Arielle finally let go of my hand and started to rise. “I better—”
I grasped her hand, startling her. I didn’t want her to leave yet. I wanted to give us a shot.
“I don’t think my aunt would mind if you came back and ate cake with us. Right, Tris?” Inviting Arielle was my way of jumping off a cliff without a parachute. Hopefully it wouldn’t bite me in the ass as it had with Larissa.
“Mom won’t mind.” Tris nodded at Arielle and then winked at me.
Arielle’s fingers contracted on mine. “I would love to.”
“Great!” Tris said. “I’ll run back inside and tell Mom. We’ll be out in a jiff.” She hurried back into the building.
“In a jiff?” I rolled my eyes and snickered.
“Cheesy but cute.” Arielle shrugged and set her hand on my knee. “You’re sure you’re okay with me coming back to your aunt’s house? I don’t want to intrude if it’s a family thing.”
“Aunt Eloise would probably want more people around her, especially after speaking. She’s so brave. That’s something I’d never do,” I said.
“Never say never.” Arielle stood and helped me up. “Perhaps one day when you trust me more, you’ll open up to me about last year and everything that happened to bring you to the here and now.”
“You make it sound as if it happened for a reason,” I said, slightly disturbed by the notion.
She shifted her hand down until she held me by my wrist—the one I’d slashed. The pad of her thumb rubbed right over the pulse point and my scar. “I’m not saying the horrible things that happened to you were meant to be, but the consequences did bring you to me. It’s one positive thing out of the horrors you endured.”
I didn’t know how to respond. She did have a point. If I hadn’t been raped, I wouldn’t be here now with her. I would be back in Underwood and probably still with Larissa trying to convince her to go public with our relationship.
“I’m glad I’m here with you now.” I curled my hand around hers.
She smiled, her eyes much brighter and livelier. “I’m happy to hear it.”
The door opened again, and out walked Tris with Aunt Eloise. My aunt’s eyes were bloodshot and swollen. I pulled away from Arielle and hugged Aunt Eloise.
“Thank you for being here tonight. I couldn’t ask for a better birthday present,” she whispered.
“I want to be like you when I grow up,” I said.
She laughed and lowered her arm around my hip. Tris came up beside her and nestled against her mother. “Ready to go home for your birthday cake and to open your gifts, Mom?”
“More than ready.” Aunt Eloise pressed her cheek to Tris’s and then mine.
“Arielle is going to tag along with us.” I held out my hand to Arielle to take.
Aunt Eloise sent Arielle a beaming smile. “The more the merrier. Thank you for coming tonight.”
“I’m glad Tris told me.” Arielle looked straight at me, making my face warm. “Hearing you tell your story without shame is a powerful thing. It put many things in perspective for me.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” Aunt Eloise pinched my side lightly before releasing me.
“Maybe you’ll come again,” Tris said to Arielle, then shot me a side-glance.
“I’ll keep it in mind. Right, Charlie?” Arielle asked.
“Sure.” I stepped forward, not only to get moving, but to direct the conversation elsewhere. I wasn’t ready to attend another group meeting so quickly after this one had just ended. “The awesome homemade carrot cake Tris made is waiting for us.”
Tris and Aunt Eloise started walking. I followed with Arielle at my side. And when she brushed her arm along mine, I did something that made her own eyes go large and her jaw fall. I kissed the corner of her mouth.
Chapter FOURTEEN
FRIDAY AFTERNOON at the real estate office was busy, but not because of sellers or home buyers with appointments or calling on the phone. The kids from the neighborhood kept visiting, dressed in their Halloween costumes and yelling “Trick or treat!” Hugh had warned me that we would be overwhelmed with kiddies as they visited Main Street asking for candy. I ended up giving away more than three bags of candy, a mixture of chocolates and lollipops. I was guilty of snacking on my share of the candy—I sucked on my weight in lollipops. But Hugh munched on some too when he thought I wasn’t looking.
My boss had quite the sweet tooth, which made me have one also, at least for that afternoon.
The sidewalks were busy with tons of people, not just kids out for Halloween. All ages crowded the street. In part it had to do with the first day of the harvest carnival that would run for the next two weekends. It was all I heard about in class and from my cousins, as well as Arielle, who asked me to go with her tonight.
Even though we’d hung out almost every day since the night of the support group, it would be the first time we’d gone out on a date. Yup, an actual date. That was what Arielle called it. In less than twenty minutes, she would pick me up for our date.
I sucked on another lollipop to kill time. And though I had already eaten a ton of pops, I craved more. Or maybe it was just nerves, because the idea of being on a date with Arielle in public caused me major stress.
My cell phone pinged, a text message from Arielle saying she was around the corner. She also couldn’t wait to see my reaction to her costume. It was a surprise.
I didn’t get all jazzed up like everyone else. I’d decided on something simple—a black-and-yellow striped sweater and black stretch pants. I’d even made a homemade headband with a plastic bee on top. I was going as a honeybee.
“It’s time to close up shop.” Hugh shut off the light to his office and came over to my desk.
I shook the basket with five pieces of candy left. “We made a killing with the trick-or-treaters this afternoon.”
He snagged the remaining candy and dropped it into his coat pocket. “Halloween is big here.” He checked his wristwatch. “I’m heading over to my son’s school, where they’re having Halloween festivities for the kids in the gymnasium. After, my wife and I are taking him to the carnival.” He sent me a toothy white smile. “The first night of the carnival is busy, but a great time.”
“I’ll be there. One of my friends is picking me up in a few minutes.” I opened my backpack and pulled on the headband.
“Aha, I wondered if you’re going in costume. I had a feeling you’re a bee, but now the headband cements it. Why not wear it while you worked? The kids would have loved it.” He didn’t sound too disappointed.
“I didn’t know if it was accept—” My mouth dropped as the front door opened and Arielle entered dressed in all her costumed glory.
Holy shit. Arielle was extremely artistic, but what she’d done with the costume she made was out of this world. She’d been working on it for months but had refused to show it to me in progress. Now I knew why. She really did enjoy seeing me wide-eyed and slack-jawed. Saying she was dressed as a princess or a fairy was a major understatement. What she wore defied any definition. She had gone all out, and it showed from the top of her head to the tip of her toes. Her gold, sleeveless dress was ruffled and corseted, and it shimmered with glitter. The glitter was all over her and covered amazing cleavage that had my mouthwatering. So much skin on display. She was wearing extremely pointed black leather thigh-high boots, which accentuated her legs through a slit in the front of her dress. Her makeup and hair were flamboyant and staggering, including a large gold tiara on her head.
“Hello, Mr. Caryll. I’m here to pick up Charlie for the carnival.” She held out her skirt.
Hugh’s eyes bugged out of his head, much like mine, but for just a split second. “You’ve outdone yourself this year, Arielle. You’ll definitely win first place in the costume contest.”
“I’m counting on it.” She curtseyed and waved her wand around. “What do you think, Charlie?”
“You look fa-fabulous!” The heat rose in my face as I stammered. I couldn’t
stop staring. She was gorgeous and almost ethereal. My costume was a major fail. I would look pathetic next to her.
She must have noticed my reaction, because she lost her beaming smile and approached me with concern. “You okay?”
“Yeah. I won’t be entering any contests with what I’m wearing, though.” I lifted the hem of my sweater and shrugged.
“I like the cute bee on top.” She flicked the top of my headband and then took my hand.
“Black is a great color on you,” Hugh said to humor me. He must have noticed my sudden lack of enthusiasm or how shocked I was by Arielle in her dazzling costume. “Don’t worry about what you’re wearing. You’ll fit in with everyone else.”
“I overdid it this year because I refuse to come in second in the costume contest.” Arielle tapped my shoulder with her wand. “This year I’m taking it all!”
“What do you win for first place?” I grabbed my backpack.
“Mainly bragging rights, along with a picture in the local paper. Also, the one-hundred-dollar gift certificate to The Orchard isn’t too shabby either.”
“What’s The Orchard?” I asked as we followed Hugh to the door.
“One of the best restaurants in town. Their rib eye is to die for. I took my wife there for our fifteenth wedding anniversary last year,” he said as he turned on the alarm system. “It’s the type of place you bring someone special to.”
“It won’t be hard to figure out who I’m taking if I win,” Arielle announced in a low voice and left a soft kiss on my cheek.
Now my face was really on fire. If Arielle treated me to an expensive dinner, it must be serious, right?
Hugh opened the front door, and we walked out. Groups of costumed kids with adults, probably their parents, passed us.
“Have a safe and fun night, you two, and a great weekend. I’ll see you on Monday, Charlie.” Hugh waved and then walked in the opposite direction to his car.
“Mr. Caryll is a nice guy. How is he as a boss?” Arielle asked as we walked toward the carnival.
“Seeing as he’s my first boss, he’s okay. I’m lucky he gave me a job.” I tried not to smile like a goof while Arielle swung our hands back and forth.
“Luck might have helped you meet him, but you’ve proven you’re a good employee after how many weeks now?”
“Almost a month.” Time had flown by. Most of the month of October had been busy with school and with Arielle.
“You’ve been in Albee for over two months now.” She shot me a grin. “Have we grown on you yet?”
“I’ve settled in well, even after some bumps in the road.” I had yet to explain my relationship with Larissa or everything from my assault. Arielle hadn’t pushed me. Our friendship, or whatever it was, reminded me of what I’d had with Matilda. The only difference was that I wanted more than just to be friends with Arielle. My feelings for her were growing every day, to the point that I wanted to take that next step. But fear and my own cowardliness stopped me from pushing for more. And because Arielle was leaving everything to me, she hadn’t tried for anything other than holding hands or maybe a kiss on the cheek, and always with people nearby or in public.
I must have sighed in frustration too loudly because she relaxed her hold on my hand and stopped walking. “Are you sure you’re okay with going to the carnival? It’s going to be crowded and loud, so if you want to go back to my room or your house and watch Sex and—”
I pressed the pads of my fingers on her mouth. She huffed against them but didn’t move. Her eyes widened. I dropped my hands on her shoulders and squeezed. “I want to go to the carnival, regardless of the crowds, because you want to. I also want to see you kick some major ass in the contest.”
She dipped her head and settled her hands on mine. “I want you to have fun.”
“I will have fun. How can I not when I’m with you?” I fluffed the hair near her ear.
She nodded and grabbing my arm, started walking. “Let’s hurry. I’m craving a corn dog and some funnel cake.”
“I’ve never eaten a corn dog or funnel cake.”
“You’re in for a real treat, then!” She tugged me ahead and hurried along. I kept pace with her, giggling softly as she explained all the fun she had planned for us tonight.
“HERE, FINISH this chunk of sugary spun goodness.” Arielle held out the last of her purple cotton candy.
“No more, or I’ll boot.” I shook my head, unable to eat any more junk. For my first carnival food experience, I had overdone it, and then some, because of Arielle. I’d eaten enough corn dogs, fried pickles, and cotton candy to last me a lifetime.
She pouted but finished off the cotton candy. Some stuck to the corner of her mouth.
“You have some here.” I pointed to the spot on my own mouth, but she didn’t lick it or wipe it away.
She stopped chewing. “What if I dared you to get rid of it?”
“Rid of it how?” My throat tightened.
She waved a napkin. “You could always wipe it away with this, or use your finger.” She dipped her face to mine. “Or it would be the perfect excuse for you to lick it away.”
I swallowed, sounding more like a croak. If Arielle noticed, she didn’t say anything. She inspected my mouth and licked the middle of her bottom lip but missed the part coated with the cotton candy.
“Are you suggesting I lick your face?” I exhaled hard, studying the corner of her mouth. I didn’t just want to lick, but also kiss her there.
“Licking might lead to kissing.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “I could dare you, since we’re in public. I know you won’t go too far.”
I laughed and tried smothering the sound by pressing my lips together. Arielle tilted her head, coming even closer. “I don’t mind if you take advantage of me.”
I stroked that sweet spot, my eyes fluttering close. She whispered my name. I moved my thumb, then lifted it to my mouth and sucked.
“Hmm, delicious.” I spoke around my thumb and opened my eyes.
She blinked and mouthed my name instead of saying it.
She looked vulnerable but not weak. It was like she was showing me deep into her soul. A shudder shot down my arms and lodged in my stomach. The fluttering there made me lock my knees together.
Ah, screw it. I’m kissing her.
I moved my face toward her, watching her eyelids fall low and the tip of her tongue peek out between her lips. I dug my fingers into my thighs as I moved to press my mouth to hers.
I met nothing but air as a group of people surrounded the table. She jerked back as Dennis dropped his hands down onto her shoulders, then wrapped his arms around her, lifting her up off the bench.
“Hey, watch it!” She slapped him in the gut. He responded by kissing the back of her hand.
“You look hot, Ari babe.” He finally noticed me and nodded hello. “Hey, Charlie.”
“Hey, Dennis. Love your zombie makeup.” I complimented him calmly even though I was raging on the inside. I was now beyond agitated and frustrated. Even though Arielle sent me a sympathetic shrug, I grabbed our garbage off the table to throw away. I needed some space with him and his gang here.
Arielle was soon surrounded by everyone, including Dennis, who kept praising her costume. I had been elbowed out of the way, waiting on the side while they inspected her for their pleasure.
“Did you check out the haunted fun house yet? It’s balls-to-the-walls awesome.” Dennis curled his arm around Arielle’s shoulder and tucked her to his side, proudly displaying her as some sort of trophy or prize.
“Not yet. I’m planning on going through it with Charlie after the costume contest.” Arielle slipped out from under his arm and nudged past the group, over to me. In front of everyone, she wrapped her arm around my waist and pulled me in close, much like Dennis had done to her.
He rubbed the back of his shaved head, looking distraught. A guy dressed as a pirate whispered something to him, and he frowned. Sorry, dude, Arielle’s with me tonight.
If an
yone else thought it strange Arielle was holding me, they didn’t show it—unlike Dennis, who appeared to have lost his buzz.
“What this about a haunted fun house?” I asked Arielle.
“It’s the biggest attraction at the carnival. The group running the carnival tries to outdo themselves each year.” She scanned the area. Instead of suggesting we join her friends, she stayed next to me, a few feet away from everyone else. It gave me a small thrill knowing she wanted to be with just me.
“Does it have a bouncy castle inside?” I joked. I’d never been inside an actual haunted house or fun house, so it would be something new.
“There’s a ball pit at the end, but nothing like a jumpy castle.” Arielle pressed her cheek to mine. “There’s a lot of secret rooms we can hide in.” Her hand slipped to my lower back. “We’ll have to check them out.”
That thrill ran around my chest and down my belly, leaving tingles in its wake. If I agreed to investigate those secret rooms with Arielle, there would definitely be some kissing going on.
I stalled, too involved in my own thoughts. Arielle noticed and raised her hand up higher. “No pressure.”
“I know.” I reached around her hand and squeezed.
“Ari, time to head over to the main stage for the contest,” Dennis bellowed through his cupped hands.
Arielle guided me over to the small group walking toward the stage. I came up on her right, while Dennis took her left. This time he didn’t touch her but did talk her ear off about some party later tonight at a fraternity he hoped she would go to with him.
She mentioned my name, but before I caught the rest of her sentence, my cell vibrated in my bag. I checked the text message and a picture Matilda had sent of herself in her Halloween costume. Arielle’s hand loosened from mine as some people bumped us. I paused as I viewed Matilda dressed as Wonder Woman. I couldn’t stop from laughing because she looked miserable. The reason she was in costume was because she’d lost some type of bet with Jordan, her annoying next-door neighbor whom she swore she couldn’t stand. I didn’t know all the details, but for years, they’d loved to prove each other wrong. Jordan had won this round.
Rage to Live Page 15
