“Dude, you do stink,” Allie added in amusement.
“Football practice got messy.” He stuffed half a club sandwich into his mouth. “I might have tackled Vince a few times just for fun.”
“Aidan!”
“The guy’s a douche.” He shrugged. “Want to stay for dinner? You can finally meet our parents.”
“Sure.”
“Shouldn’t you be discussing that with me?” Sasha hissed.
“Uh, I can just go home, Sash—”
“Crap!” Sasha’s cheeks flushed in embarrassment. “I just meant…I…er, how does she do that?” she glowered as Aidan tried unsuccessfully to stifle his laughter.
“Sometimes I feel like I’m just not surfing the same channels as you guys,” Allie sighed.
“Hey, it’s my turn to cook this week.” Aidan shrugged out of his muddy shirt. “Want to help? You can just watch, uhh…I’ll do the actual cooking.” Since he was her unfortunate partner in their Culinary Arts class, she didn’t blame his caution.
Allie took a moment to admire his tattoos when he grabbed a clean shirt from the laundry.
Did they change? Something was missing…
“See something you like, sweetheart?” He grabbed her around the waist.
“Yeah, the tattoos.” She gave him a shove. “They look different than I remember.”
“Work in progress. I’ll show you the plan sometime. I was thinking you might draw my next one.” He quickly pulled the clean shirt over his head before they headed down to the grotto kitchen.
She sat at the bar and watched as he pulled several trays from the fridge: steaks marinated in something that smelled wonderfully Mediterranean, chicken and beef kabobs with onions and brightly colored peppers, ribs and chicken.
“That’s a lot of food for five people.”
“Er…when it’s my week to cook, I like to do it all at once. How do you like your steak?”
“Just short of mooing.”
“That’s my girl!” He grinned.
Allie heard a rush of white noise and looked around in alarm. She got that creepy feeling a lot these days, but never so strongly.
“Relax, it’s just my mom.” He winked.
Allie’s eyes widened at his blatant acknowledgment of her feelings. She stared at him in surprise, but his only response was his typical arrogant grin.
“Dinner smells wonderful, son, but I see a lot of meat and very few vegetables,” his mother said as she and Sasha joined them.
“Hey, the kabobs have fruit, peppers and onions.” Aidan draped his long arm around his petite mother. Allie noticed how she flinched, as if her son’s touch bothered her somehow. It was such a familiar reaction, it didn’t register right away that it wasn’t in response to her.
“Just like your father.” She smiled, all traces of her discomfort gone, but Allie saw a flicker of sadness cross Aidan’s face. Without thinking, she reached for his hand and he gently squeezed her fingers in silent affirmation of her offer of comfort.
“Allie, I’m delighted to finally meet you!” His mother was dazzling in her exotic Egyptian beauty. “Please call me Naeemah.”
“Th-thank you.” She stared at Aidan uncertainly.
“Aidan Loukas McBrien! Front and center! Right bloody now!” his father called from the steps above.
“Coming Da!” He winced. “I know I’m in trouble when the Scots comes out.”
“What’d you do this time?” Allie giggled at his use of the Scottish endearment.
“I brought an unruly redhead home for dinner.” He winked as he rushed up the steps to meet his father.
“Come on girls, let’s see if we can find something green in this kitchen. The boys will be along shortly. I’m sure Aidan will have some fabulous excuse for whatever it is he’s done this time.”
Allie laughed. His mother sure wasn’t fooled by his charm.
“Sorry, Nae.” She heard the subtle Scottish burr when Aidan and his father joined them. Allie’s heart skipped a beat when he turned his attention on her. She glanced at Aidan, confusion written all over her face, but he just gave her shoulder a sympathetic squeeze.
“Allie!” She looked up to see an all too familiar smile. “Greggory McBrien, it’s nice to finally meet you.” He winked.
“Oh no. There’s two of you.” She glanced between father and son who looked nothing alike, beyond their mischievous smiles, yet they shared some elusive quality she couldn’t place.
“I’m starving, let’s eat.” Aidan hefted two full dinner plates onto the table. Naeemah arched her brow at her ravenous son as he slathered an absurd amount of butter on a tiny dinner roll.
“How did you come to be with your adoptive family?” she asked.
“I was abandoned in a hospital waiting room in South Africa,” Allie said. “I was only a few hours old, but I was placed with my parents immediately and the adoption was finalized not long after.” She forced a smile. She didn’t like talking about the circumstances of her birth.
“Aye, family isn’t always about biology,” Gregg said. “We’re the epitome of the melting pot, but we make it work.”
After dinner, Allie sat quietly listening to her friends, but she couldn’t concentrate. She felt like Aidan was trying to tell her something—something he had no intention of putting into words.
As she slipped into the bathroom, she heard Naeemah and Gregg talking in the study below, their voices carrying up through the vents.
“How could this happen?” Naeemah asked.
“…must be making excuses,” Gregg said.
“What can we do?”
“…have to be careful…”
“…can’t overwhelm her, she is… see her touch him?”
“…might finally have someone,” Gregg added.
“Allie!” Sasha rapped loudly on the door. “We’re going out for coffee!”
She finished drying her hands, trying to hear over the ruckus.
“Come on, let’s get out of here!” Aidan shouted.
She caught his gaze when she stepped into the hall and knew he saw the questions in her eyes.
“Relax, Lex. Take a deep breath and don’t overthink it.” Aidan grabbed her hand and she felt a wave of calm wash over her. Sometimes he had the most remarkable effect on her.
“Alright, but seriously, drop the Lex crap already.”
<><><>
CHAPTER
SIX
“If I hear ‘I don’t date Cliffton girls’ one more time, I will punch you in your whole face.” Allie rolled her eyes. She was walking to Physics with Vince, which had become their habit after lunch.
“Can you reach that high?” he grinned.
“Har, har, funny guy. I was not hinting for a date.”
“I know. And trust me, you’re about as much of a ‘Cliffton girl’ as I am.”
“So come to the party at North Shore Beach this weekend? It’ll be fun.”
“Well, I guess we could try the friend thing.” He frowned. “I don’t think I’ve ever been ‘just friends’ with a girl, but I suppose I could give it a shot.”
“I’m honored,” she snorted.
“I’ll come to the party.” He took an unnecessary step closer. “But something tells me ‘just friends’ is never going to work.”
<><><>
“Come on! Let us plan a big party?” Sasha begged as they wandered down the beach early Saturday evening. Allie saw familiar faces everywhere: people from town, neighbors, and kids from school. Tiny bonfires dotted the sand in the growing darkness, and there was a festive atmosphere of anticipation for the live music and fireworks to come later in the evening.
“Seriously guys, I know like ten people, so keep it small if you expect me to show up.”
“Sure.” Chloe’s promise was not convincing.
“Hey, Allie!” Vince called. “I knew you were a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl.” He nodded appreciatively at her casual, non-Cliffton attire.
“You actually came!”
“Promised, didn’t I?” He fell in step with her as Chloe and Sasha melted into the crowd.
“Come on, there’s a volleyball match about to start.” He grabbed her hand. It felt nice; comfortable and exciting at the same time, but safe. With Vince, everything was exactly as it appeared.
“I played volleyball at my last school,” she said as they took their seats near the pit. She inched a little closer when she felt his hand at her back.
“You’ve moved a lot. Should I be worried?”
“It seems we’re staying here for good.” She rested her hand on his knee. “Maybe I’ll play for Cliffton this spring?”
“How is it that one who travels so low to the ground can play sports with tall people?” he grinned.
“I am stronger and faster than I look.”
“Well, you and Sasha play like you’ve been partners for years. It cracks me up when you two sneak the ball down the court and the other team hardly notices.”
“You’ve been to my games?”
“Every one I can.” His hand closed over hers.
They slid so easily into their comfortable banter and silly flirtation, Allie knew “just friends” was doomed.
“Let’s eat. I’m starving,” she said when the game ended.
He absently slipped his hand into hers as they made their way over to the vendor booths.
“You have mustard on your face.” He laughed when she swiped at the spot and missed.
“Here, I got it.” He wiped the corner of her mouth with his thumb. Their eyes met briefly and he looked away, as if he just realized their whole evening had been a date, which was exactly what he hadn’t intended it to be.
“Don’t freak out,” she whispered playfully.
“I should go check in with my friends.”
“Aw, you freaked out,” she teased.
“Did not.”
“Did too. See you a bit later?”
“Of course.” He smiled as he left in search of his friends.
“So how’d it go?” Sasha asked before Allie had taken a step.
“Seriously? Where did you come from?”
“You’re sitting here, where they keep the food, and you don’t expect to see me?”
“Good point.” Sasha was always hungry.
“Come on, music’s about to start.”
The band was taking the stage just as they found their seats. Allie did a double take when she saw Aidan join them.
“Is he seriously about to sing?” she cringed.
“Don’t worry, he’s actually good,” Quinn said.
Allie cheered with the crowd. He was amazing and he’d chosen one of her favorites. A perfectly tortured lyric with an angry rhythm that totally suited him.
“How did I not know he could do this?”
“He’s shy.” Quinn grinned.
“Yeah, I’ll buy that for a dollar,” she said dryly as she watched him trade the guitar for his violin.
She expected him to play a classical piece, but was blown away when he played along with the rock band instead.
“So how’s it going with Vince?” Sasha asked when Aidan left the stage after his last set.
“Pretty good. The friend thing isn’t working, but he seems determined not to get involved.”
“Where is he anyway?”
“Ahh…I just saw him with some hot blond,” Graham offered.
“Ow! Chloe, that hurt!” he growled, rubbing his arm where she hit him.
“It’s alright, Chlo, we’re not really together.” But Allie felt like the one who just got punched.
“I’m sure it’s nothing,” Sasha insisted.
“You’re probably right.” She left her friends to search the crowd. It didn’t take long to find him with the strikingly beautiful college girl attached to his hip. Tattooed, with silvery blond hair, her arms snaked around Vince’s neck. Allie watched in dismay when she kissed him, running her fingers through his hair in a very familiar gesture. She turned away, refusing to let a stupid boy ruin her night.
“Lex, wait!” Aidan called after her.
“Enough with the Lex crap!” She turned on her heel, swinging a punch before she could register what she was doing.
SMACK! Her fist slammed into his hand. She gaped at him, surprised by her uncharacteristic violence, as much as his quick reaction.
“How did you—why did I?” she sputtered.
“Relax.” He maneuvered them through the crowd and onto the dance floor.
“I’m going to make a crazy prediction and say that’s not going to be the last time you take a swing at me.”
“But…”
“Just breathe. Vince is an absolute idiot. Forget about him and your pathetic attempt at throwing a punch. Dance with me?”
“Pathetic?”
“Dreadful.” He smirked. “I’ll have to teach you how to do that properly.”
“Cheers to that, next time I’ll be sure to hit your face,” she muttered.
“Sure,” he scoffed as he twirled her around. He was a fantastic dancer and they moved together so easily, as if they’d been partners for years.
“You play guitar and violin, which was totally awesome by the way—and you dance, and you’re smart. It’s kind of annoying.”
“You forgot tortured, broody and ridiculously handsome,” he added.
“And arrogant.” She rolled her eyes. “But thanks, Aidan. I needed this,” she said as they headed back to the bonfire.
“I don’t dance, but how about a walk?” Vince waited for her at the edge of the stage.
“Sure.” She accepted his hand with a smile.
“See you for another dance later?” She turned to Aidan.
“Of course, Lex, just come find me.” He winked and sauntered away.
“Listen, what you saw back there was so not what it seemed,” Vince said earnestly.
“You don’t have to explain.”
“But I want to.” They walked along the beach until the crowd was far behind them.
“Ella was someone I went out with a few times back over the summer, and I guess she thought we could pick up where we left off. I got rid of her two seconds after you left. She was never my type. Besides, lately I prefer redheads.” He grinned.
“You seriously have to stop that crap if we’re just going to be friends.”
“I know. I can’t help it. The flirt in me rears his ugly head when I’m with you.”
“Well get it under control, because it’s confusing. If you just want to be friends, I’m cool with that, but this back and forth has to stop.”
“You know, I totally expected to find tears and drama when I came looking for you,” he laughed. “When I found you with McBrien, I thought you were trying to make me jealous. Then I realized you were just having fun with your friend and weren’t giving me a second thought.”
“I wasn’t going to let it ruin my night.” She shrugged.
“That kind of maturity is rare, Allie, and insanely attractive.”
“Correct me if I’m wrong, but is that whole ‘I don’t date Cliffton girls’ crap really code for ‘I don’t date high school girls?’”
“You see right through me, don’t you?” he said. “Yes, I normally date older girls, but I have my reasons.”
“The last few years have been really rough, Allie. My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and my dad was always working. I took mom in for her chemo. That’s how I met Vanessa. She had her treatments at the same time, and we became friends. She was twenty and I was only fifteen, but we just clicked, and it got really serious, really fast.”
“When my mom died, Vanessa was my rock, but then she took a turn for the worse and she died too. Not even a year ago.” He struggled to get the words out.
“Oh my God, Vin! I’m so sorry,” she whispered.
“Thanks, Allie.” He snaked his arm around her. “Sometimes I feel so much older than most of our friends. Since I lost mom and Vanessa, I’ve only thought about getting ou
t of here. I promised myself I wouldn’t let anything tie me to this city. But then you showed up and you’re all different, with your pretty red hair and your uncanny ability to see right through my crap. I’m still kind of a mess and I’m afraid I’ll just hurt you. Part of me thinks it would be better if we didn’t even try to be friends, but the other part of me wants to say ‘screw it’ and kiss you.”
“Vince, I’m so sorry.”
“You’ve been a great friend, and there is definitely something between us, but I just don’t think I’m ready. I feel so much guilt. Although, Vanessa would have thought you were awesome.” He smiled. “I need to take this slow and see what happens.”
“Of course, Vin. I know it’s not the same, but I understand the guilt. When I left Sydney, it was spur of the moment, and I had to say goodbye to my boyfriend in a rush. He didn’t understand, and wanted me to call when I got settled, but I still haven’t. I kinda thought it might be better for him if I didn’t, and I feel really bad about that, and even worse for liking you.”
“Slow works for both of us then?”
“Definitely.”
“We should head back. I’ve got work early tomorrow,” he said reluctantly.
“I know that wasn’t easy for you,” she said as they walked, “but thank you for sharing with me.”
“It’s easy to talk to you. You get me in a way no one else does. It’s like you just took one look at me and understood exactly who I am.”
“I’ve been told I’m very perceptive.” She smiled as he pulled her closer, leaving his hand at her hip as they walked.
“So, my little redheaded freak, I hear your birthday is on Halloween?” he grinned. “Can I be your date?”
“News travels fast,” she muttered. “Is that a date-date or a friend-date?”
“How about an exclusive-friend-date? Neither of us dates anyone until we see where this goes?
“Friends, huh?” she sighed dramatically, luxuriating in the very non-friend-like way he had his hand on her hip.
“Maybe friends with certain…benefits?” he amended.
“No. We should do this right.” She took an exaggerated step back.
“So I can’t kiss you at all? That won’t last a week.” He pulled her to a halt.
Emerge: The Awakening Page 4
