“Barely breathing, little brother. Who’s here with you? Careless?”
“Why do you think someone’s here with me?”
“You brought blind girl?” he said, ignoring my question.
“Stop calling her that or I’m going to add a broken arm to your list of injuries.”
“You’re so touchy.”
“Did you make a stupid list?”
“Why are you taking your guilty conscious out on my list?”
“Do you want to get your groceries yourself?”
He laughed. “It’s on one of those damn tables in the living room.”
“Where did you even get all this furniture anyway?”
“Carrie,” he wheezed out as he turned in the bed.
I made a face. “ You’re back with Carrie?”
“Back is a strong word. She sleeps over.”
“You’re such a slut.”
“I prefer man whore.”
“Either way, you get around.”
“No shame in my game, little bro.”
“You did not just say that,” I said, laughing at him.
“Get out of here,” he growled, throwing a pillow.
It hit the bedroom door as I ducked out of the room quickly. Araya was sitting on the couch when I came back.
“Ready?”
She nodded and smiled, getting up. “Is he okay?”
“He’s milking it.”
She laughed and I took her hand. It was the most natural thing in the world to me.
“The store is just down the street. Not far at all.”
“I don’t mind walking.”
And neither did I. I gritted my teeth and did my best to ignore the few shoves Araya got because everyone seemed to think she was in their way.
As we walked, talking helped keep my attention off the urge to punch the face of the next person who pushed her. I described the shops we passed, explaining the certain smells she couldn’t pinpoint by memory. I had her take the lead when it came to crossing the street, standing as close to me as she could without touching each other.
She would count the steps between each major intersection and, give or take a few steps, it came out to the same each time. By the time we got to the last crosswalk before the store, she was able to hear the signs. I was quiet the whole time, but stayed close to her. When we reached the store, I grabbed a cart.
“Do you want to push?” I asked her.
“I don’t know if I should. I’ll just slow you down.”
“I’m not in a rush, hummingbird.”
She hesitated a second more before grabbing the cart.
“When was the last time you went shopping?”
“I don’t know. I stopped going with them anywhere a few months after I moved here. It was just easier on everyone.”
“What do you mean?”
“I was still learning to get around and I was constantly knocking things over or running into people. I was too much of a hassle.”
“No, they were just too lazy to help you. Teach you how to get around on your own. We’ve been here a whole five minutes and you’ve yet to do any of that.”
She smiled at me and continued to push the cart while I maneuvered her through the store. We’d gotten almost everything on Sebastian’s list but two things.
“He wants ice cream and… fruit?”
She laughed. “Why do you say it like that?”
“Because Sebastian doesn’t like fruit, which can only mean it’s not for him.”
“Who would it be for?”
“His sleep-over friend.”
“Oh. Why isn’t she getting his groceries, then?”
“That’s a fudging good question, hummingbird.”
“It’s cold,” she said suddenly as I turned us into the freezer isle.
She put her hands up to the glass door and shivered. I tried not to notice the reaction this isle had on her body. It was too late and I all but melted into a puddle in the middle of the ice cream section.
I pulled open the door and looked over the selection.
“He didn’t put a kind on here, so that means you get to pick.”
“I haven’t eaten ice cream in so long. I wouldn’t even know what to choose.”
I looked over at her, shocked. “You what?” I wanted to ask how that was possible, but I already knew the answer. “That’s a sin all in itself. We’re going to fix that. Come here.”
I moved her in front of the freezer and held open the door.
“Put your hand out and pick something.”
“This is a lot of pressure to have for picking ice cream.”
I laughed and nuzzled her hair. She swayed slightly, leaning into me. She moved her finger over the selection and it stopped on one.
“What’d I pick?” Her head turned slightly and excitement leaked from her question.
“Chocolate chip cookie dough.” I scoffed. “Such a chick kind. Oh!” I puffed when she elbowed me in the ribs. “Okay, let’s get some Reese’s Pieces for the men.”
“I can’t wait to try them both!”
“Try? Please tell me you’ve tried Reese’s Pieces before!”
“I’m sure I have. I just don’t remember.” She rolled her eyes.
I kissed the side of her head without thinking and moved us out of the isle. “You’re breaking my heart, hummingbird.” I complained as we made our way through the store.
“She wants pears and tomatoes. I’m tempted to forget those.”
“We’re already here.”
“Fine, but you’re getting the pears.”
I ripped one of the produce bags off the roll and put it in her hands.
“Me? I—”
I pressed my lips to her. “Don’t… say you can’t.” I said against her mouth. “Three steps behind you.”
I turned away before she could protest. She stood there for a minute before giving in. I turned and watched her go from over my shoulder. When she reached the display, I started to pick five apples.
When I finished, I saw she was pulling them from the bottom of the bin. I threw the bag of apples in the cart and slid over to her. I pressed my body into the mountain of falling oranges. A few slipped free from my arms, rolling across the floor.
Araya stood there, arm in mid-grab, frozen. “Did I do something wrong? Did one fall” she whispered.
I didn’t speak until I knew it was safe to move away. I gave them one last shove, hoping they would stay.
“Ryland?”
“You’re good.” I reassured her. “You just have to take from the top next time.”
“Oh, okay.”
“You did good, hummingbird.” I encouraged her. “Let’s go check out.” I took the bag from her and her hand slid into mine.
We headed to the front and while we waited in line I made sure to grab a Reese’s Pieces from the candy stand. We checked out and Araya insisted on carrying one of the bags.
“Just one!” she pushed. “There’s got to be one light one.”
“Nope.” I dodged her grabby hands.
“I will still think you’re macho, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
I laughed out loud. “Here!” I said, handing her the lightest bag of the bunch.
When we got back to Sebastian’s apartment, I dropped off the bags in the kitchen. Opening the cupboard doors, I realized they were all empty.
“I’m going to go check on him. I’ll be right back.”
Sebastian was fast asleep and I noticed the bottle of pain pills on his nightstand. He would be out until tonight at least. I shut the door and found Araya putting things away in the kitchen.
“You didn’t have to do that. I was going to make him do it.”
“He’s hurt.” She protested.
“He’s a big baby.”
We finished putting away what little stuff we got and I turned to Araya.
“Are you ready for the good stuff?” I asked, holding up the ice cream.
“I’d be
lying if I said I wasn’t thinking about that ice cream the entire walk home.”
I know it meant nothing and she probably didn’t even realize she’d said it, but hearing the word home slip from her lips was like a punch to the gut. I swallowed hard and tried to ignore it.
“Hopefully my brother has some silverware at least.”
I pulled open every drawer in the kitchen to find they were all empty. He had some takeout on the table and I went through the bags, hoping there was still a spoon or fork left over.
“Found one!” I said, holding it into the air. “Are you ready to have your mind blown, hummingbird?”
I moved to stand next to where she leaned against the counter and pulled the plastic off the spoon and peeled the lid off the ice cream.
“Will you help me?” she said, putting her hands on the counter.
“My pleasure.” I stood in front of her, making sure to brush against her. “Put your hands on my shoulders.”
When she did, my fingers wrapped around her waist and I put her on the counter. I didn’t need to slide her up my body, but apparently I enjoyed being tortured.
“So I guess I should’ve been ready to have my mind blown.” I teased her.
She laughed and a sweet blush lifted the color in her cheeks. I moved to stand between her legs and filled the spoon, lifting it to her mouth.
“Open.” When she did, I fed her the bite.
Watching her eat the ice cream was the sexiest thing I’d ever seen. Her eyes slid closed and her body went slack with pleasure. Little sounds of bliss spilled from her lips as she licked them.
“Well?” I asked when she was finished.
“Best. Thing. Ever.”
“Let me taste.”
I couldn’t control myself and my fingers combed through her hair and I pulled her to me. My tongue darted out and licked her lips before disappearing into her mouth. With a sigh, she melted into the kiss.
The inside of her mouth was cool from the ice cream and she tasted like chocolate and Araya. When I kissed her, it was like I couldn’t get enough. I could kiss her for hours and it would never be enough.
When I pulled back, we were both breathing hard.
“You’re right. Best thing ever.”
“You guys planning on burning down my new apartment? Because I don’t have renters insurance, but if you give me a minute, I can make a call.”
“I hate you.” I snarled at Sebastian.
Araya jumped off the counter, but since I didn’t move away, she slid down my body. My arm slipped around her waist and I held her close.
“You love me. He loves me, Red. Don’t let him fool you.”
Her embarrassment faded and she smiled. “He doesn’t fool me one bit.”
“Good.”
“I thought you were asleep,” I yelled at his retreating body.
“I know you did, little brother.”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered against Araya’s temple.
“He’s harmless.”
“Yeah, as harmless as a rattlesnake.” Sighing, I kissed her softly. “I should probably get you back.” I mumbled regretfully. “I have my parent’s stupid dinner party tonight.”
“Oh, right. Careless told me about it.”
I was afraid of that. “I’d invite you, but you’d be bored out of your mind. I’m saving your life when you think about it. Let me go tell my brother we’re leaving,” I said, trying to rush past the subject.
We arrived back at my house in plenty of time for Araya to meet Nina, but I, however, was going to be late getting ready. I didn’t even want to go to the damn thing, so they could handle me being late.
I couldn’t be sure, but Araya seemed different since we left the apartment. I figured maybe she was still embarrassed, but she felt distant and I didn’t like that feeling.
“I hate to leave you… “
“Go,” she said with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I have to find Careless anyway.”
“Careless? Is everything okay?”
“Yeah. She was just going to let me borrow something to wear tonight.” And there was the distance again.
“For tonight? Do you have a hot date?” I asked, semi-kidding.
The thought bugged the hell out of me and jealously crept into my system and spread like wildfire.
“For your parents’ dinner party.”
For a split second I was glad she wasn’t able to see the way my expression went slack from shock. Out of the twenty different responses I expected her to come back with, that was nowhere even close.
“To my…?”
“Careless invited me. I was going to mention it earlier when you brought it up, but…”
But I’d gone on like an idiot about her not going.
“Araya—”
“You’re back! Come on, we’re going to be so late,” Careless said, pulling Araya past me.
I caught Careless’s arm, mouthing that I needed to talk to her. I felt shitty for doing that, but I’d already made Araya feel like I didn’t want her here. If I called Careless off to the side in front of her, she was going to continue to get the wrong idea.
Careless was back alone two minutes later.
“What?” she hissed, annoyed, and I glared at her.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I crossed my arms over my chest.
“Could you be a little more specific, please?”
“Why the hell would you invite Araya to the dinner party?”
“Why couldn’t I? Are you embarrassed by her?”
“You know damn well that’s not what it is, Cara!” I snarled. “The big deal is I thought you were her friend!”
“I am! What’s your problem?”
“Why are you feeding her to the sharks, then?”
“She’ll be fine, Ryland. Besides, I’m not the one who invited her. Coraline did.”
“She said you did.”
“Well, technically, I did, but that’s only because Coraline came into the room and mouthed for me to do it. What was I supposed to do?”
I felt like my head was going to explode. “Since when do you think anything Coraline says is a good idea? You could have gotten out of asking her.”
“Araya doesn’t know a lot of people our age. It’ll be nice for her to meet some more.”
“Are you freaking insane? You know the people that are going to be here tonight are the ones J.D. and Coraline are trying to pawn me off to.”
“Is that what you’re really worried about? Araya finding out about Roxy?”
“Yes! And so should you be. I don’t want her thinking we’re a couple!”
“Who? Roxy or Araya?”
I ignored her question. “I don’t understand what you were thinking.”
“I’ll tell you what I wasn’t worried about! I wasn’t worried about your stupid girl drama. Did you tell Araya yet?”
“Stay out of my business, Careless. I’m done answering to you!” I ran my hand through my hair and then turned on her again. “Why would you tell me not to fall in love with her? If you thought I was at risk of doing so, why put the idea in my head.”
“You’ve spent just as much time with her as I have, Ryland. You know firsthand that she’s different. And it goes beyond being blind. When you grew up around the people we have, it becomes easy to spot the soft ones. Araya, she’s soft and incredibly innocent. She’s been prisoner to her blindness for the last four years. She’s incredibly rare. She feels with her heart. There’s no overthinking, overanalyzing. She’s free to love without fear because she doesn’t know any better. Spare her before she has to.”
It bugged me that I felt like there was some truth to Careless’s words.
“She lost her mom. She knows heartache.” I was grasping.
“But that’s not the same. She’s falling in love for the first time and she’s going to fall hard. Do her a favor and don’t make love her enemy.”
Araya
Sixteen
“Fudge
!”
I was so nervous. I nearly missed the couch, as I tried to sit comfortably in this dress.
“You look effing hot! And we haven’t even put the dress on yet,” Careless swore, while she fixed my hair.
“It’s not too much, is it?”
“No, definitely not! Semi-lesbian moment here, but you have a nice body, Araya! You are totally going to own this dress,” she said, slipping it over my head.
“What does it look like?”
“It’s black. Sparkly halter cut, puffy ruffle… layers? On the bottom. Sorry, I love to shop, but I don’t know the names of stuff like this. Just trust me, though, you’re going to have the men at this party chasing after you.”
That didn’t make me feel any better, but I agreed. I was a ball of nerves and I couldn’t sit any longer.
“Looking for someone, gorgeous?”
I whirled around and my heel hit the corner of the couch and I landed on the armrest. My heart skipped a beat when I heard him suck in a breath. I smoothed my sweaty palms over my black dress.
“You scared me half to death, Ryland James Dare.”
“You just middle-named me!” he said in genuine shock.
I flushed and my face burned.
“How do you know my middle name?” I pressed my lips together. “Careless? No, she wouldn’t risk me telling you her middle name.” He thought for a minute. “Annie!” he roared.
“Shh!” I waved my hand at him.
“Okay, hummingbird.” He moved in front of me, grabbing hold of the material against my stomach, and pulled me up from the armrest. “It’s only fair that I know your middle name too.”
“And if I refuse?”
“I like a challenge.”
“You’re so much better at that than I am,” I said with a slight frown.
His face was inches from mine and his voice became low and seductive. “And I’m not even trying.”
I pushed him away and backed up. “If only you knew what you were doing to me.” I scolded him.
He moved with me, backing me up until I was against the wall. “It can’t be any worse than what you do to me.” He trapped me between himself and the wall. “Now tell me what I’m better at.”
“Unnerving me. I knew I was in trouble the moment I met you,” I whispered.
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