She glanced up at his mirthful mouth.
“Shut up.”
His smile grew with his laughter.
“You’re like a love sick puppy, Hart. If only you’d look at me that way.”
“Keep dreaming.” She flicked his arm off and headed for the bike.
He lopped behind her, his long strides looking relaxed.
“I know, I know. I just hope I can find a girl that will make me feel the way you two do.”
Gemma’s irritation eased at the comment. Her hope that he would help resist her parents’ plans fluttered.
“Rosie seems sweet.”
Gemma slowly spun on her heel. “Stay away from her, Simeon.” She pointed a warning finger at him. “You can have any girl you want and she’s too young. Just, leave her alone.”
“What is your problem?” His arms spread wide in defense.
“I know your kind, Simeon. She’ll fall head over heels in love when all you’re looking for is a few dates. Before you know it, bam! She’s heart broken.”
“What’s wrong with having a little fun?” He approached her with a lop-sided grin. “If I can’t have the girl I want, I should at least be allowed to play with someone else while I’m waiting.”
Two things pierced the bird of hope flittering in her rib cage. One was the way his eyes gleamed with anticipation as he said the dreaded words and two was the way his body sidled up against hers as he wrapped his arm around her waist.
She placed her hand firmly on his chest, trying to resuscitate the bird.
“Simeon, you can have fun with any other girls in the school, but keep your hands and mind off Rosie Chatsworth… and me, for that matter.” She pushed him away and turned to grab her helmet. “There’s nothing to wait for,” she spoke firmly while fiddling with the straps, “I know what my parents want and they’re not going to get it.”
“Hm,” Simeon’s eyes sparkled. “I like your spirit, Gem. I hope you get everything you want.” Taking the helmet from her hands, he leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead.
Gemma blinked twice then swallowed, her lips quivering with a smile. His eyes were friendly, his look innocent enough. As she mounted her bike, her mind began a swift battle of whether or not to believe him. Simeon’s body slid in behind her and she started the engine. His arms wrapped around her waist and Gemma could feel his claim on her. Just what her parents wanted. The bird in her chest gave one final, gasping breath then went still.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Memphis, Tennessee – 2011AD
The flight to Memphis went smoothly. By the time the plane had landed Harrison was immersed in family conversation. Sam had entertained him throughout the journey with his in-depth stories of elementary life and not once was a booger mentioned. Harrison grinned watching Sam jump around the trolley as they waited for their bags to appear on the luggage belt.
“I’m strong. I can get everyone’s!”
Helen laughed. Rosie rolled her eyes and continued her texting frenzy. Justin held onto the trolley like a lifeline as he played a game of smile and blush with the brunette a few feet away. Bryan hovered by the belt, trying to bridle Sam’s enthusiasm.
Harrison watched each member with pleasure. He really did have an amazing family. The only thing missing was a slender girl with emerald eyes, a perfectly pointed nose and a smile that could weaken his knees. Reaching into his back pocket, he pulled out his phone, running his fingers over the keys and contemplating if it was too risky to text her. It was only three little words, yet if she read them in public her face would no doubt blush or smile and then questions would be fired like a machine gun, pelting her with holes until they could see straight through her.
A sudden squall attacked his stomach, battering his rib cage with worry, tearing at his muscles with anger. Closing his eyes, he fought the storm.
There’s nothing you can do. Just let it go. She’s strong. She’ll be okay.
“Okay, that’s it you two!” His mother’s exasperated voice made his eyes pop wide. “You are not spending the rest of this holiday on your cell phones. Give them to me.”
“What? Mom, no way! I have important people I need to stay in touch with.” Rosie was so horrified Harrison nearly laughed.
Helen extended her hand. “The only people you need to be in touch with are in Memphis. Now hand them over.”
“Mom, really…” Harrison went into bat, but could tell it was a futile battle.
Hand it over now, argue it back tomorrow.
With a resigned grin, he dropped it into his mother’s hands. Gemma said she’d text him when she could, he’d just have to get a sneak at the phone in his mother’s bag later tonight and charm it back off her in the morning.
Rosie did not give in so easily and it took some very stern back up from her father to finally relinquish the piece of hardware. She shot Harrison the evils for the entire car trip to Bryan’s parents, but had to get over herself when they pulled into the driveway and were swamped by relatives.
* * * *
In spite of the irascible storm that battered his emotions on and off, Harrison slept well. He was now squashed into the corner of the couch, people watching. Having managed to eradicate a small pest in the form of his eight-year-old cousin, who didn’t understand the meaning of silence or personal space, he was now happy to be resting unnoticed while the boys wrestled on the floor and the men stood around waiting for the football to start, occasionally being roped in to help by one of the flustered women flitting in and out of the kitchen.
“Hey.” A jumpy Rosie plopped onto the couch and fidgeted with the hem of her mini skirt.
He didn’t want to have to ask, he really wasn’t in the mood, but he knew she wouldn’t leave until he had.
“What’s up?”
She spun to face him, grasping his arm. “I’ve got a small problem,” she whispered.
Harrison shifted his body to accommodate the worried expression on her face. Leaning towards her, he softened his voice.
“What is it?”
“Well, I borrowed something off Mom the other day and… I can’t find it.”
Harrison’s eyes narrowed. “Let me guess, you didn’t ask to borrow it, did you?”
“It’s not like I’ve ever seen her wearing it.”
“Rosie…”
“Look, my indiscretion is not the issue here.” Her whisper rose and she turned to make sure no one had heard her. “I need to find it, Harrison.”
“Okay, firstly, what is it?”
“A necklace. I found it at the bottom of Mom’s jewelry box.”
“Is it… expensive?”
“No, I don’t think so. It was kinda old. It looked more sentimental than valuable.”
“Rosie!” Harrison rolled his eyes. “Why didn’t you just ask her?”
“She wasn’t around and I was running late for school. I thought it looked funky and it worked, because I totally got compliments.”
Her blush made it all too clear that those people were of the male persuasion.
Harrison tried to dampen his droll expression as her face scrunched with a desperate plea. “Okay,” he sighed. “Where was the last place you had it?”
“I wore it to school yesterday. I forgot all about it until this morning. I was going to slip it into Mom’s bag and then fool her into thinking she packed it without realizing.”
“You’re such a sweet girl.”
Rosie slapped him on the arm. “Your sarcasm is not helping!”
“Well, there’s not much I can do. You probably left it at school in your locker or something.”
“Yeah, I just don’t remember taking it off, that’s all.”
“You must have, unless the clasp was loose.”
“It wasn’t a clasp. It was leather. I knotted it at the back.”
“Knots come loose too, Rosie.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right. Maybe it slipped off.” She nibbled on her fingernail, her eyes blinking at the worry brimm
ing on her lashes.
Collecting up her fingers, Harrison gave them a squeeze. “We’ll check with lost and found first thing on Monday, okay? Put it out of your mind for now. If it was at the very bottom of her jewelry box she’s probably not looking for it. There’s nothing you can do while we’re here. Let’s just enjoy now and deal with it when we get back.”
Rosie pulled in a breath and released it with a smile. “You’re right.” She slumped back into the cushions. “So, have you heard from Gem?”
“I snuck a look at my phone this morning.” He shook his head.
“She’s probably busy with Dom and Ruby. Don’t worry about it, bro.” She slapped his knee and squeezed. “She’ll be missing you too.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida – 2011AD
Having Dom and Ruby home was the only thing keeping Gemma sane, apart from the fact they thought Simeon was wonderful. The previous night had been spent around the dinner table catching up on all their college news. Ruby was radiant as she talked about all the people she had met and the classes she was taking. Gemma could easily read between the lines and soon discerned that her sister had the hots for her Art History professor.
Dom loved college life as well, having made friends with a bunch of guys who spent their weekends playing ball. It had been an easy start for them, only being called across the line once. Gemma couldn’t help wondering why her parents had put this big hold on traveling, but she didn’t want to complain. Not being forced back in time was great!
That night she had sat up late with Ruby and got all the goss on Professor “Handsome.” Ruby probed mercilessly for goods on Simeon, but Gemma remained nonplussed.
“I don’t get you. He’s gorgeous.”
Gemma shrugged.
“You’re never gonna get over Harrison, are you?”
“How can I, Ruby? He was my match.”
Ruby rubbed her arm. “I still think it was wrong what they did, but believe me, sis, if you can get through this year…” Ruby beamed. “College will blow your mind. It’s so freeing and awesome.”
“Can’t wait to join you,” Gemma murmured, dipping her head to hide the turmoil massacring her face. Who knew what her future held?
The next day had run smoothly. She’d gone for an early morning jog with Dom, which ended with an all out wrestling match in the sand. She’d come home bruised and smiling. She’d then been dragged into the kitchen to help Simeon peel potatoes. Ruby had joined them and livened up the conversation, making Gemma believe just for a moment that Simeon was exactly who he said he was.
After their mammoth lunch, Gemma had joined the boys for the football game. It was now evening and the twins were gearing up for a big screen movie.
“Where’s Simeon?”
“Gem, go find him. I’ll get the popcorn.”
Gemma followed her sister’s orders and headed down the hallway to Simeon’s room. It lay chaotic and empty. Skipping down the stairs she paused at the landing and listened for voices. The soft strains of conversation were coming from her father’s office. Creeping up, she paused outside the door, unsure why she wasn’t bursting in. The voices became clear as she nestled her ear against the wood and then her heart stopped beating.
“I wanted to wait until I had you guys alone.” Simeon’s voice sounded deeper than usual, serious. “I found this.”
Her mother gasped. “The last piece!”
“Where did you get it?”
“From a girl at school.”
“Which girl? Did she just give it to you?”
“No. She was wearing it around her neck. I didn’t even see it until she took her sweater off. I nearly choked on my food, but then I took the time to admire it and managed to loosen the tie without her noticing. It slipped off her neck as she walked away.” He sounded smug.
She could picture her father’s grin.
The piece! It was supposed to be buried with Nathaniel. It was supposed…
“Who was it?” Her mother’s voice made the question sound like an afterthought.
Gemma held her breath, waiting for the only name he could possibly utter.
“Just a girl called Rosie. She’s a totally besotted sophomore.”
“I wonder where she got it from.”
“She said it was passed down through her family, but I heard her tell a friend she had taken it from her mom's jewelry box.”
Helen! You liar! Gemma’s emotions rolled black at both the Chatsworth women. Rosie no doubt took it without asking. She at least believed in Helen enough to have hidden the piece, but her jewelry box? How unoriginal is that?!
“Wait, Rosie who?”
Gemma held in her gasp. The interest in her mother’s voice was frightening, as was the following question by her father.
“Do you know her last name?”
“Chats… something. Chatsworth?”
The room fell silent for an all-knowing beat. Gemma knew she had to run, but couldn’t pull herself away from the door. Her eyes stared wide and frozen, waiting for her death sentence.
“Does she have a brother?”
Simeon let out a reluctant sigh. “Actually she does. His name’s Harrison.”
At the sound of his name, her lungs cut off. Gemma closed her eyes, knowing this was the end.
“Harrison,” her mother’s voice shook in a whisper.
“How could you not tell us this before?”
“Look, you told me to do whatever it took to gain Gemma’s trust. She asked me not to mention they’d got back together.”
“Back together! He shouldn’t even be here!”
“What do you mean?”
“Where is she? Where is she right now?!”
The blackness in her father’s voice injected her limbs with adrenaline. Bolting from her spot, she raced down the stairs, heading for her bike and a futile escape.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida – 2011AD
The engine roared to life and squealed out of the garage just as her father’s livid face came into view. Gemma tore down the driveway, screeching onto the main road and accelerating south.
Pulling out her cell phone, she found Harrison’s number and waited impatiently as it rang without answer.
Where are you? I need you!
She fought off the panic and forced her brain to function. She dialed the only number swimming in her head while swerving around a green pick up.
“Lucia, are you okay?”
“They know!!”
She nearly lost her balance as she overtook another vehicle. Her bike wobbled in complaint as she tried to steer one handed while screaming into her phone. At the speed she was going she knew she had to give up one or the other.
“I’m coming to you now. You’ve gotta help me!”
“Where are you?”
“I just left home. They… NO!” She felt the tingling rippling in her feet. “They’re pulling me back!”
“Fight it. Lucia…. LUCIA!”
She dropped her phone, needing to get control of the bike. Swerving into a side alley, she pulled it to a stop and closed her eyes, fighting with all her will power to stay put.
She screamed at the intense pain, her ankle burning so hot she could almost feel the skin sizzling.
“No,” she repeated with feeble tears as she lost control and felt her body explode into gold dust.
* * * *
She appeared, naked and afraid, cowering in the corner of her garage. Her bike was gone as were the cars. It must be the day before when everyone was either at work, school or picking up the twins.
She didn’t have time to deduce more. Before she could catch her breath, she was hauled to her feet by a handful of hair.
“Ow!” She reached for her searing scalp and was released seconds later by being slammed into the wall.
“He’s alive? He shouldn’t even exist, Gemma.” Her father’s eyes were black with rage.
“What did you do?”
Gemma looked away from her mother’s fierce expression and sealed her lips.
It earned her a hard backhand slap across the face. Her eyes bulged wide as she looked at her father in horror.
“Did someone go back for you? Who do you know who can travel?”
She kept her eyes downcast. There was no way she was implementing anyone else in this. Her hair was grasped, her face violently pulled towards her father’s booming voice.
“WHO DO YOU KNOW?”
“No one! Myself!” She was thrown back against the wall once more followed by another sharp slap that had her senses reeling.
“You can’t travel on your own. She can’t travel by herself, can she Alistair?”
“Only if she’s taught.”
His eyes bore into her, demanding an answer she would never give.
“I did it by accident one day,” she mumbled. “When I realized I could, I kept practicing.”
They could all smell the lie. It was potent.
She watched her father work through his anger. Fear built in her system. Her breath caught in her throat. Alistair’s face went from charcoal to black in a matter of moments and before Gemma could react his fists were pummeling her.
“How dare you defy me!!!”
Gemma blocked the blows as best she could, but couldn’t bring herself to hit back. His malice was so execrable she didn’t think she could compete with it. Instead she took the blows, listened to the screams of rage and willed her mind back to the present.
It didn’t come easy, the pain pervading her body kept breaking her concentration, but with a lusty scream, she closed her eyes and punched her body back to the present.
* * * *
Her muscles shook with agony. She could feel blood streaming from her mouth, nose and the numerous scratches on her face. Her father’s ring had done some brutal work. She touched her swollen lip with a whimper then grabbed at her burning ankle. Running her fingers over her birthmark, revelation hit her like a lightening bolt.
Pure Blood (Time Spirit Trilogy, #3) Page 13