by Box Set
"They're good. They still don't regret adopting me, so there's that." He grinned.
"That's always a bonus." I nodded wisely. He'd been adopted as a baby. His parents had always been very open about it, telling him when he was ready they'd help him find his biological parents if he'd like. As far as I knew, he'd never been interested.
"When we were together, I thought you were the most gorgeous girl in the world." His voice was soft, so low I could barely hear him over the throb of the music making the walls shake. He stared hard at the tattoo on my wrist. "But you—somehow you managed to get even more beautiful. Alaska was good to you."
I almost sobbed. He had no idea how many times I'd imagined him saying something like that to me. Or anything even remotely sweet, actually. In all my fantasies, though, I'd never formulated a response because we'd always been kissing by now. But that wasn't happening so a response was necessary. What, exactly, did a girl say to that? "Thank you."
He smiled—not a grin, but slow and sexy so my heart melted and my blood roared in my ears and I wanted to crawl into his lap. "You... you look good, too."" I sounded strangled. His grin broadened and he leaned forward, tugging on my wrist, pulling me closer.
I panicked.
"When I walked in and saw you standing there, I almost turned around and left." Not what I'd meant to say, but he stopped leaning toward me. His smile died and he frowned. "I mean—I didn't think you'd want me here... And I didn't know..." I stopped, blew out a frustrated breath.
"That was my fault. I'm sure nearly running you over yesterday probably wasn't the welcome back you deserved."
I nodded, laughing. "Yeah, let's go with you almost ran over me and not the other way around."
"So you saw me then?" His eyes lit, teasing.
"In that big ole truck? Pretty hard to miss." I twisted my fingers together, peering up at him through my bangs. "Are we... do we not hate each other anymore?" He sat up, studying me, and I hurried on, in case we did and I just hadn't realized it. "Or do we still, but we're in a temporary truce for the sake of the party. Or—"
"I never hated you, Navi. Not ever."
"But high school—"
"We were young and stupid. We made mistakes."
Well, he'd made mistakes. He'd told everyone I'd cheated on him. I'd actually been killing demons, not sleeping around, but I suppose it was an honest misinterpretation on his part.
And I couldn't even explain.
"I saw you." There were tears in his eyes and his hand was shaking. "I saw you go in. In the middle of the night." He pointed in the general direction that he must have thought the house was I'd gone to the night before. I could correct him, tell him the house was actually the other direction, but I sensed this wasn't the time.
"Alec, it isn't what you think."
He ignored me. "And then I asked Konstanz, and she said there's no way, so she went with me and we followed you." He looked at me with so much betrayal, so much pain in his face. I would have sold my soul right then to take that pain away. But I couldn't. It wasn't my soul that was at stake here. It was so many others.
"We followed you to one house. And then another house. Four, Navi. Four guys in one night. All this time..." His voice broke and he ran a hand over his face, staring up at the ceiling. "We've been together for three years. Did you just get bored? Am I not enough?"
"Alec, it isn't like that."
He lowered his head, staring at me now instead of the ceiling, his dark blue eyes pleading through the tears. "Then what is it, Navi? Please tell me what it is."
And I couldn't. Because if I'd told him I was an agent for lost souls, that I had an army to kill demons but I'd failed and the demons had made it into the city and blended with society... it would open his eyes, and then the demons I hunted would hunt him. And I'd be breaking an oath. I'd sworn to protect those souls, and his. No matter what.
"I'm sorry, Alec. I can't. Please." Now it was my voice breaking because he'd started to shake his head and back away, "Please just believe me. Just... I would never do that, Alec. Please," I sobbed, but he turned around and shoved his way through the crowd that had gathered around us. And I never spoke to him again.
"Where'd you go?" he asked, jerking me out of that awful memory.
I swallowed, trying to settle back against the mattress we leaned against, but I was just a tad too short, so it dug into my neck. "I was lost," I said quietly. His hand came up, his knuckles brushing against my cheekbone as his eyes devoured mine.
He opened his mouth and I was hanging on his every word—except he didn't get to say them. "Navi! I've been looking everywhere for you!" Bryson's spiked head popped through the crack in the door, obliterating what little light there was. So he pushed the door wide open and nearly blinded us both.
"Terrie passed out. We didn't want to leave her alone in case she was sick." I pointed to the bed, feeling ridiculously guilty even though all we'd done was talk. Bryson looked hurt, too, like I should feel guilty.
"Well everyone's been asking for you. I've been bragging about that voice of yours so much we're thinking a little impromptu karaoke is in order." He raised his eyebrow.
All I really wanted to do was spend the rest of the night, in the dark, talking to Alec. But I shoved myself to my feet and held out my hand, tugging him up with me. He glowered at Bryson like he was thinking the same thing I was, but I hopefully I hid it better. As I passed, I grabbed Bryson's wrist. "You're gonna sing with me this time, right?"
If I was gonna be put on the spot, I was taking him down with me.
Chapter 8
Alec
If I had to watch Bryson pull Navi against his chest and slide his arms around her waist one more time, and lean so close his breath made her hair move, I might kill him. That was all. Apparently the girl who haunted my nightmares brought out the violent side in me because I'd never wanted to hurt someone so many times in one single night.
Especially someone that, until today, I had considered a tolerable friend.
Bryson and I never really hung out. He was... not my type. At all. There were times I wondered if he was really even straight. But now, with his hands all over the girl I found myself desperately wanting, that question was answered. Not the way I'd hoped to have my doubts laid to rest, though.
And Navi. She was still my Angel. She still sang so sweetly it brought peace to my soul. Watching her with Bryson hurt. It was almost unbearable, which might explain the violence. Except when she sang, I forgot the pain. I knew the line between love and hate was a thin one. I knew that I hated her so much because I'd been so completely in love with her before she'd hurt me. Apparently, the hate had faded but...
There was a chance love hadn't.
I wasn't sure what had happened.
I watched her laugh, pushing the hair away from her face and behind her ear, and I wondered how in the hell it was even remotely possible that I was still in love with her. Yeah, I'd gone up to Alaska to try to find her. That hadn't been cheap. Or easy. But I'd had questions I needed answers to. Not because I was still...
Yeah. I'd gone to Alaska because I was still in love with her.
I sat back and blew out a breath like I was being deflated. I was still in love with her. After all this damn time.
"So." Josh sat on the couch next to me. "You sang one. I'm impressed."
I grimaced. "I had to. It was a duet. I didn't want her to sing with Bryson."
"But he sang anyway." Josh frowned, as confused as I was about why Bryson had felt the need to join us.
"I know," I growled. Violent side, yet again.
He looked from me to Navi and then raised an eyebrow. "You're... watching her like a hawk. Ya know, for a guy who isn't dating her. Like at all."
I swore. "He's all over her. Why the hell doesn't she stop him?"
Josh shrugged. "Maybe she likes it. Girls like Bryson, Alec."
Again with the ice through my veins. "But she... she doesn't."
Josh smirked—apparen
tly he could hear the blind desperation in my voice as well as I could. We both turned toward her, me with panicked eyes that I wanted to hate myself for but didn't, and Josh with critical, appraising eyes that had no trace of panic at all. Did he not realize what was on the line here?
"Well, she does seem like she moves away from him every chance she gets." He nodded. "Maybe she really doesn't like him. If that's the case, and you think you might want another shot with her, you should get her away from him, huh?"
Yeah. That would be nice. But I had no idea how to do that without starting some Navi tug-of-war in the middle of the party. And she, apparently, hadn't realized that she was still in love with me.
But she had to be, right? I couldn't feel like this alone. It had to be a two-way thing. Because otherwise, I was lost. Completely, devastatingly lost.
Chapter 9
Navi
Singing karaoke with a bunch of drunk people usually ends up with rounds of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat", and this night wasn't any different. My abs got the best workout I'd had in weeks from laughing so hard. It was nearly three a.m. when everyone finally started heading out. Konstanz had left with some guy to get ice cream an hour ago, mostly to get out of singing, I think. Terrie was still passed out. "Reese, you ready? We gotta get Terrie back home in one piece." I yawned. I'd slept for three whole hours yesterday morning.
"Yep. At least there’s two of us to carry her in. She’s not exactly a light girl." Reese scanned the room hopefully, like a hand truck might pop out of the molding and offer to help us. Bryson had his hand on my waist, like I was his.
Alec sat on the couch by my leg, arms crossed over his chest. But when Reese spoke, he sat up. "I'll follow you home and carry her in for you."
"You don't need to do that, Alec. It's my party. I'll go home with them." Bryson tugged me closer, his arm circling my entire waist now, my back against his chest.
"You've been drinking. Sorry, bro. You're not driving." Alec stood, towering over both of us. I'd forgotten, in all my imaginings, how tall he was. I was strong enough to carry Reese in without either boy, at least until the sun came up, but not if there was anyone around to see me. And if we didn't wrap this up soon, I wouldn't be strong enough to carry even myself in.
"I can ride with them. Maybe Navi can drop me back home on her way to work in the morning." He looked at me hopefully but Alec shook his head.
"She works nights." I supposed Alec remembered that my mom had worked nights and that's where he got his information, but it still took me by surprise that he remembered.
"Well. While they fight it out, come help me drag her to the car." Reese stormed off, clearly annoyed. I hid a smile and went after her, Bryson and Alec arguing behind me.
"Navi, can you give me a ride home in the morning?" Bryson came in after us, flipping Alec's bedroom light on. I got my first real view of the room. It was plain, except for a few framed pictures on the window sill of a kid. My feet froze to the floor in confusion. Was it Alec's son? I knew he'd had several girlfriends since we'd broken up. We were both twenty-two. He could easily have a kid or even two. Still, the thought hurt. A lot.
"Yeah, sure Bryson. I can bring you back home." My voice sounded stiff in my own ears and Reese looked over at me, raising one perfectly arched eyebrow.
"She's tired, Bryson. There's no reason for her to have to drive you home. I'll just follow them and drive myself back." Alec sounded annoyed, but I couldn't tear my eyes off the kid in the picture.
Bryson started to argue, but Reese, thankfully, cut him off. "Seriously, you're just making more work for her and she's exhausted. If you're trying to look good, you're failing miserably. Alec, get your keys."
Alec reached for the basket on his night stand and grabbed his keys. "Yes ma'am." He scooped Terrie up, and Reese threw her jacket over Terrie's legs, trying to give her some semblance of modesty. They both left and I went to follow them, but Bryson tugged me back, sliding his arms around my waist, turning me so I faced him and also, conveniently, had a perfect view of the two framed pictures. The kid was cute, there was no denying it. Bright eyes, big smile. "I had fun tonight."
I tore my eyes away from the pictures and tried to focus. "Yeah, me too. Thanks for inviting us. Karaoke is fun."
His hands twined with my fingers and he raised them to his lips as he peered at me over our hands with those ice blue eyes. "I really like you, Navi." I could smell the alcohol on his breath, which distracted me. I did not love alcohol. It slowed my responses. It could be a death sentence, not just for me but for the entire city. I was so caught up thinking about just how catastrophic that could be that I didn't see Bryson leaning in, eyes closed, until it was too late. His lips mashed awkwardly against mine as he pulled me tight against him. I squeaked and my eyes flew open. "Bryson—" Our teeth ground together, "Bryson, stop." I pushed against his chest.
"I'm sorry. I couldn't help myself. You're so pretty and I really like you." His hands were roving over my shoulders and down my back. I wriggled away, praying this was a drunken haze he wouldn't remember the next day because holy crap. Awkward. "I know I just met you, but I really think—"
"Navi. You comin'?" Alec literally growled from the front doorway. I leaped away from Bryson, and without my hands holding him up, he toppled forward.
"Oh!" I stooped, tried to catch him before he face-planted—without moving too fast because Alec still stood, arms crossed, in the doorway watching. "Are you okay?"
He mumbled around the carpet in his mouth. His eyes drifted closed and he promptly started snoring. I looked up at Alec in bewilderment. "Does he always get this plastered?"
"I think you make him nervous." Alec didn't move, glaring at his roommate from the door jamb he was apparently holding up.
"So... I'll just drag him to his room by myself then." I stood up, grabbed Bryson's arm and tugged. Hmm. How to do this without showing my freakish strength...
"Trust me, Navi. You go anywhere near his room and you're not coming out of there tonight."
I blew out a breath, pushing my bangs out of my face. "Well would you like to take him in or will you have the same problem with the never coming out again?"
He smirked but didn't move. "Leave him there. He'll find his way to his bed eventually."
I glared at him, reached down to grab Bryson's other arm and tugged, stumbling backward toward his room. Alec watched me for several steps before he left the doorway and came over to help me. "He doesn't deserve this, you know."
I peeked at him through my hair as I tugged. Alec lifted him from the arm pits. "You're not very happy with him, are you?"
"He just attacked you. I'm not thrilled." He didn't look at me as he said it.
My heart tried to climb out of my throat. "You... you care that he attacked me? I mean, he didn't attack me. It was just a kiss. Sort of."
"Did you ask for that kiss, Navi?" He dropped Bryson just inside his bedroom door, pushing his legs in with his foot. He straightened and looked at me. "Did you want Bryson to kiss you?"
"I didn't ask for it, no. But it's not unheard of for someone to want to kiss me, you know."
His eyes darkened as they dipped to my mouth. "No. It's not unheard of at all."
I sucked in a breath through my teeth and straightened my spine. I could not kiss him. And if I fell for him again...
Pain. So much pain.
I brushed past him. "Reese is gonna kill me. She’s probably freezing out there."
"I sent Reese home. I told her you could ride with me."
I froze, my back to him. I had to be alone with him. In his truck. The memories in that truck alone would be my undoing. There wasn't enough willpower in the world.
"Navi." His voice, low, right behind me. I could feel his warmth he was so close. "I'm not going to attack you."
"I know." The problem was I wanted him to. So, so much.
"Just talk to me. That's all I ask. I missed you."
He missed me. He missed me? I went all the way to Alaska to
try to forget him.
He told the entire school you cheated on him. With a bunch of different guys. Remember that, Navi, a strong, fierce voice growled in my head. It sounded like Elizabeth, and I grabbed it, holding tight. Remember the guys that followed you into the bathroom because they thought you were easy. Remember the looks. Remember the whispers and the laughter.
"Yeah. We can be friends. Of course. Ready?" I grabbed my purse and slung it over my shoulder, hurrying toward the door.
"Navi, what happened? Three hours ago you were happy to talk to me. Now you act like I'm no better than him." Alec flung his arm toward Bryson's room and I cringed.
"I'm just tired, Alec. I haven't slept much lately, and the sun is coming up soon."
He glanced out the window, a brief smile lighting his face. "You always hated the sun rise. Most people dread the night, and you dread the dawn." He headed out the door and I imagined the lecture Konstanz was going to give me when we finally made it home. To say she was prone to worry was an understatement. Hopefully, Reese hadn't thrown up in the SUV, or I'd never hear the end of it.
"I came on too strong. I'm sorry."
I glanced at him in surprise. "You don't need to apologize." The air outside bit at my cheeks, distracting me. It hadn't been even a fraction of this cold last night. Where had this chill come from?
"I didn't think it would be like this. When Bryson said you were coming over, I thought it would be awkward. But it felt like I was stepping back in time. Like you never left."
I nodded slowly as he came around to my side of the truck to open the door. "I did expect it to be more uncomfortable. Especially since you nearly ran me over yesterday."