by Amy Miles
“I guess that’s better than nothing,” Sammy said with a sigh. “I’m sorry we put you in this situation.”
“I better go.” Boon stood then kissed Sammy on the cheek. They stared into each other’s eyes for a moment, and then he took off into the woods.
“I still don’t understand, Sammy. Why don’t you want Alex to know about Boon? Does he not want you dating anyone? Or is it just Boon?” Maybe it had to do with that whole rule about angels being forbidden from falling in love. If falling for a human was bad, a demon was out of the question. “I mean, if he’s different from the others—”
“It’s personal,” Sammy said, staring after Boon, even though he was long gone. “Please, I don’t want to have to choose between them. How could anyone choose between two people they love?” Sammy looked down, her normal peppy nature taunted with sorrow.
Gabby didn’t want to be the cause of her having to choose. Sammy was the first true friend she’d ever had and the last thing she wanted was to hurt her.
“I won’t tell him.” Gabby just prayed Alexander wouldn’t bring it up. But then, why would he?
Sammy threw her arms around Gabby, giving her a squeeze. “Thanks!” Releasing her, she stepped back and beckoned with a tilt of her head. “Come on, we better get to cheerleading practice. I don’t want my brother asking why it took me so long to get there.”
“We can use Patronus as an excuse.” Gabby pulled on Patronus’ leash, steering him back toward the path. “Let’s go drop him off at my house and we can walk to cheerleading practice from there.”
“Sounds good. I can’t believe summer’s almost over. Soon we’ll be going to school together.” With the bounce back in her step, Sammy led the way down the path toward Gabby’s house.
After dropping Patronus off, Sammy chatted all the way to practice but Gabby couldn’t focus on a single word she said. What would happen if Alexander found redemption? If a demon could fall in love with an angel than anything was possible.
****
“Go, Gabby! You can do it!” Sammy cheered as Gabby climbed to the top of a human pyramid at the start of practice. Everyone knew by now that Gabby preferred the bottom, but she was determined to conquer her fear.
“You’re looking good up there, Babe,” Forras called from the sidelines. He and a few others, still dressed in football pads and jerseys, had come to crash their practice.
Gabby refused to look at him. Just his voice was enough to make her skin crawl. “My name’s not Babe,” she ground out. “And I wouldn’t be so cocky. With the way you guys practiced today, the fans will be coming to watch us cheer while you make complete fools of yourselves on the field.” Although her nerves frayed with each inch she climbed, her animosity for the insufferable jerk fueled her onward. How could she act like this guy was normal when she knew otherwise?
Reaching the top, she smiled smugly then did a double back flip off the top and landed lightly on her feet.
“It seems your savior filled you in, huh?” He leaned forward. “But did he tell you everything?” Carson, Donn and Gremory nodded in agreement.
Gabby faltered a step, but recovered quickly, forcing her actions to seem casual. If he figured out she knew about him, would it change anything?
“Ignore them,” Sammy said, joining her. “Let’s get back to practice.” Sammy glared at Forras then ushered the girls into a line.
“Where’s your pet?” Forras yelled back as he walked onto the football field.
Gabby didn’t know if he meant Patronus or Alexander, but she refused to rise to the bait and give him what he wanted.
Moments later, she caught a glimpse of Alexander’s car pulling into the parking lot. The muscles in her face quickly tightened as she tried to suppress her smile. She failed.
“Ah, there’s your pet now,” Forras said, following her gaze.
Gremory smacked Forras on his shoulder pads. Laughing, they left to pummel each other on the field. Gabby glared after them, then released her clenched fists and rubbed the marks left by her nails.
Alexander approached, a large bouquet of flowers clutched in one hand. “How ‘bout a real date tonight?” he asked, giving the flowers to Gabby.
Gabby felt her face heat. She accepted the flowers then smoothed the hair from her face. Glancing around, she noticed everyone’s eyes were on them, the entire football team, and all of the cheerleaders. Her heart raced from embarrassment and excitement. A real date?
Burying her face in the bouquet, she said, “What kind of restaurant will allow Patronus?”
“I thought it could be just the two of us tonight.”
Gabby leaned in and whispered, “Is that safe? I mean, you said we shouldn’t be alone without Patronus.”
“I spoke to Grace and she believes we should get to know each other slowly, in public. She believes demons won’t be bold enough to attack, or provoke an incident. They don’t want hunters around anymore than we do.”
“Hunters?”
“Yes, their humans that believe no supernatural creature should be on Earth, that a fallen angel is the same as a demon. You don’t have to worry. We’ll be in a restaurant with lots of people. If you can promise to behave, I’ll promise to stay in control. Deal?”
“Sounds great to me.” Wiping her sweaty palm on her navy blue shorts, she took his hand and walked toward the car. Her heart fluttered with disbelief. Did he really just ask her out on a date? She was experiencing so many firsts with Alexander. He squeezed her hand, sending zaps of excitement up her arm.
Still, something deep inside wouldn’t allow her to be truly happy. A low whisper of danger, loss, and fate haunted her. Even now, walking with a fallen angel, she still felt vulnerable to darkness and shadows.
****
Entering the house through the kitchen, she heard the tap-tap of Patronus’ nails on the linoleum as he ran to greet her. “Okay, okay,” she said as he jumped into the air with excitement. It was nice to have a companion in the otherwise empty house.
She took him for a short walk. When she returned, Sammy was waiting on her front porch. Her small frame danced around on the steps.
As she approached, Sammy rushed toward her. “Can I ask for a favor?” she said in lieu of a greeting.
“I guess,” Gabby replied, taken aback. Something about Sammy’s behavior seemed different, but this whole friendship thing was still new to her and she didn’t want to screw it up.
“I don’t think you’ll like it,” Sammy warned her.
Great. Couldn’t life be less complicated?
She bent down, removing Patronus’ leash so he could chase a squirrel around the yard. “What is it?”
“I’m going to spend some time with Boon while you’re on your date with Alex.”
“Okay…” Gabby eyed her, waiting for the catch.
“I need you to warn me when your date’s over. Alex has been watching me like crazy. Excluding this morning, this is the first chance Boon and I’ve had to see each other in days. Please, Gabby? We’re just gonna hang out on the beach, maybe go for a swim and have a picnic.”
“I have to be home by eight, in case my dad comes home tonight,” Gabby said.
“I’ll take it. Thanks so much.” She gave Gabby a quick hug.
“Remember, if you get caught, I had nothing to do with it.”
Wait…the beach…swimming…
Gabby swallowed hard and grabbed Sammy’s arm before she could bounce away. “Wait. What if Forras tries to—”
“He won’t. He can’t.” Sammy gave her hand a gentle squeeze before rushing off down the path. “Thanks again,” she called over her shoulder.
Gabby watched her for a moment then raced to her room to get dressed for her date with Alexander. Having never been on a date before in her life, she was at a complete loss as to what to wear. She stood, staring at her closet and wishing her mother could be there to help her.
After twelve wardrobe changes and an hour spent applying make-up, she stood before the
full-length mirror in her room. The dark blue sundress with spaghetti straps clung to her body in all the right places. Except for her broad shoulders, she felt almost sexy. Rummaging through her closet, she found a shrug to hide her least feminine feature—her shoulders—then slipped on her one pair of heels and headed downstairs to wait for Alexander.
Her first official date. How she would’ve loved to share it with her mother. To have Alexander walk in and meet her parents like a normal family. Her mother would have graciously welcomed him into their home, while her father scowled, making stereotypical comments, like ‘have her home on time’ or ‘I know where you live.’
Startled by the sound of her cell phone ringing, she answered, the daydream still fresh in her mind.
“Hello?”
“Gabby? Gabby, can you hear me?”
“Dad?”
“Gabby? I can’t hear you.” There was a short pause then her father said, “If you can hear me, I’ll be home late.”
“How late?” Her heartbeat kicked into gear at the thought of more time with Alex.
“Don’t know. Make sure you lock up if I’m not home by bed time.”
“Yes, sir,” she replied, doing her best to keep the excitement from her voice.
She heard a click then the line went dead. Another typical conversation with her father, always cryptic and short.
Patronus started to bark moments before she heard Alexander’s car come down the drive.
Through the window, she watched Alexander step out of his car, dressed in black pants and a pale green button-up over a t-shirt.
Thank God. She wasn’t overdressed.
As he walked up to the front porch, she could see broad shoulders and muscular arms through the tight fitting shirt.
Taking a deep breath, she tried to steady her hands as she pulled the door open.
Alexander just stood there, staring at her for a moment. “You look beautiful.”
Her gaze fell to the floor as she fidgeted under his scrutiny, not knowing how to respond.
After what seemed an eternity, he offered his hand and escorted her to the car. He shut the passenger side door and walked around the car, She took several deep breaths, worried she’d hyperventilate if she didn’t calm down.
They had spent a lot of time together, but this was their first official date. Heck, this was her first date ever.
Awkward silence filled the car as they headed down the long winding road through the woods toward town.
Think of something to talk about. Anything. But nothing came to mind.
“Would you like to listen to some music?” Alexander finally said, sounding more formal than usual.
“Uh, sure.”
The moment he hit the button, music blasted through the speakers, making them both jump.
“Sorry,” he said with a sheepish grin. “I guess I listen to my music kind of loud.”
“Kinda?” Gabby teased.
“Oh, I forgot.” He pulled a CD from a case and slipped it into the stereo. “I remembered you like eighties music.”
An old Bon Jovi song came on and for a moment, she could hear her mother singing along. “Thanks,” she said softly. It was one of her mom’s favorite bands.
The music soothed her nerves and before she knew it, they were pulling into a parking lot.
“This is amazing.” Gabby gawked out the car window at a strip of shops that looked like an old-fashioned main street nestled in the woods. At the far end, a pier jutted out over the ocean.
“I like it here,” Alexander said, pulling into a parking spot. “They have an old bookstore, a movie theater, and some great food. Do you like Italian?”
“I love Italian food.”
“Well, I would’ve loved to have flown you to Italy tonight, but considering you’re still working on your fear of heights, I thought this might be better.”
“Yeah, I think you’re right.” Gabby smirked, but had a feeling he probably wasn’t kidding.
“I’ve always wanted to visit the Louvre in Paris. Maybe we could stop there on the way back.” Gabby teased.
“Sure, no problem. That’d be a good place to go on a third date.”
Alexander killed the engine then jumped out and opened her door, offering his hand. They walked up to the boardwalk, window shopping as they made their way to the restaurant. White twinkling lights lined the shops, giving them a magical feel.
“Sammy’s Earth birthday is in a few months. Would you mind helping me pick out a gift?”
“Earth birthday?”
“Oh, right. Uh, Grace gave us each a date of birth for all our documents. We do a little family birthday party, nothing big. Grace makes a cake from scratch and we sing happy birthday. Probably sounds kind of stupid, huh?”
“No…no, it sounds perfect.” Celebrating as a family. Oh, how she missed that. Her mother had always made her birthdays special.
“Well, good. Then it won’t be hard to convince you to join us for the party.” He said, with a deepening of his voice.
“I’ll be there.”
They walked into a jewelry store and looked at some necklaces and bracelets. “What do you think about these?” He held a pair of diamond earrings in his hand.
“I think she’ll love them, but can you afford that?”
“Money isn’t really an issue. Grace made millions during the Great Depression.” At her arched eyebrow, he shrugged and said, “Another long story. And no, she hasn’t lived in her current body that long. She’s been through a couple over the years. Anyway, she has it all in a trust account and we live off the interest.”
“Must be nice.”
“I guess. I’m not really into the fancy cars and clothes, though. That’s more Sammy’s department.”
“Yeah, I’m more of an antique and gently-used kind of girl myself.”
“So, diamond earrings wouldn’t be your style?”
“I don’t know if any girl would turn down diamonds, but if I picked something out, it wouldn’t be shiny and new. I like things with a history.”
Alexander pulled her over to another jewelry case. “So, this would be more your style then.” The case was filled with watches, rings, and necklaces that probably dated to the early nineteen hundreds.
“Yes,” she breathed, “much more my style, but I’m sure it’s expensive.”
“The lady has great taste,” a salesman behind the case said.
A silver ring with diamond chips surrounding a larger central diamond caught her eye. It looked eerily familiar, a lot like her mother’s ring. Of course, it had been over a year since she’d seen it. Still, she couldn’t help but try it on.
“I’ve always loved silver.”
“It’s not silver, Honey,” the salesman said, his condescending tone making Gabby cringe. “It’s platinum. The ring is a total of three carats set in platinum.”
Who cared what it was made out of?
“It reminds me of my mother’s ring.” Her mother wore it religiously, never taking it off. Until it was slipped from her finger after she died, and put away for Gabby when she turned twenty-one. Sadness threatened at the memory, so she slipped it from her finger and quickly set it down. “I think Sammy will love the earrings.”
“But it looks beautiful on you,” the sales clerk called after her.
She rolled her eyes at the typical sales pitch before she turned around, “No, thanks.” The uneasiness that was infringing on their date made her search for a quick exit. “I’m starving. Do you mind if we go eat now?”
“Sure.” Alexander set the earrings on the case. “Can you wrap the earrings for my sister? And I’ll take the ring, too. We’ll be back to pick them up after dinner.”
What? He’s not thinking of getting that for me, is he?
“Yes, sir,” the salesman said, a look of victory in his eyes. “I will clean them and have them wrapped before you return.”
“Thanks.”
Gabby waved her hand in front of her. “No, I can’t t
ake the ring. Just get the earrings. For Sammy.” Gabby looked at him, her eyes wide. She hoped the fear she felt wasn’t showing on her face. God help them if her dad spotted the ring. Even if she never wore it, there was no telling when he might decide to randomly search her room. He’d think she stole it. And if she explained about Alexander, her life in Kemp, Florida would be over in a heartbeat.
Alexander’s face drooped in disappointment. “But—”
“Please, Alex. It’s too much and my dad…” She clutched his arm. “It wouldn’t be pretty.”
His lips pursed in a thin line while the salesman tried to persuade him to go through with the purchase. When he gave a sharp nod, she sighed in relief.
Escaping the shop, they made their way to a restaurant at the other end of the pier. Walking on a wood plank bridge over a trickling creek toward a large wooden door, they passed several strange objects, a clothesline with socks, men’s red long underwear, and overalls draped over it. Opening the front door, they were transported from a faux shack to an elegant restaurant, complete with candle light and red tablecloths.
“May I help you, sir?” A woman behind the wood podium asked.
“We have a reservation,” Alex said.
The woman retrieved two red, plush menu’s with a single tassel hanging over the edge, and walked around in front of them. “Follow me.”
They maneuvered around several tables along a wall made of large plate glass windows overlooking the ocean to the far corner.
Alexander pulled out the wood chair, with a puffy bottom cushion and scooted her into the table before taking his seat. “Look down there.” Alexander pointed at the water. Dolphins jumped in and out of the waves, as if playing a game of tag.
“Enjoy your meal,” the hostess said, handing them their menus.
“Wow, this is amazing.” Gabby rested her elbows on the table, then pulled them away and glanced up at Alexander.
“I’m glad you like it.” He shifted in his chair. “I have to confess I was a little nervous about this date.”
“You were?” She picked up her napkin and smoothed it across her lap.
“I know you’re probably not going to believe me, but…” Alexander looked away, his gaze dancing around the room. “…this is my first real date.”