I push my plate aside, grabbing Dad’s attention. “Do you mind if I talk to Nathan in my room?”
“I suppose the family room is too public?” Dad retorts.
“It is.”
He nods and turns to kiss Mom’s cheek and they finish a titter I interrupted.
Grabbing Nathan by the arm, I pull him away from the counter and head upstairs. “If you leave, Nathan, don’t come back, ever.”
He pushes my door closed. “You do not mean that.”
I sit on my chaise, and he follows. “I do mean it.”
“What would you prefer for me to do? Just let him stay there?” he asks coolly.
Seriously, yes, I get Olar needs to be rescued. But at the risk of Nathan not returning or me getting taken by Roehl. Aren’t I more important than Olar? Can’t someone else save him? We can go together! I sigh, overwhelmed by the many ways I can answer that question. “If I answer that, it’ll sound selfish.”
He leans over on his knees and drags his hand down his face.
“I don’t want you to go, Nate,” I say in a strong tone. “Unless I’m going with you. That’s the bottom line.”
He doesn’t respond right away but studies me with soft, green-brown eyes. “You never tell me you don’t want me to go and mean it,” he says in too soft of a tone.
I grab his shoulder and pull him to sit up straight. “Nate, please don’t go.”
“Sparks, I can’t let him stay there.”
“Then go get him tomorrow when we can all go.”
“You cannot go.”
“No! You can’t go.” I scoot away from him when he reaches for me. “Don’t touch me until you make up your mind. The last thing we need is for you to use your mystical powers and persuade me into believing this is a good idea. Because it’s not, Nathan.”
Hands out before him, palms up, he says, “Sparks, everything will be fine. I’ll come back.”
I charge to my door and yank it open. “Just leave, Nate.” I blink, and from the chaise he’s now in front of me, pushing the door closed. He slips a finger under my chin and tilts my head back. An eager calm rushes through me, and my distress seeps away with ease. I look up at him, anger gone.
“Okay,” he says, low and enchanting. “I’ll stay. I’ll figure out another plan. Now stop looking like that and never tell me to leave again,” he demands.
“If you stop trying to leave me, you wouldn’t have to hear it.” Breaking out of his trance, I swipe his hand from my chin. “I’m tired of you always playing superman. You can just be Nathan sometimes, you know?”
He grabs my chin again, between his thumb and index finger. “I said I’d stay. Now fix those eyes.”
I squint and keep my brows knit. “I’ll fix them tomorrow.”
He thinks, focusing out on something. “It seems that your friend has made up with our cousin. Let’s go check on them.”
I leave out of my room first, and we head outside and see Glen wrapped around Scott, sweetly kissing him. They look much better than they did this morning and with their teeth revealing smiles, they’re happy. Scott hugs her tightly and whispers something before he pulls away from her. Glen hugs me. “I’m sorry, Cey.”
“It’s okay, I understand.” I partially understand, but I knew she’d come around.
To Nathan she says, “I’m sorry to you, too, and thanks for looking out for me. I know you didn’t want to.”
“No thanks needed, Glen. Just don’t hug me. That’d be weird.” He smirks.
She laughs, going back to Scott. Let’s hope that after this big falling out, they’ll make up for life. Scott steps behind Glen and wraps his arms around her chest. “What time are we leaving?” he asks.
“You aren’t,” I answer for Nathan.
“What? You’re going to leave him there?” Scott blurts, befuddled.
“I don’t have a choice,” Nathan says dryly, shrugging. He chucks his thumb toward me. “My master over here has restricted me from saving the world tonight.”
“How long has he been there?”
“This just happened.”
“And you’re just going to leave him there?” Scott couldn’t be more panic-stricken right now.
“We aren’t just going to leave him there. We’ll go play The Rescuers tomorrow,” I answer. Nathan’s already said he isn’t going tonight, and Scott’s trying to make him feel bad about it. Scott’s already let off that he doesn’t want to go because of graduation tomorrow. Why is he pushing this?
“Tracey, we can’t leave Olar there, anything can be happening to him right now,” Scott exaggerates, throwing his arm out at his side.
“Scott!” Glen gasps. “You want to leave me tonight, knowing we are getting back on track not five minutes ago?”
“I’m not saying that, Glen. I’m just saying it’s not right for us to leave him there.”
“And like Tracey said, we’ll go rescue him tomorrow.”
“We?” Scott rebuffs.
“Yes, we,” Glen asserts, clucking her tongue.
“No, no, no. It’s not safe, Glen. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“Tracey gets to go,” she says, bringing me into it once again.
“That’s Tracey’s and Nathan’s decision.”
“Scott, I’m going. Just deal with it.”
Scott doesn’t respond, but his frustration and disapproval are heavy in his furrowed brows and tight-lipped expression.
I turn away from their tiff to ask Nathan, “Will you stay to celebrate with us?”
“Yeah. If your parents want me here. But, can you take off that necklace?”
I smirk a spiteful smile, sizzling out, “Are you scared I might hurt you?”
“No.”
I tip my chin. “Then I’ll leave it on.”
“And it might come up missing,” he counters.
Poking out my bottom lip, I pout.
He laughs. “Come on. Let’s go back inside. Scott, you two coming back in?”
“No, I’ll catch up with you later. I’m taking Glen back home.”
“Cool.” Nathan says and follows me in my house.
beggarly riches
A small pinch of guilt eats at me for forcing Nathan to choose between his family and me. But would we hurt more if something happened to Olar or me? Just our luck, one of Roehl’s flunkies is watching us, waiting for the moment Nathan leaves to snatch me up. Then Olar and I will be taken.
We also need to figure out how we’re going to establish this attack on Roehl. He’s making our life harder than it needs to be, but now may not be a good time to bring that up.
My parents, Nathan, and I sit around the house discussing my speech for tomorrow. I’ve run through it twice, and I’m still nervous about getting up in front of the student body and their families tomorrow afternoon. Mom and Dad tell their graduation stories, and Nathan even shares his. It thrills me that this one thing is working in my favor. Dad’s warming up to Nathan, which I knew he would, only proving Roehl’s influence can be broken. I don’t know how or why, but it sucks he’d go to the lengths of going after my father. Mom’s in total like with Nathan, now greeting him with a motherly hug. I guess he’s accepted my family as well because they don’t shock each other when they touch. I love that they’re getting along, and we’re like a miniature, happy family.
Mom and Dad dance to an old song playing on the radio. They sway and rhythmically move to the classic country guitar chords. Their affection and happiness flow from them like a peaceful stream of spring water flowing over black stones to a small koi pond. True love. I love seeing them happy and together, watching them float and live within one another. It’s joyous, and I want that for Nathan’s and my future.
“Sparks.” Nathan pulls me from my thoughts. “What are you thinking about?”
“Nothing.” I nudge his shoulder with mine. “Sorry I made you choose.”
“Don’t be. You were right to suggest I stay. It’d hurt way more for me to lose you t
han for me to lose Olar.”
I narrow my eyes. “Stop peeking in my head.”
“You peek in mine,” he jokingly shoots back.
“Yeah, but that’s because you won’t let me in there willingly.”
“Hey, Nathan?” Dad calls from the living room, laughing.
“Yes, sir.”
“I just need to know. Where’d Tracey pick up this nickname Sparks?”
Nathan laughs as he looks over his shoulder at Dad coming over. “She set my kitchen on fire.”
“Tracey, you didn’t!” Mom squeals, eyes wide and jaw dropped.
I punch Nathan’s arm. “Oh my gosh! You did not!”
Dad laughs, leaning over on his knees. “Tracey, what were you trying to cook?”
Considering that’s not what happened, I hurry to find my lie, trying to remember what you can’t mix with what while cooking to prevent fires. Nathan says, “She threw water on burning bacon.”
“Tracey,” Mom scolds. “You know better than to do that.”
“Nate, I hate you,” I say through a laugh. “They’re never going to let me live this down.”
Dad takes a break from his laugh and looks Nathan and me over. I wouldn’t have noticed it had I not been watching him be happy. He says, “I like you, Nathan. You have a good head on your shoulders. And, I have to admit, I’d prefer Tracey be with someone who respects and cares for her than to be with the opposite. Thank you for being a gentleman to my daughter and for brightening those big brown eyes of hers.”
“It’s my pleasure, James. Thank you.” It feels good to have your parents’ approval finally.
I nod, agreeing with him. “Thanks, Dad.” My smile couldn’t grow any bigger right now. I’m floating from the lightness of this happiness I’ve dreamed of. It’s exactly what’s been missing.
“I realize I gave you a hard time, Ladybug. I’m not ready to see you grow up yet.” He leans against the corner of the wall, continuing, “I know I haven’t been around as much as I should have, dealing with work, and I may have put a lot of pressure on your mother by not being here. But you are an amazing girl to hold it together for you and her, even in my absence. Now, don’t think I forgot about your tell-tell you had given before I left. None of that went unheard.” He gives me a glare from the corner of his eye. “I’m not pleased you told me the way you did, and that it took you to get upset to let go of that information. But remember, I’m always here, and you can come to me about anything. You too, Nathan. Whether I’m near or far, don’t hesitate to pick up the phone or visit. And we’ll visit you two often. If you and Nathan move forward in the future—after marriage—it would be nice that you have a spare room.” He takes a long pause. “And I’m eased by knowing—not because it happened—Nathan is only the second boy you’ve had sex with instead of the fifth or twentieth, or twentieth.” He fixes me with a glare that says he got me—checkmate. “Thought I was going to ignore that, didn’t you,” he adds wryly.
I blush, ears and cheeks burning red hot. This conversation just got a million times uncomfortable. “Um. I was just talking out of anger, Dad.”
“But it was the truth?”
I wrinkle my nose and find the plate I pushed aside earlier. “Can you please cut me another piece of cake? One from the corner with that pink flower.”
“Nice way to get out of that, honey,” Mom quips with a smile. “And later, after Nathan leaves, you tell us who the first was.”
What? “I thought you were on my side!” I throw my hand in my face. “We are so not having that conversation.” I peek at her through my fingers.
She crinkles her nose, reflecting a look that brings out the resemblance in us. “We can wait until Nathan leaves if you are uncomfortable talking about it in front of him. But you put it out there on the table.”
I shake my head. Not like I can keep secrets from Nathan, he knows everything about my past, anyway. May as well just let it out. They aren’t going to let me live this down either. Ugh! “Nathan already knows about him. It doesn’t matter if he’s here or not. I’d just prefer not to talk about it.”
“He was that curly-haired fellow you met the day we met, Karen.”
I glare at Nathan with his big mouth. Mr. Truthful, do you have to tell them everything?
He shrugs, laughing. “What? Like you said, I already know him.”
“Wait a second. You’ve met him?” Dad asks. “You introduced your new boyfriend to your ex-boyfriend?”
“No,” I start. “Michael dropped by when Nathan and Scott were picking up Glen and me. I wouldn’t say they were introduced.”
“How did you feel about that, Nathan?”
I throw my hands in my face. “Ugh.” My parents are such priers.
“He wanted to smash his face in,” Mom answers. “That young man didn’t want to leave and tried to handle our daughter. Nathan and Scott showed up and changed the situation.” Mom gives a stern nod as if to say, ‘that’s right.’
“Why would he act like that?” Dad asks.
Before I can speak, my mom interjects. “He didn’t want to accept no for an answer.”
“Dear, do you know everything?”
I laugh, saying, “Clearly, she does.” Grabbing Nathan’s wrist, I encourage him to come with me. “We’re going to sit in the family room. I need to talk to Nathan about his willingness to share information.”
The three of them chuckle.
We settle down on the couch, and Nathan pulls my feet onto his lap and takes off my shoes. “How was your day?” he asks.
I slip my feet between his legs and stuff them beneath his left thigh. “It would’ve been better if every time I closed my eyes, I wasn’t haunted by unwanted visitors.” Roehl was all over my head today. As I drove to school, in classes, back at home, and until I saw Nathan again. He’s making it harder for me to fight when I’m alone. It’s even easier for me to admit and not be ashamed of now, which doesn’t seem like a good sign.
“We have to fix that too. I’m sorry, but we may have to push off that plan by a few days. We need Olar with us when we take care of it.”
“And what’s the plan to get him back?”
Nathan lays his head against the back of the couch, slouching. “Not sure yet.”
“You’re tired.”
He nods. “And overwhelmed.”
“You want to talk about it?”
“Nope.”
I quiet, trying to tap into Nathan’s feelings. He’s flooded with anticipation and impatience. Anger soars through him and his over eagerness makes me shiver. I pull back, thrashed by his emotions.
“I told you, you don’t want to be in my head.”
I rub my arms as I’m crossing them. “What time is it?”
“Going on ten. You ready to go to sleep?”
“I am.”
He stands, stretching. “Err.” Pulling me from the couch too quickly, he says, “Walk me to the door.”
“You’re leaving?” I ask, peering up at him through my lashes.
“Yes,” he answers with that cocky smirk that makes my legs shake.
I walk around him as a smile spreads across my face. We pass my parents, and the three of them say their goodnights. Nathan walks to the sidewalk, and I close the door, hoping he’ll be waiting for me when I go upstairs.
Saying goodnight to my parents, I thank them for my beautiful necklace and kiss their cheeks for being awesome. “I love you two so much. And double thanks for accepting Nathan.”
“We love you, Tracey,” they say to my back as I’m heading upstairs.
Nathan isn’t back when I make it to my room, and I take the time to grab a shower. I dress for bed and have time to straighten up my room, and Nathan still isn’t here. Hours rush by. Nate, if you left to go save Olar, I’m going to kill you when you return.
He laughs. I didn’t. I’m on my way back now. He enters soundlessly through my window. “I needed to clean up and check on Scott and everyone else. I’ve been gone all day.” He ki
sses my cheek before going to the chaise.
I follow. “What’s going on over there?”
“Some more of our family came in for the summer. It’s getting a little crowded.”
“I can imagine.” I sit across him. “Am I stuck here until my parent’s move or will I be able to go back over there to sleep in our bed?”
“We’ll go over there for a couple of days after tomorrow. Mom misses you. I’m sure she’ll be happy to see you around again.”
I yawn. “Yeah, I love your mom. She’s doing better now, no more sneaking away?”
“She is. My aunt’s there to help her, so it makes it a little easier.”
I think about that for a moment. Then my thoughts shift to how tomorrow will be the last day I’ll be returning to my high school. Half of me is ready to be an adult, and the other half wants to suck up the last of this freedom. “Nate, you think things will calm down before summer kicks in?”
“Why do you ask?”
I shrug. “Just wondering. I want to enjoy the summer and not look over my shoulder for once. I want to feel free.”
“Honestly, Sparks, things are never calmed down. We maneuver around our inconveniences. But, if you’re asking if what’s going on now, with us, will be over. After we get Olar tomorrow, the following night we’ll head out to take care of that.”
“Everything’s going to be okay, right? You won’t let me go.”
“Not even if you want me to. I’ll fight for you until you rip your heart from my chest.”
I lay my head on his chest, and the beat of our heat comforts me like the angelic sounds of a symphony. “No matter what I say or do, fight for me, Nate. Never let me go. I don’t want to be like Glen.”
Nathan’s arms push around my body, and he holds me tight. “You are nothing like her. You have to make the decision to go with him. He can’t make you do it. Yes, he can influence you to make you think it’s good for you, but he can’t force you to go to him. I trust you to choose me. Even if you don’t, promise, I got you.”
I could never kill Nathan. I wouldn’t risk our life, and I have no interest in killing myself. “It’ll be you. I swear. It’ll be you. There’s no one else. I’ll definitely kill him. If I forget, help me remember.” I twist my lips to the side, bombarded by another thought. “I’m sorry I’ve been hurting you.”
Brazen: A Dark Paranormal Romance (The Sephlem Trials Book 2) Page 32
