by Amy Sparling
The thought hits me as if it were put there on purpose. These guys would do anything for us. I don’t know why, but I just know it. They would.
This really is a family.
A clan.
“It was such a pleasure to meet you all,” Alexo says. The maids walk out of the room taking the pillows with them. “I promise we will have time to talk later, but I must take my leave now. Please enjoy dinner.” He gives a slight bow in our direction and then turns to leave, waving sharply toward the guys.
I am so happy I could burst. I keep sneaking glances at my bracelet as we walk toward the table in the dining room. The servers pull out our chairs for us and everything.
This night is so wonderful and the food smells amazing. The only thing that’s missing is Theo.
Chapter 23
Although the stress over Theo had taken away my appetite, the moment a plate of fresh pasta is set in front of me, my mouth starts to water. I guess I’m no good at starving out my feelings. A lifetime of eating crap food from school cafeterias and group homes has left me without the ability to turn down delicious food, no matter how depressed I am.
And it is so delicious. I have to take great measures to eat like a lady and not just tip the bowl to my mouth and shovel it all in.
The conversation is lively around the dining table. The table itself is bigger than it needs to be, expanding from one end of the room to the other. There’s high backed chairs and a fancy gray tablecloth with a floral arrangement in the center of the table that’s long enough to reach across the whole thing. Everything is so elegant it looks like it came straight out of a magazine.
There are two empty seats at the table; the one at the head of the table for Alexo, and then one almost directly across from me. Theo’s chair.
I twirl some pasta around my fork and try to imagine how dinner would be tonight if Theo were there, watching me. I’d most certainly not be able to finish all the food in front me. The imaginary butterflies in my stomach would see to that. But now he is gone and the butterflies are asleep, so I eat without any problems.
It’s hard to ignore that huge empty space in the table and participate in the conversation. Luckily, Riley holds her own and talks enough for the two of us.
I find out more about the girls, who all seem excited to talk about themselves. Jayla goes on and on about how her dating life wasn’t going so well after having split up with three older men who were all married and didn’t want to leave their wives for her. She chose to take a sabbatical and get a job instead. But by the way she’s been eyeing Russel all night, I’d say she hasn’t stopped dating at all. I wouldn’t be surprised if she makes a move on him soon.
Russel is probably in his late twenties, so he’s not too old, and he’s not wearing a wedding ring so I can only assume he might be single. That’s already a step up for Jayla, in my opinion. But Russel is tall and pale, with reddish brown hair the distinct personality of a drill sergeant. Like the asshole kind of sergeant you’d see in a movie about the military. On first glance, Jayla with her long brown hair and permanently prissy face, doesn’t really seem like a good match for Russel. But then I think about how she’s kind of totally stuck up and gives off this don’t talk to me vibe, and maybe they would work well together.
It’s too bad Russel doesn’t seem to notice she exists.
Nia and Jayla were friends before they started working here, just like Riley and me. Only they both came from Silver Valley, which is an undeniably rich part of Texas. Maybe that’s why they don’t want anything to do with Riley and me. They can smell the poor on us. They know we weren’t brought up in fancy houses like they were.
Nia’s only good qualities are that she wants to be a singer, and when she sings a little for Kyle when he asks, she’s actually pretty good. Also, her boobs are huge, which I guess is a good thing for the guys. I don’t really care too much about that, and her personality is enough to make me want to roll my eyes.
After half an hour of Jayla and Nia talking about themselves, Henry asks Olivia where she’s from. She’s also from Sterling but she was homeschooled so we never saw her while we were growing up. She tells us that she was sick of living there and wanted to move away from her overbearing parents who swore they would disown her if she did leave. Olivia wants to travel the world, and you can tell she’s really passionate about it in the way her eyes sparkle when she talks.
Henry tells her he can have that arranged if she’d like, and she beams so brightly I fear the centerpiece will catch on fire.
In all, dinner goes well. I don’t have to talk much which is good because my thoughts are on Theo. When dessert is finished, Henry rises from his seat to address everyone.
“I think it’s time for drinks in the courtyard,” he says. “Ladies, dinners together are a rare occurrence, and most nights you’ll be left to your own devices. So because we’re all gathered here tonight, I say we spend a little more time together.”
The courtyard is on the side of the house between the gardens and the pool. It’s a cobblestone area with a fountain in the middle and beautiful flowers around all of the sitting areas. Unlike most fountains I’ve seen, where it’s either a shooting spray of water or it has a bird bath in the middle, this one has a wild Mustang lifting up on his rear legs. He’s a handsome horse, even if he is only concrete. The water fountain is centered around his legs, as if he’s running through a river and splashing it up all over the place. It’s very Texan.
Riley and I take a flute of champagne from the tray of a nearby waiter and we’re both disappointed that it’s not gris. It’s just plain old champagne by the taste of it. Smooth jazz plays through hidden speakers and everyone mingles in this sophisticated way that’s all new and thrilling to me.
We talk to Kyle for a little bit. He seems to be the youngest guy in the group and he’s definitely the happy go lucky jokester around here. He talks forever about some stupid comedy show on late night television that he loves. I’m about to fall asleep to the sound of his voice, when someone appears on my left and touches me on the elbow.
I spin around and find Theo.
Gorgeous Theo, in dark jeans and a black shirt. He’s slightly out of breath like maybe he ran out here, and his brows are pulled together.
“Can I talk to you for a minute?” he says, glancing apologetically at Kyle and Riley.
“Sure thing, man.” Kyle waves us goodbye and Riley gives me a quick good luck wiggle of her eyebrows.
“Let’s walk,” Theo says. He leads me away from the courtyard and away from the gardens. We’re headed toward the driveway of all places. He glances over his shoulder, his lips twisted in a smirk. “I missed you like crazy, by the way.”
“I waited for you,” I say, not hiding the annoyance in my voice. “I felt like an idiot.”
“I’m sorry, Cara. This shit took longer than I thought it would.” His voice is low, like he’s afraid we’ll be overheard. “I didn’t have your number or I would have called you.”
“No need for my number,” I say. I have to hurry along to keep up with his long strides. “I can’t pay the bill much longer so it’ll get shut off soon.”
“The clan will buy you all new phones. They’re probably already ordered by now.” He says this like it’s a bad thing, but I guess it is since he wants me to leave.
“I’d hold your hand but that’s probably not a good idea so soon,” he says, giving me a half smile. He keeps walking further down the driveway and my feet are killing me in these heels.
“How far are we going?” I ask, exasperated and still annoyed. A simple apology doesn’t really help smooth over the embarrassment I felt hanging out by the pool for an hour.
“Far enough so we’re not overheard.” He cuts a sharp look at me. “When we return, make sure you look all flushed and flirty like I’ve just been seducing you, okay?”
I roll my eyes. “Isn’t that what you do every time we’re together?”
His serious expression turns into a sly
grin which makes my stomach tingle. “Oh, I like you,” he says slowly.
Finally, he stops walking. “This is far enough.”
I can see the main road from here and I’m pretty sure I could scream and no one would hear it. “So,” I say, turning toward him.
“So.” He studies me, his eyes going from my eyes to my lips and back. Then he steps forward and takes my face in his hands, tilting it up for a kiss. I’m trying to be mad at him, but damn, this kiss is amazing. “I missed dinner, but Alexo isn’t here yet, so we haven’t missed the ceremony. There’s still time.”
“What ceremony?”
His lips press together like he thinks it’s the stupidest thing ever. “The bracelet ceremony.”
I lift up my right arm. “You mean this bracelet?”
Words can’t describe the look on Theo’s face. Something like rage, anger, fear, and disbelief all cross at once, distorting his handsome features into something that terrifies me. He steps back like the bracelet just punched him in the face.
“Cara, no,” he says, taking my arm in his hand. He shakes his head. “Goddammit, no.”
His shoulders slump, and all of the air seems to deflate right out of him.
“What is it?” I say, yanking my arm back.
He’s silent for a long time, his face tipped toward the ground.
“Theo?” I say, pushing him in the shoulder. “You can’t just say that and then go silent on me.”
He looks up at me. All of the light has faded from his features. “Why would you do this?” he growls, his jaw tightening. “Why the hell would you put that on?”
“Excuse you?” I say, stepping backward. “It’s just a stupid bracelet. You can’t yell at me for this! I should be yelling at you for standing me up at the pool!”
“Jesus, Cara. It’s not just a bracelet.” He runs a hand across the top of his head, making a fist in his hair. He turns around and stares up at the sky. “God, this is all my fault. I should have been here.”
“Why are you freaking out?” I ask softly. “You told me to wait by the pool and then you didn’t show up. What was I supposed to do?”
He turns back to me, his eyes now bloodshot and his hair all messed up from where he grabbed it. He looks like a broken man, like someone cut him open and took out all of the important pieces then left him here to die. “Why didn’t you just listen to me?” he says, his voice a desperate cry of pain. “Why didn’t you just go home?”
“I need this job, Theo.”
He shakes his head. “It’s not a job. I—dammit,” he breathes. “I can’t believe this. I should have—I didn’t—” He exhales and then gets angry again. “Of course this would fucking happen. I meet a perfect girl and this shit fucking happens.”
Now he’s practically on a tirade, pacing a line in the driveway. He chuckles deliriously. “This is my life. This what I get. I was called to that job and I fucked up and I didn’t save you. I don’t deserve the happiness, so I don’t know why I thought I could get it. And now you—sweet Cara—”
I rush up to him and put my hands on his shoulders, forcing him to stop pacing. “Theo,” I say, looking into his eyes that are now the color of the sunset. “You sound like a crazy person. Why can’t we be together?”
He bites on his lower lip, watching me like he’s been called off to war and will never see me again. “I am not allowed to tell you,” he says, closing his eyes. “I almost did. I was going to earlier. But now it’s too late.”
“Why is it too late?”
“You should have just gone home,” he says, turning away from me.
“You know what?” I snap as anger rises up in me. “I am better than this. Why the hell am I standing here wishing you’d be nice to me when you’re being weird as hell?” I shake my head. “Forget it. You want me to go home? I’m going home.” I fling a finger toward the house. “That’s my home. And don’t fucking come see me anymore. You are no longer welcome in my part of my new house.”
It rips my heart in half to say the words, but I don’t understand why he’s being so weird about this. He likes me, and then he doesn’t. He wants to be with me, and then he’s ranting that he can’t. It just doesn’t make sense.
And I am better than this.
So I kick off my heels and hold them in my hands, and then I walk as fast as I can toward the house. The sooner I cut myself off from Theo, the better I’ll be.
Chapter 24
In all of the romance movies Riley and I have seen, there’s always this part where the girl gets mad and runs off.
And in the best ones, the guy chases after her.
I may be pissed off and sick of being toyed with, but I’m secretly hoping Theo does just that when I stomp away from him. If he follows me, it’ll mean he cares.
I’m only a few feet away when Theo jogs up to me and gets in the way so I can’t keep walking toward the house. “Wait,” he says, taking my hands in his.
My breath hitches. He smells amazing, like cologne and wine. The stubble on his jaw is thicker since I last saw him and I want to feel it scratch against my cheek again. I hate that these feelings exist at all because it’d be so much easier to turn him down if they didn’t.
“I shouldn’t have yelled,” he says, squeezing my hands. His eyes never leave mine. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine,” I say quickly. “Now let me go.”
“Not yet.” He dips his forehead until it touches mine, and I have to close my eyes to keep myself under control. “I still want to be with you, Cara.” He places a kiss on top of my head. “It’s just…everything is wrong now.”
“Would you just tell me why?” I say, pleading with him. “I don’t understand and you’re acting like I should know already, but I don’t. You’re leaving me in the dark and it’s bullshit.”
I can see the pain in his eyes. He looks down at my arm, at the bracelet. “Everything changed when you put this on. I’m not mad at you—I’m just—I’m just mad. I wish I’d been here. I should have been here.” He exhales, then moves forward, wrapping his arms around me and holding me close to his chest. I breathe in the scent of him, and revel in the way his chest feels against my cheek. “I still want to be with you. You still bring out something inside of me that I like. It’s just—” Another sigh. “It’s just not the same anymore. And I know I don’t deserve you forever, so I guess I’ll take you while I can have you. I’ll be happy as long as I have you, but I will never forgive myself.”
I pull back and look up at him skeptically. “What’s the big deal?” I say, holding up my wrist. “If you don’t like the bracelet, I’ll just take it off.”
“No!” Theo’s eyes widen in fear as he launches toward me, but it’s too late. I pull the bracelet off with my left hand. It all seemed so simple at first. I would toss it in the grass, say I lost it, and Theo would be happy.
But that doesn’t happen.
The moment the metal leaves my wrist, my vision blurs and blackens around the edges. My heart beats like a jackhammer and my muscles stop working. I gasp for air. I fall forward. My eyes focus on my wrist, where the bracelet had been. There’s a dark blue mark there, an oval with weird symbols in it, right on my skin like a tattoo.
My chest burns in agony, desperate for air and my mouth is open but nothing is happening. Everything darkens. I’m falling.
I’m drowning from the inside out.
I’m dying.
Something cold snaps back onto my wrist and a sudden jolt of energy slams into me chest first, like I’ve just been thrown onto a transformer. Precious air flows into my lungs and I keep gasping, the need to breathe overwhelming my every other sense. My vision comes back and Theo is there, watching me with worried eyes. I blink and choke and breathe in deeply.
He's holding me up by my arms, his grip tight.
My heart pounds so hard I can hear it in my ears. Blood rushes through me as if a floodgate had sucked it all dry and now it’s filling every vein in my body back up. My senses come back t
o me one by one: clear vision, the piney smell of the outdoors, the sound of crickets chirping and a plane flying overhead. Theo’s breath, ragged like mine. I become acutely aware of his hands on my arms and I yelp in pain because he’s squeezing too tightly.
He lessens his hold and I look down, surprised that I’m actually standing on my own two feet. The black heels are lying scattered on the driveway.
I look down at my wrist. The skin seems normal, but I’m not about to move the bracelet to see if that blue image is still there. I must have imagined it. I don’t have any tattoos.
“What the hell was that?” I say, wincing because even my throat hurts now.
“That is what happens when you remove the bracelet,” he says softly. “It is bound to you until you die. And if you take it off, it’ll drain all the life from you. You wouldn’t have lasted more than a few seconds if I hadn’t put it back on.”
Fear slams into me, extending out to my every nerve. “What the hell is it?”
He looks down, his lips pressing together.
“Theo?” I say. My voice sounds just as panicked as I feel. I keep reliving that moment over and over again, the horror of what it felt like consuming me to the core.
“I almost died just now?”
“Yes.”
I am breathless again, but this time it’s from fear. “For a moment there…I thought…” I turn my wrist over and examine it again. The bracelet, so shiny and beautiful, doesn’t look like it’d ever be capable of doing that to me. It doesn’t look like it can do anything. It’s an effing bracelet. An inanimate piece of metal and gemstone.
“I thought I saw a blue circle on my skin,” I say over the sound of my pounding heart. “Just before my vision went black, I saw it. It had little symbols on it.”
“This is an immortality bracelet,” Theo says. He cradles my hand in his palm, leveling his gaze on me. “And what you saw was the immortal mark.”
Chapter 25