by C. L. Coffey
“I don’t think it’s just me you need to prove it to,” I said, looking over his shoulder at his twin.
He turned and looked at where I was staring.
“I have a hell of a lot of apologizing to do to my sister, and believe me, I’m going to.” He turned back to me. “But I really do want to start over.”
I chewed at my lip before nodding. Everyone deserved a second chance—even I had had one. From a selfish point of view, it would make protecting him easier. But he’d upset Leigh-Ann more than me.
I took a deep breath and offered him my hand. “Hi, I’m Kennedy.”
He arched his eyebrow before giving me a dazzling grin as he took my hand. “Harrison.” He yanked me to him. “Dance?” he asked, as I laughed into his shoulder.
We remained on the dance floor for a few songs, until I decided it was time to find the friend I had abandoned. Leigh-Ann and Ty had moved to one of the tables and were nibbling on sandwiches.
Leigh-Ann looked up at me, her nose wrinkling as Harrison and I sat down with them. “Have I missed something?”
I opened my mouth, ready to explain, but Harrison got there before me. “I’m sorry. I’ve been a complete and utter dick to you.”
She regarded him steadily. “That could qualify as the biggest understatement you have ever made.”
He nodded, his eyes wide but serious. “Definitely. And I dumped Lottie.”
She gave him a bright smile. “About time you came to your senses.”
I gaped at the two of them. “Is that it?” I blurted out. The comment earned me a kick from under the table—judging from the glare Ty was giving me, I knew exactly who had delivered it.
“He’s my twin.” She shrugged as though that was the simplest and most obvious thing in the world. Sibling bonds baffled me. “So, are you having a good time?” she asked me.
“Are you?” I reached over to steal a sandwich from her plate. If she was happy to move on, then so was I.
“Yes.” She smiled shyly at Ty.
He reached over and grabbed her hand.
I studied the pair trying to shake the confused feeling I had whenever I looked at them together. They were like day and night, and even though it seemed like he genuinely cared, there was always a nagging part of me convinced Ty’s intentions weren’t genuine. Then again, it was no secret the guy annoyed the hell out of me.
“I need a drink,” Ty turned to Leigh-Ann. “Do you want one?”
“That would be great,” I said, earning a glare from Ty.
“Yes, please.” Leigh-Ann added.
Ty took a deep breath and headed for the drinks table.
“Where’s Lottie?” she asked Harrison suspiciously after Ty had disappeared.
“Not a clue.” Harrison shrugged, staring out at the dancing students.
Leigh-Ann glanced at me, and I softly shook my head. Her eyes went wide, but she said nothing. “I’m glad you convinced me to come,” I said before quickly changing the subject. “And thanks again for the dress.”
Ty reappeared setting two drinks on the table as he sat down.
I leaned over and took the one.
“Hey!” he objected angrily.
I quickly swallowed the drink and gave him back the empty glass. “Thanks, Ty.” I gave him a fake smile.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
I was certain I had travelled into the twilight zone as I sat with Leigh-Ann, Ty and Harrison, actually enjoying myself.
The evening wasn’t quite what I had in mind for my dream college dance experience, but I had a friend, and I was able to relax and not spend a night studying.
All of a sudden, I felt lightheaded. Along with a different kind of sensation. A tingling feeling started out in my arms and legs before creeping up to my spine, then up my neck and into my head. It was like I had fallen asleep—somehow in the middle of all the loud music—and I was dreaming. My limbs were acting like they did in my dreams, and everything had a fuzzy edge to it.
For a brief moment, the possibility of being drunk did occur to me
I was feeling ... fantastic. And the fuzzy edge made everything look better somehow, especially under the colored lights. I was staring at them, smiling, watching as they danced across the room and floated over the other students when Leigh-Ann spoke.
“What’s the matter with Kennedy?”
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say she was trashed,” Ty responded.
“I am not trashed.” I turned to glare at him. I blinked, as I stared at him. “Wow …”
“What?” He narrowed his eyes.
I couldn’t help but giggle. That was how I knew for certain I was dreaming—I don’t giggle. “Your eyes glow.”
Ty let out a long sigh and looked at Leigh-Ann like he was being completely put out. “She’s drunk.”
“I am not drunk,” I told them both, letting the warm, tingly feeling wash over me. “I wish I was drunk, but I’m not. Besides, I promised the Saint I wouldn’t drink, and if I get caught drunk, I’ll get kicked out of college. Plus, the only thing I’ve had to drink was the drink you …” I pointed at Ty, “brought for Leigh-Ann, and unless the drink you brought was spiked, then me and you need to have words because that’s not cool. Plus, you’ve got your drink.”
“Can you say ‘drink’ anymore times? Or would that be the alcohol?” He pursed his lips.
I stood and leaned over as I snatched his glass from him, somehow not letting it slosh over the sides.
As I sniffed it, he rolled his eyes. “Much as I would love to have a proper drink, we’re in a school.”
“It’s a college.” I corrected him.
“Take a look around, Kennedy.” Ty stepped back and gestured to the room around him. “I’ve told you before that this is a school masquerading as a college so the student body can be controlled.”
“Is he always this cynical?” Harrison looked at me.
I snorted. “Tyrone has a chip on his shoulder.”
“Tyrone is trying to help your bony ass right now,” he muttered. “We should probably duck out and get some water in her before any of the professors see.”
“Or Lottie,” Harrison added. “She’s looking for any excuse to report Kennedy.”
“Lottie is a B-I-T-C-H.” I spelled out in a sing-song voice as Leigh-Ann nodded. “You have terrible taste in women.”
When he didn’t respond, I moved away from the table and stuck my arms out then began spinning, watching as my dress swirled around me. I was stopped abruptly by Ty grabbing my arm.
“Ow!” I glared up at him.
“Enough,” he muttered. He had an annoyingly strong grip.
I glanced at his hand, to where his other should be, before looking up at him. “Did it hurt?”
He ignored me and began ushering me towards the door, keeping an eye on the other side of the room.
“Leigh-Ann, make it look as though you’re both going to the bathroom, and then duck into the library. That will be empty now,” Ty whispered, passing me over to the small blonde.
I glared at him. “What are you doing?”
“Trying not to get your drunk ass kicked out of college,” he told me. “Although I’m beginning to think I shouldn’t bother.”
“Let’s get you out of here.” Leigh-Ann slipped an arm around my waist and steered me towards the door.
“I’m not drunk, you know.”
“I beg to differ.”
“No, I didn’t …” I stopped suddenly and looked around. “When did we leave the party?” I asked, confused at the fact we were surrounded by books. “Why are we in the library? Did you just do the thing Gabriel does?”
Leigh-Ann sighed impatiently, and I decided it was a good idea to leave her be. While she perched on a table, I headed for the window. The lightheaded feeling was back, and the cold glass looked very appealing.
“What the hell is she doing?” I heard Ty say as I leaned my forehead against the glass.
“Whatever she’s doing, she’s
not doing it in front of a professor,” Harrison muttered.
“What has she been drinking?” Leigh-Ann asked again.
“I’ve not had anything,” I called, watching as my breath fogged up the window.
“The only thing she’s had while I’ve been there was the drink you brought over,” Harrison said to Ty.
I leaned back slightly and began drawing in the condensation. “The nephilim probably caused it.”
“The nephilim?” Harrison asked.
I glanced over my shoulder.
“What does that mean?” He wrinkled his hose.
I turned fully. “It means you’re lucky Leigh-Ann’s boyfriend didn’t completely annihilate you for the way you’ve been treating your sister.”
“The nephilim?” Ty stared at me, an eyebrow raised. “Is that really the best you can come up with?”
“You’re not denying it,” I said in a sing-song voice.
“I didn’t spike your drink.”
I shrugged and turned back to the window, concentrating on the angel I was drawing. When I looked through the glass at the outside, the security light had flicked on as an owl flew across the grounds.
“Holy crap, it snowed?” I was confused as to why I was excited, but there was a nagging voice telling me it was a bad thing.
I ignored the voice. It didn’t want me to have fun.
Instead, I darted to the door in the far corner and went outside. I’d only been in the ball for … I had no idea how long it had been as I’d lost all concept of time. We hadn’t been at the dance for that long, but it was long enough for nearly a foot of soft, white snow to have settled onto the ground.
When I was a few paces from the building, I turned and allowed myself to fall backwards into a snow drift. The snow felt deliciously cool against my back, tickling my skin.
“How the hell did she move so fast?” Harrison demanded, appearing in the doorway with Leigh-Ann and Ty right behind him.
“I have super speed.”
Snow angels. Snow angels were a good idea. I waved my arms up and down to make the wings.
“What is going on here?”
I raised my head and found Gabriel staring down at me.
With a grin I leaned back and continued waving my arms up and down. “Look, Gabe. I’m an angel. I earned my wings.”
“She, uh,” Leigh-Ann started, but faltered.
“They think I’m drunk,” I said, helping her out. “Which is impossible, though I do feel drunk.” I sat up and stared at Gabriel. “Can I even get drunk?”
Gabriel inhaled sharply. “You two, get back to the party.”
I sat up and stared at Leigh-Ann and Harrison, pouting. “Where’d your stupid boyfriend go?”
Leigh-Ann looked beside her and frowned. “I don’t know.”
“It doesn’t matter where he went; you can go and join him inside.”
“But–” Leigh-Ann tried to object to Gabriel’s instructions.
Gabriel cut her off, though his tone was gentle. “Both of you missing will draw more attention to the situation. Return to the dance, and I will take Kennedy to sober up.”
“Kennedy said that if Dean Pinnosa sees her like this, she will be expelled,” Leigh-Ann told him. I could hear panic in her voice, and I wrinkled my nose.
Being expelled wasn’t so bad. I’d become an expert at that.
“I will make sure no one finds her.” Gabriel waited for both of them to pull the door closed before turning to me.
Gabriel reached down for my hand and pulled me roughly to my feet.
“Fuck’s sake,” I muttered, even though it hadn’t hurt me. “I wish people would stop pushing me around.”
“How much have you had to drink?”
I glared back at him. “I haven’t had anything to drink.”
“And yet you’re drunk.”
“I’m not drunk.” I crossed my arms. “You can’t be drunk in a dream.”
He looked at me, eyebrows arched, and then he sighed. Gabriel scanned the area, and then held my hand. “Close your eyes,” he told me, gently.
I didn’t. I just stared up at him, confused as to why his hands were radiating so much heat up my arms. The next thing I knew, we were inside, in a room lit by soft lighting. I took a breath before another wave of dizziness hit me, leaving my head spinning. My balance also decided it wasn’t happy, and I felt myself falling.
And then I wasn’t. “What the hell?” I muttered.
Gabriel’s head spun above mine. He let out an exasperated sigh and picked me up. Moments later, I was sitting in an armchair, waiting for the dizziness to disappear.
When the world finally decided to stay in one place, Gabriel came into focus. He was perched on a coffee table opposite me, watching me carefully. “Better?”
“I’m not drunk,” I told him.
“I don’t think you are. I think you’ve been drugged.”
I thought about it, and then shook my head. “I haven’t taken any drugs. I haven’t even had a painkiller.” I leaned forward, my nose not far from his. “Can I tell you a secret?” I whispered. “I’m dreaming.”
“You’re dreaming,” Gabriel repeated slowly.
I nodded, feeling the exaggerated movements sending more tingly feelings shooting to my fingers.
He let out a long sigh, his breath washing over my face, and then shrugged. “Fine, you’re dreaming.”
Giving him a bright smile, I leapt to my feet as a burst of energy hit me. I wanted to move. I dodged around his outstretched arms and away from him. Still feeling that wonderful floaty feeling, I turned slowly, examining where we were.
“Why are we in your apartment?” I turned back to Gabriel. “Where do you actually live? I mean, before this?” My eyes fell on the staircase; the answer was no longer important. I bounded over to the stairs as Gabriel followed after me.
“This is my place at the college. Where do you think you’re going?”
I didn’t have to look at him to know he was frowning, but I glanced over my shoulder and grinned. “I’m exploring.”
“Well can you not explore up–” I ran up the stairs. “–Stairs.” I heard him sigh.
Upstairs, there were only two doors and a very small landing. I pushed one door open and discovered the bedroom. If I ever envisioned what Gabriel's bedroom looked like, this wasn’t it. I think, for an archangel, I would have expected something much more sparse and clinical than this.
In fact, as I stared at the gigantic bed in the middle of the room with its fuzzy edges, I was quite shocked at how my brain had conjured this one up. I walked in, my curiosity piqued.
My imagination couldn’t create any photographs or pictures on the wall, but it did come up with a small CD player. I didn’t even realize they still made these. I pressed play. The music that came out was not what I expected.
“What are you doing?”
I gazed over to the doorway.
Gabriel was standing in it, leaning casually against the frame as he watched me.
“What is this? I don’t recognize the group. Why would my dream create something I don’t recognize?” I bounded over and handed him the CD.
Gabriel gave me a small smile and gently moved me to one side as he walked to the CD player. He took a CD case from the top of a small stack and handed it over, smiling again as I frowned. “They’re a British boy band,” he explained, as though that would help.
I shrugged and put it on the dresser next to me. “I like it, though I really don’t know why you listen to it.”
He smiled again. “You mean, dream me?”
I gave him a ‘duh’ look.
“I’m curious. What do you think I listen to?”
“Classical music,” I said, without giving it a second thought.
“Do you listen to classical music?” he asked. When I shook my head, he smiled again. “Maybe your brain can’t imagine what it hasn’t heard.”
“Then how has my brain managed to come up with this?” I asked.
“Because I don’t listen to this either. I don’t even know who they are.”
Gabriel laughed. That musical laugh that I’d only heard once before.
It made me feel giddy.
“What?” he asked.
“I like your laugh,” I told him. This earned me another laugh, and I beamed back at him. “Dream you is much more fun than awake you.”
He laughed again. “I’m just the same,” he assured me.
“No,” I told him, shaking my head firmly. “You’re much more serious. And strict. And scary.”
He arched an eyebrow. “I’m scary?”
The exaggerated movement from my nod made my body tingle. “But you don’t look right.” I stepped back and folded my arms, looking him up and down.
I was used to seeing Gabriel in his usual clothing of an almost military style. As his job was to protect humans and defeat the Fallen, it made sense for him to wear what he did.
The last thing I had been expecting to see him wearing was a suit. I’d expected him at the dance because it struck me as an event that the college could require chaperones for. But my lord, the suit was positively yummy on him. Or he was positively yummy in it?
But he also didn’t seem real in those clothes.
Gabriel was a little rugged. Exceptionally good looking, but with that air of someone who used his hands for a living—even if it was to kill fallen angels. The suit was too perfect.
I stepped forward and grabbed hold of his tie.
At the same time, as he realized what I was doing, he stepped back.
I fell forward against his chest. I had managed to put my hands out to steady myself in time, and as he gently stood me upright, my fingers splayed out over his shirt and under his jacket. I gasped.
“You have a really hard chest.” I watched my hands. The fabric of the shirt was softer than it looked, but the warmth of his skin underneath made me want to explore further.
Gabriel’s hands moved from my shoulders to my hands, stilling them. “Kennedy, what are you doing?”
His throaty voice made me look up to where I found him watching me with those mossy green eyes I was really starting to love. The floaty feeling hit me again. “You look too perfect.”
Then, as quickly as I could, I jerked my hands free of his and pushed his jacket up and over his shoulders. We both stared at it on the floor for a moment, then, while Gabriel was still distracted, I pulled his tie off, flinging it to the side with a giggle.
