“All three hundred of them?”
“Yes, I was a gigolo in a past life.”
I giggled, amused. “I’m not fishing for compliments.”
“Since when?”
“Fine, a few compliments might soothe my savaged ego,” I conceded. “That’s not my big worry right now, though. My mother was at the door when I went to answer it.”
“I figured.”
My eyebrows flew up my forehead. “You did?”
“You were flushed when you came back. You only get that way when you’ve been fighting … or play fighting with me.” Griffin winked to let me know he was joking. “As for what I told my mother about your mother, I kept it purposely vague. When she asked about your family I said that she was dead. That wasn’t exactly easy to get around after the fact, but I knew I couldn’t let her visit without telling the truth because the odds of your mother going a full week without popping up were slim.”
“You can say that again,” I muttered.
“I told her that your father told you guys that your mother was dead because he believed it,” Griffin offered. “I said that your mother abandoned you and took off, and that your father had every reason to believe she was dead. I said she’s back and things are strained and not to talk about it.”
“We should probably make my father aware of your lie,” I suggested. “He might screw it up otherwise.”
“I talked to him before I told her,” Griffin said.
“You did?”
Griffin snickered at my incredulous expression. “Of course I did. It was a difficult situation. I wanted him on board.”
“Why didn’t you ask me?”
“Because I thought you were dealing with enough,” Griffin replied honestly. “You’ve been tying yourself into knots over this visit for weeks. I didn’t want to add to your burden. Now, as it turns out, things went as bad as they possibly could. It’s over and done with, baby. We can only go up from here.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
I rested my head against his shoulder, turning my face so I could glance out over the hill. I could see the lights on at the Gentry house two blocks away, which reminded me of Angelina. “Between your mother, my mother, the wraith and Angelina, I’ve had a full day.”
“You have.”
“Angelina is selling that house.” I pointed and Griffin followed my finger with his eyes. “We always thought it was haunted when we were kids.”
“Are you hoping the ghost eats her?”
“I’m hoping she doesn’t find a reason to stop by Grimlock Manor while your mother is here,” I replied. “I already look bad enough. When your mother hears me unload the word ‘slut’ a hundred times in five minutes, she’ll order you to stay away from me forever.”
Griffin smoothed the back of my hair. “She wouldn’t do that. She knows I love you. Do you want to know how she knows that? I told her.”
The words warmed my heart, but I still had my doubts. “I won’t be able to stop myself from pulling Angelina’s hair if she stops by. I’m warning you now.”
“I don’t ever want you to be something that you’re not.”
I almost believed him. “Can we go home? I’m in pain and I want you to rub me.”
Griffin cracked a flirty smile. “You bet. That sounds like the perfect way to end the evening.”
“I might need you to rub me for a long time.”
“I figured.”
“Griffin?”
“What?”
“I really love you.”
Griffin’s expression softened as he wrapped me in a tight hug. “I love you, too. I need you to chill out, though. This will all work out the way it was meant to work out. Have a little faith.”
I wanted to believe that. I simply couldn’t. Things were going to get worse before they got better. I just knew it.
8
Eight
I fell into a terrible dream the moment my head hit the pillow.
I found myself walking down a dark hallway, my Converse making squeaking sounds against the linoleum as I padded forward. Part of me knew it was a mistake to remain on the path laid out in front of me, but the other part wasn’t strong enough to stop me. I felt propelled to move forward, as if by a magical force.
Squeak.
Squelch.
Squick.
When I glanced down, I realized I was walking on something gross – if I had to guess it was entrails with a few rats and cockroaches thrown in for good measure – so I focused on the wall ahead of me rather than whatever I crushed each time I stepped.
Squeak.
Squelch.
Squick
Movement ahead caught my attention, hard edges going soft as I shifted my focus. At first I thought someone was walking toward me, dark hair and slim shoulders offsetting swishing hips as I braced myself to meet Angelina head on. Then I realized Angelina would never come here – even if her nightmares dragged her – so I figured it had to be someone else. I thought it was my mother for a bit, and my heart rate picked up a notch. She was finally here to suck out my soul and leave me behind. Locking her out of Grimlock Manor earlier in the night was the final straw.
It wasn’t her. When I finally reached the end of the hallway I realized I was staring at a reflection of myself in a mirror. I didn’t look very good, which wasn’t surprising considering my location, but I couldn’t help but wrinkle my nose. The reflection didn’t reciprocate the movement.
“What are you?” I wasn’t sure how I knew that the reflection wasn’t me but another being, and instinctively my stomach clenched and I knew it to be true.
“I’m coming,” my reflection offered, the voice clawing from its throat unearthly and evil. “You won’t be able to run and hide.”
“I don’t run and hide,” I shot back. “I’m not afraid of … well … me.”
“I am not you.”
“I figured that out on my own.”
“I am, however, coming for you,” my reflection said. “You will not be able to hide. You will not be able to protect those you love. You will fall … and I will watch.”
“Yes, well, you need to stop watching Disney villains and pick another shtick,” I snapped, panic licking the edges of my mind. “Who are you?”
My reflection didn’t answer, instead turning and walking away from me. It remained in the mirror – growing smaller with each step. I could hear the echo of her footsteps even as she almost entirely disappeared.
“Where are you going?” Frustration overwhelmed me as I grabbed the mirror and gave it a good shake. At the exact same moment the floor below me gave way and I began to slip as the linoleum slid – like hundreds of black and white dominos falling in time – into a deep chasm.
Desperate, I grabbed for the wall. There was nothing to anchor me, though, and I tilted as the swirling hole threatened to eat me. A terrified scream wrenched from my throat as I frantically tried using my fingernails to hold on to the mirror and avoid the disappearing floor.
“Aisling!”
I snapped my eyes open to find Griffin holding me close to his chest as he tried to shake me awake. His face was ashen, his hands trembling as he tugged me close. The moment I shifted into wakefulness the dream started to diminish … and yet I couldn’t forget the startling red eyes my reflection boasted as she turned at the end of the hallway to watch me die.
“I … .”
“Are you okay?” Griffin looked stricken as he stroked the back of my head and smoothed my hair. “Are you sick?”
“I … I’m fine.” I meant it, even though I couldn’t shake the panic from the dream. “How did you know to wake me?”
“How did I know?” Griffin’s eyes widened to saucer-like proportions. “You screamed, baby.”
“I … did?” I swallowed hard. “I thought I only did that in the dream.”
“Do you want to tell me about it?”
I didn’t, but I wasn’t sure he’d be able to relax if I shut him out. I
t somehow didn’t seem fair given the day’s events. “I think I was at that retirement home. It was dark and dreary, like something out of a nightmare … or Silent Hill.”
“That’s that horror video game you play when you want to scare yourself silly, right?”
I nodded. “I was walking down the hallway and then realized I was stepping on guts … and rats … and bugs.” I pressed my eyes shut and involuntarily shuddered. “I was ruining my new Converse.”
“Yes, that’s the real tragedy.” Griffin brushed his lips against my cheek and rearranged my body so I was pressed tightly against his chest as he rested on the pillows. “Go on.”
“There’s nothing much to tell.” I traced my fingertips over his bare shoulders, thankful he shared his warmth with me as I burrowed under the covers. “I thought I saw someone walking toward me. I thought it was Angelina at first, but it wasn’t. Then I thought it was my mother and she was going to make me pay for locking her out of Grimlock Manor.”
“And?”
“And it wasn’t either of them.” I ran my tongue over my teeth, weary. “It turned out to be a weird mirror. What I saw was a reflection … mine.”
“You screamed because you saw yourself?” Griffin pulled back slightly and smiled. “Did you have bedhead?”
“Ha, ha.” I was happy to see the tension ease from his face, so I didn’t care he made a joke at my expense. “It was me, but it wasn’t really me. I … does that make sense?”
Griffin wordlessly nodded.
“My reflection said it was coming for me … and then it turned and walked away from me. I grabbed the mirror to shake it … or maybe even to break it … but then the floor opened up to suck me inside. My reflection – I mean, the other me – stopped at the end of the hallway. It had glowing red eyes. It was laughing.”
“Was it your laugh?”
“No. It was something else.”
“Okay, it’s okay.” Griffin tugged me so I was pressed flat against him again, rolling on his back and situating me on top of him. “You’re okay. Did you scream when the floor tried to eat you?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t blame you.”
“The only thing that could’ve made the dream worse is if there were sharks in the hole.”
“Leave it to you to think about something like that after you scared the living daylights out of me by screaming yourself awake,” Griffin complained, rubbing his hands over my shoulders as we got comfortable. “Go to sleep if you can, Aisling. You need the rest. I’ll be right here to keep you safe from the dreams.”
My eyelids felt heavy as I flicked my gaze to his strong profile. “You want me to sleep on top of you?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll crush you.”
“No, you won’t. This is what I want. I need to feel you.”
“Is this so you have easy access when you wake up in the morning? If so, I’m on to you.”
Griffin snickered as he kissed my forehead. “It’s so I know you’re safe, so I can feel your heart.”
“You’re hard to make fun of when you’re being sweet.”
“You can make fun of me all you want over breakfast,” Griffin offered, sincere. “I need you to sleep now, though. I need you to sleep and be safe.”
“I’m safe. I’m with you, aren’t I?”
Griffin pursed his lips. “You’re kind of a suck-up sometimes. You know that, right?”
“How do you think I get to be my father’s favorite so often?”
Griffin chuckled. “Good point. Sleep, baby. Morning will be here before you know it.”
I didn’t think I would be able to sleep, the dream felt too threatening for my subconscious to allow it. To my utter surprise, I dropped off right away. Somehow I knew Griffin was there when I slid under, that he was standing guard, and the nightmares remained at bay.
“DO YOU WANT to talk about the nightmare?”
Griffin linked his fingers with mine as we walked from the townhouse to the parking lot the next morning. He refrained from pressing me on the horrific dream while we showered and got ready for the day, putting on a brave face when it came time to sit down to breakfast with Aidan and Jerry, and even overtly flirting to explain away the dark circles under my eyes. Once we were alone, though, he refused to back off.
“I don’t know what else to tell you,” I said, shifting from one foot to the other as we stood in front of his truck. “It was just a dream.”
“You don’t usually wake up from your dreams screaming.”
“I’m sorry I frightened you. I … .”
“I don’t care about that.” Griffin rested his hands on my shoulders. “I don’t like it when you’re upset. Since falling in love with you, I’ve come to the conclusion that there’s always going to be a certain level of upheaval in our lives. I can live with that. I can’t live with you being afraid.”
“I’m not afraid,” I protested. “It was just a dream.”
“You screamed. You’ve had terrible dreams in which monsters chased you and you have to fight off any number of eighties horror movie killers to survive. You find that funny. You didn’t find the dream you had last night funny.”
“I … it’s fine.”
“It’s not fine, Aisling,” Griffin growled, forcing my chin over so I had nowhere to look but his eyes. “I love you more than anything. You know that, right?”
“I … more than anything?”
Griffin’s lips curved. “How did I know you would glom on to that part of the statement?”
“Does that mean you love me more than pizza?”
“Yes.”
“Hamburgers?”
“Yes.”
“Chocolate cake?”
“Oh, now you’re pushing it.” Griffin wrapped his arms around me, hugging me close as he rested his cheek against my forehead. “I love you more than anything. I meant it when I said it. That dream last night, I think it had a little something to do with you feeling on edge. While what you described seemed awful, you’re not one to melt in the face of danger … even in a dream.”
“I barely remember it,” I argued. “I’m sorry I frightened you, but … it was just a dream.”
“I think it’s more than that,” Griffin argued, swaying back and forth. “I think you’re upset because of your mother’s visit. I think you’re also upset because of my mother’s visit.”
“That’s not true. I want to get to know your mother better.”
Griffin shot me a dubious look. “Really?”
“I … yes.” I kind of meant it. In truth, I wanted Griffin to be happy more than almost anything. If I didn’t find a way to get along with his mother that would never happen. “I swear I’ll find a way to make up for everything that happened yesterday.”
“Aisling, none of that was your fault.”
“I’m still going to make up for it.” I was determined. “In fact … .” I broke off, my eyes traveling to Jerry as he hurried down the walkway. He headed straight for us, his expression dark. “Uh-oh.”
“Uh-oh, what?” Griffin shifted, his forehead creasing when Jerry stopped to his right. “What’s your deal?”
“I’m glad you haven’t left yet,” Jerry said, panting as he tried to catch his breath. “I have good news, Bug. I fixed what happened with Griffin’s mother yesterday and everything is back on track.”
“You did?” I was understandably dubious. “How did you do that?”
“I invited her over for a dinner you’ll be cooking.”
I must’ve gone temporarily deaf. There was no way I could be hearing what I thought I was hearing. “I’m sorry, but … what?”
“I invited Katherine for dinner,” Jerry repeated, my stomach twisting. “She mentioned she hadn’t seen your townhouse yet, and I know you guys want to show it off. I thought it would be smart to invite her tonight – you know, to get it out of the way – and this time it will be just you and Griffin for dinner, so you’ll have a chance to talk with her without your brot
hers acting like apes.”
“I … what?”
“Why would you do that?” Griffin asked, his temper flaring as he rested his hand on the back of my neck. “She’s already stressed enough.”
Jerry’s face was blank as he glanced between us. “She’s stressed because your mother doesn’t like her. I’m trying to fix that.”
“My mother likes her fine!”
“Oh, please, we all saw the way your mother was staring at Bug over dinner,” Jerry argued. “Aisling said one stupid thing after another. Then she made up that story about the persistent Jehovah’s Witnesses. Your mother hates her.”
I ran my tongue over my teeth as I sucked in a breath. He was right. That didn’t mean his decision to fix things on his own was anything other than wrong. “So … what? You called Grimlock Manor and invited Katherine to our place for dinner?”
“Exactly.” Jerry bobbed his head.
“So your plan is for me to give her food poisoning as a way of softening her up?” I asked.
“Don’t get worked up about this,” Griffin said, gripping my wrist. “I will call her and change the plans. How about we take her out for a nice dinner instead?”
“That’s not intimate,” Jerry complained.
“I don’t care if it’s intimate or not,” Griffin shot back. “I don’t want Aisling stressed. It’s almost Christmas, for crying out loud. You’re making things worse, Jerry. You’re her best friend. You’re supposed to be making them better.”
Jerry took an involuntary step away from Griffin, his eyes flashing. “Excuse me? I am her best friend and I will make things better.”
“Making her cook when she’s terrible at it won’t make things better,” Griffin shot back.
“You know I can hear you guys, right?”
They both ignored me, glaring at one another instead.
“I don’t want her making herself sick, Jerry!” Griffin barked. “She woke up screaming from a nightmare last night. Do you want to make things worse?”
Grim Holiday (Aisling Grimlock Book 6) Page 8
