“The only thing we can do,” Liam said. He moved his left hand to place the hair behind my ear before leaning his knuckles on my lower cheek. “Meet the Alexanders.”
I sighed with a rising grin. “Okay,” I said. Like he had said before, this was the blind leading the blind.
“Will you stay with me tonight?”
“If you wish it so.”
“I do,” I said.
I felt the rush of blood to my cheeks as I moved back to lay my head to his shoulder. His arms wrapped around me before his lips laid a gentle kiss on my temple.
“Then I shall stay as long as you want me.”
Later that night, my mom came to check on me, only to find me pretending to sleep while Liam hid from sight—I wasn’t exactly sure where. When Liam heard the closing door of her bedroom, I could finally relax. And with that, I had an idea. Though it wasn’t going to be assigned in class for another month, I felt a surge of interest in Shakespeare tonight. To my advantage, I never had to move to get it. After my suggestion, Liam simply called my copy of Romeo and Juliet, from my shelf, into his waiting hand. It was hard not to see the benefit of his gift.
As he handed me the copy, I put my hand up to stop him. “Will you read?” I couldn’t resist wanting to hear Romeo’s words in Liam’s voice. He smiled, pulling it back at my request before I moved to lay my head on his chest, ready to listen.
By the end of the fourth scene of the first act, I had closed my eyes, perfectly content in the imagery of my mind’s fourteenth century Verona. I listened as Liam spoke.
“I fear, too early; for my mind misgives
Some consequence, yet hanging in the stars,
Shall bitterly begin his fearful date
With this night's revels and expire the term
Of a despised life, closed in my breast,
By some vile forfeit of untimely death.
But he that hath the steerage of my course
Direct my sail! On, lusty gentlemen!”
My eyes opened not quite content anymore. The words had seemed to ring true of Liam and I. Our love seemed to only lead us on a tragic course. He was an immortal and I was human. It was forbidden. There wasn’t much worse than that. They even had a rule in his world. One that was meant to protect me. A rule we were both willing to throw to the side like recycled paper.
I was well aware that my love for Liam could be my very death. But I couldn’t turn back. That boat had left. All that we could do was just take this journey blindly together. Even, if it was frightening to not know what that meant. Even, if I was uncertain of where that was going to go.
17. Detour
My arms naturally stretched to my right to wrap around Liam, only to be left with a worried surprise. My eyes opened and my body rose to the empty space, but I exhaled with a smile, seeing Liam sitting on the side of my bed. His touch to the side of my face raised a tingle of goose bumps on my skin.
“Morning,” he said.
“Morning.”
I smiled with the bliss of seeing his face in the morning light. I was beyond happy he had stayed, happier than he would ever know or that I could ever explain.
“Did you sleep well?” Liam asked.
My mind was looping my night’s dream of Liam and I. I had been worried after the entire story about immortals that last night would only consist of nightmares. But luckily it was only of the passion we had shared before the stories had even begun. I didn’t regret it one bit. It was the happiest I could think of being in my seventeen years of life. I felt sorry for the girls who wouldn’t have such an experience with their first time. “I slept very well.”
“You looked happy,” Liam said.
“I was,” I said. I pointed my chin down with my eyes as the blood filled my cheeks and the smile parted my lips. My eyes flickered up as Liam’s hand swiped my skin. “What time is it?”
“Nearly seven and almost time for my watch.”
I narrowed my eyes as I watched him rise from my bed. “Watch?”
He was wearing the same clothes he had worn yesterday, something to let me know that he had never left. The very idea warmed me.
“It’s the individual shifts of looking after our coven territory.”
“Oh.” I lowered my head slowly with understanding. “It’s when you’re on duty looking after all of us mortals.”
His cheek rose amusingly with his nod. “Yes.”
“Is that where you usually are during lunch?”
“Yes.”
“Is it safe?” I asked.
My eyes shifted to the ground in slight embarrassment at my concern. He leaned down to kiss my forehead and temple before lowering to whisper into my ear. “Don’t feel embarrassed because you care.”
My chin lifted up to meet his bright gaze with a grin. “I guess it’s never safe, is it?”
Suddenly I found his lips on mine for a brief moment that led my hands to hold the side of his face. They were still holding him when he pulled away. “Only when I’m with you.”
When I dropped my hands he stood back fully.
“I will see you at school,” Liam said.
I watched him lift the window without the use of his hands. He winked at me before he agilely slipped through and out of sight. I watched the window shut as if on its own accord. I appreciated the considerate measure.
I couldn’t help the spring in my hop out of bed before I walked toward the bathroom. I became self-conscious of my morning breath at the sight of my tooth brush. I hoped it wasn’t too bad. When I emerged down the hall, I really did feel as if I was walking on sunshine. As I ate my breakfast I couldn’t stop my lips from rising in a smile; at least until I heard the honk of Sean’s Jeep. Immediately my heart felt heavy.
After I shut the front door and began walking across the yard, I could feel it begin to further descend in my chest. I studied the ground as I dawdled toward the vehicle. It seemed I couldn’t even look in the direction I knew Sean was at, even that felt like a betrayal. But once again at the thought of Liam I couldn’t help the hanger that had seemed to rest in my mouth. Every time I tried to bring my lips together I could feel them separate. I sighed as my eyes were forced to look up in order to settle myself inside. After I shut the door, I turned my neck to glance up, only to be met with his narrowed eyes. I knew that look. He was studying me.
“Well, someone has some color in her cheeks.”
His voice gave a disapproving tone, as I stared straight back out the windshield. It was like Sean just had a way of knowing something without really knowing. But I’m sure my sudden mood swing didn’t help. His narrowed glances questioned my newly blissful state. I wanted to say something to explain, but I couldn’t. So as he accelerated toward the school, I whispered through my smile.
“I’m sorry.”
I walked toward the lunch line with a little disappointment. I had yet to see Liam all day. I was certain he told me he would see me here. Shouldn’t I have seen him in the hallway? Wouldn’t he have met me at my locker? I sighed and shrugged before following Pamela down the lunch line. I was still holding out hope for English, so temporarily I took the time to debate what I would eat today. It seemed like a good enough distraction for the moment.
“No way,” I heard Pamela say.
“What?” I asked.
I didn’t look up as I reached for a piece of pizza and some Red Diamond tea.
“Liam Alexander is actually at lunch for the first time since he’s been here.”
I felt the surge of electricity flow through me when I heard his name. I couldn’t resist the smile as I found his eyes waiting for me. There he really was in the middle of the room, alone. “And he’s calling you over.” I watched as his charming grin followed his beckoning finger. “I think pigs just flew,” she said.
I turned back to Pamela to find her raised eyebrows and crooked half-smile. She had been watching my reaction. I hadn’t hidden my excited grin very well.
“Really?” Her eyes widened and he
r mouth was slightly open now in surprise. “How long has that been going on?”
My secret was out. My face was like an open book. I could only nod my head as I felt the blush in my cheeks seem to grow redder. “Since the first day, I guess.”
That seemed right. Hadn’t I felt the connection with Liam from the moment he was there in the hallway?
Pamela didn’t resist the smile as she picked up her tray and walked on to the center table. “See you tomorrow, Emma,” she said with only her head slightly turned. I found some amusement with her mumbling that sounded much like, “How did I not see that?”
I turned with a small grin still plastered on my face to give the lunch woman my money. She put her hand up in resistance.
“You’ve already been paid for today,” she said.
“What? By who?”
She shifted her eyes behind me. “By that young man. He said you could have whatever you wanted.”
My eyebrows rose. I wasn’t prepared for such a gesture. In fact, I wasn’t even prepared to see him. “Oh, thanks.” I nodded politely before walking away with some awkward tension from watching my friends’ table as I turned. They were all staring at me with Pamela’s fast-spreading news. I caught Heather’s envious glare last.
My pace felt slow as I looked back at Liam. He didn’t seem bothered by the stares of my friends or even the disbelief from his siblings behind him. He simply looked at me and only me in a serene study, a welcoming pleasure.
I stopped inches from the seat across from him, holding my tray firmly.
“Thanks for lunch,” I said.
“My pleasure.”
He pointed with his hand for me to join him.
I sat. “What are you doing here?”
He leaned close. “I go to school here.”
I rolled my eyes. “Yes, but as it was pointed out to me you never come to lunch.”
“No, but you do, and I find I would prefer to be around you.”
I watched Liam’s eyes transfer from me to someone behind me.
“Do you mind if I join?”
I gulped at the familiar voice before I turned to see Sean with tray in hand. “Of course, but won’t your friends miss you?” I said.
“They’ll be fine,” he said, moving to take a seat to my left.
I could already feel the tension building around the three of us.
“Funny, I was under the impression you were no longer even talking to Liam,” he said.
I found his lips turned inward and his head tilted toward me.
“I tried,” I said.
“You shouldn’t blame Emma.”
Sean shrugged with an edge. “I don’t remember asking you anything, Alexander.”
My eyes widened with annoyance at his tone.
“Sean.” I said.
He ignored me. Something that only seemed to anger me more.
“Sean, I know you think of Liam a certain way, but don’t you think that might just be because I’m your sister?” He said nothing as his neck slowly twisted just before his eyes did. “Let’s be honest, you wouldn’t approve of anybody who was interested in me.”
“That’s not what this is, Emma.”
“Because maybe you won’t admit it.”
“Or maybe you just won’t listen.”
Now I felt like a ram backing my hoof into the ground, ready to charge. My patience was reaching its limit.
“I can’t help how this happened. All I know is that I don’t believe in rumors.” I said the word oddly knowing that there was something I was withholding. Oh yes, there could be real rumors about Liam and his siblings, but in fact no one but me knew them. So I stuck to the ones that Sean believed, the human thought-up rumors. “I believe in my instincts. And I think I’ve reached my breaking point with you not trusting me.”
Sean’s body stiffened and he gave me an unrelenting gaze before standing with his tray.
“Well, everyone reaches their breaking point, don’t they?” The anger in his eyes shifted over to Liam before back at me. “If you don’t understand, then maybe I’ll have to use another approach, ’cause I’ll be damned if I just sit by and watch this happen.”
“What does that mean?” I asked.
But even with my focus Sean was focusing hard on Liam, or glaring more like it.
“Why don’t you get a ride home from your boyfriend here today?”
“You’re just going to leave me?”
I would never think Sean would do that, and yet here he was declaring it.
“It’s not like what I think matters.”
“You know that isn’t true.”
My voice had risen slightly but not enough to catch the attention of the room; well, not any more than we were already getting.
“Isn’t it?” he asked, his stare suddenly turned back on Liam as if he were evidence. I opened my mouth but nothing came out. I was left enraged as I watched him forcefully dump his tray and walk out of the cafeteria.
I looked back at Liam, trying to resist the urge to throw my tray off the table in anger. He raised his hand to place over mine with a calming warmth. I closed my eyes, exhaling a huge breath out of my mouth. I actually felt my nerves calm as I opened my eyes to see Liam again.
“Thanks,” I said.
“Are you all right?” Liam asked.
“To be honest, I wish I could just get out of here.”
I watched his left eyebrow rise with surprise.
“I can arrange that.”
I felt the skepticism in my eyes as I asked, “Really?”
The bell rang not but a few seconds after I let him rise and swiftly, but still at a human pace, be at my side. He entwined his hand with mine as he led me out of the cafeteria and toward the front doors. It was strange how no one seemed to notice us, even though we walked opposite of their path.
Once we watched the door shut behind us, he looked back at me, swooping my knees up into his arms. It was only two seconds on my count before he placed me down at the passenger side of a red four-door BMW. He was just as quick to move his hand to open the door. I didn’t waste time getting inside as swiftly as my human body could move. I didn’t even have time to see my door snapped shut before I twisted my neck to see Liam in the seat beside me.
“Grace or Lillian will grab your backpack.”
“Works for me.”
I heard a light chuckle before I heard the soft purr of the engine. He didn’t even look as he pulled out of his spot; but then again, when you had superhuman vision why would you need to?
I closed my eyes and laid my temple against the head rest before letting out a heavy sigh. Oddly enough I could feel the tension slip away as if I were a dog escaping from my former confining leash.
“Do you think we could go to the place you took me, near the river?”
I opened my eyes to see his smile, as if he was hoping I would ask.
“Certainly, if you don’t mind one stop first.”
With my neck’s slight turn, I could see an open field out of the corner of my right eye. Liam had turned left onto Slatestone Road, heading northeast, away from town.
“No, where’s that?”
I could see the nerves of resistance that now flowed in his brightened eyes as he looked back at me, sliding his hand over the top of mine before wrapping his fingers under my palm.
“To meet my parents.”
I couldn’t help the new drop in my stomach, the kind you get when you come to realize how close you came to knocking over a glass vase onto the floor. I contemplated my decision to ditch school; suddenly two more periods didn’t look so bad. The very thought of this spontaneous detour gave me a nervous chill.
My eyes shifted down to my legs in self-deprecation. It seemed every girl, even when meeting immortals, thought about this question when it came to meeting the family of her boyfriend.
“Is what I’m wearing okay?”
18. Ticking Clock
Liam chuckled. “Yes. You look fine.”
My eyes looked down at my jeans again, following the fabric down to my ballerina flats. I still couldn’t help the disapproval. I sighed again with a subtle shake of my head. My attention was caught by Liam’s light comforting squeeze. I lifted my chin and glanced back up him, finding his emerald green focusing back on me, purely helpless to stop my nerves. I raised my lips with a small grin and reciprocated a squeeze back. This moment was just as nerve racking for him as it was for me. When he looked back out the windshield I followed, watching as we turned onto an old, narrowed paved road. I was disturbed by how long I had been looking down at my clothes in self-deprecation. I had completely missed all of the roads Liam had taken to get here. I regretted not looking out the car window when I had the chance.
As we drove along the private road I could see a mixture of thin and wide branched trees, standing tall as they guarded the road with a needed seclusion. Out the side mirror I could see the remaining leaves circling in the air as if in a choreographed dance before inevitably falling back down into stillness.
The very serenity of it all helped slow the already flowing nerves of anxiety.
“Are you alright?” Liam asked.
I turned my neck back to him.
“I just don’t see this going very well. I mean, it’s enough to make me nervous when thinking about meeting the parents of my boyfriend but this is different. It’s not normal for you to bring home a human. So it’s like already going in unapproved.”
Liam’s grin must have come from my use of the noun to describe him. Even I got a little kick from using it. Yes, Liam Alexander was my boyfriend.
“Whether it’s normal is irrelevant at this point,” Liam said.
There was a grin on his lips but a stern look that beamed from the green in his eyes. “You think so?”
He nodded. “You are in my life now, and that’s all that is relevant.”
“Will your entire family be there?” I asked.
I did my best to control my silent breathing but I could feel the rising trail of goose bumps. There was nothing but intimidation in a meeting the Alexanders, meeting the immortals who created Liam. I was certain the closer he drove the more terror filled my eyes. I could feel his thumb gliding back and forth on my skin.
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