“Ryan and his mother,” he said flatly.
I sighed in relief. It could’ve been worse—like if Mr. Mitchell had called. “I figured they’d call.” I kept my focus on the bowl, mentally preparing to tell a few fibs.
“Why is your car still at the shelter?”
“I went to close the place down for Ms. Scott on Saturday night, and Andrew met me there to make sure I was safe.” The lies began to flow.
“Okay,” he said, waving his hand for me to continue.
“Andrew and I went out to dinner and a movie, but I was too tired to get my car. Then we had a long talk, and I just needed time to be alone,” I lied again.
“Did you two have a fight?” His voice deepened.
“No.” I said, shaking my head. “He has feelings for me, and I have feelings for him too, but I just wasn’t sure if I was ready.”
My father did not need to know exactly how ready I truly was. There wasn’t much I would not sacrifice for us to be together.
“So what’s the verdict?”
“I’m willing to see where it goes,” I smiled lightly.
“Well then, I guess it’s time that Andrew and I officially meet. How does dinner tonight sound?”
“I’ll ask him,” I agreed. It was hard to imagine the two most important men in my life conversing over a meal that only one of them would actually enjoy eating.
“All right, well let me know what Andrew has to say, and we’ll go from there,” he said jovially as he stood up and kissed the top of my head.
“Are you headed into work?”
“Yes,” he said still smiling.
My dad exited through the garage door. He started up his truck. I waited to hear the garage door close before running upstairs.
As I reached the top of the stairs I noticed my bedroom door was open. I remembered closing it behind me to keep Andrew’s presence hidden. I cautiously walked through the doorway to see Andrew sitting on my bed with his head in his hands. He seemed to be distressed. I panicked a little.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, trembling slightly. With everything that had occurred in the past two weeks, I never knew what to expect, but I couldn’t imagine anything worse than my mother’s soul being devoured by Andrew’s father. Not even his father showing up now could upset me as much as hearing how my mother spent her last seconds alive.
His head slowly lifted. His eyes met mine. There was a look of angst on his face. Something was definitely amiss.
“So I’m meeting your father tonight?” His voice was flat, before a large grin spread across his face.
“You scared me,” I said, playfully smacking his arm.
He pulled me into his arms and cradled my body. “I apologize if I frightened you,” he smiled gently.
“Well, I was going to give you a choice in the matter, but because of that stunt, I’m forcing you to go to dinner tonight.”
“I wasn’t aware I was going to be given a choice,” he smirked.
“Well, now you’ll never know,” I teased. “Any news?” I asked uneasily.
“When you first walked in I was just ending a conversation with Alec. Reading the minds of seven stubborn, opinionated family members can be really frustrating at times,” he frowned.
“Are they coming for me?”
“Nope,” he smiled widely. “They’re frightened of you.”
“Really?” I asked shocked. My abilities were peculiar, but imagining these creatures frightened by a little fire was almost comical.
“Yes. They’ve now had three separate accounts of your abilities, and they aren’t really sure exactly what you are—and none of them are eager to find out.”
“That’s good, right?” I asked, bewildered by his expression.
“Yes, but just having them know about you makes me uneasy. I was hoping to accomplish this without your involvement,” he sighed.
“You told Abrielle to tell them about me,” I reminded.
“Yes, but I figured she’d be too jealous of you to admit to your existence.” He rolled his eyes.
“Well, I don’t mind being involved as long as we’re never apart again.” My voice dropped as the memories of those two horrible days returned.
“We’ll always be together,” he promised.
Our lips softly touched. He pulled me in closer, pressing my chest against his. The heat radiated off his skin as our kiss intensified. I felt the warmth of his lips as he slowly kissed down my neck.
He placed me on my back on top of the bed. He straddled my body. His lips continued to move down my neck and down through the ‘v’ of my shirt. He stopped again before reaching any unexposed skin.
“This is so difficult,” he whispered.
“I know,” I agreed.
His body shifted from atop mine to beside me. He slid his arm beneath my head and propped me up. Our faces were close. I tried to calm my breathing as I had hoped for a different ending to this moment.
His hand cupped my chin. “Can’t risk anything now,” he winked.
“I know. My abilities are necessary to keep me alive,” I said, slightly frustrated.
“Not just that reason,” he smiled. “Proper human ceremonies must take place first.”
“I told you before. I don’t feel the same as I did when I first met you.”
“Haley, my love, my choices revolve around what’s best for you. You need that kind of commitment to feel secure in your choice.”
“Andrew…” He placed his finger over my lips.
“I want it, too. I want to give you everything that you desire,” he breathed.
“And I want to give you everything you desire, too.”
“Even immortality?” A grin spread across his face.
“That isn’t necessary. I’ll just reincarnate, and we’ll be reunited again,” I said, hoping this would suffice for now. I hadn’t given much thought to immortality—just making it through the day alive had been my main concern.
“We aren’t sure if it’s a natural occurrence or a freak incident from the curse,” he reminded.
Nothing would be better than spending forever with Andrew. But his forever was a little daunting.
“Well there’s a lot to do before dinner tonight, so I should start getting ready,” I smiled, changing the subject.
“One day, you’ll have to decide,” he muttered. “I have to speak with Alec and Holden, but I’ll be back soon to pick you up for our date tonight.”
Andrew swiftly disappeared without kissing me goodbye. He was definitely upset. But he was right—eventually I would have to decide.
~~~*~~~
Andrew held the glass door wide open. I proceeded through the entrance, searching the restaurant for my father. He had made reservations at an upscale restaurant for the occasion of meeting my new boyfriend. My father rarely ventured out of his comfort zone, so I had to give him credit for really trying.
I glanced at my reflection in the mirror that hung on the wall behind the host’s platform. The black dress I chose to wear was perfect for today’s holiday, Halloween. The puffiness around my eyes was finally gone, and I managed to cover any signs of sadness with several coats of makeup.
Andrew wore a black suit and an emerald green tie that complimented his eyes. He anxiously tapped his fingers along the top of the platform as we waited to be seated. It was rare to witness Andrew so nervous—especially over a dinner with my father. Even if my father disapproved, our relationship was a little too intense for me to end it.
A tall, slim man wearing a tuxedo approached us.
“Party of two?” he asked, eyeing Andrew over.
“We’re meeting my father here,” I smiled.
“Last name?”
“Helms.”
“Right this way.”
He led us inside the main dining hall. It’s décor was reminiscent of the country club dining area with dark maroon curtains draped across the windows which eloquently matched a lighter maroon carpet with silver diamond-shaped patte
rns intertwined throughout. I glanced up at Andrew as I recalled that night of the event, which seemed like years ago.
There were no words to describe how I felt at this very moment. In my entire life, I never expected to experience a love so powerful.
He looked down at me and winked. His sparkling green eyes, the glow of his skin and large stature were so intimidating at times, but I realized others could not see him the way I did—and there was a reason for that—we were destined to be with one another.
My father was seated at a table in the back corner. I was relieved he was alone and not accompanied by Evelyn tonight. My father inspected Andrew as we approached. He stood up to welcome us to the table and shook Andrew’s hand.
“Very nice to finally meet you,” my father smiled, taking his seat.
“The pleasure is all mine,” Andrew grinned.
Andrew pulled the chair out for me, and I took my seat. I could see my father was pleased with this gesture.
“I’m assuming by your size you once played football or basketball?” my father asked excitedly.
“I believe I’ve played several sports in my lifetime,” Andrew smirked as his eyes flickered toward me.
They conversed back and forth for what seemed like hours as our food came and went. Andrew was absolutely charming at times. But with years of practice under his belt, I was sure it came quite easily. I had not seen my father laugh as much as he did this evening.
Braden and my father were comfortable around one another, but my father had always worried about his reputation and how it would affect our relationship. I was relieved my father did not mention the conversation he and Mr. Mitchell had or his initial assessment of Andrew. The last thing I needed was for Andrew to avenge my kidnapping—we had enough problems.
“So, I believe I have one very important question that I must ask.” My father cleared his throat.
“I’ve been anticipating it,” Andrew nodded.
“What are your intentions with my daughter?”
I cringed slightly to hear my father speak those words. It sounded so old fashioned and ridiculous, as if any male would really discuss his true intentions with a girl’s father. But it was how I was raised, and I could never ask my father to change.
Andrew looked over at me and smiled gently. His eyes were a brilliant, amber glow. My heart fluttered, and my body warmed as he brushed his hand lightly over mine.
“I have no intentions, only hopes, for our future, but I’ll never steer Haley in any direction. It’s her choosing on what is to occur next,” Andrew replied.
“What are your hopes?” My father reworded his question.
Andrew struggled as he thought long and hard about his response. I lightly touched his hand to reassure him that no matter what his answer was, it would not change my feelings.
“To spend the rest of my life with your daughter,” Andrew said softly as he smiled down at me.
I instantly caught the ‘my’ part of the response. It wasn’t my lifetime he wanted—it was his. Immortality did not seem as glorious as it had in the books I had read. It seemed like an eternal life of struggle and the taking of human souls.
“Well, I’m sure in time you’ll find out if those hopes become a reality,” my father replied as he looked over at me.
I closed my eyes. Immorality reared its ugly head yet again today. He had only mentioned it once before, but just casually. It suddenly seemed to be a hot topic of discussion. My heart and soul belonged to Andrew and longed to be with him, but was this love enough to give up my identity?
Andrew’s hand gripped mine a little tighter. I opened my eyes to see my father and him staring at me.
“How do you feel?” my father asked.
Andrew’s eyes were focused on me. My eyes flickered back toward my father. “The rest of my life with him would be nice.” I exaggerated my words a little, knowing Andrew would pick up on this.
“It seems a little sudden, but you both seem genuinely smitten with one another,” my father smiled. “And I’ll always support your decisions, Haley.”
“I know, Dad,” I smiled.
My father insisted on paying the bill, and Andrew begrudgingly agreed, but paid the tip. My father’s eyes widened as Andrew set a one hundred dollar bill on the table.
We parted ways at the door, and I watched my father leave. Andrew insisted I put my sweater on as he took my hand and guided me down the eerily quiet downtown streets of Boulder. We strolled along as I looked inside the large windows of all the quaint little shops that had closed early for Halloween.
The lamps dimly lit the brick sidewalks that lined the streets. There were no children out and about. Downtown was rarely the place for the holiday festivities; those were left for the suburban areas.
The college students, however, had made downtown a spot for a particular naked Halloween run, but that was usually in the wee hours of the morning. Andrew held my hand as we continued to saunter down the brick sidewalk. The sweater was really unnecessary. His body heat was enough to keep me warm through a snowstorm.
“Immortality scares you?” he asked softly.
I took a seat on a black iron bench that sat between the shops and the street. I closed my eyes for a second to gather my thoughts.
“It isn’t immortality that scares me.”
“Then what is it?”
“Your kind seems to struggle with happiness and feelings—survives off human souls.”
“Your immortality would differ from ours.”
“How so?”
“You’ve been human before—you wouldn’t lose your ability to feel or love,” he smiled gently.
“But I’d need souls to survive, right?”
“Unfortunately, yes, that’s how you’d maintain your strength,” he sighed. “But you wouldn’t necessarily have to kill anyone.”
“How’s that?” I asked curiously.
“I could consume for the both of us and give you the energy from them. You wouldn’t be as strong, as my system would only give a part of it, but you would never know the difference,” he explained.
“But I would still stay alive?”
“Yes. You’d still be stronger than you are as a human, but just not as strong as the rest of us.” He gently stroked my hand.
“Is it painful?”
“Which part?”
“Becoming immortal.”
“It’s a complicated process, but wouldn’t be painful for you.” His eyes searched mine.
“You said that the created immortals died, how does that work?”
“It’d never happen to you,” he said sternly.
“But it’s possible?”
“There are two ways of turning a human in to an immortal—and we only created immortals one way—the other was supposed to be reserved for when we found a mate.”
“Is that what you planned for Alexandria?”
“Yes, at that time I’d been granted the ability to turn her,” he said, staring off into the distance.
“What’s the difference between the two ways?”
“One way is superficial and fairly easy, which is how we created a few of the immortals. But the other is complicated and irreversible.”
“Which one do you desire for me?”
“The irreversible one.”
“I see.” My voice trailed off.
“Haley, I realize you can’t wrap your mind around the concept, but just know I’d never want something for you that wouldn’t benefit our lives. I don’t want to lose you again, and you can’t empathize with my pain—it is truly an excruciating one that I never wish to experience again,” he sighed heavily with an anguished look.
“What about a god?” I asked.
“What about a god?” His brow lifted.
“Wouldn’t he or she banish me to hell for my choice?”
“So you believe in a god now?” he asked, slightly taken aback.
“I would like to,” I admitted.
“Is this because of
Alec?”
“No, it has nothing to do with what he said. It has more to do with my mother. I only disbelieved because I was confused as to why she would’ve been taken so soon, but now I know that her death was caused by pure evil and had nothing to do with a god,” I explained.
“I see,” he frowned. “But if there were a god, why did he not protect her? Or why does he allow horrible things to happen to your kind?”
“That I don’t have an answer to, but I’d like to believe that there is something even more powerful than your kind watching over us, maybe protecting us in a way—a home for our souls to go when we die,” I sighed.
“Well, if there is one, then he or she shall know that love was the basis for your decision. No, a god would ever damn such a reason,” he said softly.
“Is there a rush on this decision?” I asked.
“Absolutely not, we still have many mountains to climb before you must decide.”
“How many?”
He pulled my body in closer to his as he gently kissed the top of my head. “Several,” he said, shifting his body back and forth. I felt his hand moving in his pocket.
“Should I move?”
“No, sorry I was trying to be a little more smooth about this, but I failed,” he chuckled lightly.
In his hand was a black, square velvet box. With one flick of his thumb the box opened to reveal a diamond heart-shaped ring. There were hundreds of tiny sparkling diamonds surrounding the heart. I had never seen a ring so beautiful before. The diamonds sparkled so brightly, even in the dim lighting above the bench.
“Wow!” I gasped.
“Is it to your liking?”
“It’s very beautiful.” I marveled.
“I had it made just for you.”
“Oh my,” I murmured, unable to stop admiring its beauty.
Removing the ring from the box, he admitted nervously. “I don’t know how to do this.”
“Do what?”
“I think I’m supposed to ask your father first, but I’m pretty sure he approved of our relationship, and I didn’t want to scare him,” he rambled slightly. “I just wanted you to know that forever is what I want and if this ring makes you understand my feelings, then I’d buy a million of them to ensure you understood.”
Discern (Discern Saga, Book #1) Page 39