Midnight Rose

by Dani Hart

  “Why, Wes? Is it your dad? Your brother and sister?” I paused and then peeked up. “Someone else?”

  “There will never be anyone else.” He threw a large rock. It landed hard in the water, creating a big splash, spraying us lightly. “We need to go. Your parents will be worried.”

  He held his hand out and I took it, allowing him to help me to my feet. He held onto it protectively as we made our way back to my car. He opened my door like the gentleman he is, and I slid in obediently.

  “When will I see you again?” I was worried I wouldn’t.

  “Soon,” he answered, his crooked smile comforting me.

  He shut my door, and as I drove away, I watched him in the rearview mirror. It was odd leaving happy and afraid. Our time together posed more questions, but the way he made me feel…the things he said to me…I finally had the most important question answered. He loved me. I wasn’t some crazy-obsessed girl like Natalie had taunted me with for years. He confirmed what I had believed to be there all along. He said things were complicated, and how things went tonight, I knew they were more than complicated. I just didn’t know how much more. A new kind of euphoria swirled around me, giving me confidence that no matter what Wes told me, it would never break what we had. Never break us.

  The elation faded quickly when I drove up to my house and a cop car was parked in my spot. Either something happened, or something was about to happen. I shuffled to the front door apprehensively. On the other side awaited scolding, worry, and a good chance of being grounded. Maybe I should just turn around and go back to Wes’, but the door flew open. So much for an escape.

  “Abigail.” My mom wrapped her arms around me, squeezing me tightly. “We were so worried. Where have you been?”

  Peering over her shoulder, my dad’s exhausted eyes stared back. Officer Gates closed the notebook he had been writing in, and to my surprise, Kendra was sitting on the couch. Officer Gates was my dad’s best friend from high school.

  “If everything’s okay here, I’m going to get going,” Officer Gates said kindly.

  “Yes, thank you, Jake.” My dad shook his hand.

  “Ma’am.” Officer Gates dipped his hat as he slid past us, closing the door behind him.

  “Abigail, do you mind telling us where you have been for the past two hours?” My dad’s voice was stern.

  Two hours?

  “I…” I looked over to Kendra, knowing that her presence meant I didn’t have an alibi. “I…I was with Wes.” If I could have dug a deep hole to hide in, I would have. The dead silence was worse than a shouting match. The lines around my dad’s eyes creased deeply with his scowl, and the shadows under my mom’s eyes darkened ten shades of worry.

  “Kendra, you can go now. Thank you for coming.” My dad kept his voice even, but his eyes told a very different story. A hell-hath-no-fury story.

  Kendra jumped up. “Actually, I told my parents I was staying here tonight. They are out with friends.”

  “Oh, well, James, we can’t let her go home then.” My mom’s maternal instincts kicked in.

  “No, I guess not. We’ll talk about this tomorrow. Both of you go on then.”

  Kendra raced over and grabbed my hand. “Thanks, Mr. and Mrs. Rose.” She dragged me up the stairs, giggling softly as she pulled me into my bedroom and closed the door.

  “Okay, spill.”

  I pulled off my jacket and tossed it over my desk chair.

  “Is that Wes’?” Kendra pointed to his sweater that I failed to give back to him.

  Slightly embarrassed, I admitted to it. “Yes, but it’s not what you think.”

  “Then what is it?” She bounced excitedly on my bed.

  “Shhh. You’re going to give my parents an aneurysm.” I couldn’t give away anything if I truly didn’t know anything. “There’s nothing to tell. I went to his house to talk, and that’s what we did.”

  She frowned in disappointment.

  “Sorry we aren’t more exciting,” I teased. “Are your parents really gone for the night?”

  “Yes, but the other part was a fib.” She winked. “I figured your parents couldn’t go off on you if I were here.”

  I sat in my chair and spun around in slow circles. “Thanks.” Kendra was pretty upset with me before, and I was glad it was over.

  “Did he tell you why he left after the accident?” She rolled onto her stomach, ready for all the juicy details.

  “No.” I pouted. “To be honest, we didn’t talk all that much. It was more about us being together again. It’s hard to explain.” How did you put into words the undeniable chemistry Wes and I had? It was like watching a movie of your favorite book, all the details that made you love the story lost in translation.

  “Is he as weird as his brother? I ran into Ben again at the bistro. He has bad boy brooding mastered.”

  I stopped spinning. “No way! You’re into Ben, aren’t you?”

  She jumped to her knees, posing shock. “What? No. Eww.”

  I stifled a laugh. “You are. Wow.” I spun myself around again.

  Kendra flung herself back onto the bed. “Fine. He’s gorgeous. The bad boy look works on him.”

  “This is too much.” I giggled.

  “Best friends and their brothers. What couldn’t be more perfect than that?” she asked the ceiling as she lay flat on her back, daydreaming.

  I could think of a few things. I tore off my shoes and pants and got into my favorite black sweats.

  “You look like a ninja.”

  I guess I kind of did look like a ninja since I was still wearing Wes’ black sweater. “Maybe I am.” I winked.

  “I’m thinking your coordination would debunk that theory.” She rolled off the bed. “Can I borrow some sweats?”

  “Yeah.”

  While she rummaged through my drawers, I pulled Wes’ sweater up to my nose, inhaling traces of tonight. It was one perfectly crafted moment, and I hoped for many more.

  Kendra fell asleep instantly, sleeping like a dead body. I, on the other hand, couldn’t sleep, my insides bursting with every recollection of Wes’ touch. There was no denying our connection. It was unparalleled. What did he mean about not being normal? I couldn’t even begin to imagine what he was trying to not tell me.

  THE MORNING SUN poured a huge dose of reality over me. My parents were ready to discuss last night. I feared them taking my Jeep away at the very least. Grounding me to my room seemed a little juvenile at this point. Kendra was an early riser, her clothes still in a pile on the floor, telling me she was still around, something I would definitely owe her for. My parents wouldn’t kill me in front of a witness.

  “Abby, you awake yet?” Kendra stood in the doorway.

  “Yeah.” I sat up in bed, stretching my arms. “Is breakfast ready?”

  “Yep. Your mom made French toast.”

  “That’s surprising. I’ll be down in a minute.” I pondered everything that had happened last night. I used to tell Kendra everything, but there was so much going on and I wasn’t sure where to start.

  I pulled out my topknot and brushed through the tangles, put on a happy face, and hoped I wasn’t grounded for life.

  “Morning, sweetie. I made your favorite.” My mom’s eyes sparkled as I entered the kitchen.

  This was the weirdest punishment ever. I shot Kendra a questioning look and she shrugged in mild amusement. My dad sat at the table reading the paper.

  His eyes peered over. “Sleep well, Abigail?”

  “Uh, yeah. I guess.”

  All those hours watching The Twilight Zone had prepared me for this exact moment. I could even hear the theme song in my head. I had definitely entered a warped reality.

  “Good.” His eyes hid back behind the newspaper.

  My mom placed full plates of French toast in front of us.

  “Everything looks spectacular,” Kendra raved.

  “Thanks, Mom.” I exchanged looks with my equally dumbfounded friend.

  We ate quietly, the sip
ping of orange juice and mouthwatering bites filling the void. When we finished, Kendra helped me clear the dishes. “We’ll clean up, Mom.”

  “Sounds good. James, would you like to have another cup of coffee on the patio with me?” She poured two fresh cups.

  “I would love to.” He stood up, leaving the newspaper on the table. I trailed them as they left the kitchen, waiting for the back door to shut.

  “What was that?” Kendra laughed.

  “I have no idea. That is not how I imagined this morning going.” Something was clearly up with my parents, and it terrified me.

  “Well, indulge while you can. I’m sure it won’t last.” Kendra handed me a pan from the stove.

  “No, I’m sure it won’t.”

  After we finished cleaning up, Kendra went upstairs to take a shower. My dad locked himself in the office, and my mom knitted on the patio under the protection of the patio cover as the drizzle from a new storm glistened on the blades of grass.

  “Hey, Mom. Can we talk?” I sat in the rocker next to her.

  “Sure, hun. What’s up?” She looked up, not missing a knitting beat.

  “About last night—”

  “It’s okay, Abigail,” she cut me off. “Wes came by early this morning and explained everything.”

  I widened my eyes, astonished. “He did what?”

  “Yes, and it was really sweet of him to care that much about your safety.”

  I was still lost. “Yeah, it was.” I played along without knowing the rules of the game yet.

  “You don’t have to be afraid to tell us these things. Accidents happen. I mean, really, Abigail. We wouldn’t be mad at you.”

  The accident. He told her. “I was just really upset about it and nothing happened to the car, so I didn’t want to worry you guys.”

  “It was nice that he helped you get it out of that ditch. What spooked you so much?”

  “A deer.”

  “Those darn things. They are so cute, but they wreak such havoc. I’m just glad you’re okay. So is your dad.”

  “So, I’m not grounded then?” I was still bracing for the ultimate blow.

  “No, Abigail. Don’t be ridiculous. In fact, your dad has finally agreed to get you a cell phone. Just one of those pre-paid ones, so you can call us in an emergency. You were lucky Wes was driving by when he did.”

  “Yes, lucky.” A coincidence. I feigned a smile. “Okay. Well, thanks for not being upset with me. I’m going to go take a shower.” This was shaping up to be an odd day.

  AFTER I DROPPED Kendra off at her house, my intention was to go to Wes’, but the other night on the pier, with Elijah, was still spinning in my head. I didn’t even know him, so going to his house was probably one of the dumbest ideas I’ve ever had, but I needed to know why he felt I was in danger, especially after last night’s peculiar encounter with Wes. If Elijah was going to hurt me, he had every chance on the pier. We were alone and hanging over a large body of water. Accidents happened. I shuttered at the thought of how easily something could have happened, but I was trusting my instincts and right now they were telling me Elijah wasn’t a threat.

  Thirty minutes later, my Jeep was bouncing on the gravel road that led to Elijah’s house in Bayview. Adrenaline pumped through my veins as I parked. This was crazy. I should turn around and go home. I looked around, seriously considering it, but I didn’t. It didn’t look like anyone was home anyway, so being brave was a little bit easier.

  “It’s now or never.”

  I took a deep breath, killed the engine, and stepped into the rain. I dashed to the front porch and peeked into the sidelights. A flicker of light danced behind the frosted glass. It could have been a fire, but it was hard to tell. I raised my hand to knock, but then dropped it. Maybe it was smarter to walk around the house first and see what I was getting myself into. I zipped up my grandpa’s jacket and ducked my head to shield it from the downpour as I stomped my way through the muddy gravel to the other windows. Curtains were pulled closed, obstructing my view, but I caught a strong aroma wafting around the house, so someone was definitely home. Instead of going back to the front door to knock, I ventured around to the back of the house.

  The view from the back of the house was stunning. The lake rippled under the pressure of the raindrops, the waves catching glimmers of light from lit houses.

  “Can I help you?”

  Hairs on my neck rose. I was scared to take a breath. I turned slowly to face Elijah. He was standing on the back patio, wearing an apron and holding a ladle. I was at a loss for words. I expected to see glaring eyes and possibly a knife in his hand. Was that—I took a deep breath. Chili?

  “You can stand in the rain, or you’re welcome to come in. I need to get back to the stove, though.”

  We all had choices, but not all of them were good. This was going down as a bad one. A very bad one, but I stepped onto the patio anyway, shaking off the water on my jacket and ringing out my hair.

  “I think it’s going to take a little more than that to get you dry. Come on.” He moved aside for me.

  Nervously, I shuffled sideways, keeping my eyes on him. His lips rose in a smug grin, followed by a chuckle as I moved past him. Once I was inside, he closed the door and headed to the stove, stirring the pot. He lifted the ladle to his lips and took a taste.

  “Mmm. Perfect. Would you like to try?” He held the ladle out for me.

  “No. I’m good.” What in the world was going on?

  His crooked smile was mischievously seductive. He put the ladle down and closed in on me. My body began to tremble, and I flinched when he slid behind me, his body close enough for strands of loose hair to shift on my shoulder.

  “Let me put your jacket in the dryer,” he offered softly, his voice carrying from closely behind my neck. I sucked in a deep breath as he slid off my jacket, disappearing quickly with it, giving me a moment to regain my composure. I wasn’t sure if I was scared or something else entirely. Elijah still hadn’t reappeared, so I strolled over to the stove to check out the chili. My stomach grumbled loudly. It had been hours since Mom’s French toast.

  I spun around and scanned the room. His house was remarkable. The kitchen was gorgeous with antiqued white cabinets and traditional farm-style appliances. It was an open floor plan so the kitchen spilled into the living space, which was absent of personal touches. Aside from a portrait that hung over the fireplace, the room looked cold.

  “You look like you’re taking inventory,” Elijah observed as he walked back into the room.

  “Should I be, so if I go missing I can leave clues behind?” Half of me was teasing, and the other half was taking mental notes.

  “Like a trail of breadcrumbs. I like it. I have cornbread. Would that work?” He pulled a pan of cornbread out of the oven.

  “It should.” I played along. “That’s a lot of food. Are you expecting guests?”

  He looked over his shoulder while stirring the chili with an arched eyebrow and a coy smile. “No. Just me. And you now.”

  There was no question that Elijah was gorgeous, his green eyes striking against his tanned skin, and blond hair that fell over his lashes much like Wes’ style.

  “That’s very presumptuous of you.” He used his own words as a weapon. “I can’t stay.” My blushing cheeks betrayed me.

  He turned the stove off and spun around. “Why are you here, Abby?”

  His voice was even and inviting, entrancing. I cleared my throat. “On the pier you gave me a cryptic warning.”

  “Ah, I see. And I bet you would like to know who I was talking about.” His posture remained relaxed, easy.

  “And you’re going to tell me?” I asked, unconvinced.

  “Sure. Why not? Over chili and cornbread, though. I hate eating alone. Deal?” His eyes glimmered.

  “Umm…sure. I guess.” Such a bad choice. No one knew I was here. No one even knew I had left town, and here I was eating lunch with a virtual stranger.

  “Great. It’ll give y
our jacket time to dry.” He winked and turned back to the stove to scoop chili into bowls.

  I sat at the butcher-block kitchen table and picked at my fingers nervously, second-guessing every decision I had made since Wes came back that led me to sitting in a complete stranger’s house.

  Elijah put a large bowl of chili and a piece of cornbread in front of me.

  “This smells amazing.” I inhaled the aromas of green chilis and garlic deeply. I was becoming oddly comfortable around Elijah.

  “Thank you,” he said as he climbed over the bench across from me.

  I followed the spoonful of chili to his lips and then quickly looked away when I realized what I was doing.

  “You’re staring.” He smiled.

  Humiliation burned my cheeks. I quickly scooped up some chili and shoved it into my mouth. My eyes watered immediately, the temperature burning the inside of my mouth. I fanned at my lips wildly.

  “It’s hot,” he warned too late.

  “Water,” my raspy voice begged.

  Elijah glided to the sink, filled a cup of water, and slid it across the table. I washed down the chili quickly, only finding relief after finishing off the glass.

  “Why didn’t that burn you?” I asked, carefully blowing on the next spoonful.

  “You shouldn’t have assumed it wasn’t hot.” He took another mouthful of chili.

  “My mistake.” He was intriguing.

  “We all make mistakes. Just make sure you learn from them.” He bit into his square of cornbread. “The cornbread is delicious. You should try some.”

  I took a little bite. “Elijah, who were you warning me about? Wes?”

  “Eli, please.” He flashed another seductive smile.

  “Are you avoiding my question, Elijah?”

  “Maybe.” He pointed his clean spoon at me.

  “Fine. Then tell me about yourself. How did you come about meeting Kendra?”

  “At the ice cream shop,” he said simply.

  “Okay, but there’s more to it or else you wouldn’t have found me on the pier. You met Kendra on purpose to get to me. But why? What is it about me that you are fascinated by?”