my performance, I was thankful that I’d agreed to come to the carnival. The moment I saw the twinkling lights and heard the carnival music, I’d felt a tug in my chest. But seeing Greg so excited took my mind off the feeling. We were having way too much fun. Or more like I was having way too much fun watching Greg trying to keep down his corn dogs.

I chuckled. “I told you the teacups would be too much for you. Still want to get on Zero Gravity?”

“Yeah, just give me a few minutes.”

“I don’t get it. Why are you even bothering? It’s not like you have anything to prove.”

He looked down sheepishly. “I kind of made a bet with Travis.”

“Seriously, Greg? You’re such a guy. How much?”

“Fifty bucks.”

“Fifty!” I slapped his arm. “Must be nice to be rolling in dough. You know how long it takes for me to earn that at Jitters?”

“Ow!” He grabbed my hand. “Trim those claws, woman.”

“At least you’re getting normal color back in your cheeks.” I laughed. “And speaking of Travis. You can’t hide anything from me. I know you two are up to something.”

Wide baby blues looked me straight in the eye. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You two were acting strange last night. What’s going on?”

“Nothing.”

“Greg . . .” I placed my hands on my hips and tapped my foot.

“Okay, yeah. There’s something I need to tell you about Travis. Ooh, look a fortuneteller.”

“Greg, you’re pulling my arm out of the socket!” I squealed as he dragged me to the front of a colorful tent. There was sign hanging in front of it.

Palms Read, Fortunes Told.

Madame Zahra.

“I’ve always wanted to do a reading,” he said.

“Since when?”

“Since two seconds ago. Come on.” He yanked me into the tent. Before I could say another word, a woman rushed to me.

“Come in, dearie. I’ve been expecting you. Have a seat. I’m Madame Zahra.”

She waved us to the table in the center of the spacious tent. It looked like the stereotypical fortuneteller’s tent. Candles flickered in a circle around a large crystal ball. Big fluffy pillows covered the ground.

“How exciting!” Greg plopped himself on one of the pillows.

Sitting down, Madame Zahra fluffed her long red dress and adjusted the red scarf covering her head. Big hoop earrings swayed as she moved, hitting against waves of salt and pepper hair that hung to her shoulders.

I raised an eyebrow. I’d read about some of the carnival palm readers. It was all a scam really. There was no way anyone knew the future. It was just smoke and mirrors.

“Aren’t you a pretty little thing? This is the first reading for you and your friend. I can tell.”

Greg tugged on my hand, his eyes pleading with me to join him.

Oh, well, I guess a person had to make a living somehow. The woman seemed nice.

“Yes.” I stopped myself from rolling my eyes and settled myself next to him. More than likely she’d heard us coming. Greg was really loud.

She reached out to my hand. Her bony fingers glided over my palm, giving me a chill. “Hmm, interesting.”

“What is it?” Greg peered at my hand.

“I see a break in your life line. It’s a sudden break.”

Greg leaned in closer, squinting. Then he licked a finger and rubbed it across my palm. “That’s a pen mark.”

“Eww! Knock it off, Greg.” I snatched my palm away from his wet finger.

“You’re ewwing
me
? You’re the one with the dirty hands.”

Scowling, I turned back to Madame Zahra. “Excuse my friend. He’s still trying to get over the teacups. He didn’t get enough oxygen to his brain with all the screaming he did.”

I placed my hand back into hers.

She smiled, putting a pair of glasses. “Yes, this is better. I see a very handsome man that has walked into your life unexpectedly.”

I bit my tongue. All fortunetellers said that.

“And this man is the love of your life.”

Sapphire eyes flashed through my mind. I gritted my teeth, pushing away thoughts of Cooper.

“Hmm, this is strange.” She sucked in a breath and her shoulders stiffened. The hair on the back of my neck stood up. A loud whooshing sound like white noise filled my ears.

I wanted to snatch my hand back and run. I had to keep reminding myself that this was all part of an act.

She let out a breath and calmly placed it down on the table. She leaned back and rubbed her temples.

“What is it?”

She held a finger up, keeping her eyes closed.

I looked over at Greg nervously. He shrugged. This wasn’t normal, was it? Why wasn’t she telling me about the tall, dark, and handsome man, the white picket fence, and the two point five kids we were going to have?

Finally, Madame Zahra opened her eyes. She reached over the table and took hold of both my hands, as if bracing me for what she was going to tell me.

“I don’t know how to tell you this. All I can say is beware of the vortex. It will pull you in, and if you surrender yourself to it, you’ll be lost forever.”

“Wait a minute!” I cried when she stood to leave. “Where are you going? What do you mean the vortex?”

“I’m sorry. That’s all I have for you.” She rushed out of the tent.

I turned to Greg, astonished. “What was that?”

He chuckled nervously. “Theatrics?”

Did she mean Club Vortex? Would something happen if I went out with Travis? How could she know I was going out with him?

The answer hit me, and I laughed. It was a small college town and a weekend night. There was only one dance club in town. She’d just made a lucky guess.

“Damn, she’s good. I can’t believe I almost fell for that.”

Then why couldn’t I shake off the feeling that what she’d said was true?

The moment we got off Zero Gravity, Greg dashed off to the nearest men’s room. For some reason, carnival rides did the opposite to me, and I was starving.

I followed my nose, weaving my way around the various game booths. I’d bought a funnel cake and was happily munching on it when I heard a familiar voice.

Cooper!

Plopping the last piece in my mouth, I quickly hid behind a big stuffed panda when he emerged around the corner with Flapper Girl hanging onto his arm.

I was shocked at how he looked. For someone who was supposed to be on a date, he looked awful. He wore the same clothes as he did last night. His stubble was thick, as if he hadn’t shaved at all.

Flapper Girl stroked his arm, a smile on her face. I wanted to march right up to her and tell her to back off. It was obvious he didn’t want to be there.

I moved a little closer to hear what she could possibly be telling him.

At that moment, one of the dozens of power cords that lined the ground decided to attack me, and I stumbled.

Face first to the ground.

Taking down the panda.

And a couple of his friends with me.

Okay, the entire shelf.

“Hey!” The guy manning the booth yelled as it rained pandas, lions, squirrels, and monkeys.

Yeah, being stealthy was not my thing. Scratch off the CIA as a career option.

“I’m so sorry.” I jumped up as the guy cursed me out in a thick accent. Cooper’s eyes widened for a moment then Flapper Girl touched his arm and said something to him. He nodded and walked away.

I clenched my white powdered hands into fists. If I wasn’t surrounded by a zoo right now, I’d give her a piece of my mind. Instead, I tried to clean the mess I’d made.

“Here, let me help you put them back up.” I tiptoed and placed the big panda back up on the hook.

“There.” I took a step back, ready to put up another one when a separate rack filled with turtles, sharks, and starfish fell.

People passed by, looking at me in that slow gawking way people did when they drove past an accident on the road.

“No! No more help from you. You go. You go, now!” The guy shooed me away.

I spun around quickly, thankful that he wasn’t going to make me pay for the mess I’d made. I took a step and crashed into Flapper Girl.

“You’re Nicole.”

“Y-y-yes,” I stuttered, too stunned to think of all the things I’d wanted to say to her just a few seconds ago.

“I know what you’re trying to do, and you’re not going to get away with it,” she snapped, her eyes blazing.

I blinked, confused. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You think you can trick him into your bed? Well, you can just kiss your sorry ass goodbye.” She rolled up her sleeves.

My jaw dropped. “I have no interest in Professor Cooper.”

She scoffed. “You girls are all the same, thinking that just because he has a kind heart that you can take advantage of that. Thinking that you just need to shake your ass and you can lay your claws into him and his millions.”

“His mill—” I thought about what Gianna had said about his patents. “Look, here. I don’t know where you come off saying that I’m trying to con him. You don’t even know me.”

“I know your type. But you, you’re the lowest of the low. With that . . . that . . ..” her lashes fluttered and she swallowed thickly. It was almost like she wanted to cry. “How did you know about her?”

“About who?”

Her nostril’s flared. “You know who I’m talking about. With the hair and that song. You know exactly what you’re doing.” She leaned in, her voice threatening. “Listen to me, Nicole, if that’s your real name. Stay away from him. Or you’ll have to deal with me.”

“
H
appy birthday
!” Greg cried when I stepped into the house.

I gave him a weak smile. It’d been a long day at Jitters. I’d kept screwing up the orders. Even Lou was getting impatient. I couldn’t get Flapper Girl’s words out of my mind, and it was pissing me off. And to make matter’s worse, I didn’t know whether to chew Cooper out and tell him to keep his date off my back or ask him if he was okay.

“Yeah, whoopee.” I whirled my finger in the air and flopped onto a beanbag. There was a loud rip and beans spilled onto the floor.

“Greg, do me a favor and just knock me out or something.” I threw my head back, closing my eyes. This was so not my day. Or week.”

Or year!

“You look like you could use this.” I opened my eyes to the bottle of wine he dangled above me.

Propping myself up, I snatched the bottle out of his hands. “Thanks.”

“I’ll get the glasses.”

When he returned from the kitchen and poured a healthy glass for me, he gazed at me wide-eyed. “I’m scared, Nicole.”

“Hey. Everything will be fine with your mom. She’s coming to see you, isn’t she? That’s gotta mean something.” I placed an arm around him. “I’ll stay with you if you want.”

He took a big gulp from his glass. “No, I have to do this on my own. I didn’t tell you this, but there’s some news I need to tell her, and I don’t think she’ll be able to handle it.”

“What is it?”

“I can’t tell you. Not yet. Don’t be mad.” His eyes pleaded with me. “I need to keep this to myself for a while.”

“Okay. I get it. Remember, I’m here for you no matter what.” I sipped my wine. “This is really good. Where’d you get it?”

“Rainbow. She has a wash tub of it out back.”

I spewed the wine. Splatters flew out of my mouth and onto his face.

“Gross, Nicole! I was just kidding.”

“Serves you right.” I laughed as I wiped his face with a tissue. The image of a hippy version of Lucille Ball stomping on grapes was seared into my mind. I couldn’t stop giggling.

We chatted for a while, drinking and laughing. It’d been a long time since we’d talked like that. I told him how strange Cooper was acting lately and asked what he thought I should do. We must’ve had way too much wine because when he told me to corner Cooper in his office and kiss him to get over all the sexual tension, I actually thought it was a good idea.

“Is that the right time?” I peered into my cellphone.

He looked over my shoulder. “Crap! I’m running late. I have to go meet Mom. And you need to get ready for your date.”

I scrambled to get up. The room swayed a bit.

“Careful,” he said, bracing me. “Wow, Nicole, you really can’t hold your alcohol. You only had two glasses.”

“One and a half. Half of it is on your face and shirt.” I giggled.

“Go get ready for Travis.” He pushed me toward my room.

“Oh, and I want to hear everything that happens with your mom. It’ll be all right. You’ll see.”

T
ravis screeched
his sleek black Corvette to a stop near Club Vortex, sending a small group of college students running for their lives. A guy wearing a Texas State T-shirt and baseball cap slapped the hood of the car.

“Dude! Watch where you’re—oh, hey, Trav! Great game today.”

“Thanks, man.” Travis stuck his hand out the window, giving the guy a fist bump.

“Nice ride.” The guy looked into the car. “And chick.”

“The car’s a rental. Not the chick. Ow! Why’d you hit me?”

“You love those wild ones, don’t you, Trav?” He laughed as he walked away.

I glared at Travis.

“For acting like a moron that’s why.”

“It was a joke, babe. Chill.” He stepped out of the car and jogged to my side, opening the door.

This was not the Travis I was used to seeing in class. He was acting like a complete jerk. I couldn’t believe I’d actually wasted good makeup on him. I even wore the sexy black dress Greg had given me for my birthday. It was way too expensive, but he wouldn’t take it back. I had to admit, Greg had good taste and knew me well. The dress hugged every curve, and its low heart-shaped neckline made me look like I actually had boobs. Even though the dress barely covered my backside, the floral and lace long sleeves made me feel like I was actually dressed and not half naked.

Holding out his hand, he said, “Let me make it up to you on the dance floor.”

I sighed. “Fine.”

When I stepped out, I noticed a tow away sign. “Uh, Travis. I don’t think you can park here.”

“That’s only for during the day. Don’t worry about it.” He grinned, flashing his dimples as placed an arm around my waist.

The crowds grew larger as we neared the entrance of the club. People lined up to get inside. Others seemed to just be hanging out, laughing and talking. Muffled music spilled out of the building and some couples were even dancing on the sidewalk.

A number of people whispered and pointed in our direction. I knew Travis was considered famous on campus, so I expected some people to recognize him, but not this many! They were all gawking as if he were a rock star.

His arm stiffened. I gazed up, surprised by his reaction. He always seemed to lavish on the attention. Wearing a strained smile, he muttered something under his breath. Then he stopped and turned me to him.

“Happy birthday, Nicole.” He drew me to him, ducked his head, and gently kissed my lips.

Amongst the whooping and whistles of the crowd. I waited.

Waited for the fluttering of butterflies. Waited for my legs to turn into goo. Waited for flashing lights or even the freaky-deaky visions I’d had lately. Waited for something to happen.

Nothing. It was like being kissed by Greg.

It wasn’t until he took a step back that I felt it again. The pull.

I glanced across the street at Jitters. It was just as busy as the club. With the cooler weather, more people sat outside on the patio. I spotted Lou rushing around with mugs of coffee and hot cocoa. He spotted me, gave me the “okay finger” sign. I was surprised he recognized me from this distance.

And then I saw him.

Sitting alone at one of the tables was Cooper. I couldn’t move. There was no doubt in my mind that he was staring right at me. It was him that I’d felt. It was him. Always him! Why couldn’t Travis be the one to make my world stand still?

My eyes darted back and forth between Travis and Cooper. The speech I’d prepared about telling him and Flapper Girl off flew out the window. All I could do was stare at Cooper like a love-struck girl. And I hated it. I wanted it to stop. Right now.

Note to self. Do not mix wine and sexual frustration because you’ll end up doing something stupid—like this.

Grabbing Travis by his shirt collar, I yanked him to me. Our lips locked. It wasn’t a sweet, gentle kiss like he’d given. It was mouths open, tongues swirling.

Nothing.

Angry, I kissed him even harder.

Again, nothing. Not a skipped heartbeat, not a flutter, not even a tingle.

Damn it!

Travis lifted his head and looked down at me, stunned.

“Starting early, Trav?” A guy who looked like he could be football player, he was so big, slapped Travis on the back.

The shocked expression quickly disappeared and Travis’s lips curled into a smile. “You bet.”

He took ahold of my waist and led me into the club. Following his lead, I placed my hand around his waist and fought the urge to look back.

The moment we entered into the club, I felt like I’d been transported into an 80s MTV video. People seemed to take 80s night very seriously and went all out with costumes. I saw Adam Ant with war paint dancing with a Toni Basil look-a-like waving her pom-poms.

As he walked through the club, almost everyone we passed shouted out his name. He waved back, keeping his arm around me. It was as if he wanted to make sure people knew that I was with him, sort of like he was showing me off to his friends. Weird. I’d never thought of myself as a trophy date, but that’s what it seemed like.

I expected that he’d drag me around, introducing me to his football friends. Instead, he placed me at a table and headed straight for the bar. The bartender, dressed like Boy George, gave him a friendly smile, glanced at me, and placed a shot of tequila on the bar. Travis shot his head back and downed the brown liquid.

What was wrong with him? It was like he was bracing himself for something.

He came back to the table with our drinks. Again with that strained smile. I sighed and drank my long island iced tea.

“Want to dance?” he asked after I finished my drink.

“I’d love to.”

He downed the remains of his drink and took my hand. He moved slowly to the center of the dance floor. It was as if he wanted to make sure people were watching us.

I thought I heard him mumble something like, “You can do this.”

Before I could ask him, “do what?” he pulled me to him, pressing me against his chest.

As we danced, his hands were all over me. But it didn’t feel like he was getting off on it. And neither was I. It felt like a security pat down. When his hands slid down my butt, I jerked back surprised.

“What’s wrong?” He gave me a sexy lopsided grin.

I was an idiot. Here was a perfectly normal, sexy guy that every single girl in the club was drooling over and who obviously wanted me and I what? Thought of him like a brother?

Damn that Cooper! Why couldn’t he drink his coffee somewhere else and stay away from Jitters? Seeing him in class was enough.

“Nothing.” I slid his hands back into place on my butt. Maybe I just needed to give it some time with Travis. Greg thought he’d be good for me and my dear friend had never let me down. I really should give him a chance.

We danced like that for a while, and then the song changed to something more upbeat. “Frankie Goes To Hollywood” wailed in my ears to relax. Turning, I pressed my back into Travis and waved my hands into the air, forcing myself to comply with Frankie’s command. His hands glided across my abdomen pulling me tighter against his rock-hard body.

Flashes of light blinded me as we danced. Travis’s hands brushed against my bare thigh, but all I could think about was the dream with Cooper and his hands all over me.

Travis’s hands glided up my waist and then brushed lightly against my breast. I jerked back and grabbed his hands pushing them down. Was I ready for this?

“Relax,” he said, his hot breath hitting against my ear.

I giggled as he repeated the word in sync with the song. He sang into my ear as he slowly glided his hand back up.

Relax.

I giggled again at the thought. My body was starting to feel more light and . . . relaxed. Or maybe it was the iced tea. Either way, I was finally ready.

I was about to place my hand over his, when there was a sudden rush of air, and Travis was gone.

“Hey, man! What the fuck?”

I spun around. Flashes of red, green, and blue danced over Cooper’s face as he stood behind Travis with a hand on his shoulder. Sapphire eyes blazed as he looked at me, his chiseled jaw tense. Cooper was raw masculinity, making Travis look like a boy playing dress up. My eyes drank in every single inch of him as if he were water and I’d been lost in a desert for months: the dark slacks, his narrow waist, and up to the black shirt that strained against thick muscles as he gripped Travis.

His eyes held mine as he spoke to Travis. “Excuse me for interrupting your
date
.” He sneered the word. “I thought you’d want to know that you’re car is being towed.”

“No way. It’s a rental.”

I snickered. Travis couldn’t be that dense.

“I assure you, Mr. Brandon, rental or not it is being towed as we speak.”

“Shit!” Travis dashed across the dance floor heading to the door.

My jaw dropped. He did not just leave me alone here. The music changed and a cello played. The cool sounds of “Sweet Dreams Are Made of This” filled the club.

My eyes flicked to Cooper, who was looking way too self-satisfied.

“You did that on purpose,” I snarled.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. I was merely being helpful.”

My eyes narrowed. I wasn’t buying it. “You had his car towed, didn’t you?”

“And why would I want to do something as sophomoric as that?”

“You said you didn’t want me to date Travis. That’s why.”

“A mere suggestion. You think much too much of yourself.”

“Why you—you—”

“You’re not in any condition to find a way home, Ms. Ashford. Come with me.” His hand clasped my arm and electricity charged through my body. My breath caught at the immediate reaction to his touch. Why, oh why, couldn’t I feel like that with Travis?

“I can call a taxi.” I jerked my arm out of his hand. “I’m not stupid.”

I spun on my heel way too fast. The heat, pounding music, and flashing lights made me dizzy. I took a step forward and down I went.

My face.

Cooper’s chest.

His intoxicating, incredibly muscular chest.

The moment our bodies locked, I lost all control. My fingers crawled up his body, tracing in the smattering of hair that peeked out of the “V” of his unbuttoned collar and up to his heavily-scruffed chin and lips. Those perfect lips. The moment I touched them, they parted slightly. I wondered what he tasted like. I licked my lips in response.

I gazed up, my fingers relishing the feel of his rough stubble. He stood motionless, studying me as the strobe lights danced over his handsome face.

The beat of the music pounded against my chest, and I found myself swaying. Slowly he moved with me.

The alcohol was definitely making me stupid, because if I were smart, I wouldn’t latch on to my professor, my incredibly sexy and hot professor, the way I was doing now, pressing my body against his, urging him to dance.

I couldn’t help myself. My hips moved with his. Pressing harder into his body the way I did with Travis. Only this time when his hands moved over my waist holding me to him, my body lit on fire.

Immediately, my hands traveled up his abs. I silently moaned as my fingers traced the eight-pack beneath his shirt. When I locked my arms around his neck, I pressed harder into him and moaned at the feel of him hardening against me.