True Colors (Masks #1)

by Melissa Pearl

  By some miracle, both the boys were asleep already. It probably helped that after half an hour of launching from the top step onto the mountain of pillows, blankets and couch cushions, I had taken them to the beach and run them ragged. After that, they devoured their tofu, stir-fry, brown rice noodle concoction and were too tired to do anything else but play in the bath and fall into bed.

  I had missed a call from Stella while I was entertaining the boys and had tried calling her back, but she wasn’t answering. It bugged me a little, but I decided to let it rest. I couldn’t be bothered grovelling. Yes, I did ditch her on Friday night, but for a really good reason and I went back to get her afterwards. She’d never understand what I did for Libby, but I knew I’d done the right thing and that felt good.

  As I shoved the last couch cushion into place my thoughts returned to Eric...again. I’d been thinking about him all afternoon, wondering what he was doing. The idea that he got my hint and would come over skimmed through me, but I knew I was dreaming. As if he would. I laughed at myself as I turned to look at the pile of blankets. Once those were folded and put away, I was free to do as I pleased. I could tell my obsessional thoughts of Eric weren’t going anywhere so I needed a heavy-duty distraction once I was done or I’d go insane. I shouldn’t have been thinking about him at all. If Stella knew how bad my crush was getting, she’d flip a switch. It wasn’t like he belonged to her or anything; we’d both liked him for the same amount of time, but that was under the understanding that neither of us would ever actually get him.

  I cringed. I seriously had to stop thinking about him.

  I was trying to decide whether to go for my kindle or the TV remote when the doorbell rang. I rolled my eyes. It was no doubt Stella. Not exactly the diversion I was hoping for, but probably exactly what I needed. With a deep breath I tried to summon the energy for the encounter. But when I opened the door I was flooded with a mixture of relief, astonishment and giddy joy.

  “Hi.” I leaned against the frame.

  “Hey.” Eric was now in ripped jeans and his pale-green Quicksilver shirt. I loved that one on him. It was just tight enough to see the curves of his chest and shoulders.

  “You want to borrow a cup of sugar or something?”

  He grinned. “Actually I was wondering if you needed help burying your nephews.”

  I swung the door open and stepped aside to let him in. “Actually they redeemed themselves by being adorably cute this afternoon, so I let them live.”

  “That was good of you.”

  “I’m a nice person.” I shrugged.

  Eric walked into our open living space, looking at the artwork as he went. He seemed impressed by my parents’ collection of photography and scenic oil paintings, giving me a nod of approval. I pointed to the sunken lounge area and followed him into it. His eyebrows rose as he pointed at the pile of blankets.

  I shrugged. “Little boys doing sky diving practice.” I pointed from the top step then onto the pile. “That’s the last of the aftermath.”

  He chuckled as he reached for a blanket and threw it toward me, keeping the other end for himself.

  And so began the folding session.

  “I hope you don’t mind me just popping over.”

  Uh - that would be a NOT AT ALL, I can’t believe you’re actually here and trying to hide my ecstatic joy is taking major effort right now.

  I could feel my hips wanting to break into a happy dance, but I quelled the urge and managed a demure smile as he stepped toward me, touching the corners of the blanket to mine, before stepping back so we could make another fold.

  “Poppy and Lacey have gone for a sleepover and Mom’s boyfriend just arrived.” He rolled his eyes.

  “You’re welcome here anytime.” I took the blanket off him and placed it on the bottom step as he reached for another one.

  “Thanks.” He cleared his throat, looking slightly nervous, and I wasn’t even reading him.

  “Are you okay?”

  As if suddenly aware that his edgy behavior was showing, he gave me a sheepish grin and reached for another blanket. “You said your week was better, but you were hiding something. I wanted to come over and see what that was.”

  I caught the edge of the blanket and found the corners, holding them wide until he nodded at me and we folded together. I stepped toward him, touching our corners together and felt him looking at me. As his fingertips brushed mine, I stole a glance up at his face, his intense gaze and those perfect lips. I wanted to stretch up on my toes and “accidentally” knock our mouths together. But how would I ever explain that one?

  Instead, I cleared my throat and took a quick step back, getting my foot caught on the edge of the blanket. He grabbed my arm before I fell, pulling me up against him.

  Damn his lips were close.

  What if I just—?

  No. No. I would die if he didn’t reciprocate and it didn’t even occur to me to try reading him at that point. I was in such a fluster, my pulse thrumming in my head like a bass drum.

  “So, the party.”

  “What party?” He let me go so we could finish folding the blanket and the moment was gone.

  I was such an idiot. I suppressed my self-deprecating eye roll and as we worked our way through the next blanket, the two thick quilts, and lastly the sleeping bag, I told him about the party and Libby and what Carter tried to do to her.

  “What a jerk.”

  “I know.” I hugged the sleeping bag to my chest before placing it on top of the neat linen pile. I’d put it away later. Pointing to the couch, I invited Eric to sit down while I pulled a beanbag over and perched on the floor beside him. “Carter is a jerk and I’m so mad at him.”

  “Did it make you glad you’d read them?”

  I smiled, knowing what he was getting at. “Yeah, I guess. I mean I know that I can help people. Libby is testament to that, but...I don’t know, she was pretty annoyed that I tried to get involved.”

  Eric shuffled closer, dropping off the couch so he could sit right in front of me. “But she listened to you.”

  “I suppose. Man, if Carter knew what I’d said though. He hangs out with a lot of my friends, I don’t want to cause any waves.”

  Eric’s brow dipped as he ran a finger up my arm sending my brain into frizzle mode again.

  “A few ripples never hurt anybody,” he whispered. His voice was so soft and sexy.

  Was he making a play for me right now? Oh man, I hoped so.

  I tried to stop my voice from shaking. “But what if I see something really big one day...something sinister or scary?” I was thinking of Liam, but I couldn’t say it aloud. Eric didn’t know Liam, but he was part of my group, not to mention Indie’s boyfriend. I didn’t want to speak badly of him. I didn’t want to hurt or betray her either. Besides, what if I’d just imagined it? Maybe she’d been worried about something else. “I don’t want to meddle where I don’t belong.”

  “You’ll know what to do, just like you did with Libby.” Thankfully Eric was looking at his finger trailing down my arm rather than my face. I didn’t want to mention what I’d seen. I didn’t want to waste my time with Eric talking about how the nicest guy in school might actually be a depraved hard ass.

  I was worried about Indie and I wanted to help her, but there was nothing I could do right then.

  I focused on the feel of Eric’s finger trailing up and down my arm. He was watching me now, a soft expression on his face that I forced myself not to decipher.

  “You’re trying not to read me right now, aren’t you?” His eyes narrowed perceptively.

  I pressed my lips together and dipped my head.

  His fingers caught my chin and gently nudged it. I looked back up at him, drinking in his soulful gaze. His eyes filled with tenderness. “I was thinking how nice this is and how much I want to kiss you right now.”

  My eyes rounded with surprise. “You want to kiss me?”

  “Yeah,” he chuckled. “Why? Is that weird?”

&n
bsp; “No, it’s just... You’re...you’re Eric Shore.”

  The edge of his mouth curled up. “And is there something wrong with kissing Eric Shore?”

  “No. Most definitely not.” I raised my eyebrows. “But...” I scratched the side of my nose, slightly flustered. My cheeks were quickly heating with color as I smiled. “You’re like Hercules hot, and I’m just...the girl next door.” I shrugged.

  He placed his hand on the side of my face, the look in his eyes enough to melt my heart into a puddle of mush. “Caity, you are the girl next door and I’ve liked you ever since I moved in.”

  “How is that possible? You only started talking to me a week ago.”

  He snickered. “I’ve been watching you for a while now, and not in a creepy stalker way, just in the I hope to get to know you better way.”

  I couldn’t help raising my right eyebrow the way my dad always did. “I hope you weren’t drooling over me or anything.”

  His thumb rubbed across my cheekbone and his nose wrinkled at my teasing. “Haha.”

  “Seriously though, why have you only started being nice to me now? It’s hard to get to know someone when you never actually talk to them.” I touched his watch, gently running my fingers down his forearm.

  He looked embarrassed to say it. I could tell by his blush. “I’ve seen the way you interact with your family. Maybe I know you better than you realize.”

  “That still doesn’t explain why you’ve never tried to strike up a conversation.”

  He held his breath for a second then left out a soft huff. “Every time I had the chance to talk to you, someone would show up... that blonde friend of yours who mentally undresses me every chance she gets. The one who’s always forcing you into being something you’re not.” I tensed, hating the way he sounded like Mom. I didn’t have a chance to respond, because he kept going with a small frown on his face. “Or that idiot boyfriend with his arrogant strut. I hate the way he always checks you out. Never looks at your beautiful face, always your body.” He sighed, his fingers lightly gripping my face while his voice deepened to a soft caress. “Last weekend on the beach was the first time we’ve ever been alone together, without your friends or my nosy little sisters. You were so real and vulnerable and I couldn’t help it. I had to talk to you. I had to somehow let you know that you’ve gotten under my skin.” He drank me in as he leaned toward me, his lips cresting with a smile.

  I couldn’t believe it. I mean I seriously could not believe it.

  Eric Shore!

  My teeth brushed over my lower lip as I quelled the urge to bust out with nervous giggles. “I never thought a guy like you would be interested in me.” My voice trailed off as his lips hovered before mine.

  “Well, Caity Davis, you thought wrong.”

  His warm, breathy words were followed by two tender lips. They pressed against mine, soft, sweet and magical. There was nothing hungry and demanding about it, just a warm kiss that sent my brain cells spinning to Jupiter. Closing my eyes, I melted into the kiss, running my fingers around the nape of his neck and into the back of his hair.

  I couldn’t believe it was actually happening to me. Eric Shore was kissing me. Not my idea. His!

  His tongue skimmed along my bottom lip. It felt natural to respond, to let him in, so I deepened the kiss, the pleasure of his tongue against mine sending shivers down the back of my legs. I wanted to pull him on top of me, to feel his weight pressing me into the beanbag, but I’d never be that bold. Not with him. I didn’t want to come across as some hungry slut. His hands stayed on my face, his thumbs gently running up my jaw before he pulled away and leant his forehead against mine.

  He didn’t say anything, just looked at me with those dancing eyes. I grinned back, that giddy feeling winning the giggle battle. I let out a breathy laugh.

  “Aunt Caity, what are you doing?” Brody’s question made me jump. My forehead collided with Eric’s and we both sat back with a groan.

  “Sorry. Sorry, are you okay?” I winced, keeping my eyes squeezed shut so I didn’t have to look at him. He’d never want to kiss me again.

  “I’m fine.” I heard him move beside me and then felt him tug on my hand. “Hey buddy, I’m Eric. Your Aunt Caity’s friend.”

  “Hi.”

  My eyes opened in time to witness the cute bashfulness of my four-year-old nephew. I walked past Eric and took Brody’s hand.

  “We were just hanging out.” I ruffled his hair. “You go back to bed and I’ll come tuck you in again.”

  “I can’t find teddy and Mommy says I’m not allowed to turn the light on after I go to bed.” His voice was small and fragile.

  I kissed his nose and held his chin. “I’ll be up in just a sec. We’ll find him together. I’ll even let you turn the light on.” I winked.

  He grinned and waved goodbye to Eric before padding toward the stairs.

  I turned back to my gorgeous neighbor, suddenly feeling shy. Tucking a curl hair behind my ear, I tipped my head and walked over to him.

  “Your head okay?” I tentatively reached up to rub the pale red spot on his forehead.

  He bent down and kissed mine. “I’ll survive.”

  “I guess you want to go.”

  “No, not really, but I think I probably should.” He took my hand as we walked toward the door. “Hey, do you want to go surfing with me tomorrow or walking or I don’t know...exploring? There are some great hikes up around the San Bernadino area if you could spare a day. Or we could drive up the coast.”

  “I love all those options.” I couldn’t remember if I had any plans. My brain went blank the second he invited me out.

  “Okay, cool. I’ll come over around nine?”

  I nodded, probably way too enthusiastically.

  He gently squeezed my hand and I was sure he was about to kiss me again when a little voice from upstairs stopped him. “See you tomorrow, Caity.”

  “Bye.” I closed the door behind him and leaned my head against it.

  Holy. Wow.

  15

  “Where were you yesterday? I called like three times.”

  I knew I shouldn’t have smiled, Stella was really annoyed, but every time I thought about Sunday, I couldn’t help it. Eric had collected me right on time and driven me to the San Bernadino National Park. We had talked the whole way, not one second of silence. I found out all this cool stuff about him, like the fact his ex-serviceman grandfather took him away for an entire summer, up into the mountains and taught him all about surviving in the wild. Eric was having some anger issues to do with his non-existent father and his grandpa had basically saved his life. Teaching him how to get the anger out by running, climbing, surfing...even boxing, which I thought was weird, but Eric said it helped. His grandpa moved in with them and stayed for around six months until Eric learned to channel his energy in more positive ways.

  Once we got to the hiking trail, Eric spent the next few hours asking about me, and my family. We talked like all day. I’d never talked that much in my life, and I loved every second of it. There was never an awkward pause between us. The whole day was just...easy.

  And the goodbye kiss was...

  I grinned.

  “Hello! Earth to Caitlyn!” Stella waved her hand in my face.

  “Sorry,” I mumbled. “My cellphone was out of range.”

  “How?”

  “I went hiking.” I shrugged.

  “Did Toby drive up from San Diego?”

  It was a good assumption. Whenever my PE teacher brother came up he always forced me into surfing or hiking. I liked to complain, but secretly loved it. Stella would spaz out if she knew I’d been with Eric, so I went for casual.

  “I didn’t go hiking with Toby. It was just a family friend.”

  Not a one hundred percent lie. I could live with that.

  It was enough to appease Stella who I could read didn’t give a rat’s ass about my family friend. She was too annoyed and hurt that I hadn’t made her the central focus of my weekend. I
should have probably felt bad about that, but for some reason it just pissed me off, which totally helped stunt my guilt over the whole Eric situation. On Saturday night while I was trying, and failing, to fall asleep, I had toyed with the idea of cancelling with Eric, not wanting to cause waves with Stella. I’d started to freak out that Stella would somehow find out and go ballistic on me.

  So glad I’d gotten over that brain fart!

  Even so, I hated conflict, so I buried my anger and put on a smile, deciding that turning the attention back to her would put an end to our friction as well as ensure that she wouldn’t probe into my weekend any further. I was just about to ask her what she got up to when Indie walked up.

  “Hey guys.” For the first time ever I saw her soft voice as something other than sweetness. I pulled her mask off with ease and saw a battered girl. Not physically, but there may as well have been bruises all over her face. She looked wrung out, emotionally beaten...defeated.

  “Hi, Indie.” I pushed as much warmth into my smile as I could. “How’s it going?”

  “Good.” With her mask back in place, I could see the sweet smile again. She nodded and started telling us about how much fun she’d had at the party. “Did you guys enjoy it?”

  “Those of us who were there did.” Stella shot me a baleful glare.

  I was tempted to roll my eyes, but chose to ignore her scorn.

  Indie looked really awkward, glancing between us. I could tell she didn’t want to get involved. I pulled back a layer and saw the idea of open conflict was too much for her.

  Grabbing Stella’s arm, I swiveled her in the opposite direction. “Could you excuse us?”

  “Sure.” The speed with which Indie took off was a testament to her relief.

  “Let go of me!” Stella shook her arm free.

  I met her glare with a stern look of my own.

  “Would you stop, please? I said sorry about the party and it’s not like I didn’t come back and get you. Plus I tried calling you a bunch of times on Saturday and I know you were ignoring me.”