Charlie, however, is still watching the Honda as it pulls out on the main road. I nudge him with my elbow.
Charlie answers, “Yeah, I had the whole day with nothing to do, so I thought I could come and do some school shopping. And see Jade.”
Dad squints at him, “And your father said this was fine?”
Charlie hangs his head, shuffling on his feet.
I decide to jump in. “We were just going to get some lunch. Charlie hasn’t eaten. He’s starving. Then he’s going to head back down to the Cape to go home.”
“All right. Maybe Charlie should call his father first, though. So his dad knows where he is.”
Charlie and I glance at each other.
Dad sighs, obviously catching on. “I think it would be better coming from you than me.”
Charlie nods. “Can I call after lunch? On my way home?”
“Yes, I suppose,” Dad says reluctantly. He almost looks as though he feels bad for us, as if he’s watching a movie about lovers torn apart and he really wants them to get back together.
“Thanks, Dad.” I grab Charlie’s hand and tug him toward the Tahoe before my father can change his mind.
We get in, and Charlie starts the car. I wait for him to say something about Mateo or my father or what just happened in the driveway, but he doesn’t say a word. Instead, he puts the car in drive and eases it out of the semicircle, his hands clenching the wheel. He stops at the road and glances at me.
“Left,” I say. “Charlie, you have nothing to worry about with Mateo.”
Charlie snorts and pushes his sweaty hair off his forehead. “Does he come over a lot?”
“No.”
I’m not going to do this with him, not after how amazing it was to get to see him again. I thought it was awesome that he came off island and risked severe punishment just to be with me. Now it feels all wrecked. Destroyed. I have to find a way to fix this, and protesting my innocence is not the way.
“Can you pull over?” I ask him.
He glances at me. “Where?”
“Anywhere.”
“Why?”
“Please. Just do it?”
He takes a right into the parking lot of a small strip mall. Then, he maneuvers the Tahoe into a parking spot way off to the side so we are out of the way of shoppers.
He shuts off the car and turns to face me. “What?” He sounds exasperated with me.
I take his hand. “Don’t do this. We’re together. Don’t let it be bad.”
I reach up to touch his face. He closes his eyes as I caress his cheek. I crawl across the seat and straddle his lap. Fortunately, he drives with the seat way back because of his long legs. He groans softly as I come to rest on top of him, and I place my hands on either side of his face.
“Open your eyes,” I tell him.
He does, and I stare into their beautiful blueness.
“I love you,” I say. “I love you so much.”
“I love you, too.” But there’s pain in his eyes as if loving me hurts.
I kiss him anyway. Hurting or not, we are in this together.
Charlie and I sit side by side in a booth, our bodies touching at every point possible. He’s eating a burger, and I have a chicken sandwich. Because I need to share my problems with someone and Charlie is one of the best problem solvers I know, I tell him about Mr. Fraser and Mr. Avery. It feels good to confide in him. Plus, it will only hurt our trust if I don’t tell him everything. After what happened with Mateo, I need him to trust me. I need him to believe in me completely, or we’ll never make it.
“So you saw them fighting during the banishment?”
“Yeah. And now that I’ve had time to think about it, I wonder if Avery really did kill himself.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, the things Avery’s been saying about what Fraser did. I thought he was referring to what Fraser did with Blakely, but maybe it’s something else, like what Fraser did to him.”
“Like put him in the pond?” Charlie says.
Hearing him say it sends a chill through my body. “Yeah,” I mumble, setting down the fry I was about to eat.
“What does your intuition tell you?” Charlie asks.
“That something is off. That I’m not getting the whole story.”
“Then I think you should call your grandmother. This is sounding more and more serious.”
“I know, but I don’t want to take her away from Papa. I think I should give this Noemie person a try.”
“But Connie’s a liar. You can’t trust a word she says.”
“Yeah, but I don’t think she’s dangerous. I don’t get an evil vibe from her at all.”
Charlie sighs. “Well, go then, but text me when you’re leaving and on the way and then on the way home. Just in case. Okay?”
“Okay, I will.”
Talking and touching and being close to Charlie feels the way it did in the summer. But unfortunately, our reunion has to come to an end all too quickly. After lunch, standing beside the car, he calls his dad to confess.
“Yeah. With Jade,” Charlie says.
I can hear the yelling through the phone.
“Yeah. I know. I’m on my way. I couldn’t help it. I had to see her…”
It goes on like that for a bit before he hits End.
“Sorry,” I say sadly.
Charlie smiles weakly. “It’s okay. It was worth it.”
I wrap my arms around him and press against him.
He holds onto me, kissing the top of my head. “I wish you could come home with me,” he murmurs into my hair.
“Me, too.” I want to take a snapshot of this moment. I want to freeze it and carry it with me to replay over and over in my mind to keep him with me until the next time I get to be with him.
He pulls away with a sigh. “Come on. I’ll take you back to your dad’s.”
We drive back to the carriage house in silence. When we pull into the driveway, I see Dad’s car. The fact that he’s home is probably for the best because if he wasn’t here, I would definitely take Charlie back inside and up to my room. I wouldn’t be able to help it. But instead, we have to face the inevitable good-bye.
I get out and walk around to his window. “Drive safe,” I say, bending over to kiss him one last time.
“I will.” He smiles then drives away.
And we are separated. Again. For who knows how long.
Mateo
Chapter 15
Jade hates me now, I’m sure. Her boyfriend’s nuts, too. I wish I had decked him and showed her that he’s not as tough as he acts.
I lie on my bed, staring at my phone. I know I shouldn’t be doing this to myself. I should forget all about Jade and move on to someone else because liking her is going to cause nothing but problems for me.
If I were friends with a guy acting like I am right now about Jade, I’d slap him and tell him to cut it out. No girl is worth this drama and angst. Pretty girls are a dime a dozen, especially at Layton, and figuring them out is easy. Basically, girls all want to be a guy’s special someone. They watch romantic movies and read romantic novels, so they have it in their heads that that is the way love is supposed to be. I’m not sure why they can’t figure out that those stories aren’t reality.
Before Jade, I would have said that special someones don’t really exist. Anyone could be your special someone because all that romance and love stuff is just in people’s heads. Thinking any one girl is different is a myth, or so I thought.
But now I’m acting like one of those idiots who believe in that stuff. Maybe it’s the competitor in me. Maybe it’s all about wanting to beat Charlie and win her over. Back in eighth grade, I stole Sydney Simmons from Andre just to prove I could, but I learned my les
son. No girl is worth losing a friend over. I swore then that I’d never do it again, but this situation is different. I didn’t even meet Charlie until today, and I still wanted to steal Jade.
I wish I could call her, but I know I need to wait for her to call me. She will, too. She’s nothing if not direct. She’ll call me and tear me a new one for upsetting her precious Charlie. I hate that she likes him that much.
Someone knocks on my door.
“Teo, will you come play horsey with us?” Bella asks.
“Not now!”
“Please, Teo!”
My little sisters and my stepmom are the reason I leave and drive around all the time. Getting out of the house is the only way I get a second to think and be alone. I love my sisters, but they can be a real pain in my butt. In this situation, I decide horsey rides around the living room will be a good distraction from waiting for Jade to call. I bring my phone with me and prepare to entertain the girls with a whole lot of whinnying and bucking them off onto cushions. It’s what big brothers are for, after all.
I’m not sure how much time that kills, but when I check my phone again, Jade still hasn’t called. I decide I can’t wait any longer and send her a text.
Mateo: Call me.
Jade: I can’t believe you.
Mateo: Is he gone?
Jade: Yeah.
Mateo: Call me. Please?
I can’t believe I am begging now. I need an intervention.
Jade: You are not allowed to just stop by.
Mateo: I’m sorry. Calling.
I exhale a loud breath and hit Send.
“Sorry,” I say when she picks up.
“Are you really, though?”
“Yeah. I didn’t know he was so possessive.”
“He’s not. He’s just…”
“He’s possessive, Jade. Which is fine, I guess. I wouldn’t like me either if the situation was reversed.”
She sighs. “I guess…”
“Are you still mad at me?”
“Yeah. Kinda. I’m mostly just sad he’s gone.”
“Can I come over?”
“No. I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Can I give you a ride to school tomorrow?”
She hesitates then says, “Okay.”
“And for what it’s worth, I really am sorry. I want us to be friends, and I don’t want to cause problems for you.” This is only half-true. The sorry part is sincere, but I seriously wouldn’t mind if they broke up. I think I would stand a fair chance if Charlie wasn’t in the picture. I can tell Jade likes me at least as a friend at this point. And everyone knows what they say about guys and girls being able to stay friends.
“I know. I’m sorry for being so hard on you. I just don’t know what to do in this situation.”
“I understand.”
“Promise you won’t start tormenting Charlie online.”
“And how exactly would I do that?”
“You know. Like commenting on all my stuff or posting on my wall. He’s going to lose it if you do.”
I exhale loudly. “Jade, that is just silly. But if you insist, I won’t say or do anything online. But you haven’t even accepted my follow requests.”
“That’s because of Charlie. I don’t want him freaking out on you.”
“Fine, if you accept my requests, I promise to behave. Can I like things?”
“I guess.”
“Being Charlie’s girlfriend sounds like a lot of work. How long have you been going out?”
“Two months. And everything was fine until I had to move. Now he’s just feeling very insecure. What time are you picking me up tomorrow?”
“Seven thirty?”
“Okay. Thanks. I’ll see you then.”
We end the call just as I hear my stepmom yelling for me. I’m not sure what I did now, but I better go find out.
Jade
Chapter 16
Connie is driving me to Everett to meet this supposed seer, Noemie. As we pass the urban landscape, I realize once again how unaccustomed I am to the dingy, concrete world of a city. I’m sure that sounds snobby, but I grew up in a fantasy land. If Nantucket is Barbie dressed for the prom, Everett is Cinderella’s ugly stepsister locked in a dungeon. This is the kind of place I usually only see in movies.
“Are you sure this place is safe?” I ask Connie. I tap my fingers on my thigh, gazing out at a group of black kids walking in a group—or a pack. I might even say gang, but that would be stereotyping. They have saggy pants and questionable scarf-like things on their heads.
“Yes. Of course. I think you’ll like Noemie. She’s a lot like you. You reminded me of her right away. The shop is right up here.”
A few minutes later, we turn onto a street lined with three-story, tenement-style buildings. Some appear to be apartments, and others have businesses on the first floors. We pass a pizza place called Tony’s and a dive bar named Salty’s. Connie parks in front of Island Botanicals, which sounds like a spa, but the neon sign in the window reads Psychic Readings—Tarot. The display area has two mannequins wearing sarongs and beaded tops. Surrounding them on various shelves are too many statues of the Virgin Mary to count, along with rosaries, candles, and different-colored bottles of what might be oils.
Connie gets out, while I stare at the serene face of one of the Marys. Connie walks around the car and onto the sidewalk then waves for me to join her. I’m a little worried. Judging by the look of Island Botanicals, Noemie could be really freaky and scary, but I’ve come too far and I’m too curious not to go in and at least meet her. I want to see what’s on the other side of the green peeling door. So I climb out and follow Connie to the door.
A bell chimes as we step over the threshold, and my senses are immediately assaulted by the aromas of hemp, almonds, and roses. Herbs hang from a rack to the left. On the right are shelves filled with statues, dolls, and weird knickknacks mixed in with more candles, oils, tubes, and bottles. Everywhere I look, there is something strange and colorful.
Behind a glass jewelry display case, two women sit on stools. One is reading a book, the other chopping some dried herbs. The reader looks up at us, her dark eyes partially hidden by wire-frame spectacles. The herb chopper stays focused on her task.
“Hello, Noemie,” Connie says. She sweeps over to the counter and rests her forearm on the glass. “I’ve brought someone for you to meet.”
I hang back, shuffling my feet. I continue scanning the room, but my eyes always return to the one Connie spoke to—the herb chopper, Noemie. Noemie looks about forty, but the other lady is older, maybe her mother. Noemie has long, braided extensions, and the older lady wears a colorful scarf wrapped around her head. When Noemie finally looks up, I see her eyes—hazel green, almost the exact color as my own. Hers are even more stunning, though, because her skin is several shades darker than mine.
She stares at me without even acknowledging Connie. Her unwavering gaze makes me feel as though she’s looking right into my soul. Then a small smile spreads across her face, and I see that her teeth are a brilliant white.
“Come closer, chou chou. I don’t bite,” she says. Her French accent is thick. She stands, letting her knife fall with a clank onto the glass counter.
I narrow my eyes at her, summoning all my courage so I don’t show Noemie the Voodoo priestess that I’m scared. Out of the corner of my eye, I see both Connie and the other lady watching us.
Noemie walks around the counter and stops in front of me. “Your name?” she asks in a gentle voice.
“Jade. Jade Irving.”
“Noemie Bertrand.” She pronounces it No-eh-me. She extends her hand, and at first, I think she wants to shake mine, but instead, she takes my skeleton key between her thumb and index finger. She examines it, and a n
ew smile spreads across her face. “Bakongo.” She places it gently back against my skin.
I was holding my breath, but now I slowly release it through my nose. “Yes,” I say, staring into her piercing eyes.
“Who gave you this?” she asks, starting to circle me.
I’m wearing white jeans, sandals, and a T-shirt, and she has on a similar outfit. If I saw her on the street, I would think nothing was different about her. She doesn’t have on a head scarf or flowing skirt, no nose ring or armload of bangles, nothing to make me think she shares my gift and works in a shop like this one.
“My grandmother. It belonged to her sister.” Gram was right. I can sense things if I pay attention. Noemie feels like a warm stone pressed into the palm of hand, and I can tell that she sees, too. She’s not a fake like Connie.
“Your father’s mother?” Noemie looks confused, as if she’s just seen a problem with my story.
“Yes.”
She squints at me. “And your mother?”
“Irish. South Boston.”
She frowns. “Hmph.”
“Yes, that’s what Gram thought, too.” I smile. Noemie is surprised I’m a seer because my mother should have muddied my gene pool.
She chuckles, a low and throaty sound. “We need to do a reading. Connie, you stay out here with Maria. Jade and I are going in back.”
Connie shakes her head. “But I want—”
Noemie holds up her hand. “We must be alone. I cannot have you interfering with my reading. You chat with Maria. Have some tea. We just received some new statuettes you might like.”
She doesn’t seem to be inclined to ask me about this reading, but I instantly decide it doesn’t matter. I want to accompany this woman into the backroom of her creepy voodoo shop in dingy old Everett.
Noemie gestures with one hand. “This way.”
Ever Lost (Secret Affinity Book 2) Page 9