Persuade

by Wendi Wilson

  I took a long pull from the straw before meeting his eyes. “Yes, I did.”

  “We’re used to it. People are scared of us. It is what it is.”

  “Well, it’s stupid, that’s what it is,” I said, the anger draining out of me. “People shouldn’t judge you for your DNA. Just because you’re different doesn’t give them the right to treat you like a disease.”

  “Have I told you you’re magnificent when you’re all fired up?” he asked, his signature grin back in place.

  I punched his arm, laughing. “Shut up. This is serious,” I said, trying unsuccessfully to wipe the smile off my face.

  “And that kiss! That was…”

  His words trailed off as he clutched his chest, mimicking a heart attack. A blush set my face on fire and I looked back down at the plate in my lap. Wyatt’s hand snaked over and grabbed one of the treats. I watched as he lifted it to his lips and took a big bite, leaving a trail of melted chocolate dribbling down his chin.

  “What?” he asked around the food in his mouth. Swallowing and wiping his chin with a napkin, he added, “We can eat. In fact, there are several foods we really enjoy. It’s just not necessary. And we can’t survive on it.”

  “Oh,” I said for lack of a better response. “I had no idea.”

  “That’s because most Alts only drink blood in public. People treat us differently no matter what, so why not reinforce their opinions and maybe instill a little fear?”

  “That sounds lonely,” I said, my voice cracking on the last word. I knew what lonely felt like.

  “I have my brothers. I guess we Alts are lucky we’re usually born in multiples. It’s the singletons I feel sorry for.”

  I held my tongue and let that sink in. He was right. Most Alts did have siblings that would always be around. Brothers and sisters to grow up with. To lean on. But there were some cases where the egg never split. One baby was born and would grow up alone. If the family didn’t live in an area populated with other Alts, that child would be completely isolated. I knew how that felt, too.

  I shook off my melancholy and injected some cheer into my voice. “Tell me about your relationship with your brothers. Do you guys have any special intuition when it comes to each other? I’ve heard twins can sometimes seem to read each other’s minds.”

  “Like twintuition?”

  I laughed. “Yeah.”

  “Sometimes, but I think it’s more that we know each other so well. I can tell what the others are thinking just by their expressions. Jett has a pretty good poker face, but he has other tells. Don’t tell him I know this, but he drums his fingers on his thigh when he’s lying. I don’t think he even realizes he’s doing it.”

  I file that little tidbit away for later use. “Good to know,” I say, smiling. “Can you persuade each other?”

  “Savanna! I would never attempt to control my brothers!”

  I arched a brow at that over the top denial. “Really?” I asked, my voice skeptical.

  He laughed. “No, we can’t. And before you ask, yes, they knew I was trying. We experimented with it when we were younger. We’ve talked to others about it and always get the same answer. An Alt can’t persuade another Alt. Just norms.”

  “Norms?”

  He nodded. “Normal people. Like you.”

  “Not like me,” I said, taking a bite of my candy bar and mulling over everything I just learned.

  “You’re right. You are anything but normal, Savanna James.”

  The way he said that sent a shiver down my spine. I had a feeling he meant more than just the fact that I couldn’t be persuaded. I returned his smile and took the last bite of my gooey, fried deliciousness. Out of habit, I stuck my thumb in my mouth and sucked off the chocolate. His eyes went wide and I heard a sharp intake of breath.

  I looked down at my lap, hoping the colorful lights of the rides around us would mask my blush. I wiped my mouth with a napkin before looking back up at Wyatt. He had composed himself, his signature grin crinkling his gray eyes.

  “You ready to have some fun?” he asked, standing and holding out a hand to me.

  “I sure am,” I said, placing my hand in his before standing.

  We dumped our trash in the nearest can and walked across the fairgrounds. We stepped in line for a ride that twirled as it spun, eliciting screams from its riders. I sent up a short prayer that I wouldn’t blow chunks all over Wyatt. I’d never be able to face him again if that happened. Ever.

  I ended up having nothing to worry about. The rides were exciting, thrilling, breathtaking. But nothing made me feel sick. Nothing, that is, until the last ride of the night.

  The Ferris wheel.

  I had a feeling Wyatt had it all planned out. Every time we neared the traditional ride, he would steer us off in another direction, claiming he was dying to ride something else or buy some treat or play some game. I was carrying around three puffy bears and a fuzzy stuffed kitten, thanks to his proficiency at carnival games. It wasn’t until we’d made our way through the entire fair that he finally led me to the giant wheel. We took our seats, sitting in silence as the other cars emptied and refilled with people. When we stopped at the very top, Wyatt angled his body toward me and spoke.

  “So, Jett, Beckett and I talked this afternoon. We came to an agreement about our, ah, arrangement.”

  “R-r-r-really?” I cleared my throat. “What’s that?”

  He smiled gently at my nervous stutter but didn’t mention it. “We decided, and this all hinges on you, of course, that if the opportunity presented itself and you were agreeable, of course—”

  “Wyatt, you’re rambling. Just spit it out.”

  I don’t know where that bravado came from. I had a feeling I knew where this was going and I should have been a nervous wreck. Something about seeing Wyatt so anxious calmed my nerves. Made me feel powerful, like I had the upper hand, for once.

  He ran his fingers through his hair and took a deep breath. “We decided that we would be allowed to kiss you, but only if you agreed to it,” he said in a rush.

  I looked away from him, letting my gaze drift across the lights dotting the dark landscape around the fairgrounds.

  Did I want to kiss him? Did I want to kiss all of them? I lived in the Deep South. The Bible Belt. Kissing multiple boys was not something a genteel southern lady did. There were nasty words used to describe girls who spread themselves around. I was not one of those girls.

  On the other hand, I didn’t give a crap what other people thought of me. Never had. I am who I am and I like that person. These three smoking hot Alts seemed to like that person, too. Did I want them to kiss me? To be my first…firsts? Yes. Yes, I did.

  My body relaxed as I admitted that to myself. The Ferris wheel began to spin, taking us down and back up without stopping. Wyatt sat like a statue, not moving and barely breathing, waiting for my answer with a restraint I found admirable. I didn’t have any experience, but I’d read about boys not being patient or just taking what they wanted.

  I angled toward him, our knees touching. He reached over and took my hand from my lap, raised it to his lips and brushed them across my knuckles, never breaking eye contact. Butterflies erupted in my stomach as he leaned in slightly. He stopped short, a question in his eyes. By that point I was practically panting, my heart trying to beat its way out of my chest. He moved a fraction closer and stopped again, waiting for me to protest.

  The anticipation was killing me, all pleasure and pain rolled into a tight ball in my gut, so I took a deep breath and bum-rushed him, brushing my lips against his before I lost the nerve. I pulled back just as quickly, lowering my eyes and sucking my lower lip between my teeth. Wyatt released my hand and I died a little.

  My kiss was bad. He didn’t like it, I thought.

  His fingers cupped my chin, his thumb applying pressure to pull my lip from my teeth as he lifted my face toward him. He leaned in and brushed his lips against mine, once, twice, three times, before sucking my bottom lip in between h
is and running his tongue across it. Molten lava shot through me as the volcano in my belly erupted. My hands, working independently of my brain, made their way up into his hair, fisting in the silky waves.

  Wyatt released my chin and wrapped his fingers behind my neck, pulling me closer and pressing his mouth more firmly against mine. His tongue dipped into my mouth and teased mine. I started to panic a little, unsure what to do. Before I could do anything, right or wrong, the Ferris wheel came to a halt and we broke apart.

  The ride attendant stood there, waiting for us to get off, a look of pure disgust etched across his features. I grabbed my prizes and slid from the seat, Wyatt stepping off behind me. I’m sure we weren’t the only ones he caught kissing on the ride, not by a longshot.

  Hell, that ride was famous for being a romantic place to make out. No, he wasn’t disgusted that I was kissing a boy on his ride. He was disgusted because I was kissing an Alt. I stopped, ready to turn and give it to him, but Wyatt grabbed my hand and pulled me away.

  “Not worth it,” he said, leading me toward the exit.

  “But—”

  He cut me off with his lips, pressing them against mine quickly before continuing toward the parking lot. “Don’t let some idiot carnie ruin what just happened, Savanna. That was the best moment of my life.”

  I shut up at that. I knew he was exaggerating. No way was my inexperienced, clumsy kiss the best of his life. He was too good at it. He must’ve had a lot of practice with girls better than me. I pushed that thought from my head. I was not going to think about Wyatt with other girls, especially right now.

  But the fact that he said it sent a shiver down my spine. He was so considerate. Respectful. Caring. And funny. God, was he funny. And, despite my innocence, I somehow knew that he was an excellent kisser. I’d seen couples making out in the hallways at school when no teachers were around. The way they macked on each other looked nothing like what Wyatt made me feel. He made me feel cherished.

  We held hands all the way home, talking about our favorite parts of the fair. We agreed that the Ferris wheel was our favorite, Wyatt proclaiming it with a wide smile while I nodded shyly. He parked on the street, rather than pulling into my driveway, cutting the engine and unbuckling his seatbelt. I unclicked mine, too, but made no move to exit the truck.

  We were sitting on a bench seat, and Wyatt lifted the center console and flipped it back, clearing the space between us. He grabbed my elbow and tugged, encouraging me to slide over into the space. I complied and he draped his arm around my shoulder. I took advantage, pressing my face into his chest and breathing in his intoxicating scent.

  “I don’t want this night to end,” he whispered against my hair.

  I lifted my head and leaned back against his shoulder, looking up at him. His arm tightened around me as he lowered his head and kissed me, his lips tender and possessive all at once. All too soon, he pulled away with a sigh.

  “I should get you inside before you’re late.”

  I grabbed my purse and pulled out my phone, realizing it was the first time I had done so all night. I checked the time. Eleven fifty-six. Wyatt slid from the truck and jogged around, opening my door for me once again. He helped me jump down and interlaced his fingers through mine as we walked up the drive.

  Up on the porch, I dug through my purse and found my key. I slipped it into the lock and turned, but before I could push the door open, Wyatt wrapped his hand around mine, lowering it as he leaned in for another kiss. He kept it short and sweet, much to my disappointment. Pulling back, he stared into my eyes, his face serious.

  “I had a really great time tonight, Savanna,” he said. “And I’m not just talking about the kissing,” he added, his lips turning up slightly.

  I laughed. “I had a great time, too.”

  His face fell and something that looked like pain streaked through his eyes. “I hope you’ll choose me, but if you don’t, I don’t want you to beat yourself up about it. I just want you to be happy.”

  With that, he brushed his lips against my cheek and turned, loping down the steps. I watched him until he reached his truck, got in, and cranked the engine. I thought I could make out a wave, but it was so dark I couldn’t tell. I waved anyway, just in case, before turning and pushing the door open.

  I floated all the way to my room, barely noticing the fact that my parents hadn’t waited up for me. Strange, considering it was my first date, but I didn’t dwell on it long. Thoughts of Wyatt filled my brain, pushing out everything else. Wyatt laughing. Talking. Preening when he won a game and presenting his prize to me like a knight before his queen.

  The kissing. Oh, the kissing. I fell into bed, the feel of Wyatt’s lips against mine following me into sleep, influencing my dreams.

  It was a good date. A really good date. A first date to beat all firsts.

  Chapter Twelve

  “Hello?”

  “Hey, Savanna? It’s Beckett.”

  I had almost let the unknown number go to voicemail. It was seven in the morning and no one ever called that early. Actually, no one called me, ever, besides my parents and those spam numbers. But something had told me to answer and I was so glad I did.

  “Oh, hey, Beckett,” I said, stifling a yawn.

  “Were you sleeping? Oh God, you were, weren’t you? I’m so sorry. I can call back later.”

  “Beckett, wait,” I injected, stopping his panicked words. “It’s okay. I’m still in bed, but I’ve been awake for a while.”

  I’d actually only been awake for about three minutes, but he didn’t need to know that. I cringed at my choice of words, saying I was still in bed and any visuals that may bring to his mind. When he didn’t laugh or say anything suggestive, I remembered that it was Beckett, not Wyatt. Completely different person.

  “You still there?” I asked, when he remained silent.

  “Yeah,” he said. “Sorry. I, ah, was wondering if you had plans for lunch today.”

  “Actually, I don’t,” I said.

  My dad had probably already left for his shift at the hospital and Mom volunteered at one of the homeless shelters in Savannah every Sunday. Sometimes I would go with her, but I had already planned to stay home today.

  “Would you like to go out with me? For lunch, I mean.”

  I smiled at his stumbling words. He was just as attractive as his brothers, but where they oozed confidence, Beckett was a little shy and uncertain. It was endearing, really. It made him seem more…I don’t know. Approachable, maybe.

  “Sure,” I said. “That sounds nice.”

  It was actually perfect. My parents would both be gone and I’d be saved trying to explain to them why I was going out with two different boys on back to back days. I dreaded their reaction and was glad I could put off the explanations for another day.

  “Great,” he said, his voice filled with more energy than before. “I’ll pick you up. What time is good for you?”

  “Whenever,” I said, feigning nonchalance. “I’m free all day.”

  “How about 10:30? That way, we can hang out for a while before we eat.”

  “Sounds good,” I said. “I’ll see you then.”

  “I can’t wait.” I heard him curse under his breath. “I mean, uh, see you then.”

  I laughed. I couldn’t help it. His candid blunder made me feel warm and fuzzy all over.

  “Bye, Beckett.”

  “Bye, Savanna.”

  I floated across my room and dug through my closet, looking for something to wear. I figured since it was a daytime lunch date, I could dress a little more casual, but I still wanted to look good. It was warm for November, but our weather had a tendency to be bi-polar. I needed to be ready for anything, so I decided on jeans, a yellow tank top and a dark blue sweater. The colors suited my golden complexion and brought out my eyes.

  At least, that’s what my mother always said. It’s not like I had a clue.

  After my morning rituals were completed, I went to the kitchen for some breakfast. The
house was quiet, and as I slowly shoveled cereal into my mouth my thoughts flew all over the place. I relived every moment of my date with Wyatt, lingering on the touchy-feely parts, while simultaneously wondering how my date with Beckett would go. When my brain tried to add Jett to the equation, I forced him from my head. Two was enough, for now.

  As I was finishing up, my phone chimed. Mom texted me to ask how my date went and I gave her enough detail to satisfy her curiosity without telling her everything. She didn’t need to know that I made out with Wyatt on the Ferris wheel, or that some of the people there were acting like total jackwagons toward us because Wyatt was different. She seemed satisfied and said she’d see me at dinner.

  I washed my bowl in the sink and as I dried my hands, the doorbell rang. I pulled my phone from my pocket, checking the time. It was only nine forty-five. Too early for my date. Must be someone trying to sell something, probably either Jesus or solar panels.

  I tiptoed to the door, making my footfalls as quiet as possible. Peeking through the peephole, I sucked in a ragged breath. It was Beckett. He was early. Really early. As I watched, he shoved his hands in his pockets. He immediately pulled them out and clasped them behind him, rocking back on his heels. He checked his watch, running fingers through his hair before turning away and heading for the steps.

  “Wait,” I all but yelled, jerking the door open.

  He turned, a pink blush staining his cheeks. “Oh, hey,” he said without moving toward me. “Sorry. I guess I’m early.”

  I smiled and waved him over. “It’s okay. Come in. I just gotta grab my shoes.”

  He looked down at my feet and I lifted one up, pulling up the pant leg and waving it around to show off my navy socks with gray stripes. He took a few steps forward and smiled.

  “Ravenclaw?”

  I smiled back. “You know your Hogwarts’ houses.”

  “I should know,” he said. “The sorting hat put me there, too.”

  I motioned for him forward, stepping back through the doorway. “Come on in. I’ll be just a sec.”