“How nice of you to invite me, Eden,” she tells him as she puts her hand on his shoulder. “I would love to take a quick dip with you. With all of you.”
Ally speaks up as she looks over her expensive sunglasses at her husband, “Eden, how nice of you to invite Ms. Banks to join us, but you must have forgotten we were just about to go in and get ready to leave. Remember, we’re going to go work out with Beck?”
He smiles at her. “I did forget about that. Sorry, Linda. Maybe another time then?”
“Oh, pooh,” she pouts.
“Sorry,” Ally says.
I bet she’s not!
“Well, I’ll have to take you up on that swim another time, then. I just came over today to make sure Laura and Kyle’s things were moved into the correct room,” Linda says as she turns her attention to Kyle. “I managed to get both of your things into Alyssa’s old closet, as you two will be staying together in that room. That is what you requested, right?”
Ally looks at me, a little surprised. “You two are staying in the same room now? I thought that Kyle would be in Eden’s old room,” she says. “What happened to that plan?”
I look back at her and say, “The ginormous picture of you in that room is a bit overwhelming for me, Ally. I can’t have my man falling asleep looking at that thing. It could be bad for our relationship.”
“The picture can be taken down. Don’t make yourselves uncomfortable because of that. I can have it out of there before you go to bed tonight,” she offers.
Kyle jumps into the conversation. “Ally, it’s okay. We’re not uncomfortable at all. We want to stay together.”
“I see,” she says as she stands up. “Well, we should head inside and get ready to go.”
Eden grabs her cover up and drapes it across her shoulders, then pulls his shirt on. “Let us walk you out, Linda,” he tells her as he wraps his arm around Ally’s waist, then takes Linda’s hand, leading her back to the patio door.
Kyle and I lag behind a bit. As we come into the foyer, we see Eden and Ally at the front door with Linda.
“It was nice to see you again, Linda,” Eden says.
She turns to Ally. “It was really nice to see you, Mrs. Fontaine,” she says.
Ally speaks through clenched teeth, “It was nice to see you again too, Ms. Banks,”
Linda quickly pecks Eden on the cheek, then hurries out to her car, which I see is a rather expensive Mercedes.
“Nice car. She must make a lot of money,” Ally says.
“Oh, yes, the foundation pays her very well. She works really hard, you know,” Eden says.
“Oh, don’t I know that,” she says, and her teeth are still clenched.
“That wasn’t so hard, was it?” Eden asks her as they walk up the staircase several steps in front of us.
She turns to look at him in astonishment. “It was excruciating, Eden!” she yells.
He pauses, looking into her eyes, then begins moving up the stairs again. “You’re getting better. I couldn’t tell you were jealous at all. Well, not about me anyway. When you found out that Kyle and Laura would be sleeping together, your feathers seemed to get a bit ruffled,” he tells her
I guess Eden thought we were far enough behind them that we couldn’t hear him. I glance up at Kyle and ask, “Is Ally mad?”
“She’s seeing red, but I’m not sure why,” he says and I bolt after her.
“Alyssa Shaylee Devlin Fontaine, I want to talk to you right now,” I say, sternly. “Sorry, Eden, I have to talk to my best friend for a minute or two,” I apologize to him as I take her by her arm and pull her to her bedroom. “I don’t want Eden to hear what I have to say to you.”
“What the hell, Laura?” she asks.
I usher her into her room and close the door behind us. “Ally, I’m tired of this thing you have for Kyle.”
“I don’t have a thing for Kyle, Laura. I’m a happily married woman now,” she says as she pulls back from me.
“The hell you don’t. What was that crap out there? I saw the look on your face, Ally. When he told you we wanted to stay together, you were pissed. You might as well admit it,” I fire at her.
“Well, I wouldn’t call it pissed. I would call it concerned. I don’t want you to rush into things and hurt each other. I’m just looking out for both of you,” she says.
“Rush into things? Really, Al?” I say as I gesture to her. “Look at you. Talk about rushing.”
“Eden and I are different. We can’t ever leave each other. If you tire of Kyle, you can leave him,” she tells me.
“What makes you think I’ll tire of Kyle?” I ask.
“I don’t know,” she says as she falls on her bed. “Crap, I don’t really think that, Laura. I have these little, petty jealousies. I can’t explain it. I was jealous about that lady who showed up. It got my jealousy juices flowing.”
“Why would you be jealous of her? She’s old enough to be Eden’s aunt or something. I thought they probably were related, the way they acted together, like they had known each other for a long time.”
She pulls a pillow up and wraps her arms around it. “It’s a long story, Laura.”
I need to hear her story if I’m about to believe it’s not Kyle she jealous about. “You better give it to me, because I need to get to the bottom of this.”
“I can’t believe you’re making me tell you this,” she says, then hesitates. “The lady was Eden’s touch tutor. She taught him how to kiss and touch me properly.”
What in the name of all that’s holy?
My mouth falls open. “OMG! You’re lying!”
“I wish I was. Eden never told me about her until we met her at our wedding. Then I saw it for myself as his mind replayed a time they had a practice session. You can ask Kyle about it. I showed him the memory and he agreed it was a hot encounter.”
“Sick. Did they really call them sessions?” I ask.
She nods and I see the sadness in her eyes. “I just can’t get over it. I keep trying, but it’s so damn hard when she touches him and acts all young and shit. He seems oblivious to her antics. Then she shows up over here and the fool invites her to join us for a quick dip. I mean, could he be that clueless?” she asks.
I nod. “I think he just might be. I’ve noticed he doesn’t act like any super-hot guy I’ve ever seen, not that I’ve seen that many. He’s just so crazy over you that he can’t see that other members of the female persuasion find him fascinating. It’s one of the things I like about him.”
“You like that about him?” she asks.
“Well, yeah, Al. I mean he doesn’t look at himself like he’s anything other than your husband. Either he’s clueless about other women, or he just doesn’t see them as a threat to you, because he’s hopelessly in love with you. You’re the world to him. No one could ever replace you. You know what I mean?”
“I think you’re telling me I have no reason to be jealous,” she says as she drops the pillow to her side. “Because he would never do anything with anyone else, and the women who fall all over themselves for him don’t have a shot in hell at taking him away from me.”
“That’s right Ally,” I tell her. “Now that we have that cleared up, let’s clear up this thing between us. I know this is a little bit hard for you. I can see it in your eyes every time Kyle and I touch each other in front of you.”
Ally drops her head. “I’ll get over this, Laura. I don’t want Kyle like that. I don’t know why I get a little pain in my chest when the two of you touch. Or a big pain in my chest when it’s thrown in my face that the two of you are doing what I could never do with him. I hate to say this, but a part of me wants to know what would’ve happened if Eden had never come along and if this bird thing never happened.”
“But it did happen, Ally, and you’re happy with Eden,” I say as I take her hand.
“I was happy with Kyle,” she says as she runs her thumb over my knuckles. “When he touched me, it felt like a jolt of electricity ran through me.
The night we finally got to go alone to the movies, we made out through the whole movie. I don’t even remember what the movie was because we were so caught up in each other. On the way home, he pulled the truck over and I almost gave into him. The only thing that stopped me was the promise I’d made my mother. I’m jealous of you, Laura. You get to experience more with him. I could have had that, but didn’t, and now I never will.”
“Ally, I had no idea you felt that way,” I say. “How selfish of me not to have thought you’d have issues about your unresolved feelings for him. I was foolish to think this could work.”
Ally’s brows draw together as she frowns. “No, please Laura, this can work. I need you, like you can’t know how much I need you. Look how you just helped me with my jealousy over Eden. You stopped me from getting into a big fight with him just now.”
“I did?”
“Yes, you did. I don’t have anyone to talk to about my own issues,” she says. “You’re the only one I can talk to like this and now you know everything about me. Do you know how hard it is to be a freaking bird and not tell anyone?”
I laugh. “I bet it is. Now I have to keep it a secret too. Do you think time will heal you, Ally? That’s what Eden thinks.”
Confusion fills her face. “You’ve talked to Eden about this?”
“Briefly, and only once,” I tell her. “We met at the top of the stairs one morning. The morning after we all went swimming at your parents’ house and Kyle and I took a little longer to get down there. I don’t know what happened between you and Eden. He must’ve gotten the idea you were a little jealous of what you must have guessed we were doing that held us up. I also confided in him that Kyle often tenses up when you and Eden are whispering to each other or touching each other.”
“He does?” she asks.
“Yes, he does,” I answer. “Eden’s sure the physical feelings you and Kyle had for each other are fading, that you are both getting back to the strong friendship you had before the physical stuff started to happen, and that time will fix this situation.”
Ally pats my hand. “So you have to deal with this crap from me and Kyle, then?”
“I pretty much knew that having a relationship with him so soon after you two broke up was going to be riddled with issues—mine, yours, and his,” I say. “He doesn’t talk as openly about your relationship as he did when I first started talking to him. I was trying to help him get past his obsession about getting you away from Eden and your parents. I don’t know if it’s because he’s talked it all out of his system or that he doesn’t want to hurt me. I can feel him tense up and see in his face at times that it hurts him to see you and Eden together.”
Ally turns away. “My poor Kyle.”
“Your happiness means more to him than anything else. Making sure you’re safe has always been his top priority. I can remember that from back when we were kids. Maybe he’s supposed to be your protector, Ally. Maybe I’m supposed to be that too. Whether it was pre-destined or not, that is what we are,” I say.
“Laura, I can’t thank you enough for being so understanding. Your heart is so pure,” Ally tells me. “I love you. You and Kyle have done so much for me. It’s time I stop being a selfish brat about him. To stop thinking of him as my Kyle and let the two of you have your life together, free from my petty jealousies. From this moment on, you’re going to see a new Ally. One who promotes this relationship of yours and encourages you as you’ve encouraged me.”
“I love you too,” I tell her as we hug. “I’m so glad we talked. Now let’s put this behind us.”
“I agree,” she says. “Now go get on your workout clothes, because we’re about to embark on a torturous journey that involves Satan himself. But don’t worry, because I have a jacuzzi we can soak in after the torture.”
“Ally, should I be afraid?” I ask in a fake scared voice.
“Be afraid, Laura, be very afraid. The self-defense session with him was nothing. Workouts with Beck are a whole different thing.” she tells me in a mock spooky voice as she leads me out to the living room and out the suite’s door. “See you in twenty minutes.”
CHAPTER 58
ALYSSA
The pilot’s voice tells us we’re about to land, so Eden and I go take our seats. “See, Alyssa, it’s not always horrible,” Eden tells me as we get into the car that’s taking us to Kyle and Laura’s new place.
He also showed me a bit about how Kyle liked both Laura and I when we were all fifteen. His best friend, Cody, got in his ear and told him once he’d kissed me the decision was made.
It made me see our whole relationship in a new light, one where he felt he’d messed up his chance with Laura, so he just stayed with me.
Not quite the love story I’ve always had in my head!
Eden had a dream about how Laura will be initiated into The Phoenix Foundation and we flew up to surprise them with what they’ve been given. I’m not happy about the drama of sneaking away and making them think we’re kidnapped to get them here.
We pull up to a large gate, quite a ways from the airport in Austin, Texas. The driver pushes a button and it opens. We drive up the long driveway, which is lined with tall pine trees. The house finally comes into view. It’s a huge, log-cabin-style house.
“Laura is going to lose it when she sees this place. I know Kyle will love it. It’s torture, the panic we’ve put them in, but I think they both will feel like it was well worth it when they see this,” I say.
“The decorators have almost finished their bedroom and it looks like everything has been done out by the pool. It should only be a few more hours, then they should be here. Dad told me they took off several hours ago in your car, right after they were told about the abduction,” Eden tells me.
“That’s the only thing I feel badly about. The lying doesn’t feel really right,” I say.
“I suppose it’s a test to see if they’re really capable of being our guardians. Maybe you could look at it like that, Alyssa,” he tells me.
“I’ll try,” I say.
The front door opens as Linda Banks comes in, followed by a bunch of people carrying boxes and bags. “Eden and Mrs. Fontaine, it’s so nice to see you again,” she calls out to us.
Eden takes my hand, leading me to her. I find it incredible that I feel fine about her now, since Laura helped me to see I don’t have any reason to be jealous.
“Thank you for coming on such short notice, Linda,” Eden tells her, then points up the stairs. “Their room is the door at the end of the hallway at the top of the stairs. You can have your staff take their things up there.”
I smile at her. “Hello again, Linda. Thank you so much for doing all of this for my friends. And call me Alyssa, please.”
“Well, it is my job, Alyssa. Besides that, I’m happy to do it.”
I can see she’s nothing but a professional in front of her staff. “Okay, we’ll I’ll let you get to work then.”
She hurries off to get working. I turn to look at Eden to find him beaming down at me. “What?”
“You’ve come a long way, baby,” he laughs, then kisses the top of my head.
“I told you Laura helped me get over the jealousy thing. Anyway, Linda acted very differently this time. Much more professional. She also kept her hands to herself, which I liked.”
Eden looks at me quizzically. “So if she had run up and hugged me, then you wouldn’t have taken that so well?”
I shrug my shoulders. “I really don’t know.”
He shakes his head back and forth slowly. “Alyssa, you are such a mystery. I never know what to expect from you.”
“That’s exactly how I like it,” I tell him as we walk out to the patio in the back of the house.
The sky is beginning to show signs of the sun setting. Oranges, reds, and yellows fill the sky. The air is beginning to cool. The pool looks beautiful and inviting. The waterfall adds a dramatic effect that I know Laura will love.
“Eden, do you really think they’ll li
ke this place?”
“Uh, hell yes they will. Not only is it close to where Kyle’s going to go to college in the fall, but there are twenty acres for him to do whatever he wants with them. This place has everything. A pool, a giant back yard for the kids they will have someday, a game room, and even a recording studio in the basement. Not to mention the completely badass four-wheel-drive Ford truck and the Mercedes SUV in the four-car garage. It’s not really a gamble, Alyssa.”
“Okay, when you put it that way, I guess you’re right.”
The band that has set up on the temporary stage in the enormous back yard starts to do their sound check. The light is quickly fading away, making the lights that have been strung up everywhere begin to glow.
“It’s time, Alyssa. Are you ready to take our places?” Eden asks me.
“As I ever will be.”
We go into the living room, sit down in front of the television, and wait for Kyle and Laura to find us.
The front door opens slowly. Kyle’s head comes into view as he looks into the dark room. “Okay,” he whispers. “Come on. Follow me closely.”
He moves into the room cautiously as aura follows him. “How are we ever going to find them in here? This place is huge.” Laura whispers.
“Shh, look I can see a light just around the corner. Be really quiet. I have no idea who it could be,” he tells Laura.
Eden and I sit perfectly still on the sofa as we wait for them to come to us. Time ticks by slowly. I don’t hear anything else for what seems like an eternity. Then I feel Laura’s hand touching my shoulder. I turn my head to look at her. Her face lights up.
“Are you okay, Ally?” she asks me quietly.
I nod. “I am fine,” I say out loud.
“Shh,” Kyle says as he puts his finger up to his lips. “Let’s get out of here before whoever took you guys gets back or wakes up or whatever.”
Eden turns to look at him. “It’s okay.”
“How is it okay?” Kyle asks in a whisper.
Eden and I stand up. “Because no one’s here or coming back,” Eden tells him as he hits a button on the remote he’s holding, turning the lights up.
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