Searching (Hidden Truths Book 1)

by Quell T Fox

  Thorne pays the bill, and we stand to leave. He’s dressed more casually than Castor was—dark jeans, boots, and a black button up—making me feel better about my choice of clothing.

  Thorne walks closely by my side all the way to the car. His arm brushing mine often and I get goosebumps each and every time. I think of how badly I want to reach out for his hand but think better of it.

  On our way to the theatre, we pass by a carnival that’s come into town. I remember seeing the flyers for it when I was shopping with Friday but didn’t give it a second thought. It’s not often I want to go out and do something with so many people around me. It’s not easy.

  “Oh, look!” I look up at the giant Ferris wheel, the lights brightening the sky around it. “Wow, that’s amazing. It’s so big.”

  The car jerks to the right and I realize we’ve taken a last-minute turn and are heading towards the carnival instead. Worry floods my brain as my stomach turns sour. I can’t bring myself to tell him no though. He’d probably start asking questions, or feel bad for me, or think I’m crazy. And I don’t want any of those things to happen.

  “Change of plans then.” He smirks, looking at me from the corner of his eye.

  I smile so hard my face hurts all over again. I have a pep talk with myself until he finds a parking spot, telling myself I will be fine. It’s only a carnival, and it’s just one night.

  I will be fine.

  He parks the car, and we get out. I hide my shaking hands by shoving them into my pockets. I reach Thorne’s side and we head into the large crowd of people, all happy and smiling. I try my best to focus on him beside me. Him, and only him. On his scent and warmth. It’s so dark outside, but the bright lights of the rides and games make it seem like daylight.

  As we reach a rather large crowd of people, Thorne grabs my hand and pulls me close to his side. He looks down at me, smiling. “So I don’t lose you.” I look down at our joined hands and interlock our fingers. Every ounce of anxiety I had has vanished, like he sucked it all out of me by just taking my hand.

  He leads the way to the ticket booth. We buy tickets, ride rides, and spend way too much money on the games but don’t win a thing. We stay until it closes and only then do we head back to the car, the lot almost empty.

  “What time do you need to be back?” he asks in a soft, husky voice.

  I pull out my phone and check the time. It’s only a little after ten. I know I still have plenty of time.

  “I have another hour, at least.”

  He reaches out his hand, “Let’s go for a walk then.”

  I take his hand again and watch how it disappears in his large one. All night the scent of him has been teasing me. Whatever cologne he wears is speaking to me in a language I want to know more of. Being this close to him, side by side, my hand in his, it’s hard to ignore. He smells so good. It’s intoxicating.

  I can’t keep the smile from my face. This night has been one of the best nights I have ever had. Thorne has made everything perfect.

  “Tell me about yourself, Leona.” We reach the end of the parking lot and head down a walkway which is filled with joggers during the day. This park hosts all types of exercise groups in the daylight. Moms pushing strollers, dads running with headphones in, teenagers walking with their friends. There isn’t much else to do here other than walk. I’ve come here a few times with Lina, but it isn’t something we do often. Lina isn’t the exercise type.

  “Hmm. Well, I’m a senior. I plan to attend college once I graduate but have no idea what I want to do. My favorite color is green. I love plants, singing, and everything 90’s. Oh, and this was the first time I’ve ever been to a carnival. So, thanks for that.” I look up at him with a thankful smile.

  “Really? The first time?” He reaches his free hand up, dragging his fingers through his hair. He has it down tonight, the waves bouncing around as we walk. “I’ve been going since I was a kid.”

  “I didn’t have a normal childhood.”

  “Is that why you live with your brother and uncles?”

  “Sort of.”

  He must sense the hesitation in my voice. He stops short, turning me so I’m in front of him. “We don’t have to talk about it, okay?” I nod my head and he brushes a stray strand of hair away from my face, his hand warm against my skin. “You’re warm,” he says, sounding confused.

  I’m pulled back to the here and now, away from my thoughts. One where he does less talking and more touching. But he said something and I should answer him. “Yeah, I usually am. I run hot.”

  “You’re not cold right now?”

  “No.”

  He stares at me for a few moments, his eyes searching mine. He pulls his hand away from my face and grabs onto mine once again.

  “Come on. I’ll take you home.” He turns us around and leads me back to the car. I force myself to nod. I’ve had so much fun tonight; I don’t want it to ever end.

  We don’t talk much on the drive back, which I am fine with. Driving in the car, I’ve found, is something that calms me. When I’m not the one driving, of course. I think it has something to do with the day Lenny and Maddox came for me. When Lenny brought me outside with him, it was the first time I had ever been in a car. I think for that reason, cars have been a safe haven for me. When we reach the driveway, I press the button on my phone to alert someone to open the gate. They slide open easily and Thorne drives me up to the house and walks me to the door.

  “I had fun tonight. We should do it again sometime.”

  “I’d like that,” I respond, fighting the emotion that’s set up home in my chest. It feels like a weight is resting there, causing it to ache and making it hard to breath. I’m not sure if I did something wrong or not. Everything was going so well and then like a switch was flipped, he wanted to go home.

  I try not to let my negativity get in the way. I know I didn’t do anything wrong. It’s about time for me to be home anyway. I’m just upset because I don’t want the night to end. I don’t want to say goodbye.

  I smile, looking up at him, my stomach is in knots over the anticipation. Is he going to kiss me? Because I would really love for him to kiss me. When I hear fumbling on the other side of the door, I roll my eyes and throw my head back. “Well, that’s my queue. See you on Monday?” I spin on my heel and grab onto the doorknob, waving goodnight.

  “Absolutely.”

  I smile at him one last time before letting myself into the house.

  “You guys are ridiculous, you know that? Do you really think I’m stupid enough to let him kiss me on our property? I’d rather him not die, you know,” I growl out.

  But I am stupid because I wanted nothing more than for him to kiss me.

  “See! I told you!” Lenny says, poking Maddox in the chest.

  “He drives a Jeep? I guess he can’t be too bad,” Maddox says under his breath, his eyes thoughtful like he’s mulling over the idea. He looks at me, squinting his eyes. “Nah. I still don’t like him.”

  I huff out a growl and fold my arms across my chest.

  Friday saves me from whatever it is that was about to happen because something was going to happen. I was about to say something I would have regretted, and Maddox would probably do the same. Friday rushes over, grabbing my wrist and pulling me up the stairs.

  “Were you safe?”

  “Not you too,” I whine, flopping onto my bed and throwing my arm over my face.

  “I’m not threatening anyone here, just being realistic.”

  “As safe as possible. He didn’t even kiss me,” I say miserably.

  “Not necessarily a bad thing. The guys probably scared him.”

  “I don’t think so. He didn’t seem too shaken up by them.”

  “No? Well good for him. He may be a keeper after all.”

  If only she knew I was pining after two of his friends, too. She knows about the date with Castor, but I didn’t say how it went. I also haven’t mentioned we’ve barely spoken since then. I haven’t menti
oned Hunter to her. I guess she, of all people, would understand, but who’s to say that’s what would come of this? I really need to get out of my head here. It’s only normal for Paranormals to have harems. What Friday and the guys have is acceptable because of who they are. But the human community? It’ll never happen. I can keep dreaming though, right? Fantasies are completely okay. I just won’t vocalize it. To anyone.

  She leaves after telling me to find her if I need to talk and promises that everything will be fine. I just need to be patient.

  I change into pajamas and wash my makeup off. When I get into bed and check my phone, I notice I have a text from a number I don’t recognize.

  Unknown: Hope you had as much fun as I did. Good night xoxo

  A smile splits my face in half. Because this? This is almost better than a kiss. This is him thinking about me when we aren’t together. I don’t care how he found my number, I’m glad he did.

  Me: I had a great night. Thank you for everything.

  Thorne: No need to thank me. It was my pleasure.

  We end up texting for a couple of hours, talking about a whole lot of nothing and yet everything all at once. He tells me about his family, how he met Castor and Hunter, what he wants to do when he leaves school. I don’t give up as much information, but I answer silly questions like my favorite animal and type of music. We text until I fall asleep, forgetting to plug my phone in. When I wake up, it’s dead. I plug it in and head downstairs, knowing I don’t have much time before I have to leave for my breakfast date. I let Hunter know yesterday I would meet him and he agreed without an issue. I figured I would drive myself, letting the guys know I have to do a few things for school. Lenny will let me use his car. When I get downstairs, breakfast is waiting. I thank Callan but tell him I’m going to grab something while I’m out because I’m in a rush. I can’t continue eating two meals to avoid telling my family about dates. I make myself a cup of coffee and turn to head back upstairs, but I notice there is something waiting for me on the kitchen table.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Leona

  Mail. I never get mail; the first thing that was off. Funny enough, no one questioned it. None of them. So when I bring it upstairs to open it by myself, no one batted an eye. When I pulled out the contents of the envelope, I wanted to throw up.

  More photos.

  Similar to the others, only I’m a bit older in these.

  I don’t bother spending time looking at them. I shove them into the same drawer as the other, choosing to ignore them. I walk towards my closet, needing to get dressed, but I stop in my tracks.

  Something is going on, but I have no idea what it is or why. I should tell someone. I need to tell someone. The first time was a fluke but now it’s happened more than once… I can’t hide something like this. I dig the photos out of the drawer and head out of my room. I stop at the stairs when I hear hushed voices. It’s Callan and Maddox.

  “I think we need to tell her.”

  “You don’t know if it means anything.”

  “But it could. And she deserves to know. It’s about time. Before it’s too late.”

  “We need to be certain before we say anything.”

  “Oh yea? And how often have your ideas worked? Pretty sure I recall you being in the doghouse more than the rest of us, thanks to your cockamamy ideas.”

  A few breaths of silence.

  “Just don’t say anything yet. Give me more time to figure it out. Lenny and I are driving up there this week. I’ll see what we can find.”

  “Fine. But no matter what it is, we tell her.”

  The creak on the bottom step sounds, and I know someone is making their way up. I do my best to dash back to my room as quietly as I can. I stuff the photos into the drawer that has become their home and rush into the bathroom, closing the door as silently as I can behind me. A moment later there is a knock on my door even though it isn’t closed.

  “Leona?” It’s Maddox.

  “Be out in a minute,” I call.

  I lean against the counter wasting time. My heart is pounding over the panic of being caught eavesdropping. What could they have been talking about? Was it me or Friday? There are only so many hers in this house. Briella is too young for whatever it was they were talking about, so that only leaves Friday and I. But what could they possibly have to tell me?

  I flush the toilet and run the water in the sink. When I step out of the bathroom, Maddox is standing with his back to me, looking at a painting I did last year. It’s a landscape of our backyard. My best work.

  “This is really good, you know?” he says without turning around. Maddox has always been the most serious one in the house. He doesn’t joke around as much as the others, though I know he has a humorous side, he just doesn’t show it much. Maddox has taken his role as a model to me very seriously. He’s all business when he needs, even when it comes to “parenting.” He’s firm on the “parent not friend” thing. It’s okay, though. He’s never been mean to me; he’s not mean at all. He’s always been fair, outside of his overbearing protectiveness, but I understand why he does it. It’s who he is, and it isn’t a bad thing.

  “You say those same words every time you come in here.”

  He turns around with a smile on his face. “I want to make sure you know how talented you are.”

  “You don’t have to make up for me not being a Paranormal.”

  “Is that what you think I’m doing?”

  I shrug a shoulder. “Sometimes.” He stares at me for a few seconds, half of his mouth pulled into a smile.

  “We’re taking the kids to the park for a while. Grabbing lunch and ice cream after. Would you want to come?”

  “I’m good. I have a few errands to run. I’m going to see if Lenny will let me take his car.”

  “All right. I’ll bring you back some ice cream.”

  “Don’t let Lenny eat it this time!” I shout after him as he exits the room.

  “No promises.”

  They all leave a short while later and I go right after them. I’m running a little late but there isn’t anything I can do about it. I don’t have Hunter’s number. He’ll just have to accept my apology.

  I meet him at a diner I’ve never been to before and it’s closer to their neck of the woods. As I pull in, I see him sitting in a booth alone, sipping something from a mug. I quickly shut the car off and get out, closing the door, I rush inside. As I reach the table, I see his cup is almost empty.

  “You’re late,” is all he says. His tone full of annoyance, and his resting bitch face in full effect. No greeting, no is everything okay?

  “I am so, so sorry. I’m usually never late. My family, they just… it was a hectic morning,” I say, trying to be as nice as possible even though he’s being quite rude. Thoughts of those photos and the conversation between Maddox and Callan won’t stop popping up into my head. I couldn’t get it out of my head the entire ride here and ended up missing a turn, which made me even more late. Why was someone taking photos of me when I was little, only to send them to me now? Do I have a stalker? The thought gives me chills. I know I need to tell someone.

  I take a seat in the booth, trying to settle myself in but my skin is crawling. I’m overwhelmed from everything going on and from being late. I hate being late.

  When the waitress comes over and asks if I want coffee, I decline but ask for water. I already had one cup at home, I don’t need another with the way I’m feeling right now.

  I pat down my hair, knowing I probably look like a wild animal. When I look up, Hunter is studying me with a curious expression, like I’m a lab experiment he can’t figure out.

  “Do you normally do breakfast dates?” I ask, picking up the menu and hiding my face behind it.

  “I don’t normally date,” he says with a finality that tells me not to ask any more questions around the subject.

  All right, then.

  “Have you been here before? Do you know what’s good?”

  “Never
been here before.”

  Got it.

  I look through the menu and decide on pancakes. No one can mess up pancakes. Hunter orders a spinach and cheese omelet, along with another cup of tea. He checks his phone multiple times and doesn’t try to engage in conversation, so I pull out my phone and do the same. When the waitress comes over to bring us our food, she gives us a dirty look, putting our plates down and shaking her head.

  “Sure do miss the days when those things weren’t around,” she mumbles more to herself. “Anything else I can get for either of you?”

  Hunter doesn’t look up from his phone or acknowledge her in any way. I let the waitress know we’re all set and she takes off, still shaking her head.

  I dig into my food, completely starving at this point. I never eat breakfast this late and my stomach knows it. I ignore the fact Hunter is still on his phone and hasn’t touched his food. I eat mine in solitude. At one point I forget he’s even there. These pancakes are some of the best I’ve had, almost as good as Callan’s. I should come here with Lenny. He would love it.

  Since living together, we’ve discovered we have a lot of things in common. Funny how we can share only one parent, grow up separately, yet still have so much in common.

  Since I’m in a mood, I’m feeling extra ballsy today. Once I’m finished eating and Hunter still hasn’t touched his food, I grab my things, pull money from my wallet and drop it on the table. He slowly looks up from his phone, his face expressionless.

  “Thanks for the date. It was lovely,” I say as sweetly as I can and head towards the door. The waitress is behind the counter drying glasses, a smile on her face.

  I drive home feeling good about standing up for myself. The date with Castor went well, the one with Thorne was amazing. But Hunter? This was a complete bust, and I’m wondering why in the world he even asked me out. Not for one second did I think he wanted to be there. Is this a game to them? I start to get suspicious of the whole thing and I’m not sure why I didn’t think of this before. It is strange three friends would be going out with the same girl. Isn’t that something friends aren’t supposed to do? Guy code or something?