“No. I just stopped by for a minute.”
He winced and exhaled. “Is that you I’m sensing? It feels so…I don’t know…hopeless. Is everything okay?”
“I’m sorry,” Jade said. “It’s not, actually.” She swallowed.
His brows scrunched together. “What happened?”
“It’s my mom. She’s in the hospital. And she’s…” Jade swallowed. “…not doing well.”
“Oh, Jade. I’m so sorry.” He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t think I can talk about it right now.” Jade tried to squeeze all the feelings back inside. She wasn’t sure if it worked.
“Okay.” When she didn’t respond, his hand found hers and tugged gently. “Hey. Come here.”
She stood, and her eyes went up to his. Logan’s strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her tight to his chest. Her ear lay against his heart, and she heard the beats pulsing through her mind like a calming rhythm. Her entire body sank into him.
He pulled back after a moment. “Do you want to come over? I’ll make dinner.”
She nodded, feeling dull.
In her car, Jade followed Logan to his house. An odd sense of lethargy took hold of her body. It wasn’t the peace she so desperately needed, but it was better than the raw emotions from earlier.
At his house, he went to work taking out dishes and pulling food from the fridge.
“Can I help?” she asked.
“You deserve a break. Why don’t you just relax?”
Normally, she would protest, but tonight she sank onto one of the stools at the counter and watched him.
He started chopping garlic and onions, glancing up to eye her. “Want to talk?”
“Not really.” Her wounds from the day had cauterized, but she knew if she went into the whole story all over again the seal wouldn’t hold. She’d already had to push away Logan twice that weekend—something she hated doing. “Why don’t you tell me about your weekend instead,” she said.
“Okay.” As Logan chopped, boiled noodles, and prepared a thick, red sauce, he talked about the summer classes he was teaching—a bigger load than normal. He mentioned his frustrations with the tests that had recently been turned in and a suspicion that some of the students were cheating. Then he mentioned his large stack of papers waiting for grades. “I know it’s the best way to help it sink into their heads, but every single year I kick myself for requiring so much homework.” He shook his head and chuckled. “Why don’t I ever remember that when I’m printing up the syllabus?”
“You’re a good teacher,” Jade said. “An excellent teacher. That’s why you do it.”
He smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “I’m glad you think so. Pretty sure my students think I’m a dictator.”
“Maybe so, but we students tend to think that about all teachers.”
“So how’s your job been?” he asked. “You seemed really busy the other day. Am I allowed to ask about that at least?”
“Of course. The shop’s been thriving.”
“Thriving good or thriving bad?” He gave her a scrutinizing eye, and she knew he was wondering how the crowds affected her handicap.
“It’s been good. More customers means Mountains of Books will stay in business, which means I should have a job until I graduate…and even after, if I want it.”
“Right,” he said.
“And March hired someone new, so I should have more help.”
“That’s great,” Logan said. “Who is it?”
“His name’s Graham. He goes to Colorado College too. He’s in my major. Weird, huh?”
“Not too weird that the English majors all hang out at the most hopping bookshop right off campus.”
“Okay, I get your point.”
When dinner was ready, they sat down together but ate in silence. Jade drifted through her own thoughts. Logan was quiet too, maybe to give her space.
Afterward, Jade offered to do the dishes and clean up so Logan could get started on his pile of grading. He sat at the bar scratching away with his red pen while she rinsed the pots and pans and put them in the dishwasher. Thoughts of what her mom and dad were doing crept into Jade’s mind as she worked. What had they eaten for dinner—hospital food? What would her dad do overnight—go home or sleep in the small recliner near her mom’s bed? Would he need someone to get his things for him? Maybe she should offer to help run errands or to visit him at home. Her thoughts strayed to bigger, harder questions like what would happen if her mom didn’t get better. Before she realized it, tears threatened to break loose.
She set down the plate she was holding and glanced at Logan. He still sat at the bar, but instead of his brow furrowed in concentration as he scribbled notes on the papers, his head rested on his hands, fingers clawing at his hair as if in pain. It drew her back to how her presence had influenced her mom earlier that day.
Jade’s eyes went wide. She sucked down the penetrating feelings as quickly as she could. She swiped at her cheeks with the backs of her hands and wished erasing the tears could erase the dark emotions too.
“Logan?”
His head came up in a startled flick, and Jade saw that his eyes were moist and bloodshot.
“I….” She stared at him but didn’t know what to say. It was happening again.
His throat constricted, and he opened his mouth to speak, but words didn’t come.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean for this to happen. I’m just…I’m out of control.” She scurried past him out of the kitchen.
Logan rose from the stool and followed her. “Jade. Maybe we should talk—”
She shook her head quickly. “I can’t be here. I’m distracting you. Polluting you with my stupid head!”
“Jade, it’s okay—”
“It’s not okay! Nothing about this is okay. I’m not okay.”
He stood before her now, his eyes searching, looking as lost as she felt. He must feel how screwed up this all was, and he didn’t seem to have any more of a solution than she did.
“I need to get home.” She slung her bag over her shoulder.
“Jade, stay. Let me help you get through this.”
She shook her head. “No. I can’t.” Her mom’s agonized face swam through her head. The flatlining of the heart monitor in the next hospital room echoed in her mind. Seeing Logan like this only wrenched up all the guilt she’d tried to bury deep inside.
“It’s too much,” she choked out.
He touched her arm. “You shouldn’t have to do it on your own.”
She pulled back quickly. “I have to be alone.”
Hurt flashed across his face. “I love you.”
That only stirred her inner torment. “I love you, too,” she mumbled before hurrying away. It was why she had to leave.
~
Two days later, after her daily workout including a five-mile run on the treadmill, Violet lounged on the sofa with her legs draped across Ras’s lap. He toyed with her hair and made goo-goo eyes at her. For the most part, she ignored him, but his gentle touches were a reminder of her power, and in that way, they energized her mind. The heady buzz from her new dose of meds relaxed her all the more.
The colored cords connecting her with him trailed through the air, gently lapping back and forth as though caught on an invisible breeze. They seemed to respond to small variations in her mood and Ras’s, and she could tighten or loosen them at will.
Now, however, she sat thinking about her primary conquest. Logan. Why hadn’t she been able to transfer the cords to him back at the school?
She frowned, considering how to get what she wanted—what she needed. There was no reason Violet shouldn’t attack the problem from both ends. Getting Logan to herself meant first getting rid of that tramp he was dating. She’d seen how whiny Holly had been about Ras. The last thing Violet needed was another suspicious girl hounding her about her disinterested man.
Cocking her head to one s
ide, she glanced at Ras. “I need you to do some surveillance for me.”
“Surveillance? Whatcha mean?” Ras blinked innocently, but his wide, dark eyes were fixed on her, ready for instruction.
Just the way she wanted him.
“There’s a teacher named Logan Henry I need you to tail.”
“I can tail him. That make you happy?” Ras was practically panting and wagging his hindquarters.
“Yes. It would make me very happy.”
He leaned forward. “When can I start?”
“Hold on.” Violet held up a hand. “This has to be done very…discreetly.”
He gave her a blank look.
“Discreet. Inconspicuous. Keep it on the down-low. No one can find out you’re watching him—especially not him. You’ll have to be very careful. Can you do that?”
“I can do that.” He moved to get up.
Violet scrutinized him. “Ras.”
He perked again with his attention fixed on her.
“If he finds out you’re following him, I will be very upset.”
Ras’s eyes went wide again, beseeching her. His head shook vehemently. “He won’t find out.”
“I can’t take any risks. If you can’t handle this, I’ll send someone else.”
“No—I can do this! I promise.”
She measured his expectant posture. “I’ll give you a chance to prove yourself first. If you complete your first task, I might consider giving you more.”
“You can trust me, Violet. I swear. Please let me do it.”
Violet nodded once. “Okay.”
Ras scooted forward, and her legs fell from his lap. “What’s the task?” he asked.
“I need you to find out his schedule for the summer: what classes he teaches, when his office hours are, what time he clocks in and out. All without anyone seeing you.” Violet knew some of Logan’s habits from the time she’d worked in the history office, but that would only help her judge Ras’s skills better. And she didn’t know what might have changed since she’d been out.
“Got it.” Ras headed to the door.
“Oh, and Ras?”
He turned to face her.
“He has a favorite pen. It’s black, and he keeps it in an engraved wooden box.” Violet knew for a fact the pen had been a gift from Jade. Maybe it was time to send Logan a message.
“Find it, and bring it back to me,” she told Ras.
Logan no longer needed the pen, just like he no longer needed that girl.
Monday morning Chloe went home, and for the whole week, Jade kept to business. She went to work, went to her summer class, and only allowed herself to think of her mom when she was home. She got reports over the phone from her dad, and the word was that her mom was still too weak to go home. There was a chance she might need a blood transfusion, but he was hoping that wasn’t the case. For now, at least she wasn’t any worse.
Logan called her every day, too, but Jade had avoided most of his calls. On Friday she decided that talking to him on the phone would at least provide a discussion without the risk of her glitch since emotions didn’t transfer over the phone. She got off her early shift and called him as she drove to class.
“Wow, is my girlfriend actually calling me?” Logan’s teasing tone didn’t make Jade feel any better for ignoring him.
“I’m sorry. I’ve just been busy.”
“It’s okay, Jade. I know you’ve had some things to work out. I just miss you, is all.”
“I miss you too. Are you free this afternoon? I have class then I’m free.”
“Yeah. I’m working, but I should be done by then. How about you meet me at my office when you get out of class?”
“Sounds great.” She couldn’t help smiling as she parked her car and headed to class. Everything was going to be okay. She would figure this out.
The few summer school students were leisurely strolling the green lawn or hurrying off to class as Jade exited her car and slung her book bag over her shoulder. She was making her way to the English building when someone came hurrying across from the side. Jade didn’t see the woman in time to avoid the collision.
Jade’s bag flew off her shoulder, and she went sprawling to the ground with a grunt.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” the woman said. “I wasn’t watching where I was going.”
Jade glanced up to see who had run her down.
A slim young woman stood over her. Long auburn hair trailed down past her shoulders and billowed in the soft breeze. Her face wore an apologetic frown as she grabbed the book bag and handed it to Jade.
“Thanks.” Jade rose and slid it back into place on her shoulder. She started to turn away when the young woman spoke again.
“Do I know you?”
Her face looked familiar, but Jade couldn’t place her. “Um, I don’t think so,” she said.
“Wait—are you Jade? Jade Edwards?”
“Yes.” Jade studied the woman but didn’t think they’d met. “Did I have a class with you or something? I’m sorry, I don’t remember.”
The girl tittered softly. “No, no. I don’t think so. I graduated two years ago. I work in the history department. I’m Dr. Schneider’s assistant.”
“Oh.” Jade must’ve seen her in passing once when she’d been visiting Logan.
“I recognized you from a picture in Logan’s office.”
“Oh. Right.” Jade remembered the framed portrait of her on Logan’s desk. This woman must have seen it there. “You’re colleagues, then?”
The soft giggle again. “Well, sort of. I mean, I got hired on last year, but Logan and I have known each other a lot longer. I’m Violet, by the way.”
The way the woman used Logan’s name sent prickles of irritation through Jade. How were they on a first-name basis? “Oh? He never mentioned you.”
Violet’s lips pursed, but her eyes held a gleam as if she had a secret. “We go way back. I met him ages ago, back when he was teaching in Boulder. He gave me quite a bit of special attention, if you get my drift.” She sent Jade a meaningful wink.
Jade blinked. “What do you mean?”
“Oh, you know. The quiet, moody professor falling for the eager young student who needs a little extra help…and just happens to be gorgeous.” She flipped her hair past her shoulder. “It is a bit prosaic, maybe, but you can’t really blame him, can you?”
“You and Logan—” Jade couldn’t wrap her mind around it. All this time she’d had one impression of him—separating himself from the student body and the rest of society with invisible barriers even she hadn’t quite been able to demolish. And now to discover he’d actually had a relationship?
Violet gave a what-can-you-do shrug.
“But Logan’s never been able to get close to people.” And wouldn’t he have told her?
“Every guy has his needs,” Violet said. “He’s no different, just a bit harder to coax out of his shell.” She examined her fingernails. “But I have my ways of getting men to open up. What can I say? I’ve always been talented.”
Jade’s fingers clawed into fists, her nails gouging the inside of her palms.
Violet shrugged. “You don’t believe me? Just ask him. He and I had a run-in last spring.” She started to chuckle, but her face contorted, and her laugh stalled. Jade realized her emotions must be influencing Violet. But she didn’t care. She was too upset by these claims.
After what looked like an inner fight to wipe the frown off her face, Violet lapsed into a sneer and spoke again. “It was kind of embarrassing. He caught me in my skimpy pajamas.” Despite Jade’s emotions, Violet managed a haughty lift of her chin.
Jade’s face flushed with heat. There was no way this was true. Logan couldn’t have dated anyone, especially not this girl. And her claim to have run into him last year couldn’t be true either. Jade had been friends with Logan at the time—surely he would’ve mentioned something like that. Wouldn’t he?
“I gotta get to class,” Jade muttered, unable to stifle the jeal
ous feelings rising inside her.
Violet’s face contorted as though she were fighting speak. “You…hold on to that one,” she said with an angry edge to her tone. “If you can.”
Jade pushed past Violet and toward the building. She had to get out of here.
“He’s a great kisser!” Violet called after her.
Jade’s simmering emotions lit with fury, and she felt as though she might breathe fire. It couldn’t be true. Surely the woman was just trying to get her riled up. And why had it worked so well?
At the English building, Jade had to pace in front of the door for several minutes just to calm herself down. She didn’t want any of her anger to taint the people around her, and she felt especially dangerous at that moment.
~
Violet’s anger slowly cooled as she watched Jade walk away. She’d quickly thought up the few choice words to set her off. The one thing she didn’t understand was why she herself had gotten angry so easily. She’d nearly lost her cool, and had only barely managed to get out everything she’d intended to say. Violet had to remind herself that this girl held no power over her. No enchanting power gave her authority. She was a lowly college student. Practically still a kid.
The up side was that Jade looked every bit as upset. If Violet’s intuition told her anything, it was that it would be only a matter of time before Logan was single again. And then he’d be primed and ready for her to swoop in.
Ras had been following Logan, and Violet felt her chance approaching. Soon it would be her claws around him.
Several minutes after Jade left, Ras returned, scampering back like a proud puppy producing a stick. He held out the black pen, waited for Violet’s open palm, and dropped it in her hand.
“So, you finally got it,” Violet said. “Took you long enough.”
“There’s almost always someone in the office. But I got lucky during lunch today.”
“Very nice.”
“Now can I do it?” He all but bounced on his toes with eagerness.
“Do what?”
“The thing you wanted me to do. Have I proved myself?”
Enchanter: The Flawed Series Book Four Page 8
