“And you pretended to be unaffected by it.”
“You knew I was full of it.”
“Oh those simple, easy going days.” I faked a sigh.
He laughed. “Yes, because trying to save Allie, Levi, and Casey was so easy.”
“This is starting to become a pattern for us.”
“Starting to?” He raised an eyebrow.
“All right, it is a pattern.” There was no denying it. Our lives were anything but simple and uneventful. As much as I liked to stay busy, I knew there had to be a better way to do that. “Maybe we need to plan a vacation. A no drama, no saving anyone vacation.” I gazed out the window as the plane took off.
“Do you think that’s possible?”
“It should be.” I watched the ground disappear below us.
“This whole thing is funny if you look at it the right way.”
“Funny?” I tore my eyes from the window. “What could possibly be funny about this?”
“People all wish that they could go back and change things. Right? Like if I only had the chance to make things right? But look at us. Being back is a nightmare, and we’re only making things worse.”
“They say it, but they don’t mean it. It’s just an easy way to punt away our mistakes.”
“What else are we supposed to be doing with our mistakes? We can’t obsess over them our entire lives.”
“I never said they shouldn’t be punted. That’s preferable to what I do. I roll them up into tiny balls and stuff them deep inside. They stay hidden most of the time, but then they reappear keeping me awake at night.” I blinked back tears. I was losing it.
“That may be the saddest thing I’ve ever heard.”
“I’d have thought you’d have heard much sadder things.”
“I don’t like to hear about you unhappy.”
“You’re not used to feeling. Or caring is what I mean.” I turned things on him. I wasn’t comfortable having everything center on me.
“Not the way I feel about you.”
“I know the feeling, but I don’t think this is the time to talk about it.”
“Agreed. I’ll stop asking questions.”
“Except the important ones about us getting out of this veil.”
“True. Those questions need to be asked.”
“Or I could just tell you.” I pulled my legs up under me. One of the best parts of the Laurent jet was the comfortable seats.
“That might be helpful.”
“Nadia’s mom, Elana, was, or is, a good friend of your mother’s.”
“Do I want to know how you know that?”
“I met some of my mother’s friends.”
“At the retreat?”
“Yes. The woman who runs the place recognized your name.”
His eyebrow shot up. “She knew my name? But I don’t even have a position in The Society at this time.”
“It had nothing to do with a job or even Levi. She knew your mom.”
“Was she a witch?” Jared’s body tensed.
“No.”
“What was she?”
I debated. No one had explicitly said I couldn’t share their identity, but something felt wrong about it. “It’s not important.”
“Of course it’s important. I need to know where your information is coming from.”
I locked eyes with him. “Your information is coming from me.”
“It’s second hand. I need to know the original source.”
“Or what? I mean if you don’t like the source what other lead do you want to follow?” I felt my blood boiling. I didn’t want to get annoyed at Jared, but I was tired and stressed. It didn’t take much to set me off.
“Whoa. Slow down.” He held up his hands in defense. “I’m not trying to pick a fight here. I’m trying to cover all my bases and make sure we’re being smart about things.”
“We’re out of time for any of that. We have to act on this information. Can you imagine what would happen if we stayed here another day?”
“We may be stuck in the veil for more than a day. No matter how reliable this information is, Elana may not be able to help. Being best buds with my mom doesn’t mean she can fix this.”
“But what if your mom sent you back here for a reason?”
“If it was my mom who did it.”
“It wasn’t Tiffany. That makes no sense, and there aren’t all that many other options.”
“Assuming it was my mom, how would she have even known I was with Nadia at this time?”
“You’re asking the wrong person.”
He rested his head back against the seat and closed his eyes. “Fine. We’ll find Elana.”
“It’s okay to be scared. It doesn’t make you any less manly or whatever else you’re worried about being.”
“You think I’m worried about that?” He sat up.
“Something’s got you nervous.”
“I’m nervous we’re stuck. I could care less how anyone perceives me.”
“That’s not true, and you know it.”
“Ok, I care about your opinion, but that has nothing to do with manliness—”
“This isn’t about me,” I interrupted.
“Then who is it about?”
“Your mom. Levi. Allie. The Society. Pretty much everyone but me.”
“Oh yes, because I don’t care about your opinion at all.”
“You don’t. For one reason or another you don’t worry about what I think of you, and that’s awesome. It’s why we work. We can be ourselves with each other. We don’t have to pretend or hold anything back.”
“Which is why you have no problem giving me a piece of your mind right now.” He smiled slightly.
“I’m scared too, you know.”
“Of what?” He asked lightly.
“Of this all being a mistake.”
“All of what? There’s a lot we’re dealing with here.”
“Me coming back with you. Your mother, or whoever else made this veil, couldn’t have intended that I come.”
“Yet you were the one to find our lead.”
“The lead you don’t trust.”
“I trust it, I’m just frustrated you’re not telling me more.”
“I’m being respectful of someone’s privacy.”
“Yes, because I’m going to abuse the information.”
“It doesn’t matter if you never repeat it, I’ve still told you.”
“You are a real stickler for that.” His words didn’t give away whether he felt the same way.
“I want to be a better person, or well Ursus, or whatever. I want to be better.”
“You’re great as is.” He put a hand on my arm. “And beyond finding the lead, you’re the one who thought about the obvious solution to find more crystals. I hadn’t even considered that. I’m lucky you’re back here with me.”
“How did you turn a fight into something sappy?”
“Because your anger isn’t real. At least I don’t think it is.”
“It’s not. At least I’m not mad at you.” I leaned my head on his chest.
“I trust you,” he whispered against my hair. “And because of that I’ll take your word that the source is trustworthy.”
“Thank you.” I didn’t lift my head. I was too comfortable.
“I’m in love with you.”
This time I had to look up. The shock on his face suggested he was surprised the words had left his mouth. The bigger question was whether he believed them.
“I’m in love with you.” He repeated himself, this time with more conviction. “I’m putting that out there with no expectation that—”
“I love you too.” I cut him off before he could make any ridiculously self-deprecating comment insinuating things were one sided.
“Yeah?” There was a question and vulnerability in his eyes I had to get rid of.
I pressed my lips against his, forcing him to open up to me. He quickly responded, wrapping his arms around me as he p
ulled me onto his lap. The kiss intensified as I buried my hands in his hair. He rested one hand on my hip while his other hand slipped underneath my tank top. I waited impatiently for him to move his hand up further, but he didn’t. Instead he focused on the kiss, making it deeper and hotter.
I slipped a hand under his t-shirt, running my fingers over the muscular planes of his chest.
He broke the kiss as suddenly as I’d started it. “We do a lot of kissing on this plane.”
“Says the boy who doesn’t even like to kiss.”
“Neither do you.”
“I like kissing you.”
“The feeling is mutual.” He put his hands on my hips. “I’ve found kissing can be far more satisfying than I’d originally thought.”
“That was a ten.”
“Oh yeah? I moved out of the eight realm?”
“You moved out of that range forever ago.”
“But I was an eight once?”
“You needed more practice. You’ve had practice.”
“Can I have more practice?”
“You tell me, how much longer is this flight?”
“Long enough to make sure you never rate me below a ten again.”
18
Jared
I was still on a high from kissing Vera. I’d never imagined I could get so much out of a kiss, but I did with her. It was as though she could convey emotion through her lips, and I greedily wanted more. I’d never get enough of Vera in any way, and I was hoping I wouldn’t ever have to give her up. I would though if it was best for her. I knew I’d do anything for Vera, and that simultaneously excited yet terrified me.
I wanted to get lost in her. To forget about everything else and enjoy her, but I couldn’t. I reveled in our fantasy of free time while on the plane, but the second we touched down in New Orleans, I knew it was time to snap back to reality.
I didn’t want to call Nadia. I hated the thought of contacting any girl and making her think I had interest in her. The only one I wanted was Vera, and that wasn’t going to change. Wanting to do it or not, I didn’t have a choice. It was the only way I was going to find her mother, and Vera seemed to think she was our best chance.
“Hey.” Nadia answered on the first ring.
“Hey. How’s it going?”
“What do you need now?” There was amusement in her voice that didn’t match her words.
“It’s a strange request that I really don’t want you to take the wrong way.”
Vera snickered. I’m sure she was afraid Nadia would come to the same conclusion when I asked about her mom.
“Just ask it. I’ll take it the way I’m going to take it.”
“I need to find your mom.”
She laughed.
“I told you not to take it the wrong way.”
“What way was I going to take it? You worried I’d think you were into her?”
“I don’t know.” I didn’t particularly want to admit my concern. “I don’t have the best reputation.”
“You don’t have that reputation.”
“Ok, then will you help me out?”
“I’ve been waiting for you to ask.”
That couldn’t be good. “Waiting? Why?”
“There’s a lot you don’t know.”
“I know more than you think.” That didn’t mean I’d accepted it all yet, but I was getting there.
“Maybe, maybe not.”
“Are you going to help me find her?” I was getting impatient.
“Finding her is the easy part. Helping you with whatever you need her help for is the hard part.”
“Why is that?”
“Because there are only a few reasons you’d be asking about her, and none of them are good.”
“What’s the address?”
“I can’t tell you it, but I can pick you up.”
I looked at Vera assuming she’d been able to hear the conversation through the phone. She nodded. “Ok, we’ll met you at Royal and St. Anne.”
“Be there in fifteen.”
“That soon?”
“It isn’t every day Jared Florence requests to see my mother.”
“And let’s hope it remains that way.”
“Bring your bear with you.”
“My bear?” My body went rigid.
“Come on, you didn’t think I believed she was human, did you?”
Vera blanched.
“I like her, and I don’t think you should be leaving her alone. I’m not the only one who’s noticed her and knows who she is.”
“Who she is?” That was different than knowing she was Ursus.
“Yes. Who she is,” Nadia repeated herself.
“We’ll be waiting.”
“Good. See you soon.” Nadia hung up.
“Um, what was she implying?” Vera ran her teeth over her bottom lip.
“I don’t know, but I don’t like it.”
“Because things were going to be too simple. Or normal.”
“What about our situation was starting to feel simple or normal?” As far as I was concerned nothing was anymore.
“Ok, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but I was starting to get used to it.”
“I think that’s more of a statement about you than the situation.”
“Because I get used to things?”
“Exactly. You’re tough.”
“Tough is a good thing, isn’t it?”
“Why do you sound hesitant? Of course it is.”
“Unless it hardens you.” She pursed her lips.
“You’re not hardened. You’re perfect.”
She snorted. “Perfect?”
“In my book. That includes the way you infuriate me. I like that.”
“Glad you do.” She smiled as we walked down the road to our meeting place. We arrived a few minutes later and tried to blend into the crowd. We didn’t know who or what was looking for us.
Neither Vera nor I moved when the cherry red Tacoma pulled up at the curb. Instead I kept waiting for Nadia to show up.
The passenger side window to the truck rolled down, and Nadia yelled out, "Are you going to get in?”
Vera and I looked at each other. Neither of us had thought for a second the truck was hers.
I opened the door and gestured for Vera to get in first. I didn't like the thought of being sandwiched between them. By the expression on Vera’s face, she didn’t like it either.
Nadia barely looked at us. “I’m thirty seconds late.”
“And you know that?” I glanced at the digital clock on the dash. It couldn’t be telling her the seconds.
“I aim to be on time. Always.”
“I never knew you were like that.”
“Because I always pretend to be a ditz around you.” Nadia pulled out onto the road.
Vera let out a loud laugh.
Nadia shrugged. “Those are generally the kind of girls he wants around.”
“So you dumbed yourself down to get with him?” Vera didn’t hide her distaste.
“Yeah… no. I’m not into him. He’s all yours.”
“You sure act you you’re into him.” Vera crossed her arms.
“Act is the key word.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Because my mom told me too.” Nadia laughed.
“Ok, this is getting weird.” I groaned. “What’s really going on?”
“I already told you there’s so much you don’t know.”
“So change that. Fill me in.”
“We need to see my mom first.”
“Where is she?” I watched the streets of New Orleans disappear as we continued toward the outskirts of town. “You never said she was outside the city.”
“Because you wouldn’t have agreed so easily.”
“Why are you making such an effort?”
“I already told you… well sort of.”
“Your mom told you to help us today too?” Vera turned toward her.
“Well to help Jared,
and you’re with him.”
“And you know who I am?” Vera put a hand on her chest.
“You’re from Norco.”
She nodded slowly. “Technically, but how would you know that?”
“My mom pretty much knows everything about everyone.”
“Including my mom.” I knew so little about my mom that despite all the more pressing issues I was anxious to learn more.
“Yes. Especially her. They grew up together.”
“Do you know what happened? What really went down with her and my dad?” I tried not to sound as desperate as I felt. I hated being the one who didn’t know the answers.
Nadia shrugged. “I know what my mom told me. I was way too young to remember it.”
“I guess I’ll add that to the list of questions to ask your mother.”
“Be real. That was already on the top of your list.”
“Not quite the top.” Figuring out how to erase the veil was the top.
“I’m curious what beats that out.” Nadia looked across Vera to me.
“I’m surprised you don’t know.” Vera slumped down in the seat.
“It bothers you that I know who you are.” Nadia turned onto a small road.
“Yes. I didn’t even know who I was.” Vera seemed lost in thought.
Nadia glanced at her momentarily before returning her eyes to the road. “You two are up to something.”
“We’re always up to something.” I smiled to myself.
“I had no idea you even had a girlfriend. When did this happen?”
“It’s been awhile.” It had been, although it had all happened in the future.
“What’s a while?”
“Longer than you’d think.”
“You should feel special, Vera.” Nadia’s expression was unreadable.
“Oh, I feel very special.” Vera grinned.
“You seem different.” Nadia looked over at me again.
“In what way?”
“Less idiotic.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“I dumbed myself down for you, but it’s not because you aren’t smart. Why do you hide how smart you are? I’ve never understood it. It’s not like Levi would care.”
“I’ve never hidden anything.” I didn’t care what anyone thought of me. Until Vera.
“Yes you have. You like to act like the dumb player.”
“How well do you know her?” Vera turned to me. “Earlier you didn’t make it seem that well.”
Storm: The Empire Chronicles Page 15