His grandmother pushed away from the counter and sat in a chair close to him. She didn’t touch him although she looked like she wanted to. Evan felt a surge of panic course through his gut. He didn’t want his grandmother to touch him because he feared he’d fall apart. He was used to suppressing his emotions, not talking about them.
“You don’t know when it’s going to be your time,” she said. “I’m not saying go out and get a girl pregnant. I’m old fashioned enough to want for you to wait until you get married or at least are in a serious relationship.”
She leaned back in her seat and took a sip of water from a glass she’d placed on the table. “I want you to be happy,” she said. “And everything is telling me you aren’t happy. I’m worried about you kid.”
Evan sighed relieved that she hadn’t asked any probing questions about Sasha because he didn’t know what he’d tell her. He feared that he was a coward, too afraid to explore a relationship with a girl who he couldn’t stop thinking about even though he’d told her he wasn’t interested. He was strongly attracted to Sasha, a girl with a mystery even she didn’t comprehend.
“I always promised myself that I’d give you your space and I’d just pray you didn’t make the same mistakes as your father,” she said softly. “And here we are in the opposite situation. You work, you study and you have hardly any social life. That’s just not right. I don’t understand what you’re waiting for. A girl like Sasha isn’t going to wait forever.”
Evan laughed because his grandmother sounded so much like Teebow. For a minute he wondered if Teebow had spoken to Nan. Naw. He wouldn’t do that.
“You can’t save up your happys,” she said soberly. “You have to live for today, not for tomorrow because who knows what will happen tomorrow. You don’t want to be alone forever Evan. It’s no fun.”
His grandmother sighed heavily as if she had a lot of regrets. She looked sad as she stare at the kitchen table, lost in her own thoughts. Abruptly she stood up, her chair scraping against the floor, went down the hall and Evan heard the bathroom door close. Evan assumed she was referring to herself when she talked about being alone. She hadn’t dated since he had moved in with her. He had never sensed that she was lonely but maybe her lecture was as much about herself as it was about Evan.
He went to his bedroom and flipped on his computer. He aimlessly surfed the web not seeing the screen or the web pages. His mind was cluttered with lectures he’d been given about living life.
CHAPTER TWELVE
She still hadn’t heard from Cady in days. She hadn’t responded to any of her voice mail or text messages. She wasn’t in school. Sasha called the police for an update on the investigation but there was none. Cady was really gone.
It was hard to accept. Whenever Sasha thought of Cady a lump formed in her throat. She worried that Nefar got to her. It seemed like a silly concern and yet Sasha had a scary feeling that Cady’s disappearance was somehow connected to the threats on her.
When she saw the noon hour television news she was stricken by the dire television reports. The news anchor said witnesses and traffic cameras showed Cady pulled from her car by two men dressed in black around midnight Tuesday at a traffic light. The newscast showed a clip of the abduction. Cady was dressed in the same sundress she wore to meet Sasha Tuesday night. One man pulled open the driver’s side door and yanked Cady out of the car by her long hair. Cady fought violently as another man grabbed her feet and the kidnappers carried her by hand and foot to a car not seen onscreen. She hadn’t been seen since.
Overwhelmed, Sasha crawled into a corner of the library and cried. She didn’t want to answer anyone’s probing questions. She was wiping away tears in the bathroom and inspecting her red puffy eyes when her phone buzzed with a message. Her heart leaped in her chest with hope.
It was a message from Evan. Sasha’s heart skipped a beat for an entirely different reason.
We need to talk.
He wasn’t taking back his rejection of Sasha but she would take what she could get.
2nd cup @ 3?
C U there
Sasha was distracted for the rest of the day. She had no idea what Evan wanted to talk about. He probably heard about Cady vanishing because it was on the news and reporters were at the school this morning trying to interview students.
Sasha avoided the mobs and locked her bike at a back entrance. Cady’s other friends could speak for her. She wasn’t interested in calling attention to herself. She had enough strange and dangerous people keeping track of her whereabouts.
Sasha left track practice early to meet with Evan. Coach grumbled about her lack of commitment to the team but was otherwise noncommittal. She wasn’t sure if he knew she and Cady were friends but she appreciated that he didn’t give her a hassle.
As Sasha biked to the coffee shop she worried about seeing Evan. She dreaded that he was just going to reiterate his feelings that he couldn’t date her or maybe he’d changed his mind. Considering Cady’s interest in him she wondered if he’d heard from her. A million thoughts rushed through her head distracting her from where she was going. She overshot the street and had to turn around and climb a big hill she’d just raced down. It wasn’t until she locked her bike in front of the café that she noticed a Lincoln sedan with dark tinted windows idling on a side street.
She paused wondering if it had followed her, she’d been too distracted to notice. It looked like the same car she saw Cady get into after her birthday party. It was hard to tell. Lincoln sedans weren’t exactly rare cars. Sasha memorized every detail of the car including its license plate, 23MKO. It was a personalized plate because it was shorter than the seven digit plates normally used. She got a pen out of her bag and wrote the plate number on her hand as she walked into the café.
Evan was waiting in Sasha’s favorite spot when she pushed through the door. There was no fire in the grate considering it was nearing 75 degrees outside. Teebow waved to her from the counter and motioned that he had a drink for her. She went to see him first.
“How’s it going girl?” Teebow said pushing an iced coffee toward her. She didn’t like iced drinks but didn’t want to be rude and refuse.
“Ok,” she said somewhat subdued. She was excited to see Evan but the Lincoln was a reminder that the danger wasn’t gone.
“Cheer up girl,” Teebow said. “It’s never as bad as you think.”
Sasha nodded and walked over to the leather club chairs. She wasn’t sure what Teebow was getting at.
Sasha sat across from Evan and pulled a piece of paper from her knapsack. She copied the license plate number and tucked it into her pocket. Evan’s eyes followed her every move.
“What’s that?” he asked his eyes clear and focused on her.
Sasha was unsure whether to tell him about her suspicions. She didn’t want to sound crazy. She decided to be honest and stop analyzing whether she was putting him in danger. He could determine that himself. She told him about the Lincoln.
“Should we tell the police?” he said.
We? Sasha’s blood pounded slightly faster at the implications of the noun. She chastised herself for being silly.
“It might be nothing,” she said soberly.
“So what,” Evan said reaching for the slip of paper and wiggled his fingers for her to give it to him. Obeying, she took it out of her pocket and placed it in his hand, a tingle passed through her fingers when they touched. “Let them figure it out.”
Evan pulled out his phone and called a number on a business card. She heard him talking to one of the police officers that came to her house last night. When done he put his phone on the table and stared at it before gazing at her intently.
“I’m sorry about what I said,” he said sincerely. “I’ve been keeping my distance and then coming back when I think you need me. I know it must be confusing and I don’t want to hurt you. I’d like to start over.”
Sasha’s heart lurched at the meaning. She remained quiet, soaking up the emotions th
at tumbled out of his mouth with his words.
“I don’t know what I’m doing but I’m trying to change, it’s just not that easy,” his fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles were white. He gazed at his hands and then his head tipped up shyly, his blue sky eyes connecting with hers. Evan stared into her eyes, pleading his case as if trying to connect with her soul. She sensed his wanting, needing for her to understand what he was saying.
“I’m here for you if you want me,” he said shifting uneasily in his seat. He was flushed as if he’d done exercise and looked so uncomfortable that Sasha wondered if he’d never expressed his feelings to anyone before. Sasha felt his offer was genuine; she was just reluctant to get her hopes up.
He tentatively reached his hand out to clasp hers that lay on the table. She watched his fingers entwine with hers and squeeze lightly. He gave her a small smile as if waiting for her reaction.
“You hurt me,” her voice was husky with raw honesty. She rarely spoke of her feelings either, especially not to guys. She really liked Evan and he seemed like one of the good guys.
“Why did you do it?” She pushed. If he didn’t give her a clear answer she knew she’d leave because there was only so much push-pull behavior she could handle.
He sighed deeply as if he didn’t want to answer her question. “It’s not going to make sense,” he said softly, “because I don’t really understand myself.”
He squeezed her hand again and looked down at the table, avoiding her eyes this time.
“Every time I felt a need to be close to you, I felt an equally strong urge to run away,” he confessed embarrassed. The words hurt and Sasha felt tears prick her eyes. She wondered if she had that effect on most boys because it certainly matched Cady’s criticisms of her that she pushed guys away.
“Did I do something?” She asked her voice tight with restrained emotions.
Evan shook his head vigorously and smiled reassuringly. “This has nothing to do with you,” he said softly. “It’s me, it’s my problem.”
Sasha frowned and didn’t know what to say. She was relieved that she hadn’t caused his uncertainty but was clueless as to how he was going to forge ahead.
He explained that he’d convinced himself that he couldn’t date her because he needed to focus on school so he could get a scholarship and make money to help his grandmother. All those reasons were true but they were also excuses, he said, to keep himself closed off. He didn’t want anyone to feel sorry for him about his dad’s death and his mother’s addictions. By keeping those details secret, it was just another piece of his life that he held back. He said he was glad he’d told her the truth and he hoped it hadn’t changed how she saw him.
“My Nan is right,” he said. “I need to start living life. I can’t live for tomorrow when today is here now.”
Sasha smiled tentatively. “That makes sense,” she laughed. “I don’t think I’ve ever lived for any day but today. It’s not like my family is perfect Evan. We are equally as screwed up as yours minus the drugs. No family is perfect.”
Evan returned her smile, visibly relaxing. “You’re not mad at me?”
“I didn’t say that,” she laughed again. “But you can make it up to me.”
“I will try Sasha,” he said quietly. She loved the way he said her name, it sent a thrill up her spine and she shivered at the feeling.
“This week has been dangerous,” he said squeezing her hands again, his thumbs tracing the life lines on her palms. “But life really is short.”
Sasha squeezed his hands lightly.
“I want to be part of your crazy weird life,” he laughed. “Is it crazy for me to want that?”
Sasha laughed too. “No,” she said smiling. “Ok, maybe a little.”
They smiled at each other.
“I thought I’d scared you off,” she said embarrassed.
He shook his head. “I scared myself,” he said. “It had nothing to do with you.”
Sasha felt her heart beat slightly faster in her chest.
“What now?” she asked.
He stared at her hard. His blue eyes were full of focus and intent. Sasha felt the rest of the room fall away as if it were only the two of them in the café.
“I want to help you,” he said. “You’re in trouble.”
Sasha felt her face flush pink. “I know,” she said withdrawing her hands and taking a sip of her drink. Ugh. It was too creamy.
“Did you see the news report about Cady?”
Sasha nodded too afraid to voice her suspicions.
“They weren’t wearing masks but it could have been the same two guys from the robbery,” Evan said.
“I hope not,” she said. “Those guys were serious.”
“And Nefar isn’t? What else have you found out.”
“I have tried to talk to my parents,” she said earnestly. “My father knows nothing and my mother won’t talk.”
Evan shook his head. “Mothers,” he muttered.
“I’m sorry?” she asked.
“Nothing,” he said straightening in his chair. “I have my own mother issues.”
“I think I have a double whammy,” she said, “mother and grandmother issues.”
Then she finally confessed what Nefar said to her about a curse and her grandmother before Evan came into the rear parking lot.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” He said sounding hurt.
“You said magic was ridiculous,” she said. “I thought for sure you’d think I was crazier than I seemed already.”
“I still don’t believe in magic,” he said. “If the robbers were after you, guns aren’t exactly magic.”
Sasha held back about the blue sparks. He obviously wasn’t open to the idea of magic. When he was, she’d tell him then.
“So what’s your next step?”
Sasha told him about the Fifth Street store.
“How’s that going to help?”
“Let’s for a minute assume it’s a curse,” she said. Evan rolled his eyes. Sasha put up a hand to ward off his skepticism. “Let’s just give it chance ok? When we’ve exhausted that idea we’ll move on the next theory, ok?”
Evan stared at her, skepticism written in every muscle. He put up his hands in a motion of defeat and shrugged his shoulders.
“Fine,” he said. “We’ll dismiss this magic crap and move on to the real threat.”
After finishing their drinks, they waved goodbye to Teebow and walked to Evan’s car. He put her bike in the trunk.
“You’re not working today?”
He shook his head. “Not until Sunday.”
Evan put the key in the ignition but didn’t start the car. He stared at the windshield but didn’t seem to see anything.
“Is everything alright?” Sasha asked.
Evan turned to her, one of his hands reached for her cheek. He stroked the skin in a circular motion with his thumb and tucked a stray hair behind her ear.
“I don’t want to let a moment go by without doing this,” he said reaching for her with a passion she’d only dreamed about. He slipped his hand behind her neck and pulled her mouth down to his. His lips pressed against hers with such urgency it took Sasha’s breath away.
She felt herself melt at the light touch of his warm lips. She was unable to contain her eagerness and opened her mouth to his and wound a hand into the hair at the nape of his neck. His lips were soft and seeking. She felt a swell of happiness in her chest. She hadn’t been wrong about him and he’d come back to her. She felt herself smile.
She pressed closer to him, the gear shift jabbing her in the ribs. He slipped a hand around her waist, his fingers brushing the bare skin on her side. She shivered at his touch and sighed. This was everything she’d been daydreaming about..
Evan pulled away quizzically until he saw the grin on her face. He leaned toward her again and rested his forehead on hers.
“I wasn’t wrong about you,” he whispered. “You need me as much as I need you.”
&n
bsp; Sasha slipped a hand into his and squeezed. She was too overcome with emotion to speak. Evan sat back in his seat and put the car in gear. They held hands as he drove.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
As Sasha stood outside the crystal mumbo jumbo shop she wished Cady were with her. This was one of the first times she ached for her company. She missed her snarky laugh and quick wit even if the wicked comments were sometimes about her. It was all for fun wasn’t it?
Cady was super smart and courageous. Nothing could scare her. She would have marched into the shop, demanded to see the faux magician and gotten answers.
Now Evan and Sasha were standing outside the store peering in. It was a cross between a junky tourist trap and antique store. Its black sign had glowing stars around the name Cast Your Spell. Since most people knew nothing about real magic, the shop seemed geared toward the Harry Potter crowd. There was a bubbling cauldron spewing dry ice smoke in the display window. Crystals hung on nylon wire from the ceiling and glittered in the sun
Through the front door Sasha could see a floor basket overflowing with black capes and a counter vase with glowing sticks presumably fake wands.
Sasha glanced with a bemused expression at Evan. She feared she wasn’t going to find a legitimate spell caster who could explain what was going on with her.
“I’m surprised there isn’t a Disney logo on the sign,” she said sarcastically.
“I warned you,” Evan said. He backtracked when he saw the hurt expression on her face. “Maybe it’s all for show.”
A bell chimed when they walked into the shop. One wall was lined with book shelves containing volumes of new age philosophy and recipe books pitching how to hold a magical dinner party. Sasha withdrew one thin volume called Spelling One. Its thin onion sheet pages contained spells that looked like poems. Since she wasn’t familiar with real spells she didn’t know if they were authentic.
A young man came out of a curtained alcove at the back of the store. He was tall and skinny with a mop of black hair and pale skin. His dark eyes were coal black and fringed with inky lashes. His facial features were sharp and angular as the bones protruded prominently from his skin. His clothes were nondescript baggy black jeans and a black T-shirt.
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