“I’m sorry you had to see that.” Mike took my hand.
“I know. It’s just so surreal, though. How quickly it all happened—”
“I don’t know what to say, baby. I still feel for you, more than you can imagine—more than is right for the way I feel for Emily, too.”
“The heart knows no boundaries, Mike. It feels what it wants to feel.”
“Yes, but as human beings, we create boundaries, and we choose to take the right path, or stray from it. I shouldn’t have done that with Emily until I sorted out my feelings for you.”
“Mm-hm. Just like I shouldn’t have David here while I have unresolved feelings for you. But… here we are.”
Mike nodded, the smile dropping from his face. “Do you think she’ll ever talk to me again?”
“I know she will, Mike. She loves you. She always has.” I felt dizzy as I realized just how long she’d had those feelings. “Give her time. She’s all but lost Jason all over again. Not to mention she’s just found out that her best friend’s been lying to her and that there’s no such thing as normal in this world anymore. She needs to grieve.”
“Then I should be there with her.”
“You can’t save them all, Mike. Just let her go. She’ll come back when she’s ready.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“I am. Don’t worry”—I laughed through my nose, almost snorting—“a girl never forgets her first. Trust me, she’ll be back.”
“Her first?” Mike looked sideways at me.
“Yeah, didn’t you know? Emily was a virgin.”
“What?” Mike’s eyes popped with his mouth and he dropped his head into his hands. “She never told me that.”
“Ha!” I laughed again, holding my belly. Emily must have paid very close attention when I told her how Mike refused to take my virginity until we were married. I looked sideways at the haunted cherry-popper. “Mike, you okay?”
“I need to see her.” He jumped up and headed for the front door.
“Mike. Don’t be mad at her.”
He stopped walking, keeping his back to me.
“She’s had enough for one day, okay?” I added.
“I’m not mad.” He opened the door. “I just need to make her okay again.”
Before I could chase after him, David popped his arm out from my bedroom, phone in hand. “Eric wants to talk to you.”
I got up and grabbed my phone, studying the humor behind David’s eyes. “He knows you’re here?”
“Does now.” He smiled once more then walked over and flopped on my bed.
“Hey, Eric?”
“Hey, kiddo.”
“What’s up?”
“I wanted to apologize for Karnivale last night. I never meant for you to get—”
“It’s okay,” I said. “Don’t worry about it.”
“How can I ever make it up to you?”
“Well, you can start by keeping my fugitive a secret.”
“That goes without saying, Amara,” he said, and his tone said the same. “We’re still friends, right?”
“Yeah. Still friends.”
“I talked to Arthur,” he said.
“About what?”
“About Jason.”
“What about him?” I looked at David, who smiled like he already knew.
“Told him Jason’s been stalking you.”
“What makes you think he’s stalking me?”
“He knew where you lived. The scouts I was telling you about—the ones searching for David—have been tracking a completely different girl.”
“What’s that got to do with Jason?”
“He’s the one who put them on that trail.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. But even Arthur had no clue they were onto the wrong girl.”
“And you told him?”
“No. He still doesn’t know. I left it that way, Amara. I wouldn’t meddle in things that are not of my business.”
“Scared of Jason, huh?”
“That douche? No way,” he scoffed; David chuckled. “Jason’s bottom of the food chain, kiddo. No one’s scared of him.”
David confirmed this with a smug grin.
“So, you told Arthur on him?”
“Yeah. Jason’s not a part of the search. He has no reason to be stalking you. Arthur’s called him off—put him on castle duties.”
Impressive. “Damn. Thanks, Eric.”
“No worries. But, Amara?”
“Yeah?”
“That doesn’t give you long. Once Jason gets wind of his brother being back, there’s no telling what he’ll do. He’s still out for revenge.”
“Okay. So, how much time do we have?”
“A week or so—maybe less. I’d advise David be far and gone by then.”
I smiled at David. “Well, at least we can relax for now.”
“Yeah. Enjoy, beautiful girl.”
“Thanks, Eric.”
“Catch ya,” he said, then hung up, leaving David and me in the house alone with nearly a week left together before the world would fall apart.
I suddenly felt alive.
“How ’bout that coffee you made me a half hour ago?” he said, crossing his ankles.
“How ’bout we forget the coffee and just go back to bed.”
“But I’m hungry.”
I leaned on the doorframe, twisting my hair around my finger. “Me too.”
Realization moved in under his smile. “Blood?”
“Yeah, blood.”
David held his arm out, inviting me to him. “You are incorrigible, Ara-Rose.”
12
David breathed heavily on the pillow beside me. I rolled onto my belly and watched him sleep. His face looked so different when he wasn’t trying to be reserved or mature, or hide a thought under a smile. He was simple in this form; more human than I’d ever seen him before.
“Morning.” He smiled and turned his face away without opening his eyes.
“Hi.” I rested my chin on my forearms, still watching him.
“You know, it’s rude to stare at people while they’re sleeping.”
“So? You do it all the time.”
“It’s a vampire thing.”
“Yeah. I know.” I offered him a thought, one of Eric appearing in my bed that morning.
David laughed softly. “Don’t worry, my love, I intend to hunt him down and hurt him for everything he put you through.”
“Oh, really?” I grinned. “What happened to your ‘he never intended any harm’ speech, or whatever it was you said the other day?”
“That hasn’t changed,” David stated. “He didn’t intend any harm, and he may have made peace with you, but he still has me to answer to.”
“Why? What did he do to you?”
“Disrespect, mistreat and behave carelessly with a girl he knew was incredibly important to me.” He rested his arms behind his head. “I’ve already planned what I’m going to do to him.”
“Don’t.” I shuffled away, in no mood for all this macho-vampire stuff. “Just leave him alone.”
David rolled onto his side, propping his face on his hand right in front of mine, his eyes shocking me with their sparkle. “Ara. I’m not Mike. I’m not going to refrain from ripping the gizzards out of a spineless little shit just because you tell me to.” He ran his fingers along my jawline, closing my mouth. “He disrespected you, put you in danger, forced himself on you. He only has a limited time now before I get hold of him and tear him apart.”
“Oh, my brave, strong knight,” I said sarcastically, placing my hand over my heart. “Where would I ever be without you?”
“Probably married to Mike.”
“Yeah. With an empty soul and no clue what was missing.”
David smiled then, and rolled onto his back, taking my hand with him. “I love the way you’re always so confused, Ara. It’s very sweet.”
“What do you mean confused?”
“You just sa
id you’d be empty if we weren’t together, but you’re empty because I exist and can’t be with you, and when I could be with you, you said it would be empty without Mike.”
“Well, I’m only eighteen. Give me time. Confusion’s kind of a part of growing up, right? It’s a teen thing.”
“Try being an eternal nineteen-year-old.”
“You don’t seem confused—about anything.”
“Really?” he mused. “Well, you should take a walk inside my head then.”
“What are you confused about?”
“Many things, sweetheart.”
“Let me guess: you can tell me, but not today.” I rolled my eyes.
“Maybe you’re more switched on than I thought you were.”
“Or maybe you just always say the same things.”
David took a breath, looking at his watch. “So… lunch at your dad’s today, huh?”
“Oh my God.” I slapped my own head, rolling the covers back to jump up. “I totally forgot.”
“It’s okay, you still have an hour.” He pulled me back down, his strong, almost cool arms heavily pinning me to his chest. “Let’s enjoy this time before Emily and Mike come home.”
I gave in, settling into his embrace. “I wonder where they are. It’s not like him to leave it so long without contact, you know, a message or something.”
“My love, they’ve been gone for one night.”
“I know. I’m just worried.”
“Well, we’ll text him after you’ve been to your dad’s.”
“He’ll be happy to see you,” I noted in a soft voice. “My dad, that is.”
“Do you think that’s a good idea, Ara? I’m not staying. It might raise questions if I go with you today.”
“Then we won’t tell him you’re not staying.”
“Ara.” He glared down at me. “Your dad will rip my arm off if I don’t promise to stay with you.”
“Then promise.” I shrugged.
“Stop it.”
“Why? Why won’t you just stay?”
“You know why.”
“I don’t care why.”
“No. I know you don’t, which is why you always seem to be conflicted by something,” David said, his tone short, abrupt. “Start caring about cause and effect, and you might start to get some resolution.”
“I don’t want it. Going over reasons has only ever caused me heartache. I just have to keep wishing for the unattainable and trying to believe there’s magic in the world.”
“My Ara, so full of hopes and dreams.” He kissed my hand and placed it back down on his chest. “It’s one of the other things I really love about you.”
“Well, you might think it’s silly, but I have to hope.” I pushed up from the bed and moved away quickly. “If I don’t, I’ll die inside. I’ll stop feeling, stop dreaming—like you.”
* * *
Parked on the left side of the drive, wedged between the daisy-lined path to the porch and my dad’s old Buick, David shut the engine off and we just sat there, silence filling the empty space around us.
“What is it, my love?”
“It’s just… I haven’t been back here since I moved out, David. I’ve been dreading this lunch for weeks, knowing I couldn’t bear to look over there at the school and see that place—knowing you weren’t there.”
“I’m here for now.” He smiled, melting my tension.
“I know. It’s just kind of bizarre how it all turned out. I mean, I wasn’t supposed to be here. I should be in Perth, taking classes at college, married. Don’t get me wrong, I like this better.” I grinned, touching his arm. “But I get sad thinking how good it could’ve been if you were just a normal guy.”
“Well, what would it have been like?” He took my hand, turning in the chair to face me. “If I were just a guy, what would’ve happened between us?”
“I dunno.” I bit my smiling lip, imagining everything in my head. “I guess we would’ve spent every waking minute together, bad enough that my dad and Vicki would’ve set up scheduled visitations so my grades wouldn’t drop. But we would’ve snuck out to see each other, anyway. Then, one day, probably sooner than later, we’d have got married. Maybe started a family and complained about how we get no sleep, and how the mortgage is killing us. You would’ve found a job working at a place you hate, and I would’ve whined about getting fat from having kids.” David squeezed my hand. I took a deep breath. “Then, when we went to our high school reunion, everyone would’ve made snide remarks about how old we look and how we were once the couple of the century and now we’re nothing more than completely normal, old, and nearing the end of our meager existence.”
“And you would have wanted that?”
“Wouldn’t you?” I looked into his intense emerald-green eyes.
“More than you know. I just never thought it’d be something you’d dream of.”
“It’s normal.” I pressed my cheek to my shoulder. “I always liked normal.”
“What if,” he started, shuffling a little closer. “What if the doors that never opened for us, Ara, are hiding the paths we only thought we wanted? Maybe our destiny is down the road of something more magnificent. Maybe we will get our happy ending and realize that normal was never going to be enough for us.”
“Now who’s the dreamer?”
“Everyone has a dream, my love; it’s just whether or not we’re willing to fight for that.”
“You’re not,” I said.
“I am.” He squeezed my hand, making me look at him again. “Sweetheart, I’m fighting for us every day. You just don’t know it. You don’t know what I’m risking by being here.” He swallowed hard. “I’m the worst friend in the world.”
“Why… what are you risking?”
“Your life!”
“Huh?”
“Don’t you get it? Your life is at risk because I can’t stay away from you, Ara. Do you understand how much you mean to me? That I’m willing to risk your life to be with you.” He laughed then. “It’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”
“No. It’s not.” I patted his hand. “It’s the most romantic.”
He gave a quick grin. “Come on, let’s go see your family. I can’t wait to get my arm ripped off by your dad.”
“He’ll be happy to see you, David. He won’t rip off your arm.”
He smiled his secret smile, turning to open the door. “We’ll see.”
I sat patiently until he opened my door and offered his hand, all the while wondering if he believed my dad would literally rip his arm off. And as we reached the step and Vicki called out for Dad to greet us, a hot surge of nerves warmed my chest. What if Dad really was mad that David returned?
David squeezed my hand. “It’ll be okay.”
“No, nothing will,” I said as the door unlocked. “You’ll be gone soon.”
“Ara.”
“Hi, Dad.” I hugged him tight, standing on my toes to wrap my arms around his neck.
“It’s been too long, honey.” He patted my ribs then stepped back and offered the vampire his hand. “David? Good to see you again.”
“You too, Mr. Thompson.”
“Oh, come now.” He waved dismissively, leading us inside. “We’re not in school, anymore. I told you before, call me Greg.”
“Okay. Greg,” David said with a nod, and I exhaled, relieved. Looks like David’s arms were not on the menu for lunch today.
“David?” Vicki squealed, running toward him when we stepped into the kitchen. “What are you doing back? I thought you left.”
“I did.” David hugged her back. “I uh… I’m here on holiday.”
“Holiday?” Dad’s brow went up, his sights set suddenly on David’s arms. “So, you’re leaving again?”
“Um—” David rocked back on his heels, then looked at me, a warm smile flashing across his face as he reached for my hand. “I’m not so sure about that now.”
Dad nodded, his face full of thought, and sat down at the din
ing table. “You broke my daughter’s heart when you left.”
“I know.” David sat across from Dad in the seat that used to be mine. I sat in his lap. “I’m not here to break her heart, Greg. I only came back to make sure she was all right.”
Dad looked at me for a second. “Is she?”
David squeezed me tighter. “No.”
Dad just nodded.
“David?” Sam said.
“Hey, buddy.” He linked hands with Sam, giving a one-shoulder hug around me.
“What’re you doing here?”
“Just visiting,” he said.
Sam sat next to David, leaning right back in the chair. “How long you planning on staying?”
“Not sure.”
Sam rested his arms slowly on the table, his face ultra-serious. “I’m not watching my sister cry over you again, man. If you hurt her, I’ll hunt you down.”
“Sam!” Dad scolded.
“No. It’s all right, Mr. Thompson.” David held up a palm, smiling. “It’s fine. I get it, Sam. I won’t hurt her. I promise you that.”
But he would. As soon as he walked out my door again, I’d die, and I’d have to make sure that whatever path I took to my own sudden and tragic death looked like an accident, so David wouldn’t end up being accused of murder.
“Well, I’m glad you’re back.” Vicki placed a bowl of pasta on the table. “Even if it is just for a while.”
“Thank you, Vicki,” I said, glad someone could see the bright side. “That’s exactly how I feel.”
She smiled. Girls unite. “Anyway, I’m sure it will be long enough for our Ara to convince you to stay.”
“She’s already working her magic.”
Working my magic? I thought, shoving Sam over so I could take his chair, my closed lips twitching as if trying to speak my thought. Magic, like when we shared blood the other night?
David kicked my foot under the table.
Oh, I’m sorry, is that not something you want to think about around my mom and dad?
He reached under the table, took my hand and squeezed it.
Should I tell them we can only share blood because you won’t have sex with me?
Dad looked up to the burst of air David choked on. I could actually feel the vampire’s mortification in the heat of his hands. If he could blush, he would be bright red. It was hilarious. I wished I’d had more of a sense of humor when we were together before. I could’ve had so much more fun torturing him with this.
Dark Secrets Box Set Page 93