It takes a minute to respond as my own shock’s settling in. “Michael,” it comes out as a squeal. “What are you doing here? And could you keep your voice down,” I say as peaceful as I can.
Michael nods, and in a lower tone says, “I just got back, and I missed you. I wanted to see you.” His head tilts to the left. “You’re not happy to see me?”
I groan, leaning my elbows on the window’s boarder. Michael had left Sophomore year to live in New York with his mother. His parents were getting a divorce, and the separation caused him to choose. His father had stayed here, so I thought he would stay, but he needed to make sure his mom would be okay. He wanted to be there if she needed him, which was understandable. We were still together when he had left, for about a month, until he’d sent guys at school inappropriate pictures of him with other girls. I didn’t appreciate that, so I cut him off with the possibility of maybe getting back together if he ever returned. When I had made that promise, I didn’t intend on mating and no longer being interested in him.
“Tracey, come on. I’ll meet you at the patio.”
Michael used to be so cute. No taller than me and a natural comedian, he’s always had a way with words and always knew how to make us laugh. His dark hair did nothing but curl, even when I took a flat iron to it while he slept one day. He woke up, still looking like Cory Matthews from Boy Meets World. I used to love it. I used to love everything about him; the only guy I opened my heart to and the last guy to break it.
Like I may be about to break his…
“No, Michael,” I say.
The confident smile he wears fades. “What do you mean,” his head jerks back as he bursts, “no?”
“Stop talking so loudly. It’s late. Just go home, Michael.”
He waves his hand dismissively. “It’s no different of a time than when I would come and see you in the past.”
“It’s not the past,” I fire back, lightly slamming my palm against the window panel. “Things have changed.”
“Tracey, I have been gone for almost a year. I’ve missed you. The first thing I did when I landed was run over here to see you. You’ve gotta forgive me by now. Can you please let me in so we can talk about this?” He smiles. “And so I can kiss you? I missed you, Cey.”
Gah, I don’t want to hurt him, but if I don’t at least say something aggressive to get him to back off, he will not let up. Michael’s always been persistent and won’t give up on anything, even when it’s in his best interest to do so.
I tense as a shudder snakes up my spine, and a demanding presence takes over me. It happens every time Nathan’s around. “Go home, Michael,” I blurt, pulling the window closed. I spin round and bump into a human wall.
“What’s going on, Tracey?” Nathan drawls in a deep and demanding voice he’s used with Scott. It gives my goosebumps goosebumps.
“Tracey!” Michael shouts from below.
I shake my head, throwing my hands in my face. Why does he have to do this? It has to be three in the morning, and he’s acting like a total idiot.
Nathan tries to sidestep me, and I match him, sure, that by his comment from last night, his making it to the window will be a bad thing. His vexed gaze stabs through me.
I say, “Just calm down and let me handle it.”
He takes a moment and steps back, running his fingers through his tousled hair. He drones, “Handle it, Tracey. Quickly. I can’t deal.”
I grab his hand and as I hoped, his tenseness eases, just like he said it would. “I will.” I turn back for the window, peering through the glass at Michael, still here, anger written all over his contorted face. It hurts me to hurt him. . . When I push the window back open he asks, “Tracey, please come down?”
“Michael, I know I said when you came back we could try to work things out, but there have been a lot of unforeseen occurrences. Well, rather, one huge occurrence. And unfortunately, I’m no longer available.”
His expression softens. “I’m not hearing that, Tracey. I can hear you have another guy in there with you. You aren’t that girl although you hang around those types of girls.” On the edge of shouting, he continues, “Have they influenced you, making you do these things? Having guys in your room and sleeping around?” He shakes his head. “Come here so I can talk to you about this. I won’t be mad,” he says through his teeth.
I scoff. “This isn’t about you being mad. I’m with somebody else now and, no, I’m not influenced. I’m my own person and always have been. My choices are my own and don’t down-talk my friends.” Those types of girls. How dare he!
Michael studies me for a moment. He shakes his head, rubbing his neck. “Don’t do this, Tracey. You and I have shared things you couldn’t have experienced with this guy. I love you, Cey. Just . . . please, come down. Let me change your mind. I can change your mind.”
I stare for a second, taking in someone I thought I would wait for, and now, here I am ready to walk away from. His sadness sticks deep in his blue eyes as the pool along his lids glistens in the moonlight. And here I am, about to make it worse. I can picture those tears flowing over as I say, “I have to go, Michael. I’m sorry.” I move away from the window and then it hits the fan.
“What the hell, Tracey,” Michael yells. “We are supposed to be together! I dropped everything, thought about nothing but seeing you when I got back. Forget that guy. Come down here and let’s work this out. Let me make this shit go away.” He sucks in a breath, and his voice softens as he says, “That guy can never make you feel the way I did. No girl can do to my heart what you did. Come down. Please?”
I watch him spill out his anger until Nathan nudges me aside. Hunched over out of the window, he scrapes his hand over his beard. His frustration boils through me as if I were experiencing it for myself. “She’s not coming down, she’s not talking to you, and you’re not changing anything besides my mood. It’s time for you to leave.”
Michael turns up his nose and glares at Nathan with a hint of recognition. “And who are you? The replacement? You know nothing about her.” Michael walks away―finally.
I turn to Nathan, ready to apologize. That is until banging on my patio door steals my words. “Oh crap! Michael is losing it.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Nathan bursts. “Do not go downstairs. I’ll be right back.”
He pivots, and I pull him back by his arm. “Wait, calm down. Please? Look at me.” He does, and his eyes swirl between a gray and a night-blue like Scott’s did at school.
Slamming his eyes shut, Nathan steps out of my reach. “Tracey, just give me a minute.”
“I will, but I want you to calm down a little first.” I take his hand and lace our fingers as I calm myself and hope the feeling connects with him. “Am I doing it? Calming you down?”
Dragging in a hearty breath and taking hold of my hand, Nathan pulls me close. “Thank you.” He grabs my chin and lowers, placing a soft kiss on my lips. “I get that this guy may mean something to you, but I need to handle this. I’m not angry. I just need to talk to him.”
Michael bangs on the door, shouting my name. Seeing Nathan in action the other night, the last thing I want to see is that same thing happen to Michael.
I offer Nathan a soft smile. “I’ll come with you.”
His eyes narrow, looking as if he wants to reject my suggestion.
“I’ll make sure you don’t hurt him. We can walk down, and I’ll let you do all the talking.”
“Fine.”
We leave my room and head downstairs. Thank goodness Mom left to visit Dad because I’d be in a world of trouble.
Michael backs away from the door when he sees us approach. Thankfully, with as hard as he banged on it, it’s still intact. Nathan pulls it open, and we examine its outer side to make sure there are no damages. Thankfully, there are none.
Nathan’s haughty stance compliments the edgy tone of his voice as he says, “I understand you and Tracey had something before. But whatever that was, it’s gone, it’s over
. I advise you accept her decision to move on and you do the same.”
“You advise?” Michael snorts and meets my gaze. “Tracey, who is this dude?”
“Don’t speak to her,” Nathan warns, keeping his calm demeanor intact. “She’s told you she moved on. Whatever you two had in the past has passed. Deal with it and move on.”
“Yeah, Michael. You should go,” I add.
“Okay,” Michael says, slowly backing away. “I understand.”
Nathan backs us into the house.
“I’m sorry I left, Tracey,” Michael calls before he jogs off.
I close the doors behind us, cheeks burning with embarrassment. I can’t believe Michael would just pop up and expect for nothing to have changed in an entire year.
Nathan heads back upstairs without a word or a glance in my direction. I follow, at a lost for words except sorry.
Before, I would look at Michael and recall why I loved him, but tonight he was a complete stranger. His ‘I love you’ and hurt-filled eyes hit a hollow place in my heart, and had he pulled this last week, things may be a world different.
I lie down beside Nathan on my bed. He lies on top of the covers, me under, and wraps an arm around me. Pulling me against his chest, he says in my ear, “Whenever you want to hear I love you, or if I don’t say it to you enough, just tell me.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your heart fluttered when he told you he loved you. A thought sparked, and your desire to, one day, hear it from me flourished.” He brushes my hair from the side of my face, pads of his fingertips gliding against my scalp. So simple of a touch, but it takes a huge toll on me. “With your doubt in loving instantaneously, I haven’t said it because I didn’t want it to freak you out, us fresh and me already laying those words on you. . . But all that I’ve learned from you, all that I know of you. I live for you.” He turns me over and looks me in my eyes. “Cool?”
I bow my head to hide my growing smile. Don’t turn into Crazy Tracey, play it cool, he was bound to say it eventually, I tell myself. Nodding, I say, “I’m seriously sorry. That was terrible.”
“No need to be. I expect other guys to want my lady.” He kisses my forehead. “I hate it when they don’t listen. Thanks for helping me calm down.”
“Always.”
As I move through the days, I expect to want Nathan a little less, or for my conscious to throw up some kind of red flag, but it doesn’t happen. A very big part of me is so okay with all of this, it’s a little scary. It all just feels so easy, he’s too perfect, and I’m so comfortable around him, maybe I want to find something wrong. But I find no flaws. I want this—him, and without question. I never thought something this strong existed in this world. But fate, maybe, destined for me to be with him and could it be that’s why it’s so easy?
Nathan and I tag along with Glen and Scott to the park. He and Glen can’t make it through a day alone together, which I must also figure out. If Scott is also a Burdened Sephlem and Glen is human too, why is their mated relationship different from ours? They’re better now that Scott’s more accepting, but that’s only when it’s the group of us.
I look over at Nathan, laying back on the grass with his arms behind his head and his eyes closed. “You sleep?”
His lids part into thin slits. “No. What’s up?”
“Just thinking.” I scoot closer and look him over. “My brain is wracked with so much, Scott stopping by every night, then Michael blowing a gasket, mating… I’m doing my best to cope with everything. I need a break. New scenery or something.” I shrug.
Nathan sits up. “You want to go to my house tonight? There’s a lake in my backyard, we can chill at the beach or whatever you want. Give us some solo time.”
“Of course!” I say, smile growing wide. “I’d love that.”
“Alright. We’ll check on Scott and Glen in the a.m.”
Frowning, I say, “My entire break’s going to be filled with Glen and Scott, isn’t it?”
He chuckles, standing. “There’s a strong possibility it will.”
introductions
A little after eight, Nathan pulls into a long driveway with a big, white house with black shutters at the drive’s end. Two large, all-white columns sit on the front porch near the door, welcoming entry. Windows galore bathe the two-story brick house. I lean forward, taking in its beauty. Beside the home sits a four-car and a single-car garage with flowers beautifully hung from their gutters.
Nathan’s truck is out front, and I smile at it, remembering how we met. And then I cringe…remembering how we met.
“We’re going somewhere in it tonight,” he informs, letting up one of the garage doors and pulling in. “But first, you need to meet my mother.”
I practically cough up a lung. “Say what?” Meet his mother? I look over my black button-down as I untie the knot I put in the back to make it tighter around my middle and then survey my faded blue jeans with a rip over my left knee. I didn’t dress appropriately to meet his mom. “Oh no.”
His dark brows even as he gives me an encouraging smile. “She’ll love you, trust me.”
“You think so?”
“Yes, come on. We’ll go meet her, let her hug you, and then we can head out. I have somewhere I want to take you. Help you forget about this past weekend and prep you for sleeping.”
My cheeks warm as I fight a smile. “Hmm, sounds intriguing.” He parks in the garage and we get out. Each space of the garage holds a car, and I hope Nathan and his parents aren’t the kind of people who need a car for each day of the week.
Nathan leads me from the garage to the front porch lit by a soft fire-like glow from the light fixtures on each side of the double doors. He opens the door on the left and a woman half Nathan’s height with oak-colored hair and young almond-shaped eyes is waiting for us on the other side. I step in, and she startles me, pulling me into a hug. I return her embrace, giggling, happy she’s not scolding me for the wrinkles in my shirt.
She draws back, keeping her hands wrapped around my shoulders. Grinning ear to ear, she says, “It’s so nice to meet you, Tracey. I’m Natalia. And you better address me as such. None of that formal Mrs. Newcomb stuff.” She pins me with a warning gaze but warming smile.
“Yes, ma’am. You have my word.”
Not a single wrinkle creases her tan skin. The vintage swing dress she wears hugs her curvy waist, and in her house slippers she’s an inch shorter than me. Many of Nathan’s features came from her: the curve of his chin, the shape of his eyebrows, and that dimple in his cheek. She’s cheerful, and my shoulders fall as I release the uneasy breath I was holding. “I’m so happy Nathan met you, Tracey. Make yourself at home.” She takes my hand in hers and pats the top of it with her free hand. “I can only imagine what all could be going through your mind after finding out about your mating. If you have any questions, I’m available for you to come to me about anything.”
I squeeze her hand a little. “Thank you so much, Natalia. I appreciate that.”
A man, a few inches shorter than Nathan, sulks up behind her. Natalia and Nathan’s smiles ease away as they shift cautious gazes at him. The way the porch lights glow upon his face and casts an ominous shadow over his eyes makes the slow churn of dark colors stand out. I resist the urge to cross my arms to shield myself from his oncoming.
“This is my father,” Nathan says in an impassive tone. A sense of apprehension sinks in the room that keeps me from passing them off as family.
“Hello Tracey.” His voice, deep but smooth, makes the loathsome way he says hello, soak me in an uneasiness that makes me want to book it right back out their front door. A smile breaks past his dark expression. “It’s nice to meet you.” He pats Nathan’s shoulder and Nathan steps out of his reach, forcing his hand back to his side. Mr. Newcombs smile morph to a scornful leer.
I clear my throat, growing uncomfortable with the level of tension building in the doorway.
“We’ll be back later,” Nathan says to h
is mom, not sparing his dad a single glance. “I wanted to bring Tracey by to meet you.”
I smile. “It’s nice to meet you, Natalia and Mr. Newcomb.”
“You too, Tracey,” his dad drones. He turns on his heels, pulling from under his arm Homer’s The Iliad. Its binding’s ragged and pages stained. He lifts it before his eyes and trudges off down a well-lit hall.
It’s hard to ignore Mr. Newcomb’s ice cold shoulder, but I try to not let it bother me. I fake an elated smile as I say to Natalia, “Thank you for welcoming me into your home. It’s beautiful.”
“It’s my pleasure, dear. You two be careful.” She pats Nathan’s back as we turn for the door. “Don’t stay out too late.”
“Don’t wait up for me. Get some rest.” He continues, saying something in a language I don’t understand. I can’t recognize it.
“I love you, son,” Natalia responds.
We leave for his truck. I climb in and strap on the seatbelt, relieved to be free of the tension growing in his foyer. “Where are we going?” I ask.
“You’ll see when we get there.” He cranks up the radio, and I ride, nodding to the country music playing through the speakers. My thoughts settle as the wind brushes across my face. I throw a glance in Nathan’s direction and look forward to what I hope will be some uninterrupted time together.
We arrive at a pier overlooking the lakefront. The heavy breeze tosses the water, and it splashes back and forth against itself and the bank. The sound it makes is relaxing.
Nathan sits back after cutting off the truck. Flicking a glance in my direction, he reaches over and pulls me near. “It’s beautiful out here, Nathan,” I say, slipping an arm around his neck.
“Mmm, almost.” He pulls me into a passion-filled kiss.
I tangle my fingers in his hair, loving the way he sneaks his hand underneath the back of my shirt. He gets me as close to him as he can and moves forward, forcing me to lay back on the seat.
Plight: A Dark Paranormal Romance (The Sephlem Trials Book 1) Page 12
