With Torin’s words ringing in my ears, I grinned like an idiot until I turned into the narrow road leading to Cora’s home. Her family lived ten minutes outside town on a farm that once belonged to her paternal grandparents. Her parents, both retired elementary school teachers, had home-schooled her until her grandmother was diagnosed with cancer. When Cora and I met in junior high, she’d just started public school.
The patio door opened before I parked, and Cora’s mother stepped out. She wore her standard farm outfit, dungarees and galoshes. I’d never seen her in anything but dungarees, even at Farmers’ Market where she sold the organic produce they grew, including different types of apples. Like Cora, she had blonde hair, except hers was sprinkled with gray.
“Hey, Mrs. Jemison,” I said.
“Hello, dear.” We hugged. Her clothed smelled of spices. She baked apple desserts, which she supplied to some stores in Kayville. “We haven’t seen you around lately.”
“I was away for a few weeks, and when I came back, I had to catch up on schoolwork.” There was an awkward pause as she studied me intently like she expected me to say more. “I know I should have called first, but, uh, is Cora home?”
“She’s in her room. She was helping Jeff with his research earlier, but she’s probably updating her video blog right now.” She chuckled. “Go on inside. I’m sure she’d love company.”
Cora was a serious vlogger, although her subjects were usually guys from school. I entered their house, expecting to see her father in the alcove off their living room, tapping away on his keyboard. The chair was empty. He was a novelist and kept weird hours.
I headed upstairs.
Cora’s laughter filtered into the hallway. She sounded way too chipper for someone broken up about a guy.
“I’m in the middle of something, Mom,” she yelled when I knocked.
I opened the door anyway and popped my head inside her room. She was painting her toenails while talking on the phone. She must have just left the shower because she wore a robe and a towel wrapped around her head. Seeing it was me, and not her mother, she grinned and waved me over.
“Okay, six thirty,” she said into the phone then rolled her eyes. “Fine. Tell him it’s a date.” She dropped her phone on the bed and scooted to the edge. “Hey, Ms. Popular. I love your hair. If you go back to wearing it in a ponytail, I’ll so disown you.”
I snickered. She spent way too much time on her hair. I only did mine for Torin. “Ms. Popular?”
“You’re trending among our friends on every social network right now, Raine. I was just about to call you.” She stood, hobbled to where I stood because of the toe-spacers, and hugged me. “Phew, Kicker can sure talk a girl’s ear off. She kept me on the phone for, like, forever wanting to know about you and Torin. When did you meet? Was this your first date? Blah blah this and blah blah that. FYI,” she added, pointing at me, “I’m milking your fame for my vblog.”
Somehow I’d expected her to be heartbroken. You know, wearing the standard wrinkled sweatpants and matching shirt, hair unwashed. Instead she was making a date. A date! That bugged me. No, it more than bugged me. I was outraged on Eirik’s behalf.
“Trending?” I asked.
“See my laptop.” She waved toward her desk. “Torin has already been voted the best kisser and loving boyfriend evah. Everyone who posted a picture of the two of you tagged me. Your fame is already rubbing off on me,” she added, grinning.
Yeah, right. She’d always been popular because of her vlog. Besides, guys found her hot. I walked to her desk and touched the screen of her laptop. She had logged in at a popular social network site, but her page had pictures of Torin and me walking hand-in-hand inside the Creperie. The two of us talking to Andris. Several even captured the wicked gleam in Torin’s eyes as he’d glanced at me before telling everyone who could hear that we had plans for the evening. I scrolled down. Majority of the photographs were of us kissing. One even had the caption “Hot! Hot! Hot!” The comments under it sent blood rushing to my cheeks.
“People need to get a life,” I mumbled.
“Why, when we are living vicariously through you? You just moved from being the most hated girl at school to the most envied.” Cora pointed at her laptop. “You and Torin are officially the hottest couple now. If you click on the second tab, you’ll see how many comments I’ve received since posting on my vlog, uh,” she looked at her watch, “an hour ago.”
I didn’t bother to check. Her gushiness was over the top. Was focusing on us her way of dealing with her failing relationship with Eirik?
“Cora, I wanted to talk about Eirik,” I said.
“Funny, I don’t want to.” She snapped shut her laptop, determination gleaming in her eyes. She thrust her right hand toward me. “Can you repair my pinky?”
The bright red nail polish was pretty, but it made her skin look even paler. Cora often wore dark colors when she was in the dumps. The red was too bright. I took the nail polish remover and cotton balls, sat on her bed, and removed the damage she’d done.
“So what plans do you and Torin have tonight?” she asked.
“We’re having dinner.”
“At home or somewhere romantic.”
I didn’t want to discuss my relationship. “At home. Eirik told me what he did.”
Cora glared. “Stop talking about him already, sheesh.”
“I can’t.”
“Argh, I hate you. We tried. It bombed. End of story. I’ve moved on.” She glowered defiantly as though daring me to say anything. I opened my mouth to argue, but then I noticed her chin tremble. She was taking this harder than she let on.
“Oh, Cora,” I said and sighed.
“What do you think of my nails?” she asked. Her eyes were overly bright.
“It is a pretty color,” I said, focusing on repairing her nail.
“It matches the top I plan to wear tonight. I have a hot date.”
“Who with?”
“Jaden Granger. It’s a double date with Kicker and her boyfriend.”
Jaden Granger? Gross. What was wrong with her? She hated Jaden. On the other hand, she’d flirted with him last night. Eirik was going to lose it when he found out. Serves him right. He deserved a kick in the rear. Cora was not the kind of girl you messed with. She made you pay. Hanging out with them was going to be a nightmare.
“I wish you wouldn’t give up on Eirik so fast,” I said.
“I didn’t give up on him, Raine, because I never had him to begin with,” she said calmly, too calmly, then reached down and touched her toes. “These are dry.”
“What makes you think you never had him?”
She closed her eyes. “I swear you’re like a dog with a bone. Why do I think I never had him? Because Eirik is still into you. He’s never gotten over you. He was a mess the two weeks you were gone. I tried to be there for him, but I wasn’t enough. Seeing you with Torin must be killing him because he’s gotten worse. Now if you don’t mind, I need to blow-dry my hair and fix this,” she indicated her face and crossed her eyes dramatically, “before I leave for my date.” She disappeared into her bathroom.
Her pinky nail was going to get smudged again. Shaking my head, I went through her stash of nail polish until I found an emerald-green one that matched the top I planned to wear tonight. If I didn’t know about Eirik’s night terrors, I would have believed everything she’d said about his feelings for me.
Cora was still blow-drying her hair when I finished doing my nails, so I plotted my next move. When she walked back into her bedroom, I had a plan. Her hair looked amazing. It fell in gentle waves around her shoulders. I’d never seen her use a curling iron. She often preferred using her home salon, which was at the corner of her room. It had a professional hooded dryer and a chair.
“I thought you left,” she said.
“Why?” I blew on my nails.
“Because of what I said.”
I chuckled. “Please. If Eirik were in love with me, which he wasn’t
even when we dated, he wouldn’t be so chummy with Torin now. Didn’t you ever wonder why Eirik never liked any of the guys you dated? Or how he’d be mean to you whenever you gushed over some guy? The constant bickering between the two of you? And even though you’ll deny it, you were hurt when he and I started dating.” Cora made a face, but I just ignored her. “The signs were there, but I was too dense to figure it out. Things clicked during the meet when I saw the way he looked at you while you were flirting with some guy by the pool. Eirik likes you, Cora. A lot. I think something is bothering him.”
She grew still, her eyes fixed on my face. “What?”
“I don’t know,” I lied smoothly. “Until he confides in us… in you, date whoever you like and make him see what he’s missing. You have my total support.”
She scowled.
“In fact, I’ll make sure I tell him you’re on a date tonight,” I laid it on thick. “Where are you guys going?”
“Dinner somewhere then the movies. We haven’t decided which movie yet.”
“Text me when you know for sure. Maybe Torin and I can join you guys.”
“Okay,” she mumbled with less enthusiasm, and I knew my plan was already working. If she was into Eirik, as I suspected, she wouldn’t want to see him suffer.
Pretending not to notice her reaction, I blew on my nails. She pulled on jeggings, dropped her robe, and added a red dress top that hugged her chest and flared around her hips. By the time she finished with her makeup, she looked stunning.
“Jaden is not going to take his eyes off you,” I said.
“That’s the idea.” Once again, her smile seemed forced.
Smiling, I gave her a hug and headed downstairs. Her mother wasn’t in the house though the scent of freshly baked pies filled the air. She usually supplied local stores with baked apple desserts.
***
Eirik’s Jeep was gone from the curb. Dad sat at the kitchen table alone, his feet up and a drink in his hand. He hadn’t changed out of his cooking clothes. From his position, he had a clear view of Torin’s house, including the driveway. Had he seen Torin and me earlier? Probably.
“Something smells good,” I said, peeking inside the oven. The roast sat on a bed of crisp-looking vegetables. Beside it was a large oval bowl of scalloped potatoes, my favorite, while a tray of baby red potatoes was on the bottom rack. “And looks good.”
“Try the soup and tell me what you think,” he said.
I got a spoon from a drawer, lifted the lid off the pan on the stovetop, and scooped some of his famous onion soup—another one of my favorites. I gave him two thumbs up and went to the fridge to get bottled water. A tray of deviled eggs covered with plastic wrap was in the middle rack. Wow, he had gone all out.
“Set the table for ten and call us when our guests start to arrive,” he said, slowly getting up. He stretched and groaned.
“Ten?”
“Your mother paid Eirik’s parents a visit earlier today. They will be joining us.”
Dinner just lost its appeal. I must have made a face because Dad chuckled, but he didn’t say anything. I hated dinners with Eirik’s parents even though having them over was now something of a family tradition. At least tonight, Torin would be here.
I set the table and hurried upstairs to change. Mom often insisted we dress up for dinner. The emerald top was flattering, and I loved that it matched my nail polish. I traded my jeans for black tights and a black skirt, then added ankle-length, heeled boots. Mascara and plum lip-gloss and I was ready. My hair was still perfect from earlier.
Downstairs, Eirik arrived just as I cleared the stairs. He was dressed for the occasion and looked good. If Cora could see him now…
“You look amazing,” he said, giving me a hug.
“So do you. Where are your parents?”
“They’ll be here. You know how they are. When you say seven, they’ll arrive at seven on the dot, not a second early or late.” He tugged the collar of his shirt. “Why do we still have to dress up for these stupid dinners?”
“Tradition.” When we were young, we’d eat quickly then sneak away while our parents lingered at the table. “Maybe we could tell them we’re going to the movies after dinner and make a quick getaway.”
“I don’t feel like watching anything,” he muttered and wandered aimlessly around the formal dining room we rarely used except for these occasions. “How was Cora?”
Oh, the perfect opening. “Good. She was getting ready for a date when I saw her.”
Eirik froze.
“She looked amazing,” I added.
His hand clenched. “Who’s she going out with?”
“Jaden Granger.”
Eirik made a face like he’d swallowed a fly.
I continued his torture. “She’s supposed to text me the movie they’re planning to watch, so we can join them.” The doorbell rang, and I left to answer it. Eirik stayed in the dining room, probably plotting mayhem. I felt a little guilty. Maybe I should have waited until after dinner before saying anything about Cora’s date.
I opened the door to find our neighbors, led by Lavania, who looked breathtakingly beautiful as usual. My eyes went straight to Torin. He looked gorgeous in a navy-blue dinner jacket over a white shirt. He didn’t wear a tie and the top buttons of his shirt were undone. He winked at me. Blushing, my eyes reluctantly moved back to Lavania, who carried a covered crystal bowl.
“You’re back,” I said.
“Just for dinner.” She placed the bowl in my hands. “This is dessert. It must stay frozen until it is time to eat it.”
“I’ll put it in the freezer. Come in, please.” I stepped back and turned to call my parents, but they were already walking down the stairs.
Mom wore one of her free-flowing dresses that reached her ankles. A headband sat on her head like an ancient Egyptian princess’ crown, her black hair cascading down her back. She looked amazing. Like Dad loved to say, these dinners were for her. She loved to entertain. Dad looked handsome in a V-neck black sweater over a light-blue shirt. His curly brown hair, which I’d inherited, minus the curls, had grown and almost brushed his collar. I wondered if he’d dislike Torin.
Dad studied Lavania intently after they were introduced and surprised me when he said, “I hope my daughter is being a good student.”
“Yes, Mr. Cooper,” she answered politely.
“Call me Tristan.” He smiled at Ingrid before acknowledging the guys. “Andris, nice to see you again.” Really? I wondered. “St. James, nice to meet you.”
That answered the question of whether Dad had been conscious when Torin rescued him from the hospital in Costa Rica.
Mom led the way into the living room before going to get appetizers—deviled eggs, and goat cheese with pepper and almonds. Eirik’s parents arrived just as we started serving drinks. It was seven on the dot. Eirik, our designated bartender, stationed himself behind the wet bar, while I waitressed. Once again, I was reminded that even though Torin and his Valkyrie buddies might look around our age, they were much, much older and could consume alcohol. Eirik and I were the only ones having soft drinks. Eirik shook and mixed concoctions like an expert and grinned, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. Once again, I wished I hadn’t told him about Cora’s date.
Dad played host. His standard opening line was “Where are you originally from?” He had asked Andris the same question the first time they’d met.
Ingrid was really from Norway and was about two hundred years old. I noticed the way Andris’ eyes kept drifting to her as she talked about her town. She looked beautiful in a simple black dress, her makeup flawless.
Torin’s fingers lingered on mine when I handed him his drink, his eyes telling me I looked beautiful. My cheeks warmed. I had taken extra care tonight with my makeup, and I knew the emerald top was flattering. I hoped my eyes spoke for me, too. He looked so dashing tonight I wanted to stay right there and drool. He often wore jeans and T-shirts under his leather jacket, so this was the first tim
e I’d seen him in anything formal-ish. I hoped we sat next to each other during dinner. Having him as my boyfriend was slowly sinking in, and I wanted to savor it.
Andris, seated on the other side of the couch and flanking Lavania, cleared his throat, and I realized I was taking too long giving Torin his drink. Andris winked at me and said, “I’ll have a martini.”
I turned to find Dad’s eyes on us. He was probably still trying to understand the dynamics of my relationship with these Valkyries.
“What part of England were you from, Torin?” I heard him ask as I went to get Andris’ drink.
As soon as Torin mentioned the crusade, the conversation shifted to history of that period, King Richard I, and his accomplishments.
“He was a generous man and a brilliant military strategist,” Torin said, explaining how King Richard got his first taste of battle at age seventeen.
“Could he speak the English language?” Dad asked. “There’s no record that he could.”
Torin chuckled. “Fluently, but he couldn’t write it as well as he did the language spoken in northern and southern France.”
“How tall was he?” Dad asked. “Some books say he was about his brother’s height, while others insist he was a giant of a man.”
The Q and A continued until Mom motioned me to join her in the kitchen. Reluctantly, I got up and followed her.
“This was a wonderful idea, wasn’t it?” Mom whispered. “Look how much your Dad is enjoying himself.”
We had a clear view of the living room from our position. Dad laughed when Andris called King Richard III a douche. Even Eirik’s parents appeared more relaxed. While they continued to discuss the British monarchy, we put the food on the table.
“Now for the seating arrangement. Your father and I will sit at our usual places at the ends of the table. I’ll have Sari and Johan on either side of me, and you and Torin on either side of your father.”
“Can Torin sit beside me?”
Mom pursed her lips then smiled. “How are things between you two?”
“Better. We went to the cemetery together yesterday.”
Mom smiled. “Okay, you can sit beside him, but you two had better behave. Your father needs a little time to adjust to your training without learning you’re dating a Valkyrie as well. Across from you two, I’ll have Eirik and Lavania.”
Immortals (Runes book 2) Page 20