by Diana Paz
Time froze, and Julia let the connection slip away.
But not before Angie caught the end of Kaitlyn’s thoughts, a single word laced with possession.
Ethan.
Chapter 22
Julia
Julia stared out the car window, avoiding eye-contact with Brian. Ethan was safe now. It was time to focus on regular life. Normal stuff, like her normal boyfriend who she had ditched halfway through prom. She had dressed in a white eyelet lace skirt with tiny black flowers embroidered along the bottom. Her white tank top had the same flowers across the top, and she had worn a little black sweater, more to hide her mark of magic from her mom than because of the weather. Plus, it was cute. She wanted to make things up to Brian and make a good impression with his family.
He lowered the volume on the car radio. “I missed you.”
Her throat closed up. She forced her gaze forward but it dropped to her lap.
“I know I sprang the L-word on you last night, but,” his hand tightened on the gear shift as he put it in fourth, “you just left.”
“I’m so sorry,” she said. She had left him at prom and spent the night kissing a guy who was practically a stranger. “I suck. I really, really suck.”
“You don’t suck,” he said. “I rushed things, I know that now.”
She chewed on her lower lip. Brian blamed himself, which made her feel like the worst scum of the universe. It wasn’t as if she felt nothing for him. When she had finally called him back, the sound of his voice still sent her blood racing. When he came to pick her up, her heart melted right through to her feet. She missed him too.
So why couldn’t she stop thinking about Ethan?
He pulled into a gated, circular driveway. Julia’s gaze darted from the fountain in the center of the drive to the top of the three-story Spanish-style mansion. Holy crap.
Rich people.
She wiped her palms on her skirt. Great. He probably had a housekeeper. His family would have rich-people manners and expect her to eat weird, rich-people food.
“You didn’t really want to come tonight,” Brian said, shutting off the car.
She looked into his chocolaty brown eyes. His blond hair was mussed, the way she liked it. He had done that for her.
Despite everything that happened with Ethan, her heart gave a flutter. This was so freaking confusing. She couldn’t stop thinking about Ethan, but as soon as Brian looked at her, her feelings became all mixed up. He took her hand and Julia felt definite butterflies. Were they any different than the butterflies she felt when a cute boy checked her out at the beach? Was it as strong as the crazy rush she got from Ethan?
“At prom,” he continued, “what I said ... I don’t take it back.”
Heat raced up her face and coated her from forehead to chin. “I’m sorry, Brian.”
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t hope that you love me too. But I don’t want you to say it until—unless you feel it.”
Her heart pounded so hard she could hear it. She remembered Brian at the beginning of the semester, walking around Long Beach High with his new student paperwork. He always seemed so happy to see her. He was funny and sweet, and he smiled so much more than Ethan did.
“Hey,” Brian said softly. “I won’t rush things anymore. We can forget the L-word and just be together. Like before.”
Julia squeezed her eyes shut. There had to be something that would make this easier to figure out.
“Julia? I—if you want me to take you home—”
“No, it’s okay.”
“Are you sure?”
“Just kiss me,” she whispered.
His breath came out in a rush. His brown eyes became dark as coffee in the shadowy car. In one motion, he cupped her cheek and brought his lips to hers.
She leaned in, finding his mouth soft and warm and familiar. Brian was a good kisser. She sighed and let herself be taken in by the feel of his lips. His hand trailed down her throat and behind her neck, and something in the movement reminded her abruptly of Ethan. The pleasant feelings of being kissed were taken over by a rush of white-hot shame.
Brian’s chest rose and fell like he had gone for a run. He placed one last kiss on her cheek, his eyes fever-bright. This would be so much easier if she was totally turned off by Brian. But the truth was she really liked him. She liked the way he looked at her and especially the way he made her feel.
He got out of the car and opened her door for her. “Ready?”
She stopped gnawing on her lower lip. “Yes,” she said, her voice shaky.
“Don’t worry,” he said, taking her hand, “my mom is going to love you. My cousins and brother might tease you a little, but my aunts and uncles will leave you alone.”
Aunts ... uncles ... cousins? “I thought I was meeting your family.”
His face went blank. “What do you mean?”
“Family. Like the kind of family you wake up and eat breakfast with, not the kind you see at Christmas or whatever.”
“I’m sorry,” he said. “My aunts and uncles are over here all the time. It’s always been that way, no matter where we lived.”
Julia nodded. “You have a really close family.”
“Yeah, you have no idea,” he said, his voice hiding a laugh. “I was too little to remember my dad, but after he died I guess it brought everyone together.”
She immediately felt like slime again.
“Hey, if you don’t want to go, it’s okay. I guess I shouldn’t have sprung the whole family on you.”
Julia shook her head. She wasn’t going to do that to him, with his family in there waiting to meet her. “It’s fine. Let’s go.”
His smile lit up his entire being, and Julia couldn’t help smiling back. “My family’s cool, but we can hang out in the den or go out back if it feels too crowded,” he said in a rush. “They’re funny, you’ll see.” He unlocked the front double-doors and led her inside to a big foyer.
The walls were painted a rich amber color and the floor was tiled in deep russet. The patterns made her think of her field trip to the mission at San Juan Capistrano.
“This is a great house,” she said, tracing a dark metal decoration along the wall. Her eyes focused on a wrought-iron lamp that hung from the ceiling.
“My mom loves to decorate,” he said. “Most of the stuff in here is from auctions and antique sales—”
“There they are,” a woman called from somewhere inside.
“And there’s my mom,” Brian said, smiling with sweet embarrassment.
A woman walked into the foyer. She had dark, curling hair and the same melted chocolate eyes as Brian. “Welcome! You must be Julia. I have heard so much about you!”
“Hello, Mrs. Tristanson,” Julia said, blushing from nerves.
“Please, call me Carmen,” she said.
Julia smiled in answer. Brian’s mom had a slight Spanish accent. Without thinking, Julia looked from her black hair and tanned skin to Brian’s blond waves.
“He inherited my eyes and his father’s complexion,” Brian’s mom said.
Julia blushed again, mortified this time at being caught staring. “Yeah, your eyes really match.”
“Come into the living room,” Mrs. Tristanson said. “The rest of the family are all waiting for you two.”
Julia tried not to cringe. “Actually, could I use your bathroom first?”
“Of course,” Mrs. Tristanson said. “It is just down the hall and to your left. Brian, take your girlfriend’s sweater, please. I know I have raised a gentleman, if nothing else.”
Brian hadn’t taken his eyes off her since they had come inside. She blushed on top of her blushes. “I’ll be right back,” she said, slipping her sweater off her shoulders as he took it. She glanced at Brian’s mom nervously, but she made no mention of Julia’s mark of magic. Julia gave Brian a quick smile before heading down the hall.
It was a huge relief to be alone for a second. She let out a shaky breath and leaned against the Spanish-ti
led sink. Everything matched the rest of the house, with rich color on the walls, iron decorations, and bright glazed ceramics. She reached for the faucet handle and washed her hands, more to have something to do than because they were actually dirty. She almost regretted it, not wanting to mess up the beautiful, gold-embroidered towels.
“What am I doing?” she muttered, twisting her black and white jelly bracelets absently. “It’s just Brian’s family. His mom is super nice. Why am I so freaked out?”
After one more minute she forced herself back out. She heard voices down the hall. Brian’s rose above the others, immediately familiar to her. He laughed loudly at something someone said, and she caught the end of a sentence. “No way! I will not let you arm wrestle my girlfriend!”
“You’re brave bringing her here, little bro.”
Laughing and talking filled the air. She turned the corner, regretting going to the bathroom now, because it meant facing the entire room alone.
“Julia!” Brian said, standing up. He took her hand and drew her into the living room. Everyone smiled, everyone’s eyes were on her. “This is my aunt and uncle, Lourdes and Vicente,” he said. “And here, this is my cousin, Eric, and that’s Marcos.”
Julia shook their hands and accepted hugs, her smile freezing in place. She didn’t hear the other introductions, or feel the next set of hands shaking hers. She couldn’t do anything except stare at the figure who remained as frozen as she was, halfway across the room.
He had a cup in his hand. His face turned to ash as the cup hit the floor.
“And this is my brother, Ethan,” Brian said, turning to the now empty space.
Ethan slowed to a stop in his attempted escape.
Julia couldn’t steady her breathing. She couldn’t look anywhere except at the broad shoulders that now turned to reveal the last person in the universe she expected to see.
His eyes, cold as polished silver, met hers for barely a moment. He smiled at Brian. “Sorry, I was going to get a towel. I spilled my soda.”
“I will take care of that,” Mrs. Tristanson said. “Go, say hello to your brother’s girlfriend.”
His brother’s girlfriend.
Ethan paled beneath his mop of curling hair. Hair exactly like his mother’s.
And Brian had hair like his father’s.
Julia turned to Brian, as if he could somehow help.
Brian smiled big before facing Ethan. “Hey, bro, aren’t you going to say hi?”
Ethan blinked slowly. “Julia.”
Julia shook her head. This couldn’t be real.
Ethan came to his senses first. “So nice to meet you.”
She held out her hand and he took it, neither of them moving, like two mannequins forced to touch in a store window.
“I’d better help Mom clean the soda,” Ethan said, taking back his hand.
“It’s already clean, mijo,” Mrs. Tristanson said. “Sit with your brother. You two don’t spend enough time together now that you are in college.”
“He’ll be here all summer, Mom,” Brian said, sitting on the sofa where Ethan had been. He patted the spot next to him. Julia lifted her gaze to meet Ethan’s as she sat down beside Brian. Brian put his arm around her, tugging her in close. Ethan stiffened before turning away.
“You’re so quiet, man,” Brian said, grabbing a handful of chips.
Ethan cleared his throat. “Sorry. I think I’m getting sick or something.” He sat in the chair opposite them. “Brian, you never—” he flushed noticeably, and Julia was surprised to find him looking directly at her. “Brian didn’t talk about you much.”
Brian paused in dunking a chip in some salsa, his brown eyes flitting up to Ethan’s in accusation before turning his attention to Julia. “I talked about you. I did.”
A muscle in Ethan’s jaw clenched. “You didn’t tell me about her. What she looked like ... her name ....”
“You were never around. This whole past month, you didn’t even come home on weekends.” He shook his head. “You never talked about that girl you ran with all last month, either. What was her name?”
Ethan made a noise and leaned forward, his face in his hands.
Brian’s gaze narrowed on his brother. “Wow, you really are getting sick. A few minutes ago you wouldn’t stop calling me ‘punk’ and throwing chips in my face.” He aimed a spoonful of avocado dip at Ethan. “Are you going to lighten up, or am I going to turn your face into guacamole?”
Ethan glanced up, but he turned away without words.
Brian laughed and faked at letting the guacamole fly. “You’re lucky she’s here. I would not hesitate to annihilate you.”
Ethan stood and walked over to a window. He braced his hands against the sill.
Brian’s gaze trailed after his brother. His lashes lowered as he met her eyes again, tracing her cheek with a gentle finger. “Sorry,” he finally whispered, pulling her deeper into the sofa cushion. “My brother’s not usually this weird.” His eyes returned to hers before lingering on her lips.
She glanced around the room. The adults had gone to the bar, and Brian’s mom was nowhere in sight. If she knew the look on Brian’s face, he had kissing in mind, and there was no way she could let him kiss her in front of Ethan.
“I’m really glad you came,” he murmured, his face near hers.
Her heart sped up at the way he looked at her. She prayed that Ethan was still looking out that window.
Brian’s hand lifted to brush aside a lock of her hair.
She tried and failed to swallow past the brick in her throat. “Not here,” she whispered.
“No, of course not,” he murmured, but the way he said it made her think he meant the exact opposite.
“Dinner is ready, everyone,” Mrs. Tristanson called. Julia jumped several inches away from Brian, her heart hammering against her ribcage.
“You’re blushing,” Brian said, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek before pulling her to her feet. Even though she struggled against it, her eyes were drawn to Ethan. He had his back to the room, still looking out the window.
She swallowed, noticing Ethan’s death-grip on the window sill. Her eyes locked with his in the window’s reflection and her heart stilled.
He had been watching them the whole time.
Ethan excused himself from dinner, saying he didn’t feel well before heading upstairs. Brian served her a plate of chicken and moist yellow rice, topped with fried plantains that smelled like caramel. She ate, but her eyes kept returning to the arched doorway. Halfway through the meal she couldn’t taste her food anymore.
“Come on, I’ll show you the game room,” Brian said as the adults drifted off to another part of the house.
“I should get going,” she said.
His face dimmed. “Already?”
“I’m just tired,” she said. And I feel like a total jerk. “I’m sorry.”
“At least can I show you the garden? It would make my mom really happy.”
“Sure,” she said. She didn’t know what else to say. At some point she would have to go back to the task, and Ethan would have to be the Guardian of Time. He had no choice. For whatever reason, their lives were connected. Unless ... unless she didn’t summon him anymore.
Outside, the cool evening air smelled like damp earth and sweet, night-blooming flowers. “It’s beautiful out here,” she said. The house wrapped around the garden, forming a courtyard. Lanterns hung at each archway, and paths cut neatly through the garden squares, leading to the fountain in the center. She shook her head in amazement. “Really, it’s incredible. I have to tell your mom.”
Brian hugged her as they walked. “I knew you’d like it.”
He led her to the fountain and they sat beside the water’s soothing flow. Julia had never gardened. She could barely tell the difference between a rose and a carnation, but she did enjoy the beauty of it all.
“Your mom must love flowers,” she said, letting her fingers trail in the rippling water.
B
rian dipped his hand in the water too. Below the surface their fingers touched.
Julia drew in a breath. Brian’s lips parted.
A deep sense of pressure filled her chest. He most likely wanted to kiss her. The garden, the fountain, everything screamed romance. She took her hand out of the water. It felt good to kiss Brian. She cared about him. But that didn’t change the fact that she had feelings for Ethan.
He took her hand and pulled her close.
“Wait,” she said, turning her head so his lips grazed her cheek. Whatever his response was, she had no idea. Across the garden walk, a shadow moved, and not in any way she had seen a shadow move before.
Her blood turned to ice. “We have to get inside.”
“You don’t want to stay out here with me?” he asked.
Julia’s heart leapt into her throat as the shadow slithered closer. “Please, Brian! Hurry!”
“What’s wrong? What do you see out there?”
A definite hissing sound reached her ears. “A snake! It’s huge!”
Julia looked behind her as the shadow stepped into the light. It was a woman, the most beautiful and horrifying woman she had ever seen, with pale, dead-looking skin and hair that moved on its own. “Holy crap.” Her stomach knotted with fear. The woman’s hair was made of snakes.
The snakes hissed in unison.
“Wow, you weren’t kidding,” Brian said, turning halfway around. “That does sound huge.”
“Move, Brian! Move!” She practically shoved him inside the enclosed back patio, shutting the door behind them. What the hell was that thing? She stared out of the large-paned windows. Nevine’s words came back to her. She tasted something metallic on her tongue and realized she had bitten her lip hard enough to draw blood.
A crashing sound behind her made her scream.
“Ethan, whoa. Are you okay?” Brian asked.
Ethan scrambled to his feet. He picked up the picture frame he had knocked over. “What’s happening?”