Never.
I moved through the students, my eyes locked on Liv and Dylan, who, if I didn’t know any better, looked as if they were a couple sharing an intimate secret, with his head way too close to hers. I slid my arm around Liv’s waist, appreciating her warmth. My fingers closed on her side, and I pulled her into me.
She looked up, surprise in her eyes.
“Gabe,” she said breathlessly.
I held her firm against me with one hand and stroked her cheek with the other. I was about to burst with love and jealousy. Every fiber of my being yearned for her.
“I missed you.”
“Me too.”
Her eyes locked on mine, and the sound around us died. In that moment we were alone. My whole world existed in those eyes. I dipped my head toward hers, our lips a breath away, and I hesitated. She didn’t pull away.
“I love you,” I breathed and gently caressed her lips with mine. I worried for a second she would reject me, but she wrapped her arms around my neck and drew me even closer, her lips eager for more. I pressed her against the locker and wove my hands in her hair, keeping her close.
She pushed me away abruptly. “What are you doing here?” she asked, still unbearably close. Our noses touched. People moved around us, but right now, she was my entire world. The best way I could keep her safe was to keep her as close as possible.
“I’m never leaving your side again.”
Her eyes sparkled. “I like the sound of that.”
Her lips met mine again, and I didn’t care what the future brought as long as it was filled with Liv and kisses and love. Lots and lots of love.
Chapter 15
Liv
I slept in the next morning. Seventeen didn’t feel any different. Not that it should, but I found it strange that I continued to get older, but never felt like it. Is that how Gabe felt all the time? Ageless.
I stretched and sat up. London squalled as he fell off the bed, and Tokyo meowed up at me. I slid out of bed, picked up the kitten, and planted myself at my vanity, setting him on the top. He batted at a few ribbons. Tokyo was quickly becoming my favorite.
Ty had lectured me the day after I got him on having too many cats, but I told him it was only a problem if we got caught. He didn’t seem convinced.
I touched my parent’s necklace on the vanity.
“I made it. Seventeen. I miss you.” I wanted to say more. To tell them all about Gabe and how I felt about Ty staying even though he should be in Colorado with Stacey and his unborn child. I wanted to express my concern that the boy I cared for deeply might someday kill me, and yet I felt extremely safe with him. I wanted to tell them all about Samir and the fear that plagued me.
I said nothing. Somehow expressing those fears out loud would make them more real.
I knew Ty and Gran had a cake for me, but since Scarlett and Penny took me out last week, I expected a quiet day today. I really hated birthdays. But maybe Gabe would join us.
I hopped in the shower and took my time. Maybe if I put it off long enough, my birthday would just go away.
No one was in the kitchen when I came downstairs, and I was slightly disappointed, but I looked at the clock and understood. It was nearly noon.
A cup of coffee waited on the counter, but I had to warm it up in the microwave. There was also a massive blueberry muffin. My favorite.
The vanilla and cinnamon flavor in the coffee was comforting. I leaned against the counter and closed my eyes. Ty entered the kitchen, his hair a mess, but clean shaven. I eyed him carefully.
“She’s alive.” Ty put his arm around me and dropped a kiss on the top of my head. “Happy birthday.”
Maybe my birthday would be an easy way to make up.
I wiggled out from his embrace. “I’m sorry, Ty. I’ve been stupid.” Yeah, I had to eat crow. It stunk, but maybe now I could find a real way to get him to leave, since being immature about it did not work.
“I know. And believe it or not, I do understand. You are my responsibility.”
“I’m perfectly fine.”
“Yeah, I know. But I’m still going to stick around. Now, about your birthday…” His eyes flicked up to clock.
“What about it?”
“I may have invited a few people over.”
The doorbell rang. Oh, hell no. I already had a big birthday celebration. I didn’t need another one.
I raced for the door, but Ty got there first. Standing on the other side, holding a massive bunch of balloons, was Gabe. Well, he was okay, but behind him stood Melissa, Ali, Penny, Scarlett, and Nora. So much for quiet.
We stepped back to allow the others to come in, and I dropped my voice. “I thought it was going to be just us.”
Ty shrugged and grinned.
“I heard that,” Penny said, shaking out of Ali’s hand. “We’re going to celebrate your birthday all month, just because we know how much you hate it.” She gave me a big hug and a sloppy kiss on the cheek. I wiped it away and glowered at her. Maybe if I was mean enough, they would all go away.
Gran came in from the kitchen and gave me a wide grin. As usual, she looked stunning in a white Armani pantsuit, with her hair pulled tight into a bun. If not for the smile, she’d look severe. She grabbed my hand and dragged me to the couch, forcing me to sit down.
“Gran,” I said. Her smile faltered, and her hands shook as she smoothed my hair. She studied me for a moment. Everyone chattered around us, but an energy passed between Gran and I that I couldn’t explain. Just like that, it was gone and she disappeared into the kitchen. What had just happened?
Gabe took the seat next to me, startling me out of my thoughts, and Scarlett plopped down on the other side. Ty pulled in chairs from the kitchen and once everyone was seated, he escaped through the swinging door.
“I hate birthdays,” I grumbled. Though it was getting harder and harder to stay grumpy about it. I loved be surrounded by my friends, but I just wished we were celebrating something different.
“No, you secretly love them,” Penny said from the loveseat where she and Ali sat squished together. Ali’s face twisted in a scowl. He was usually so jovial, but now he looked like he smelled something awful. Penny was all smiles.
The kitchen door swung open and Gran carried a massive cake, Ty right behind her. Seventeen candles flickered to life. She set the cake in front of me, and the smoke made me a little lightheaded.
Gran shooed Gabe from his seat and took it for herself. Gabe settled on the arm of the loveseat next to Ali, smiling and shaking his head.
I shrugged. There wasn’t much we could do about Gran. I flicked my eyes to Ali. He was glaring at me. What had I done?
Everyone sang, and I tried not blush too badly. I hesitated before I blew out the candles. Wishes meant something so incredibly different to me now. I lacked for nothing. Gabe gave me everything I wanted.
I closed my eyes and simply wished for this moment with all my loved ones around me to last forever.
“Open ours first.” Scarlett shoved a small gift in my face.
Inside the bag was a hundred and fifty dollar gift card for Shoe Carnival. They knew me too well. I’d been eyeing a new pair of red Chucks. Now, I could get two.
The rest of the gifts were sweet and thoughtful. Melissa gave me the fuzziest slippers ever, and Gabe gave me a massive box of chocolate truffles. I tried not to blush when I opened them, especially after he wiggled his eyebrows at me. At least no one else seemed to notice. Ali’s gift was a new soldering iron, and Nora bought me a Hollister t-shirt. Ty and Gran both gave me cards with cash.
Gran wouldn’t leave my side. Anytime Gabe came near me, she put herself between us. It was a little annoying, and I knew she didn’t like him, but I wanted to know why.
“Hey look!” Penny said, leaning over to the coffee table. “You missed one.”
I creased my eyebrows and took the small box from her. “But I’ve opened everyone’s gifts.”
She shrugged. I pulled the card off the box,
slid my finger under the flap, and pulled out a glitter-covered card.
The front of the card was a black cat with a sparkly birthday hat. Whoever it was knew me better than most.
Black block letters filled the card.
Liv,
Sorry I couldn’t be here for your birthday. Penny invited me, but the ‘rents already had plans. I still can’t believe you haven’t seen these movies. Do me a favor and wait, and I’ll watch them with you.
Later Gator,
Dylan
I couldn’t help the smile that crawled across my face. I had no idea what movies were in there, but he’d been outraged when he heard I didn’t watch horror movies. I was almost scared to open them.
I tore at the wrapping paper, and Gabe picked up the card. Four DVDs fell into my lap. The Conjuring one and two, The Witch, and Suspiria. Yeah. I wasn’t watching those unless I never wanted to sleep again.
I was nervous to meet Gabe’s eyes. As much as he said he wouldn’t be jealous of Dylan, I knew he would be. Sure enough, his jaw was tight, and he crossed his arms, but he didn’t say anything. Gran took the card from him and gave me a sly smile and raised eyebrows.
Geesh.
Was I the only one who thought Dylan was just a friend?
I put the present aside, not wanting to ruin the mood.
“Time for games,” Scarlett exclaimed and pulled out a blindfold.
Oh boy.
Chapter 16
Gabe
The present from Dylan pissed me off, but I didn’t want Liv to know, so when Ty said he wanted his sister to himself for the rest of the evening, I gladly ran out of there. We were still no closer to finding a solution to Samir, and I needed more time to brainstorm with Ali anyway.
Ali sprawled out on the wide leather couch in the den and picked up a controller. Video games amused me. Never before had I had something that I could waste so much time on. It was a beautiful thing. Mindless yet satisfying.
“Hey, man, come play.” He tossed me a controller, and I sank down next to him, running my fingers along the buttons.
“Bet you can’t beat me,” he said with a grin.
“I spent days playing this game when Liv wouldn’t talk to me. Don’t count me out.” It felt so long ago, but really it’d only been a month.
“Yeah, but do you know all the cheats?” Ali asked.
The game was simple enough. Race a car around a track. The screen flashed bright lights, and the sound of rumbling cars vibrated out of the speaker. Within seconds all thoughts of Samir—and Liv—disappeared. A bell shrilled when he beat me, badly.
He clapped a hand on my back. “Tough luck, maybe next time. I’m going to get something to drink. You want anything?”
“Sure.”
He pushed a button on his controller and handed it to me. “Here, practice while I’m gone so I don’t whip you so bad next time.”
Jerk.
He wasn’t gone long enough for me to even finish one game. I managed to beat the computer, but then I already knew I could do that.
“What do you know about Liv’s grandma?” Ali asked, starting the game back up again. I’d beat him this time.
“Not much.” I punched a button, but he still raced past me.
“Don’t you think it’s odd that she doesn’t talk?”
I flung my controller to the left. Not that it did any good whatsoever. “Liv said she’s never spoken. It’s some sort of disease.”
Ali snorted. “Yeah right. Do you know any diseases where people can’t talk? Her hearing seems to be fine.”
“Why does it matter?” I couldn’t catch up with him.
“I just think it’s weird, that’s all. Do you know what happened to her mom?” Ali’s sudden interest in Liv’s family was odd. Or maybe he was trying to distract me, which was stupid because he was already winning.
“Liv doesn’t talk about it much. Her parents were murdered pretty brutally. I’m pretty sure she doesn’t like thinking about it.”
Ali won again, and he pumped his fist into the air. He immediately started another game.
“There’s something odd with her family. I’m surprised you never noticed it.” He said the words almost too calmly.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” This was new territory. I didn’t ask about Penny, and he kept his mouth shut about Liv. Until now.
“I mean you need to open up your eyes and your ears. There’s more to Liv than you think.”
I dropped my controller and faced him. This was about more than her family. “What the hell are you talking about?” My brain raced through what his words could mean, but nothing clicked. Did he think her grandma was connected to Samir or something?
“I just think you need to pay more attention to your girlfriend.”
He must be pissed off about something, and goading me was his way to get out his frustrations. “I pay a lot of attention to my girlfriend. What are you implying?”
He shrugged. “Nothing to imply.”
“First you tell me to stay away from her, and now you accuse me of not paying enough attention.” Anger coursed through my veins.
“Well, you didn’t listen to me the first time.”
“Yeah, and let her fall right into Dylan’s arms.” I clenched my fists.
He chuckled. “You told me to make sure she was safe. Dylan keeps her safe.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” I was seconds away from punching him in the nose. He could’ve done something to make Dylan go after her. Why would he do that?
Ali paused the game and faced me. “Dylan’s a witch.”
My jaw ticked. “You had Dylan protect her? You couldn’t find a girl to do the job?” Now if I was off somewhere hunting Samir, I had to let that prick protect her. Unbelievable.
“Dylan is the only witch in our school. If you and I aren’t around, Dylan is the next best thing.”
“Do you see the way he looks at her?” Like he’d want nothing more than to snatch her right out from underneath me.
“At least you know he’ll protect her.” He dropped his controller and looked right at me. “But she’s in love with you.”
Maybe he was right, but my stomach still twisted at the thought of him close to her. How could I get him out of her life? There was only one solution. I’d just have to make sure I was always around.
Then she wouldn’t need Dylan.
Chapter 17
Liv
Last night Ty and I had a nice time, like old times. We popped popcorn and watched movies. I didn’t nag him once about the baby because it was my birthday, but I would start in again today.
Just after I finished getting ready for school, the doorbell rang. Usually Gabe just waited for me, but maybe I was running late. I hadn’t even looked at the clock. I flung the door open and stopped short.
Uh. Oh.
“Is Bea Nader home?” the woman asked. She wasn’t a cop, but she was an official of some sort. Her uniform, with some badge and tightly pressed slacks, promised that. This was never good.
“Gran!” I called, worry settling in my stomach. This wasn’t the first time a woman like that had showed up. Social services visited at twelve when I bragged that my brother was out of town and I could do whatever I wanted, and then cops showed up when I was thirteen.
She came out of the kitchen and looked at me questioningly. I pointed to the lady at the door.
“How many pets do you have on the premises?” the woman asked.
Damn. Gran looked at me with wide eyes.
“We have three,” I lied. How did she know we had more? They never went outside, and they all freaking looked the same.
“Not according to your vet records.”
My effing vet betrayed me. Since when did they report people for having too many pets?
“What do you want us to do?”
“You’ll need to get rid of one and pay a fine. Now, if you’ll excuse me, young lady, I need to speak with Ms. Nader.”
“Gran’
s mute. You have to talk to me.”
“You’re a minor.”
“Yes, but…”
Ty thumped down the stairs, and I closed my eyes. This was not going to be good. He would not let me live this down, and he certainly wouldn’t think it would be okay for me and Gran to live alone.
“What’s going on?” Ty asked.
I turned to him. “They said we have too many pets.”
Ty glowered at me. “Why don’t you take Gran back into the kitchen. I’ll take care of this.”
I didn’t want him to take care of it. I wanted to take care of it myself. I had everything under control, and there’s nothing he could do that I couldn’t.
Gran put her arm around me, and we went back into the kitchen. I paced. This was the kind of thing Ty was worried about. But if he never gave us the chance, he’d never know if we could handle things, and we could totally handle them.
A few minutes later Ty came back with a piece of paper in hand.
“Well?” I asked, tapping my foot.
“I told you no more cats.”
“Sorry,” I said with a forced smile. “Tokyo was a gift. It’s not like I went out and got him.”
“It doesn’t matter. What would you have done if I hadn’t been here?”
“Paid the fine. Isn’t that what you did?”
“Yes. Now, which cat are you going to get rid of?”
I squeezed my eyes shut. Tokyo was my favorite, but how could I get rid of any of them? They were my babies.
“Um. I’ll see if Melissa can take London. He hates me anyway.” I could just get him back after Ty left.
“How do you know she wants a cat?”
“Gabe told me,” I lied again. He’d help me figure this out. Come to think of it, I could’ve just wished that woman away. Geesh. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t thought of it.
Ty ran a hand over his face. “Liv, this is serious.”
“I know.” I chewed on my lip. “Can we make a deal?”
He rolled his eyes. “Depends.”
“I’ll get rid of a cat, even if Melissa doesn’t want one, if you move to Colorado.”
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