I perused the menu and quickly made up my mind. The girl came back with our water and had her notepad at the ready. “Do you know what you want?” she asked.
Caeden indicated for me to go first. “Yeah, I’ll have the fettuccine alfredo.”
She wrote it down and turned to Caeden. “I’ll have the same,” he said.
“It shouldn’t be too long,” she said with a light smile and took our menus. I thanked her and then she was gone.
“So,” said Caeden leaning across the table. I found myself leaning closer to him as well.
“So?” I prompted when he didn’t continue.
“Are you still mad at me?” he asked, looking at me with those big blue eyes. I was quickly learning that those blue eyes could certainly get him out of trouble.
“No,” I said. “As long as it doesn’t happen again.”
“I’m not making any promises,” he grinned.
“Then I guess I still have to be mad,” I said with a light smile.
“Too bad,” he said. “But it was certainly worth it.”
I laughed. “I’m glad my torment is your pleasure.”
“What can I say?” he said shrugging his shoulders. “I’m a disturbed kind of guy.”
I shook my head, “And here I thought you were more of the jokester type.”
“Babe, haven’t you ever heard of not judging a book by its cover?” he said in mock shame, hanging his head.
“Have any tattoos I don’t know about?” I asked.
He laughed. “Nope, my skin is perfectly clear. But you’re welcome to check.”
I looked around the restaurant. “I would,” I said, “but you see that lady over there,” I pointed and he nodded, “I really wouldn’t like to cause her to have a heart attack and die prematurely. That seems cruel. Don’t you think?”
“I guess so,” he replied.
The waitress returned with our food. We had scooted so close to each other across the table that our noses were practically touching. We jumped apart and both gave a nervous laugh. Caeden coughed into his hand to hide his flaming cheeks. It was getting difficult to resist our magnetism. Our bodies were always being drawn together. There was no fighting it. Heck, most of the time we didn’t even realize it was happening.
“This smells delicious,” I said.
“Oh, it is,” he said.
I took a bite and moaned in pleasure. Caeden laughed. “Somehow,” I said around a mouthful, “everything always tastes better when you don’t have to make it. Don’t get me wrong. I love to cook but sometimes it’s nice not to have to. This is a treat.”
“I’m glad you’re enjoying it,” he said taking his first bite.
“Oh, I am,” I said taking a big bite that I could barely fit in my mouth.
He laughed.
“What?” I asked. I realized I had pasta sauce smeared across my face. I wiped it off my cheeks turning red. I shrugged my shoulders, “I never did claim to be lady like.”
“And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Oh sure?” I mocked.
“No, really. I like you just the way you are. You’re perfect.”
I pointed towards his food with my fork. “Just eat so you can stop feeding me lies.”
He laughed and shook his head. “One day you’ll believe me when I tell you how smart, beautiful, and perfect you are.”
“Not likely,” I said, and then laughed. “But I am pretty smart.”
He laughed, its deep sound resonating in my bones, “You make me laugh,” he said.
“I try,” I said with a smile and fluffed my hair.
“God I lo-,” he stopped himself.
“What?” I stuttered. “What were you going to say?”
“Never mind,” he said dismissing his previous statement with a wave of his hand. Had he really been about to tell me that he loved me? Now, looking at his stony expression it seemed impossible.
I scrambled through my brain trying to come up with something to ease the awkward tension. I wasn’t used to this feeling around Caeden. “I hope this keeping me away from my studies doesn’t resolve in a big fat F.”
Caeden sent me a thankful look. “You’ll do great, you’re smart. I have no worries, you shouldn’t either.”
“Somehow, I’m still worried,” I joked.
We finished our meal and Caeden paid the bill even though I begged him to let me pay my half of it.
He took my hand and we walked outside. The snow was, if possible, falling harder. I loved the crispness in the air and the feel of the snowflakes on my cheeks. “Thanks for dinner,” I said. “I would have paid for mine. You didn’t need to do that.”
“I know you would have, sweetie,” he said. “But I asked you on a date and that means that I pay the bill. No arguments. I like to spoil you. You’re just going to have to get used to it,” he said with a grin, his dimple appeared. I couldn’t resist it. I had to kiss that dimple. He grinned when I pulled away.
“Not likely,” I replied.
He squeezed my hand and said, “I always win.”
“I never lose,” I narrowed my eyes.
His smile made his blue eyes tinkle. “There’s always a winner and a loser and I am not about to lose on this matter.”
I laughed. “I think we just like to argue. What are we even fighting about?”
“The fact that you don’t want me to spoil you. I thought that was every girls dream?”
“Not mine,” I said. “I can look out for myself. Remember, I moved around a lot so I had to learn to be pretty independent.”
“But you don’t need to be that way anymore,” he said. “I’m here and I’m not going anywhere.”
I looked down at the snow covered ground. “I know that,” I said. “It’s just a lot to get used to.”
“I know,” he whispered and I wondered if he really did.
twelve.
I must have fallen asleep on the way home because I awoke to Caeden’s arms wrapped around me as he laid me on my bed. I cracked my eyes open and he said, “Hey, beautiful.”
“Sorry, I fell asleep,” I said groggily.
He started taking my shoes off. “I actually thought it was pretty darn cute.”
I groaned and took my hat off throwing it across my room. I felt a slight bounce on the mattress and then Archie lay down next to me. Caeden turned to leave.
“Wait!” I called and he paused.
“Yeah?” he said turning.
“Thanks for tonight.”
He smiled. “Better than studying?” he asked.
“Way better,” I said smiling.
He started towards the door. “Wait!” I called again. He looked back at me a full blown grin on his face. Despite being half asleep I stood. I took his face between my hands and kissed him slowly and deeply. “Now you can go,” I whispered against his lips.
“Not yet,” he breathed pressing his lips firmly to mine. My mouth opened under his. When he saw that I wasn’t going to resist he gentled the kiss.
Gram chose that moment to walk by my room. I heard her footsteps pause and then she spoke. “If you two keep that up I’ll be a great-grandma. You best stop that now.”
Caeden chuckled against my lips. “Love you too Lucinda. Love you too.”
Satisfied she walked away.
“Bye,” said Caeden pressing his lips once again to mine.
“Bye,” I said.
He grinned and left.
I changed into my pajamas and climbed under the covers. For once, Archie gave me my pillow. “Thanks,” I muttered to the little dog. He wrinkled his nose at me and then started snoring. I laughed and in moments was sound asleep.
* * *
A strange white light filled my room when I woke up. I pushed the quilt off of me and cracked the blinds in the window that was beside my bed. I smiled to myself. It looked like a winter wonderland outside. It couldn’t be more than two or three inches but it was beautiful. It covered the various trees outside my window i
n a fine dust.
A light knock on my door had me turning. “Hey sleepyhead,” Gram said.
I looked back out the window and startled at the amount of light outside my window. It had to be after first period. “Oh crap,” I said jumping up.
Gram chuckled. “Don’t worry. School’s cancelled.”
“Oh,” I said stopping in my tracks.
“Here,” she said holding out a cup of hot chocolate.
“Thanks,” I said taking it. I took a sip and let the silky, chocolaty, goodness slip down my throat. “You’re amazing Gram,” I said holding up the cup.
“I’m still planning to open up the shop today. Would you mind working too much?” she asked.
“Of course not,” I said.
“Great,” she replied. “I’ll make you some breakfast and then you can head over.”
I finished my hot chocolate and then jumped in the shower. I blew my hair dry and then pulled it back in a ponytail. I put on a black long-sleeved shirt and then put my Lucinda’s shirt on over it. I was silently thankful for a moment that Gram let her employees where jeans. I put on the hat and tied the laces on my sneakers. All set.
“Just in time,” said Gram sliding a cheese omelet onto a plate.
I sat down at the little table and took a bite, “Yum,” I moaned.
Gram laughed. “Good?”
“Delicious,” I said.
She sat down then with her own plate. We ate in comfortable silence and then I cleaned my plate.
“Alright,” I said. “I’m going to head out.”
“Okay, be careful,” she said.
“I will,” I said, already tugging on my winter coat.
I started my car and let it sit for a couple of minutes to warm up. I pulled away and drove as slow as possible the short distance. The neighborhood roads were pretty bad but once I made it to the main drag the road were fairly decent. I still worried over black ice though.
But luckily I made it to the store without wrecking the car. I parked and Caeden pulled in right at the same time.
“Fancy meeting you here,” he said getting out of the Jeep; he had his Lucinda’s baseball cap on backwards.
I feigned shock, “Caeden Williams are you stalking me?”
He laughed. “I’m not prone to stalker tendencies,” he said and then appraised me. “But for you I might.”
Now I laughed. I unlocked the backdoor and we set to making the day’s cupcakes. We still had two hours before the store opened.
In record time the kitchen was a mess. Flour coated the stainless steel island and the floor. I laughed looking at Caeden. “You have batter on your face,” I said.
He wiped at it only making it worse. “Did I get it?” he asked.
“Far from it,” I said around a laugh. I turned the mixer off and went to help him. I grabbed a rag wiped gently at his cheek. “It’s gone,” I said.
“Thanks,” he said his voice choked.
I went back to mixing when I heard the curse behind me.
“What is it?” I asked, surprised at the string of profanities coming from his mouth.
“We’re out of cupcake liners, cream cheese, and a load of other crap. The truck was supposed to come in last night but apparently it didn’t,” he groaned.
I wiped my hands on my apron. “Well,” I said putting my hands flat on the counter. “What do we do? Can you run to the store and get the bare necessities?”
He took his hat off and ran his hands angrily through his hair before replacing it. “I guess so,” he said. “We don’t have much choice. Will you be okay?” he asked.
I batted my eye lashes and said, “I know I look like a damsel in distress but I’m really going to be okay for the fifteen minutes it’ll take you to go across the road to Food Lion.”
He laughed. “Alright,” he said putting his hands up in defense, “I get it, you’ll be fine.” He pulled his keys out of his pocket. “I won’t be long,” he said starting towards the back door.
“I’ll be fine,” I said with a laugh and then pushed him out the door.
I already had some batter prepared but since we were out of liners there wasn’t much I could do. So, I tried to clean up as best I could. I knew that it would only get messy again but I figured some mess was better than a lot of mess.
I was just rinsing out the rag when I heard the door open behind me. A smile lit my face. “That was quick,” I said.
“Were you expecting me?” asked a voice that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
Travis.
Stunned I dropped the rag back into the water where it splattered. Little droplets of water sprayed up to cover my arms, the floor, and the counter. I whipped around to find Travis and a man I didn’t recognize.
The man had sandy brown hair and black eyes that matched Travis. He had a strong jaw and a button nose. His button nose didn’t match the evil look on his face. He smiled a smile that promised pain and suffering. I knew that this was Peter Grimm, Travis’ dad, he had to be.
I looked back at Travis. Trying to think about anything besides about what was going to happen to me, I wondered where Travis got his white blond hair. It must have been from his mother. But it seemed to out of place with his black eyes.
They took a step closer and the time for thinking about mundane things like hair and eyes was over. My flight or fight senses were kicking in and they were screaming run! They had the back exit blocked, there was no way to get around them, and they were too big to fight. I had no choice but to run. And so run I did.
I sent up a silent prayer that I had worn sneakers today and then I sprinted to the front of the shop. I pushed a rolling cart behind me and heard it crash followed by their curses. I could hear their footsteps behind me and it was a small place so I ran faster. I flew through the swinging door and then jumped over the counter and probably bruised my leg in the process but it didn’t matter. I had to get out of here now. I reached the door, which meant sanctuary, but it wouldn’t open.
It was locked.
And with it my fate was sealed.
I gulped once before something smashed into my skull and then everything went thankfully numb.
* * *
It didn’t take long for me to come around. They were pulling me into the back of a large truck at the back of the store.
“Help!” I screamed. Their hold on me tightened. I tried to elbow one of them and succeeded. I heard a muttered ‘ow’ but they still held tight. “Let me go!” I screamed kicking my legs. I was going to make this as difficult as possible.
The man that I assumed was Peter laughed in my face. “Not likely,” he sneered and then closed the door of the truck in my face.
I screamed as loud as I could. Tears ran silently down my cheeks.
Travis and the man got in the car and then were screeching out of the parking lot. Obviously, killing us by hitting ice was not a concern.
Idly I wondered how long it would take Caeden to get back and see that I was gone. Would he know what happened? Would he be able to find me?
Or, I gulped, would they kill me before he could?
I didn’t want to die. I hadn’t even had a chance to live yet. So, many things I had yet to experience. Looking at their faces I had no doubt that they would kill me. I could see it in their eyes. I knew Travis was a bad person but I hadn’t suspected him to be a murderer. But hadn’t he and his dad tried to kill Caeden? I knew they wouldn’t hesitate to end my life. My life was meaningless. As far as they knew I was just a regular human. I squished my lips together to hold in the whimper that wanted to escape.
“Why are you doing this?” I asked my voice cracking.
“Bait,” muttered Travis. “Caeden seems fond of you.”
“What are you going to do to him?” I asked.
Travis glanced back at me and I knew the answer.
“You’re going to kill him.” I gulped it wasn’t a question but Peter answered me anyway.
“We already failed once,�
�� said Peter, “we won’t fail again.”
I bit my lip until it bled so that I couldn’t scream. Tears silently leaked out of my eyes. Kill him. They couldn’t. I wouldn’t let them. I would find a way to escape? Or a way to warn him? I had to do something. I would not let Caeden die for me despite my earlier thoughts of rescue. When it came to life or death I would die a million times over before I let Caeden die for me. I hadn’t said I love you, to him, but I did. I was in love with him. Madly. Deeply. Completely.
They drove for a while before they pulled over and put a blindfold over my eyes and tied my hands together. One of them slapped my face and then shoved me forcefully into the car. My knee collided with the metal of the car door. He laughed. It was Peter.
We drove, and drove, and drove. I knew they were trying to confuse me. It didn’t matter though. I didn’t want to be found. To be found meant Caeden’s death and I couldn’t have that.
Finally, after hours, the truck stopped. Someone pulled me roughly from the car and I knew that their fingerprints would leave behind bruises.
“What’s so special about you?” whispered Travis in my ear before he shoved me forcefully in to the ground. “Clumsy thing aren’t you? Pathetic human,” he spat.
Tears sprang to my eyes again and I was suddenly thankful for the blindfold so that they couldn’t see. Travis pulled me roughly up by hair and I couldn’t help the scream that escaped my throat. He laughed.
We walked a little further before he let me go and then I heard a creaking noise. A moldy smell accompanied the noise.
Rough, callused, hands grabbed me, I assumed it was Peter. He laughed in my ear before throwing me down. Down. Down.
My body was battered by cement steps. I heard the door slam closed before my head collided with the floor. It throbbed painfully for a moment before I passed out.
* * *
When I woke up, I thought I must still have my eyes closed, because it was much too dark. And then the puzzle pieces slammed together in my head. Travis. Peter. Store. Truck. Blindfold. Creaking. Fall.
Outsider (Outsider Series) Page 15
