by J. A. Howell
Nolan’s eyes met mine briefly as I walked into the back of Finley’s. Once more I felt the pull of his cerulean gaze and the sadness that amplified it. I feigned a smile, but the awkwardness that filled the room was stifling. He forced a smile back, then turned towards the stoves, busying himself with a spatula and pancakes.
“Ya feelin’ any better?” He startled me as I pulled the beanie off my head and hung up my jacket.
“Yeah, much. Thanks.” I answered, wrapping my apron around my waist as I turned back around. Nolan was placing a dish on the counter closest to me with a stack of pancakes on them.
“Have some breakfast,” he slid the plate toward me, “I’m going ta go straighten up some things in the front before we open.” Without giving me a chance to object, he placed the syrup in front of me and went into the front of the pub. Great, pancakes with a heaping side of guilt. My stomach, obviously not struggling with the same feelings as the rest of me, growled loudly at the delicious golden stack. With a sigh, I grabbed a fork, doused them in syrup, and dug in.
I was in the midst of chowing down when Aggie strolled into the kitchen and sat across from me. She eyed the plate suspiciously.
“He made you breakfast again, didn’t he?” It was less of a question than an observation. I shrugged, unable to speak through a mouthful of fluffy sweet goodness. “I can’t even get him to pour me a glass of water, and yet he made you pancakes.” She laughed, her signature smirk returning.
“He felt bad about the attack.” I knew there was more to it, but I also knew where Aggie was going with her train of thought and I was doing my best to avoid it. To my surprise, she derailed. Instead, she reached into her back pocket and produced a concert ticket, placing it on the table in front of me.
“That’s for you.” She tapped her finger on the ticket. I leaned forward, examining it as I ate another forkful of pancake.
“MidFest?” I gave her a questioning look. She sighed dramatically and snatched a piece of pancake in her fingers.
“It’s only the best music festival of the year.” Her tone was matter-of-factly. “It’s a big deal around these parts. Nolan, Brody, and I used to go every year. Nolan and I have been keeping up the tradition.”
“So then you are giving this to me, because?” I slid the plate in between us, motioning for her to have another bite. She obliged, grabbing another piece before continuing.
“I thought you should go in my place.”
I paused mid-chew to look at her. Was she insane? Despite the important matter of finding my soon-to-be murderer, Nolan and I couldn’t stand to be in the same room together at the moment.
“Aggie, I don’t really think now is the best time for me to be going to some concert.”
“First off,” she held up a hand to silence me, “it’s not just some concert. Secondly, you need a break from all the shit going on around you. You need to have a little fun.”
“But what if –”
“No what ifs. Nolan will be with you, and despite how much I make fun of him, he could protect you if he needed to.”
“Oh, then he ends up getting hurt too? I don’t think so.” I shook my head, getting up from the table. My eyes darted toward the front to see Nolan outside, wiping down the windows. He looked at me for a second, before continuing on to the other window out of my line of vision. Aggie stood and grabbed my shoulder so that she was looking me in the face once more.
“Stop playing such a damn martyr, Harley.” She shoved the ticket in my hand. “Please go to the concert with him. I don’t really feel like going this year anyway. I am just going to stay here and help my uncle man the pub.” I tried to object again, but she narrowed her eyes at me with a look that just dared me to try to refuse.
“Fine. When is it?”
Aggie smiled triumphantly before heading toward the front of the pub. I caught the mischievous glint in her eye as she flipped her head back to me.
“It’s tonight.”
Shit.
“How does this look?” I turned from the full length mirror to Aggie as she sat on her bed watching me.
“Look at you. Worried about your big date with Nolan.” She smirked. I shot her a look then turned back to the mirror for a second appraisal. I’d settled on my purple sweater, jeans, and my brown boots before slipping on my jacket.
“You look cute,” Aggie winked at me as I turned back around. Strangely, it felt nice to hear that. The bruises on my face were a faded yellow and she had helped me cover them with concealer. But the cut was still there, and as Angus had said, it wouldn’t be fading away any time soon. At least my face wasn’t swollen any more.
“Are you sure you don’t want to go still?” I raised an eyebrow. She only frowned in response, seeing right through my friendly offer.
“Too many memories for me to deal with after the other night.” She exhaled, standing up in front of me and looking over my outfit once more. “Besides, you need this. Tomorrow we will try to figure everything out. Tonight, just go have fun.”
“Easier said than done. Are you even sure Nolan’s okay with me going in your place?” I couldn’t help but wonder exactly what his reaction was when she told him.
“Oh, he doesn’t know yet. He’s about to find out.” Instinctively her hand clamped around my arm at the same moment my feet planted into the floor.
“Dammit Aggie, really?” I pulled against her surprisingly strong grip as my feet started to slide against the wood. Amidst our struggle, I heard footsteps stomping up the stairs outside her room. My eyes widened as her lips curled at the edges. “You sneaky little –”
“Aggie? Ya ready ta go?” Nolan’s voice called from the living room. I wriggled out of her grip, but sent myself off balance. I landed on her bed and bumped into her nightstand in the process. Her knick-knacks clanked against the floor before she pulled me to my feet.
“If anything is broken, you’re buying me a new one.” She narrowed her eyes and the evil smirk played on her lips again as she tugged me to the door like a lamb to the slaughter.
“I hate you right now.” I grumbled, still struggling in vain.
“Whatever, you’ll thank me later.” She said as she opened the door. Nolan looked from Aggie to me as we came out of the bedroom. I’d stopped struggling and calmly stood next to her. If I was going to be forced to go I should at least retain some of my dignity.
“I’m not going this year, Nolan,” Aggie’s eyes shot to me, “she is.”
“Oh.” He looked at me then back to Aggie with an uneasy look. Her smile only widened as she shoved me toward him.
“Go on. Have fun you two.” She corralled us toward the stairs, Nolan looking equally as blindsided as I did.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Interlude
Neither Nolan nor myself said anything further after walking out to his car. I watched his fingers twist the radio knob on to mask the growing silence as he turned on to Main Street.
“I didn’t know that you didn’t know,” I finally spoke, looking over at him. He peered over at me from the corner of his eye as he drove.
“Ya don’t have ta go if ya don’t want ta.”
“No, I want to go. I just didn’t want you to feel like you had to take me if you didn’t want to.”
“I want ta.” Nolan’s tone remained quiet as he chewed at his bottom lip thoughtfully. Both of us fell silent for the remainder of the drive, unsure of what to say to the other that wouldn’t create more awkwardness. Ten minutes later we were parked in a field next to the university. The whole concert took place on the large multi-purpose fields next to the stadium. The loud booming bass could be heard as soon as we got out of the car. I followed Nolan towards the gates, his stride quicker than mine. He stopped to let me catch up and lightly placed his hand on my lower back as he guided me toward the entrance. I couldn’t help looking around in amazement at the various stages and tents as we walked through the gates. I’d been to a few local shows back home, but nothing like this. There was one la
rge stage where the main acts played, then several smaller stages scattered amongst vendors selling band merchandise, food, and beverages. I glanced back at Nolan who seemed to be amused as he watched me with curiosity. He grew up with all of this, so it wasn't anything new to him.
“C'mere. Why don't we get something ta warm us up a little?” He nodded towards a tent where they were serving hot chocolate. His nose was a little red from the cold. I followed him, even being warmly dressed I couldn't turn down hot chocolate. He paid for two cups then handed me one. I held it under my nose, inhaling the warm sweetness and the hint of Irish cream. I took a small sip, licking my lips as the heat radiated through my body. I opened my eyes to find Nolan watching me. “I felt my cheeks growing warm as well and turned my attention toward the larger stage. “Who's playing?”
“Not sure,” Nolan answered. “Want ta get closer?” I nodded and after we finished the hot chocolate as he led me toward the stage. Every few seconds he peeked back at me to make sure I was still close as we mixed into the throng of concert-goers. The crowd grew denser the closer we got and as I stumbled I lost sight of him.
“Nolan?” I looked around for his curly hair as I pushed through a group of drunken cheerleader types, but couldn't find him. Maybe he came back this way looking for me? I turned back in the direction of the hot chocolate stand but stopped as I saw two bright green eyes in the distance. A figure stood there in the growing shadow of the woods just past the field's edge. His head tilted at me and a loose piece of black hair fell in his face. Brody?
“There ya are.” Nolan's hand grabbed my wrist and caused me to let out shriek.
“Sorry, you startled me.” I apologized as he promptly let go of me.
“Ya look like ya saw a ghost. Ya okay?”
I glanced back toward the woods once more. He was gone. “Yes, I'm fine.”
“I found a good spot over this way,” Nolan pointed back towards the side of the stage and held his hand out to me. With one last look toward the woods, I grabbed his hand and followed him to an area with an old farm style wooden fence. He steadied me as I settled myself on the fence, giving me a clear view of the stage.
“This is a great spot!” I shouted over the music. Nolan stood behind the fence and leaned over the back next to me, a pleased grin on his face when I smiled at him.
“I’m going ta go grab another hot chocolate. Did ya want one too?” He leaned close to me, trying not to shout in my ear. I nodded to him and he disappeared back into the throng. I watched him until he reached the tent then looked back toward the stage. I'd never listened to the type of music playing but it was quickly beginning to grow on me as the Irish punk band whirled into their next song. I could just imagine Aggie jumping around in the mosh pit with the other concert-goers. I wondered if all three of them used to do that at one time. Nolan, Aggie, and Brody. I watched the crowd jumping around with wreckless abandon to the music and smiled to myself – until the hairs on the back of my neck pricked up. Someone is watching me.
My heart doubled in beat as my eyes searched the crowd. Nobody was even looking in my direction, everyone was watching the stage. Everyone except Brody. He was there, standing in the middle of the crowd, watching me with a blank stare as everyone else moved around him. His eyes darted toward the back of the crowd and I tried to follow, but didn't see anyone. I looked back to Brody but he had vanished. The uneasy feeling had not.
“Harley. Harley?” Nolan stepped in front of me and pulled my attention back from the crowd. He held up a cup as he watched me, concern etched around his eyes. “Ya sure yer alright?”
“I’m fine,” I let out a laugh, doing my best to hide the shaking in my voice. “I just felt a little lightheaded. Think I drank the first cup of hot chocolate a little too fast.” I smiled at him
“I forget, ya and yer penchant for head injuries. Maybe I shouldn’t have sat ya up there after all,” he mused with a playful grin. “Come on then, let’s get ya down.”
Nolan placed the cups on the ground by our feet then tentatively put his hands on either side of my waist. I slid down from the fence in a rather ungraceful manner, smacking my forehead against Nolan’s chin.
“Christ woman, talk about hard-headed!” He rubbed his jaw, staring down at me in amazement. “That might leave a mark ya know.”
“On what? You chin or my forehead?” I stifled a giggle, rubbing my head.
“Probably both,” Nolan laughed. “Now I can see how that skull of yers protected ya from that damn cue ball.” He leaned forward, tilting my head up to him with his index finger. “Doesn’t look too bad, just a little red.” Nolan winked as his eyes looked into mine.
His expression was infectious and I found myself smiling back. The uneasy feeling seemed to have dissipated, replaced with that strange calming energy that I’d felt the first night we kissed. I knew he felt it too. His breathing grew clipped as his gaze drifted to my lips and his finger traced its way down the side of my neck. In one swift motion, Nolan’s lips pressed against mine as he backed me against the fence. My pulse quickened, reverberating the hurried tempo that blared through the speakers and over the crowd. I could still taste chocolate and Bailey’s on his lips as I pulled him closer, deepening the kiss. His fingers gripped my hips as he moaned against my mouth, both of us no longer aware of the crowd or music, or even the few spectators we had attracted.
“I’m sorry, Harley,” he gasped as he pulled away a minute later, “I know what ya said the other night. I just can’t help myself around ya.” His chest rose and fell with heavy breaths as he stared at me through glassy eyes. I wanted to tell him he was right. He shouldn’t. We couldn’t let this happen. Not now.
I started to speak, but something caught my eye. Someone watching us. In the fading twilight, I couldn’t make out their face. It was a tall muscular figure with the collar of his jacket obscuring his features. The stage lights caught his eyes for just a second and a dreadful sense of familiarity hit me in the gut. I couldn’t make the connection, but I knew that I knew him – and he was definitely watching me.
I looked back toward Nolan. His rueful blue eyes told me he had interpreted my silence and my wandering gaze as rejection. He started to take a step back, but I grabbed the front of his jacket, pulling him back to me.
“Don’t go anywhere, please.” My voice was urgent, panic just beneath the surface as Nolan’s lips collided with mine. His fingers tangled into my hair as he cupped my face, tilting it with his as his mouth moved over mine, his tongue stroking mine in a fervent manner. The calmness washed over me again as I gave into his embrace. I opened one eye just enough, peering in the direction of the man that had been watching me, but he was nowhere to be seen. I pushed him from my mind. I didn’t want to feel scared. I didn’t want to think about what might happen to me soon. I only wanted to feel what Nolan was making me feel. The tingling sparks of energy shooting through my body as he pressed against me.
“Let’s go, let’s get away from here.” I said as my lips brushed against his ear. No sooner had the words left my lips than Nolan was pulling me toward the gates, his fingers tightly intertwined with mine. I didn’t look back again to see if Brody or anyone else was watching us. I just wanted to escape.
As we rounded the passenger side of his car, he tugged my arm and pulled me to him, backing me against the car door. His mouth found mine and his tongue slid past my lips, brushing against mine in a slow, lustful stroke as his body moved against mine in a similar fashion. Moments later he pulled away, leaving both of us disheveled and breathless as he opened my door then hurried to the driver’s side. I watched in amusement as he hastily fumbled with his seatbelt and car keys before putting the Honda into drive and taking off out of the festival area.
“Nolan, I think the speed limit is thirty-five.” I said, watching the needle of the speedometer steadily rise as we zipped down a crowded street. He glanced at me then eased off the gas slightly. I suppressed a smile as he concentrated on the road, no doubt calculating the fa
stest route back to Finley’s. Despite the traffic, we seemed to arrive back behind the pub in record time. Nolan looked to the back door then to me, his eyes narrowed thoughtfully as he pursed his lips.
“I'll check fer any sign of Aggie before we go inside.” He spoke as if giving instructions for some sort of black ops re-con mission. I followed along, not in any rush to reenact the other night. As he shut off the car he pulled me to him. Another wave of calm and want rushed over me as his mouth pulled hungrily at mine.
“C’mon. Otherwise, I may not be able ta make it upstairs.” Nolan’s heavy breath caressed my neck and it took everything in me to pull away from him. Finally we both got out and snuck toward the back door. Nolan looked back at me as he put his hand on the door, holding a finger up to his mouth as his lips curled into a grin. I clamped my hand over my mouth to hold back a giggle and watched as he pushed the door open about a centimeter, straining to peer inside. He reached a hand back, closing it around mine. “Okay, go!”
Like a couple of infatuated teenagers drunk on our own lust, we darted the short distance from the back door to the stairs, the only witness to this being Eli, the cook. I jumped as the door slammed behind Nolan, spinning around on the balls of my feet.
“And you’re shushing me?”
“Well, so much fer stealth,” he latched the lock in place then turned to me with a devilish flicker in his eyes as he pulled me to him. I pushed myself off the first step and sent him back into the door with a loud thud as I kissed him. He let out a playful growl and pushed me against the other side of the staircase as he buried his face against my neck. I shivered, letting out a quiet moan as his teeth nipped at the tender skin on my neck.
“Mmmm, Harley.” His breath tickled over my skin as he managed his way up the stairs, pulling me with him. After several minutes we reached the top step, tripping and giggling a few times as we stumbled over each other's feet. Our lips parted long enough for him to open the door and pull me inside.
