by Morgan Smith
“Nice to meet you, Troy,” Faith said, fanning herself.
He put his arm around me, but I shrugged it off. “What are you guys so happy about?”
Amelia crossed her arms. “We didn’t know you guys were dating.”
“Who told you that?”
Faith laughed. “Umm, he just did! Plus we saw you kissing, which was the hottest kiss I’ve ever seen!”
I wanted to smack the smile from his face. “Why did you tell them that?”
Troy pulled me against his side. “Don’t fight it. The heart feels without logic.”
He was right. My mind shouted that this was a bad idea, but my heart and body were ready to follow him anywhere. Digging my nails into my palm, I struggled to exude a calm I didn’t feel.
Amelia and Faith studied us with barely contained glee. I could’ve used them as a means of escape, but then we’d fail our assignment.
“I’ll call you guys later,” I said with a shrug.
They smiled, knowing I’d give them the scoop as soon as I could.
Troy took my hand. “We’d better get going.”
Doubts ping-ponged inside my head, but I had to suck it up. Thanks to my love of movies and books, I wasn’t clueless when it came to romance, but capturing the interest of a living, breathing man was completely new. After saying bye to my friends, I let Troy help me into the shiny vehicle, careful not to freak when he brushed my hair behind my ear.
In order to try this dating thing, I’d have to stop trying to bury my feelings.
“Your friends seem nice,” he said as we buckled our seatbelts.
“Thanks.” My breath hitched when the locks slid into place. “Where are we going?”
“Someplace quiet, so we can get our work done.”
“We just left the library!” I snapped as I looked out the window.
He laughed. “Are you always so paranoid and jumpy? Or is it just me?”
I leaned my forehead against the cool glass. “I’m always paranoid.”
“So, I just make you jumpy, then?”
I angled myself to see his profile. He drove with one hand and changed the station without looking down. I wasn’t sure how long I’d been staring, but I stopped when he looked at me from the corner of his eye.
“Yes, among other things.”
He chuckled. “So, I make you jumpy. What else do I do?”
I pretended to zip my lips and throw away the key. “That, I’ll never tell.” I leaned my head back, noting the soft jazz in the background.
“I think you’ll be surprised by the things you’ll tell me.”
I glared at him. “You don’t know the future.”
He removed his sunglasses from an overhead compartment. “If I did, I’d know exactly how to make you let your guard down,” he replied as he put them on.
I took a deep breath. “Why?”
He pulled the glasses to the tip of his nose and glanced at me, eyes glittering. “I want you to love me, not fear me.”
I tried not to laugh. “Why?”
His jaw tensed. “I think I’ve already fallen in love with you.”
How could he love me after a few days? He had to have some kind of agenda.
I stayed quiet, not sure how to swallow that lump of information. When Billie Holiday came over the speakers, I relaxed a little.
Upon opening my eyes, I saw a red wall with a chandelier sticking out of it. Not a wall, a ceiling. I rubbed my eyes and jumped up.
“Where are we?”
Troy smiled and sat on the red couch, patting the spot beside him.
“Answer my question!”
“Sit down. And I will.” His commanding tone made me sweat.
“Fine.” I sat on the opposite end. Shadows played over the red and black décor as I stared at him, waiting for an explanation.
He crossed his ankle over his knee. “I had to pick up a letter for my mother.”
“So where are we?” I asked with a little more composure.
He waved his hand. “In my living room.”
I shot to my feet. “Your living room… in your house?”
He laughed and shook his head. I heaved a sigh of relief until he pulled me into his arms. “This is my apartment.”
“Why did you bring me in here?”
“I didn’t want you to wake up alone.” He kept one hand around my waist as he pulled an envelope from his jacket.
“Oh.” I scanned the bare walls for photos. “Where does your mom live?”
“She and my father have a house in New Orleans.”
“So you were born there?”
“Can’t you tell?” he asked in a thicker accent than usual.
I laughed as we stepped into the main hallway. “It’s hard to pay attention when you’re always so close.”
Oil paintings of flowers and landscapes lined the white walls as we made our way to the elevator.
“This place is impressive.”
He took my hand and laid a gold key on my palm. “It is.” His fingers curled around mine. “If you ever need me, you can come right in.”
I gaped at him as the doors slid open. “Is this a key to your apartment? This is too much.”
He pulled me into the lift. “Why not? We’ll be spending a lot of time together.”
Hearing those words made me nervous.
Somehow, I’d stumbled upon a very handsome, very determined man, and I had to convince him to slow down.
I slipped the key into his jacket pocket. “You don’t even know me.”
“Then we should get to know each other.”
“How old are you?” I asked when we reached the lobby.
He held his chin and struck a debonair pose. “I’ll be twenty in April.”
“You seem older. Are you sure you’re only nineteen?” I rubbed my forehead. “How old do you think I am?”
He led me to the Suburban. “I know how old I am, Jade. I also know you’ll be eighteen on November 11th. How old did you think I was?”
“Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if you were twenty four.”
He laughed and started the car. “Would you even date someone six years older than you?”
I laughed too. “No.”
“I didn’t think so.” His smile made me wonder if he was lying.
“You really are just about to turn twenty, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” he assured before pulling onto the street.
The clock on his dashboard read 4:40.
“Are we going to the Post Office?”
He nodded and made a left turn.
“Don’t they close at 5?”
“Yes, but as you can see, we’ve made it in time.”
That’s what I got for watching him instead of the road, I chastised as he parked.
“Wait here, it will only take a minute.”
“Okay,” I said as he shut the door.
Snooping through his glove compartment seemed far more appealing than standing in line, so I waited for him to enter, and then opened the latch.
Insurance card, vehicle manual, old receipts… was I looking through my mom’s glove compartment? Where was the dirt—the info that could shine light on this illusive creature?
Closing the rectangle door, I looked up just in time to see him strolling toward me.
Did he see me snooping?
His expression didn’t give anything away as he opened the door and got in.
“When are we going to finish our assignment?” I blurted as he turned the ignition.
A smile curved his lips. “Why are you so anxious to get away from me?”
I laughed, keeping my gaze fixed on the windshield. “I’m always anxious to get away from you.”
“I wonder why.”
Did he expect an answer?
“I’m not blind, Jade.” Our gaze met when he reached a stop sign. “You’re trying to fight your feelings for me, but running won’t make it any better.”
He was probably right, but I could
n’t think of a response. The sight of Java Mama’s filled me with hope. The sooner we completed the project, the sooner Troy would be out of my hair.
Waiting for him to shift into park, I thought about how stuffy the air felt. It almost crackled with energy and longing, most of it definitely his. I threw open my door, anxious to feel a cool breeze against my skin.
“Looks like you could use some caffeine.”
My need for coffee quickly overtook my nerves. “I could always use some of that,” I said as he collected our bags. Slinging the straps onto his shoulder, he caressed my arm before taking my hand. When he opened the door, and I automatically headed to the right until he caught me, gently squeezing my fingers as he pulled me to the left.
“Where are we going?” I asked as he pulled me behind the dark brown curtain.
A handful of people talked and read on clusters of tan couches and chairs. He guided me to an area in the corner, but I shook my head, refusing to sit down.
He laughed. “Come on, this way we can finish our work.”
“Fine.” I sank into a chair, instantly impressed by how comfortable it was. He sat on the loveseat and put our notebooks on the table. I reached for mine, but my chair was too far away.
Oh, why fight it?
I sat next to him, irritated by the contentment that spread through me.
Don’t get too attached.
I gave myself a mental shake and wondered when I’d been bitten by the love bug. A server came over as soon as we opened our notebooks. I requested a Caramel Macchiato and blueberry muffin, while he got a Cappuccino and a blueberry scone.
The girl repeated our orders, doing her best to get Troy’s attention, but he seemed clueless to her interest.
Was he tired of flirty girls or was she not his type? What was his type?
He put his arm around my shoulders. “I love to see you smile.”
“Thank you.” I pushed him away when he tried to kiss me. “Stop trying to distract me.”
It didn’t take long for the girl to come back with our order, and after a few bites and sips of coffee we got down to business.
Ninety minutes later, because he dragged it out as long as it could possibly take, we were finally done.
He paid, included a nice tip, and held the door for me as we left.
“Why do you do that?”
He put our stuff in the backseat before wrapping his arms around my back. “You deserve to have the door held open for you. It’s just good manners.” His lips moved to my ear whispering, “Plus, I get to look at your derriere.”
I tried not to watch him as he walked to his side, but I couldn’t help it. I liked to look at his backside too. His laughter was deep and rich as he got in the driver’s seat. I could listen to that sound forever, I thought as I stared out the window.
Troy was gorgeous and thoughtful, and everything I’d dreamed of—minus the arrogance, but everyone was flawed. It was part of being human, but he still deserved the silent treatment for hijacking my day.
I studied a strand of my hair.
What did he think of me?
I watched nervously as trees and buildings flew past. Even the long way to school wasn’t this time-consuming, so where were we going? I was about to demand an explanation when we stopped outside of The River Rock Café. He was already watching me when I hazarded a glance in his direction.
“I thought you’d insist we go to your car, but then I decided to bring you here.”
My anger wouldn’t allow me to speak. I opened my door and stomped toward the entrance. The bronze handle was just within reach when he brushed past me to open it. I glared at him, but that didn’t stop him from grabbing my hand as we walked inside. It was crowded.
Troy led me past the line and nodded to a blonde woman who grabbed two menus before waving us forward.
How did he do that?
She was thirtyish with long, straight hair and blue eyes.
“Right this way,” she said, escorting us to a secluded booth.
“May I take your coat?” he asked with a boyish grin.
“Thank you.”
He passed it to the maître d’ as I slid onto the rectangle booth, and then sat next to me.
The woman laid our menus and claim ticket on the table. “Marigold, your waitress will be over in just a moment,” she said with a smile.
I could feel Troy’s gaze roaming over my cream off the shoulder bell sleeve top, black vest, and jeans.
He gently turned my chin so that my eyes met his. “Has anyone said that you look like a pirate today?”
I laughed, thinking of the knee-high boots that completed the look. “No one’s come out and said that, but I’m sure they’ve thought it.”
He leaned close. “You’d make a very sexy pirate.”
I put my hand on his chest, unnerved by his warmth. His skin felt chiseled beneath his red shirt. I moved away and looked at the menu, but he closed the space between us. I tried to focus, but I also wanted to lean closer.
It might have been the fact that I’d spent five minutes on the same section or maybe that I wouldn’t make eye contact, but after a few minutes his voice was in my ear. “No, no, cher. I didn’t bring you here to hide behind your menu. I wanted to spend more time with you.”
“Why pick me out of all the other girls you could have?”
I’m positive, creative, compassionate, but what does he know?
His lips touched my ear. “Like I said earlier; I want you because you are unique. You’re feisty and beautiful, as well as caring and compassionate, and when I look at you—I see everything I’ve wanted. That’s why I won’t let you ignore the sparks between us.”
He kissed my cheek before leaning back to study my expression.
His reasoning was sweet and nice, but I needed to know what he really wanted.
He brushed his thumb along my forehead. “What are you thinking?”
“I…” I paused as the server approached. She was a slim woman with light brown skin and thick, black hair. Stopping at our table with a pen and note pad in her hands, she pointed to a silver nametag.
“Hi, I’m Marigold. Do you know what you’d like to order?”
Troy sighed.
Considering how much he’d frustrated me, he deserved a dose of his own medicine.
We both ordered the meatloaf, one of their most popular dishes, and she left to get my tea and his lemonade.
Troy turned to me, eager to finish our conversation, but I ignored him and sipped my water.
“You certainly know how to avoid things, don’t you?”
I set the glass down. “I’m no better than you, when it comes to avoiding things.”
He smiled. “You have beautiful hair. It’s orderly—the way it curls, and wild in the way that those curls can’t be tamed. A lot like you.”
I glared at him, on the verge of being offended. “Excuse me?”
He laughed, wrapping one curl around his index finger. “You’re well put together and straight laced on the surface.” He kissed my cheek and whispered, “But I think you’ll be more carefree once you let your guard down.”
I leaned back, wondering how he could read me so well, and then I decided it didn’t matter.
No one said I had to spend eternity with the guy. I should just sit back and enjoy the ride.
I wasn’t sure what time we arrived at the restaurant, but we didn’t leave until after nine and by then, liking Troy didn’t seem like a bad thing. He exuded confidence, strength, and a ton of sex appeal.
“What are you thinking?” he asked as we pulled into the school parking lot.
I smiled as he helped me out. “Just that you are far too good to be true.”
He held me close as I searched his eyes. “Why is that?”
“Well, you are too gorgeous… and you seem rather genuine.”
His breath touched my ear as he exhaled. “Am I too good to be true because of those things or are you just looking for an excuse to stay away f
rom me?”
I shrugged.
“You never answered me at the restaurant. What were you thinking then?”
“That I don’t want to get burned.”
He pulled me into his arms. “You won’t.”
“For some reason I can’t shake the feeling that you’ll hurt me worse than either of us can imagine.”
“Feelings can change, Jade. You didn’t want anything to do with me and now you feel differently, don’t you?”
I slid into my driver seat. “I do, but that doesn’t mean I won’t get burned.”
He kissed me before closing the door.
The burn was evident, just like my attraction to him.
2010
I drank the last sip of my Cola and squeezed the bottle like I was wringing Troy’s neck. I should have listened to my gut. He acted like I was the only girl in his universe, but if he really loved me; he wouldn’t have left in the first place.
Maybe Troy didn’t know he’d burn me at the time, but the saying still goes, “once burned, twice shy.” It would be insane to give it another go—mostly because he wasn’t really here, and also because he already destroyed me once.
He lit up my life like a spark to a flame, and now he was come back…but for what? A part of me felt like it was to burn the house down.
The recycling bin caught my eye, so I tossed the bottle and headed for my last class: Math.
Despite our study sessions, Troy never succeeded in building my arithmetic skills, but he was good at teaching me other things. The art of kissing was my favorite, followed by cooking, and dancing.
Although my thoughts had turned down a dangerous path, my cramped hand brought me back just in time to scribble the rest of Mrs. Giesel’s tips for Set Operations. She was in the process of explaining everything when something hit the window. The whole room turned as black bird left a scarlet trail on the glass.
Perhaps Troy wasn’t a figure of my imagination. What if his ghostly form spooked the crap out that bird or maybe it was a message to remind me of last night’s conversation.
Either way, the time for denial was over. I had to put this ghost thing to rest before it destroyed my academic standing.
¤¤¤¤
Chapter 6
…Troy…
October 2, 2007
Apprehension twisted my insides like a knife to the gut. It was 10:10, which meant Jade was running late or wanted to distance herself. The first explanation was preferred, but I wouldn’t allow her fears to keep us apart.