Goddess Bared: Goddess Series Book 5 (Young Adult / New Adult)

by Muse, M. W.

  Paul shrugged. “River mentioned you were having a girls’ night, so I suggested we crash. They didn’t want to, but I talked them into it.”

  “What a great idea, Paul,” Calli said.

  River smiled, but he looked uncomfortable. Then he looked over at Kate sitting next to him. “Kate, would you like to dance?”

  Legacy’s gaze flashed over to her to see what her response would be. She didn’t have to look to know that Seth did too.

  “Um, sure.” She got up, and River took her hand, leading her out to the dance floor, not looking at Legacy.

  She glanced at Calli with a forced smile on her face, but she didn’t have an opportunity to comment.

  “Hey, Calli, want to dance?” Paul asked.

  She looked at him and smiled, but then looked at Legacy.

  “Go ahead. I’ll be fine.” Legacy smiled.

  She looked back at Paul. “Yeah, sure.”

  Calli and Paul headed to the dance floor while Legacy sat there with Seth. They stared at each other for a few seconds, wondering what to say, and she was hoping he wouldn’t ask her to dance with him. She really didn’t want to dance with any man, and she didn’t want to hurt his feelings. If he asked, she’d probably agree, which was why she didn’t want to be asked.

  “So, how’ve you been?” Seth asked as an icebreaker. Then he shook his head. “Sorry. That was probably insensitive.”

  “Oh no, um, I’ve been okay, I guess. How about you?”

  “Honestly?” he asked, glancing over his shoulder, looking at the dance floor.

  Her eyebrows furrowed, and she nodded. “Of course.”

  “Miserable.” He sighed, shaking his head. “I miss Kate. That’s why I agreed to come out here tonight. I couldn’t stand the idea of some other guy hitting on her.”

  She chuckled. “Well, River was quick to ask her to dance.”

  Seth half-smiled. “Yeah, I asked him if he’d do that,” he said sheepishly.

  She stared at him incredulously. “Why?”

  “Because I can’t ask her. If River dances with her, then I don’t have to worry about some other guy asking her.”

  She rolled her eyes. “You know, Seth, I think Kate misses you too.”

  Seth’s smile faded while he stared at me. “W-why do you think that?”

  “Because she’s always staring at you when you’re not looking, and she seems to always want to be near you.”

  “You’re just saying that,” he mumbled, looking down at his nervous hands.

  Maybe she couldn’t help River tonight, but she could help his friend. “Seth, maybe you should talk to her.”

  “I-I don’t know.” He shrugged, looking back over his shoulder, seeking out Kate.

  “Take it from me. You don’t want to spend your life pushing away the one you want. There may come a day when you’ve lost that chance forever.” If she’d learned one lesson, it was that.

  Seth looked back at her. “But she doesn’t feel about me the way I feel about her.”

  “So? No one is the same. We all feel differently and develop feelings at our own pace.”

  “Yeah,” he muttered, looking at the dance floor again.

  “Look, you can’t keep your eyes off her.” She giggled. He turned back around with a chuckle. “There’s nothing wrong with just talking to her,” she pressed. Seth smiled, so she went in for the kill. “Don’t be chicken, Seth Goode! Or maybe you don’t really have any balls?” She smirked.

  He laughed as the rest of the crew came back to the table, and Seth and Kate stole a few glances at each other when the other wasn’t looking. Finally, Seth stepped over to her. Kate’s mouth fell open, her eyes wide, as she stared at him before her.

  “Would you like to dance?” He smiled softly at her while he waited for her response. Kate must have been too shocked to speak because she just nodded. Seth took her hand as she got off the stool and he led her to the dance floor.

  They all watched while the two danced and talked. They smiled at each other from time to time, but for the most part, they stared into each other’s eyes. And after several songs played, everyone realized they would not be leaving the dance floor anytime soon.

  Just when Legacy turned to Calli, she saw Paul stand up and walk between them. She assumed he was about to ask Calli to dance again, which would leave her here alone with River, but she was wrong.

  “Legacy, would you like to dance with me?” Paul asked.

  “Huh?” She couldn’t keep the shocked expression from forming on her face.

  River and Calli both laughed.

  “Wow. What a blow to my ego,” Paul said, laughing with them. “Is that look of horror a no?”

  “Er, sorry.” She glanced at Calli and River, but they were both looking at Paul. She looked back at him. “O-okay,” she said shakily as she stood up. Paul took her hand, but before they could walk away from the table, River walked over to Calli.

  “Want to dance?” he asked her. “I’m still good at it.”

  Calli laughed. “Sure.”

  Legacy felt extremely awkward dancing with Paul. They hardly ever talked, and here she was, arms wrapped around him as they swayed to the music.

  “Did River put you up to this?” she whispered.

  “Yep.”

  Legacy chuckled. “You’re not even going to pretend he didn’t.”

  “Nope. Of course he doesn’t expect me to tell you that, but I figured you’d be smart enough to figure it out.”

  “Right,” she said, glancing over at River and Calli.

  “And I’ll deny it if you tell him I blabbed,” Paul said, chuckling.

  “I won’t rat you out.” She kept her gaze on River and Calli. Neither one was talking, so she figured they were a little uncomfortable with being paired up. “Well, you did what River asked. Now, let’s cut in. I’ll take River. You take Calli.”

  “Excellent idea!” Paul twirled them over to River and Calli.

  “We’re cutting in,” Legacy announced. Paul pulled Calli’s hand away from River. River and Calli laughed as they were separated. Then Paul twirled Calli away.

  Legacy stared at River while his smile faded. He wasn’t making a move, so she put her hands out, welcoming him to take them. He glanced at her hands, and then he stepped up to her. They wrapped their arms around each other and danced. After several seconds of uncomfortable silence, she leaned her head against his shoulder. He held her a little tighter and tilted his head down, kissing the top of her head.

  “What’s with the cold shoulder lately?” she asked.

  She felt River’s big arms shrug around her. He didn’t say anything, but he kept his face in her hair.

  “You don’t have to feel bad about not wanting to be with me anymore,” she whispered.

  “It’s not that, Legacy,” he murmured in her hair. “I just don’t know how to accept what’s happened.”

  She lifted her head and stared at him. In her heels, she was almost as tall as he was. Since they were so close, their faces were within inches of each other. “I miss my friend,” she said as she stared into his eyes.

  “I miss you too,” he said, his forehead coming to rest against hers.

  “I…I know this is selfish of me to say, but I still need you, River. I don’t like you avoiding me.”

  “I’m, er, I’m not really avoiding you. I’m just trying to give us some space.”

  She giggled. “What’s the difference?”

  River flashed a crooked smile. “I’m not sure. It just sounds better, I guess.”

  “Do you want space from me?” she asked softly.

  “No,” he breathed.

  “Then why are you creating space when we don’t need it?”

  “I-I don’t know. I guess I do feel bad I don’t want to be with you anymore.” He groaned, shaking his head against hers. “I feel like such a jackass just saying that!”

  She leaned back and put her hands and his face. “I want you to be happy, River.”

&n
bsp; “I want you to be happy, too, baby,” he whispered.

  “Then stop avoiding me and start being my obnoxious best friend again.”

  River chuckled, but his humor didn’t last. He leaned his head back down, pulling her back against him.

  She sighed into his neck. “Look, River, neither of us planned this, and we can’t help what’s happened. I still need you in my life. I still want you in my life.”

  “I still need you too,” he breathed.

  “Then stop feeling guilty, and don’t tell me you don’t ‘cause I know you do.”

  “You’re right. Shit. I feel guilty. This is my fault. Even if I wanted to still be with you, I know now I don’t deserve you. I don’t deserve anyone.”

  Her head popped up, and she stared at him. “Stop it, River. That’s enough. You made a mistake, and it backfired. You have to let it go. I want you to let it go.”

  He looked away from her, so she cupped his chin and forced him to meet her gaze.

  “Please, please. For me. I want you to let this go and forgive yourself. I have enough things to worry about as it is. I don’t want to be worrying about this too.”

  “Legacy,” River whispered, shaking his head.

  “No! I’m serious. No one’s perfect, River. You’re not in love with me anymore. Fine. I’m not in love with you either. You don’t need to feel guilty about not wanting to be with me. Even if you were still in love with me, I wouldn’t be with you. You are my best friend. There are things I’ve talked to you about before I ever considered talking to anyone else. Because you’re my best friend, I do want you to fall in love again. On your own terms. I’m not going to try and push you into a relationship with some girl, but, River, I’m not going to sit by and watch you waste away because you think you don’t deserve to be happy.”

  He stared at her. “I’m not ready to move on with someone new,” he said slowly.

  “That’s fine. But you will.”

  River shook his head, but he also started to smile.

  “Now will you please stop avoiding me?” she asked, returning the smile.

  “I told you I’m not avoiding you.”

  “Whatever. Just stop, okay?”

  On a sigh, he said, “Okay.”

  As they continued dancing, she realized River was going to be more work than she originally had thought. After they spoke last time, she figured he’d be fine in time, but now, she realized he needed more than just a nudge—he needed pushing in the right direction.

  “Don’t look now,” River whispered with a chuckle, “but I think Seth and Kate have made up.”

  Legacy covertly twisted her head to the side and saw them dancing. Though, they weren’t really dancing. They seemed to be swaying absentmindedly to the music with Kate’s hands on Seth’s waist, but Seth had one hand on the side of her neck and the other knotted in her hair. They were in the corner of dance floor, kissing. From where they were standing, it looked as if Kate’s cheek was wet with tears.

  “Well, at least they can enjoy Valentine’s Day together.” She giggled. Then she glanced around the rest of the floor. “Where’re Paul and Calli?”

  “Umm, I saw them walk into the billiard room.”

  She knew how Calli felt about Paul, but she didn’t know if Paul was expecting anything romantic from her. She eased back and looked at River’s face. “Does he like her?”

  River shrugged. “Sure.”

  “That’s not what I mean. He’s always eager to hang out with her, but—”

  “Legacy,” River interrupted, “Paul’s gay.”

  “What!” She gaped at River. “Oh gods. Are you serious?”

  “Uh-huh,” River said slowly with a coy smile on his face. “Do you think I’d ask a straight man to ask you to dance with him?” River laughed. “I may not be in love with you anymore, but I’m still possessive.”

  She gasped in mock outrage. “So you did get him to ask me to dance?”

  “Oh, please. He can’t keep his mouth shut. I know he already blabbed.”

  “Hmmm…I should probably tell Calli. I mean, she said she’s not interested in him that way, but if she keeps spending time with him, she—”

  “Calli already knows.”

  Her gasp that time was genuine.

  “He told her a long time ago.”

  Legacy just stared at him, too shocked to comment.

  “I think he sensed she might find him attractive, so he tried to nip that in the bud.”

  “But…but he always wants to spend time with her.”

  “Because they’re friends. He likes hanging out with her.”

  “I-I can’t believe she didn’t tell me this!” She chuckled. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me this!”

  He looked at her apologetically. “Look, Legacy, his personal life is his business, just like your personal life is yours. Some people aren’t as tolerant as they should be, so he’s guarded.”

  “I get that.” She nodded.

  “So don’t tell anyone, okay?”

  “Oh, of course, I won’t say anything.” She stared at River with a smile on her face because he still had one planted on his. She reached up and stroked his cheek. “That was fun. You know, talking. Without dwelling on our own drama.”

  “Yeah,” he breathed.

  She winked at him, and he chuckled. “Let’s get out of here. I’m tired of celebrating Valentine’s Day as a lowly single.” She laughed.

  He escorted her off the floor and into the billiard room. Paul and Calli were just as ready to leave as she was, so they found Kate. Kate wasn’t as eager to leave. She and Seth had their arms wrapped around each other, his mouth at her ear, whispering to her. After she kissed him goodbye, he followed her out to Calli’s car, and he kissed her again as he held the door open for her.

  They guys stood back, watching them as Calli started her car. Well, as Calli tried to start her car.

  It didn’t start.

  “Umm…something’s wrong,” Calli muttered. She turned the key again. And still nothing happened.

  Legacy saw River’s brow furrow as he waited for them to pull out. She motioned for him to come over and rolled down the window.

  “The car won’t start,” she said as he leaned on the door.

  “Try again,” he said to Calli. She did, but it still didn’t start.

  “It’s probably just the starter. I’ll take you home,” River said as he opened her door.

  “I can’t leave my car here, River,” Calli said.

  “I can’t push it to your house,” he said sarcastically, but Legacy’s gaze flashed to him, and she chuckled. He smiled at her and mumbled, “Okay, maybe I could.” He looked over at Calli. “We can call and have it towed to the shop.”

  River pulled out his cell phone and searched for a wrecker while they got out of Calli’s car and headed toward River’s.

  “You can ride with me, Kate,” Seth said with a smile. “Paul rode with River, so it’ll be kinda crowded in his car.”

  “Okay.” She smiled at the girls as she veered toward Seth’s car.

  “Er, we’ll meet you there,” Seth called out to River as he got in his car. River hung up his phone and gave him a nod.

  She shook her head. “What’s his rush? It’s not like Kate can get her car until we get there.”

  River gave her a dubious look. “I doubt he’s going straight there. He’s probably going to find a nice, quiet place to park for awhile.”

  “Oh.” She pursed her lips to keep from smiling.

  River chuckled. “C’mon. Let’s go back inside until the wrecker gets here.”

  After the wrecker came and Calli spouted off instructions to him, like three times, River took them to Calli’s house. He and Paul stayed and visited until Legacy was ready to go. She gave them all hugs, and River insisted she call him to let him know she made it home safely. She did as requested as soon as she got home. Then she got ready for bed.

  Legacy spent what seemed like hours tossing and turn
ing, unable to find sleep. She was tired, so she didn’t understand why she couldn’t just pass out already. She finally started dreaming her same dream, so she’d fallen asleep and just didn’t realize it.

  She dreamed she was sitting in a field, meditating under a vibrant sky. As she meditated, clouds rolled in, and she heard her mother’s voice.

  “Watch out, for he lies. Evil lies inside the good,” she said softly. “He’s setting you up, and you’re falling for it.” Then her mother’s image—with the face in the photo that River had given to her—came to stand before her. “Be careful. He’s not dead.”

  She woke up with a gasp. It felt like she hadn’t fallen asleep at all. She was so groggy but so jittery at the same time, adrenaline coursing through her veins.

  He’s not dead? What did that mean? She couldn’t wrap her head around what her mother just said. Could Adin still be alive?

  No. She couldn’t believe that. She’d killed him. She saw his dead body. This dream couldn’t be literal. There had to be some hidden meaning behind it. Her other seasonal dreams were laced with meanings that hadn’t seemed so obvious. She couldn’t, shouldn’t accept this dream at face value either.

  She hopped out of bed and ran downstairs. She needed to talk to Lissa or Olive or both about this. She needed to see what they thought about this new part of her dream. Neither one was home.

  She searched for a note, but didn’t find one. She sat on the couch, trying to catch her breath, not sure if she had difficulty breathing because she’d been running through the house or if her adrenaline rush was kicking into overdrive. She leaned against the back of the couch, taking deep breaths.

  She started when the doorbell rang. She made a poor attempt at taking a calming breath and then stumbled over to the door.

  “I have a delivery for Ms. Kore.” It was a delivery driver for a florist. He handed her a bouquet of a couple dozen roses. “Sign here.”

  She signed for them, and he wished her a Happy Valentine’s Day as he turned to leave. She walked into living room and put the flowers on the coffee table so Lissa could see them as soon as she got back.