“What are you doing instead?” Kadie caught my arm, trying to make me face her.
Damn. She knew I’d lied. “Um, stuff.”
“Really? That’s your excuse?”
“Actually, Salome and I were planning an anti-Valentine’s Day movie marathon. Bunch of action flicks.”
“Oh.” She grinned. “Well as long as she’s not alone.”
Kadie sashayed down the hall smiling.
“Thanks. She’s kind of crazy about the dances and stuff,” I said.
“No problem. If you want, we really can hang out that night. Grab some pizza.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah. I need to keep you out of trouble.” He laughed.
Butterflies tickled my stomach as he turned his chocolate brown eyes on me. “Don’t pretend that you don’t like trouble.”
“Never said I didn’t.” With that, he sauntered down the hall, leaving me staring after him.
After school, Nevin already had the feeders filled and was sitting in the gazebo staring toward the pond.
“Hey.” I plopped down next to him.
He grinned. “Hey yourself. So what news do you bring from school?” He wrapped an arm around my shoulder.
“So I’m gonna hang out with one of my friends on Valentine’s Day. This is the first person besides you, Kadie, and Colton, who’s ever invited me to do something.”
Nevin’s jaw tightened. “You should go. Enjoy life, Salome.” He stood like he couldn’t get away fast enough and moved over to the railing. He rested his arms against it, not meeting my gaze. “It’s good for you to be normal. Have fun, enjoy things outside of just spending time with me.”
“I—I do, but I don’t feel like you really mean what you say.” Anger tightened my chest. I wouldn’t let him make me feel guilty. “I only get riddles, arrogance, and half-truths from you. I’ve given you my trust. My friendship. I’ve told you things I’ve never told Kadie or my family. I never know what I’m going to get when I come here. The happy Nevin? The arrogant Nevin? The Nevin who acts like he cares then in the next second shoves me away?”
Nevin’s eyes darkened with fury. “Because I have nothing to give you. This,” he hissed, waving his hands in front of him. “This is all I’ve got.”
“Did it ever occur to you maybe that’s enough?” My breathing became more difficult as I attempted to calm. “Damn it, Nevin, I—”
The words were on the tip of my tongue. I what? Cared for him. Adored him? Loved him? I was so confused. He’d become closer to me than anyone. I cherished his opinions, his time. Maybe I did love him, but it wasn’t in a romantic, I need to marry him kind of way. I felt safe with him. Like he understood me better than anyone else. Kadie had her boyfriends and Gareth always seemed busy. Nevin gave me the one thing I craved more than anything. Friendship—to be needed.
“Don’t say it. Please, don’t.” His gaze scanned the woods. A look of terror came over him.
“Why not?”
“Salome.” His words softened. “Go home.” He turned his back on me.
“She cares for him.”
“Then why does he send her away?”
“Because he wishes to forsake us all.”
God, I had no idea what I wanted. I needed to get my head on straight.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Gareth parked outside the pizza place then turned to me. “I’ll leave the car running while I go in and grab our food. I’ll only be a minute.”
“That’s fine.” I smiled, watching him climb out of the vehicle and head inside. Mom and Nancy had gone out for a “single ladies only” dinner tonight. They’d invited me to go, too, but it didn’t sound quite as fun as watching spaceships blow things up with Gareth.
I wrapped my arms around my chest, when a tap sounded on the passenger side window. Colton stood there, gesturing for me to come out. What the heck did he want?
My muscles tensed, but I opened the door and slid out. “Hey, what are you doing here?”
“Getting pizza.” He shrugged. His eyes darkened like inky pools. “Thought you said our breaking up had nothing to do with Gareth.”
“It didn’t.”
“Yet, he’s the one you have lunch with every day. He sometimes drives you home from school. And it’s Valentine’s Day, but instead of being at the dance, you’re here with him. Tell me, does my cousin know how close you two are?”
“It’s none of yours or his business who I decide to spend my time with,” I said. My knees quaked and I prayed Gareth hurried up.
“We could have had it all, Salome. Even the kingdom.”
Kingdom? Holy crap. He’d lost it. My hand slid behind me and I reached for my door. Just then, I saw Gareth exit the pizza shop, his eyes narrowed.
“Hope you’re not doing anything stupid, Colton. Rumor has it you’ve been hanging around people you’re not supposed to lately,” Gareth said then his gaze slid to me. “Salome, why don’t you get back in the car now.”
A growl erupted from Colton and he started toward him. “How about you don’t tell her what to do. As a matter of fact, stay the hell away from her or you’ll be sorry.”
Gareth’s gaze glittered. “Is that a threat?”
Colton went rigid. “Yes.”
“What games do you play, Colton? Playing both sides will get you nowhere. In the end an innocent will pay.”
An innocent would pay? Who said things like that?
“You have no idea what’s really going on. And by the time you do, it’ll be too late. Take that back to your king.” Colton backed away from me, then disappeared behind the building.
My pulse pounded and I let out a sigh of relief. “Oh God, if you hadn’t come out when you did…”
Gareth set the pizza box on the hood of the vehicle. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?” He examined me, then lifted my sleeves as if to check for wounds.
“I’m fine.”
His eyes rested on my newly healed arm. “Does it hurt?”
“No.” I tried to tug my sleeve back down. “I wish this stupid scar would go away.”
“You’re beautiful even with it,” he said softly. He shoved strands of hair behind my ears for me. “Let’s get you home.”
My skin prickled with goose bumps, but not from the cold or the fear. Not the weird way I’d felt with Nevin or Colton… Before I started wearing the rowan bracelet. No, my skin prickled…in a different way.
We drove in silence and when we pulled into my driveway, Gareth walked me to the door. “I hate to do this to you, but there’s something I need to take care of. I promise, I’ll make this up to you.”
“But you haven’t eaten yet,” I said.
“I’ll be fine. You go ahead and enjoy the pizza. And whatever you do, stay in the house tonight, okay?”
“I will.”
“And Salome?” Gareth held out a bouquet of daisies. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”
“I—thank you.” I took a step toward him and his hand touched my cheek.
“Good night.” He let his fingers drop away and he headed back to the Hummer.
I had a feeling whatever he had to do concerned Colton. And there was no telling what might happen. After Gareth pulled out, I was just about to go inside, when I heard strange music coming from the direction of my grandma’s house. The same music I’d heard the night I’d had that strange dream about Nevin.
To my surprise, before I could go anywhere, I found Nevin on my porch.
I took a deep breath and moved toward him. His gaze met mine, lingering as he stared me up and down. With a single step, he came up beside me, cupping my chin in his hands.
“I thought you were going out for Valentine’s Day?” Nevin said.
“I was, but Colton showed up and we decided to just call it a night.”
“He didn’t hurt you did he?”
“No.”
“Good.” He let his hand fall back to his side, but he continued to stare at me. “You’re breathtaking.”
In the distanc
e, the faint tinkling of music erupted over the woods and everything blurred. I looked at my wrist, only now realizing I wasn’t wearing the bracelet, but I didn’t care. I was outside, but I was safe with Nevin.
“I want my night to end with you,” I said.
He pulled me close, guiding me across the snow-covered porch. His movements were graceful, each step carrying me away with him as we swayed to the tinkling chimes.
The chill in the night air didn’t affect me, not while I lingered in his arms. His fingers caressed my back, each touch sending bolts of fiery lava through my blood. I traced his chiseled jawline, memorizing each perfect moment.
He dipped me back, then pulled me up again, until I was pressed against his chest like I was a piece of his clothing.
He bent down, hovering above me. I stood on my tiptoes leaning in. The music, his touch, and the closeness intoxicated me.
“No!” The voices screamed from somewhere nearby. “You mustn’t.”
Nevin snapped out of whatever daze he’d been in. He pushed me back. I raised my fingers to my lips where the kiss should’ve lingered, but I had been robbed again.
“Why?” I whispered.
“I told you I can’t.”
“Can’t or won’t?” I cried. The chimes faded and I shook my head.
“Can’t. Do you think I enjoy pushing you away?”
“I don’t know.”
“Look at me.” He demanded, forcing my face upward.
And I did. I stared long and hard, taking in his pale face, his ice-colored eyes. His eyes. Oh God, I knew him. I’d always known him. Why hadn’t I seen it before?
“You. You’re the one that saved me that night. The pond, you kept me from drowning.”
“Yes.”
I swallowed the rock-sized lump in my throat. “You warned me to stay away. Why?”
“To keep her from getting you and to keep this from happening.”
“What from happening?”
He brought my hand to his chest, covering his heart. It thudded beneath my fingers like ancient drumbeats. “From falling in love with you. And losing my heart.”
I went into his arms, letting him hold me. “Nevin, I don’t know what to say,” I whispered.
“Then say nothing. But know that by my uttering these words I’ve sealed your fate—put you in grave danger.”
“Tell me what I need to do.” I buried my face in his shirt.
“Stay away from me and from Colton.”
I frowned. “I’m not leaving.”
“I can’t always be here.”
“What do you mean?”
He opened his mouth to talk but no words came out as pain seemed to overtake him.
“Go, Salome, it’s time for bed.” He backed away.
But this time, I wasn’t going to let him off so easily. “No. I’m not going inside, not until you answer my questions. I’ve been patient with you. Please.”
“I can’t say… The curse…” He bent once more, holding his head in his hands as if some invisible force had been set loose on him.
“Nevin, if you love me like you say you do, then give me something, anything that’ll help me out.”
“The snow,” he whispered then fled into the night.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
As the weeks passed the weather warmed, signaling the approach of winter’s end. And even though Nevin had told me to stay away from him, I hadn’t listened. He could’ve very well not shown up every day, but he came as well. Maybe we were foolish or maybe we thought we could really beat the curse.
The sun blazed in the sky like a forgotten lover coming home. The snow melted. Ice turned to slushy remnants. And excitement for spring sang in my blood. I imagined the warmth and envisioned the blossoming flowers.
With each day that went by Nevin looked paler, almost sick. At first I was concerned, but he assured me he was well, just suffering from a round of flu.
“Tomorrow it’s supposed to get up to fifty-six degrees,” I told him, staring at the last piles of snow turning into tiny streams in the yard. “Winter will be gone.”
He glanced away, backing into the shadows of the gazebo. “I know.” He closed his eyes.
“What’s wrong?” I hurried to his side.
“I have to go away.”
“W—what do you mean?”
“I’m leaving.”
Pain ripped through me like it would swallow me whole.
“You said you loved me. That I was the closest thing you had to a friend.” I stared at him in disbelief. He was abandoning me?
“All good things must end.”
“But—”
He touched my face, giving me a sad smile. “Forget about me. You’ve got Kadie and your family.”
Forget about him? I’d only survived the winter because of him and Gareth. This was the first time in years I’d had the courage to brave the snow. To be out on my grandparents’ property. He’d saved my life long ago, giving me the chance to grow up. To become the person I was. How could I possibly just let him go?
He sauntered down the steps, glancing back at me before disappearing in the woods.
It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Nevin was supposed to stay with me. To always be here. I leaped from the gazebo and chased after him. “Nevin, wait.”
The sun hit my eyes and I had to stop for a moment before I followed again.
But the only trace of him I found were footprints leading to the shore of the pond.
Spring
Music, when soft voices die,
Vibrates in the memory—
Odours, when sweet violets sicken,
Live within the sense they quicken.
Rose leaves, when the rose is dead,
Are heaped for the beloved’s bed;
And so thy thoughts, when thou art gone,
Love itself shall slumber on.
—Percy Bysshe Shelley
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Spring was finally here. I wanted to rejoice with the birds fluttering from tree to tree, to dance in the wind like the flowers blooming in Grandma’s yard. But my sadness wouldn’t go away. Every day for three weeks I’d waited for Nevin to come back. I’d get home from school, sprint to Grandma’s, and sit and wait. Darkness would settle in and he wouldn’t be there.
My friend was gone.
Kadie had Zac from Waterfall Lodge. I’d gotten into spending time with Gareth, but he’d disappeared shortly after Nevin. He’d said he’d be busy handling things for his family, but would be back soon.
I was so alone.
“Salome, we’re home.” Grandma hurried into the backyard.
A lump formed in my throat as she hugged me tight. “Missed you,” I whispered against her robust chest.
“Oh honey, I’m sorry I left you alone to deal with this.”
“There’s my girl.” Grandpa squeezed us, ruffling my hair like I was still six years old.
Maybe things would get back to normal now. With them home, maybe I could forget.
“I’ve got some stuff I need to unload, but wanted to come say hi,” he said with a grin. “Oh and we got ourselves a new cat.” He pointed to the black and white kitten peeking out the door. “Her name is Mittens.”
“She’s as spoiled rotten as they come,” Grandma muttered under her breath.
“I heard that.” Grandpa made his way back toward the house, leaving Grandma and me alone.
She led me to the gazebo and settled beside me, stroking my hair. “I told you to leave Nevin alone, honey. He can never stay.”
I sniffed as I curled up in her arms. “I miss him, Gram. He was one of my few friends. Kadie’s so busy, and I mean, I have another friend who’ll be back, eventually, but Nevin could be gone for good.”
“Letting people go is always hard.”
“Will he ever come back?”
Grandma stared off into the distance. “You never can tell.”
“I need him.”
“Winter’s gone. It�
�s time for change, time for you to make new friends and have fun.” She gave me a sad smile. “Sometimes caring for or even loving someone isn’t enough, sweetie. No matter how much we want it to be.”
She was right. Look at how much Mom had loved Dad. In the end, he still walked away. It was time to move on. I had Kadie. Grandma and Grandpa were home now. Maybe Gareth would only be a phone call away, soon. It had been a while since we’d been able to really hang out.
After a big welcome home dinner with my grandparents, I went back to our place and stared at the TV. I’d cradled my head in my hands just as the phone rang.
“Hey, get changed into something sexy, we’re going out,” Kadie said, music blaring in the background.
“You’re not going to quit bugging me until I say yes, are you?”
“Nope. So go put on that slinky black dress. I’ll be there in fifteen.” She hung up, not letting me say another word.
The tight black dress she ordered me to wear clung to me, each curve evident through the thin fabric. Next, I slid on a pair of strappy black heels then managed to get my make-up done. As I waited for her to show, I put on the locket Nevin had given me, along with Gareth’s bracelet.
A few minutes later Kadie pulled in, honking her horn like a wild woman. She rolled down her window and whistled at me.
“Why are we going to the club? I thought you and Zac were in love.” I smoothed my dress as I plopped down in her vehicle.
“Zac and I are still good. I’m doing this to get you out of the house and have some fun. Besides, I’ve got a surprise for you.”
It seemed like forever since we’d done anything together. And she was right, I needed some girl time. I decided to go, even though I worried about whatever “surprise” Kadie had cooked up, but excited to let loose.
“Well thanks.” After everything with Colton and Nevin this year maybe it was time to just let it go.
“Here, just in case.” Kadie handed me a piece of mint gum as she drove.
When we climbed out of the car, the beat of the music shook the ground. Several guys shoved each other as they headed toward the entrance. I could almost smell their horny hopes as they chatted about finding some chicks to hook up with.
The Winter People Page 22