He shrugged. “My mom has been living with her friend.”
“Oh.”
“You want to come over?”
“I can’t,” I said, too quickly. Last time we’d hung out had not gone well.
“Yeah, didn’t think so. Enjoy your Saturday, Tara.” Without closing the window, he drove through the lot. He parked and entered the home on the right.
With a deep breath, I looked toward the hill, trying to enjoy the natural setting, but dark source circulated through me. A puzzled feeling stole over me. I’d been enjoying the ride with Mom. Where did the bad come from? Strange. Maybe it was left over from something else.
Mom came out of the ski shop with two pairs of winter gloves. She tossed me one set, which I caught, a little perplexed. It wasn’t cold enough.
“Too many winters, I’ve thought about taking you to Michigan for a ski trip. We’re going this year, and I’m not taking no for an answer. These gloves are my promise, all right?”
The warmth that seized my chest came as a shock. I couldn’t believe this was something I wanted to do with her. “I’d love going.”
Though if she backed out last minute like she did with Daniel, I’d probably never trust her again.
Later that afternoon, Asher and I sat at the kitchen table. We started off with a several inches gap between us. Now, the distance had vanished, and our chairs were scooted together, and we both were more than comfortable invading the other’s comfort zone to snatch a pencil or let our legs touch.
My positive source thrived in a way it hadn’t since Dad died. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt this free to be myself. I’d always felt a little on edge around Sam.
I giggled over the insane storyline we’d developed of a Christmas elf who steals Jack O’ Lanterns and replaces them with pumpkins decorated to look like turkeys.
Asher, grinning broadly, designed the most outlandish elf, elaborating on the sketches we’d already completed.
“His hat should definitely have three cones.” I flipped my pencil and erased the top part. Simultaneously, I drew a line going left, while he drew the one going right, bringing it all together on the middle one.
It was like our brains were on the same wavelength.
“He looks like a jester elf now.”
“That,” Asher tickled me, making me squeal, “would be a fun element to add.”
Mom raided the freezer. “Are you two getting any work done?” She pulled out ice cream.
Holding up the storyboard, I displayed the original series of drawings.
“Yes. Just finished our overall plot.”
Under the table, Asher nudged me with his foot, the brief contact spiraling the happy feeling inside of me even higher.
Bringing with her the carton of ice cream and a spoon, she looked over my shoulder. “Is it supposed to symbolize how Christmas decorations are already everywhere in stores, even though Halloween isn’t over, not to mention, no one even talks about Thanksgiving anymore?”
“Wow. That’s an awesome interpretation,” Asher said. “Think we’re going to steal it.”
I shook my head to Mom. “It was supposed to be silly.”
“Often our silly nonsense is based on truths.” Mom dug into the ice cream, eating straight from the carton. It was a habit she’d picked up from Dad, even though originally she’d hated when he did it.
“Didn’t Daniel just leave to get take out?” I asked.
She shrugged. “I’m hungry.”
Oops came bounding in from outside. Seeing Mom with the ice cream, she raced over. “I want some. Pretty please.”
“Get a spoon.” Mom trailed Oops around the island.
Asher picked up our story board. “Maybe we should think about your mom’s interpretation as we work on the final draft.”
“Sounds like a great plan,” I said.
Nathaniel entered and slammed a stack of books on the table. “I hate homework.”
“Get it done.” Mom lifted Oops onto one of the stools, even though she could have done it herself.
“Or what?” Nathaniel asked. “It’s not like you’re going to punish me.”
Mom smiled slightly. “It’ll be your own destruction, someday, if you maintain a poor attitude. I didn’t become a doctor through procrastination and grumbling.”
Nathaniel glared.
My own destruction someday. That thought made me pause for a moment. It had been my bad attitude that had kept me from really enjoying life the last six years.
“Nope.” Oops stood on her knees to get a good scoop of ice cream. “You got there through hard work and being positive.”
“I’m going to my room to play video games,” Nathaniel threatened.
“Which one?” Asher asked. “Maybe once we’re finished with all our work, I can play with you. But you have to get your work done, too.”
Nathaniel’s eyes grew with excitement, and he immediately opened his math book.
I set a hand down on Asher’s arm, and smiled. That was a clever, much more positive way to motivate him.
Asher surprised me by turning his hand around and taking mine in his. He gave it a quick squeeze, then wrote a message for me on a blank sheet of paper.
I like being with you.
My cheeks flushed. I mouthed, “Me, too.”
Then he added. Thanks for giving me a chance.
I smiled, furrowing my brow slightly. He’d written a similar comment in my sketchbook after we met. This last week, I’d struggled with all my own insecurities, wondering why he’d want to be friends with me. He must have had his own. “Once we’re done, maybe we could create a graphic novel together.”
Asher grinned. “I’m game for that.”
“Sounds like we’re going to see a lot more of you, Asher,” Mom said.
I looked over at her.
“If that’s all right?” Asher quickly asked.
Mom’s blue eyes studied me briefly before she dropped her gaze back to the ice cream. A smile stole across her face. “As long as you bring that smile to my daughter’s face, you’re more than welcome.”
The garage door echoed, and Daniel entered from the garage, carrying two large paper bags that filled the air with an orange-ginger aroma. “What are you two eating?” he asked Mom, faking alarm but not hiding a smile.
“Ice cream,” Oops said.
Mom held up a scoop toward Daniel, and he accepted the bite from her.
“Thank you,” he said.
It was a rare couple moment. The closest I’d ever seen them kiss.
In Daniel’s expression, I recognized how much Mom meant to him. Would Mom ever really see it? I hadn’t. Not until recently.
Nostalgia swarmed me, because Mom and Dad had been a lot more intimate with each other. I’d loved watching them share kisses, hug each other, Mom sitting on Dad’s lap, him tickling her.
Daniel pulled out the cardboard containers from the bag.
Asher touched my elbow, drawing my attention back to him. “We should pack up,” he said.
I nodded and backed my chair. Quickly, we ordered everything into a neat pile. As Asher helped Daniel set the table, I raced upstairs with our work and placed it on my desk. Seeing Stardust on my bed, I rubbed her head.
When I returned to the kitchen, everything was laid out, but Asher was missing. Irrationally, I feared he’d left without saying goodbye.
A tall, warm somebody bumped me from behind, sending tingles up my spine. Asher’s arm latched around my waist, and he pulled me down the hall into the music room, out of sight from the kitchen.
“Where were you?” I turned around in his arms to face him. He determinedly didn’t let me go.
“In the bathroom.” He pulled me even closer, stooping to my level until our noses met. “This has been a lot of fun.”
Lifting my arms around him, I nervously crossed my wrists behind his neck before looking into his eyes. My heart pounded, warmth flourishing through it.
“I don’
t want to be just lit partners,” he whispered.
My heart skittered, skipping several beats. “But it’s safer,” I whispered and stared into his light green eyes, their beauty enhanced by the aqua sweater he wore.
“Some risks are worth taking.” He dipped his face, his lips within inches of mine. “I really want to kiss you right now.”
An electrifying tug pulled me closer to him, making my heart burn and thoughts fuzzy. “Doesn’t your mom have a rule about that?” I whispered.
“Time to eat!” Daniel called.
Stepping away from him, I paused as my gaze landed on Samantha’s house through the window. She was going to be so mad if we weren’t just lit partners. Jack’s question floated through my mind. When are you going to stop letting what Sam did define you?
Right now, Jack. Confidence surged through me. I don’t have to live my life defined by her anymore. I looked at Asher. “When’s our second date?”
Asher ran his hand through his hair. “Friday is so far away.”
I grinned. “Can I take you out for lunch tomorrow?”
“You take me out?”
I shrugged. “Why not.”
Asher rubbed his jaw, smiling a little. “I’ll have to ask my mother.”
“Yeah, I should probably check with my parents, too.”
Mom appeared. “Time to eat.”
“We were just coming.” Glancing up at Asher, I followed her into the hall, but he grabbed my elbow and jerked me back to him.
I laughed, which felt good. My positive source liked it also. “Time to eat?”
He grinned. “Mom is more likely to say yes if we’re also working on our project.”
I nodded. “Okay.”
“Would you want to take me out to your childhood home so we could get a picture for it? It’s okay if that’s going to remind you too much of your dad.”
I chewed on my lip.
“Are you two coming to eat?” Mom stopped near the kitchen and was looking back at us.
“Would it be all right if we went tomorrow?” I asked her.
She hesitated. “Just stay away from my mom’s.”
I nodded. An image of Grandma Daphne’s gated mansion flitted through my mind, along with the regal gardens leading up to it. A chill passed through me.
Mom stepped into the kitchen.
Asher opened his mouth to speak.
“It’ll be fine. Maybe we can stop by Jack’s.” I smiled. Tugging Asher’s elbow, I led us down the hall. “There’s a place Dad used to take me for lunch. I’ll take you there.”
Standing at the island, Daniel filled cups with milk that Oops brought to the table.
Finished with one, Daniel set the jug down and set a hand on his chest and his face tensed up like he was in pain. I stopped so quickly, and Asher bumped into me.
An uneasy feeling settled on me.
The moment passed, and Daniel resumed pouring the next cup. Oops gathered the newly filled cup without even noticing.
“Everything all right?” Asher asked.
“Yeah. Fine.” I glanced at him, then back at Daniel. An eerie feeling fell over me that I couldn’t shake.
We sat down at the table across from Nathaniel and Oops, Asher taking Holden’s old seat next to me.
Mom and Daniel sat at opposite heads.
As I dished up the various Chinese meals onto my plate, my whole body sensed Asher’s nearness to me. All through the meal, I kept a watchful eye in Daniel, but there was no repeat of the pain-filled moment.
As everyone else got up to clear the table, Asher rubbed my back. “Everything all right? We can slow back down to lit partners—”
I immediately smiled at him, leaning closer to him. “No, I’m fine with tomorrow.”
After dinner, Mom took Oops out to mini-golf. Noticing how tired Daniel was, I offered to clean up. Asher went upstairs to help Nathaniel finish his homework so he could be good on his promise to play a game.
Cleaning was super simple because there were few dishes. The garbage was almost full, and I could have left it. But I still couldn’t shake the fear that something was wrong with Daniel, and I wanted to do something more for him.
When I stepped outside and walked around the garage to where the trash bins were, a dog barked down the street. Warily, I looked toward the white home at the end of the cul-de-sac. The Harriet’s beagle had run to the end of their driveway. As I expected, Ferdinand sat on the steps to the front porch. The beagle was only out front if Ferdinand was visiting his grandparents. Last year, when he tried to date me, he’d spent a lot more time there.
Ferdinand waved.
An uncomfortable feeling wiggled its way up my stomach. I quickly waved back, not wanting to be rude, then hurried to throw the bag away and retreated inside.
I breathed deep to get rid of the anxious feeling Ferdinand inspired. Asher’s laughter echoed from upstairs, replacing anxiety with hope.
Taking the steps two at a time, I headed upstairs, then stopped in the doorway of Nathaniel’s room.
“So, your mom’s rule about bedrooms,” I spoke up loud, because Asher hadn’t noticed me.
Startled, he jumped before looking toward me.
“Does it apply to kid brother’s bedrooms?”
Asher focused on the race car game that I’d made him fall behind in. “The rule is, I’m not allowed in your bedroom, and you aren’t in mine, and not alone in any bedroom together. So this is fine. I was about to finish.”
“Sure you were,” I teased.
“One more game?” Nathaniel looked my way. “We barely started.”
I chuckled. “Only if I can play, too.”
“Yeah!” Nathaniel paused the game and jumped to retrieve a third controller from the basket on the shelf.
Interest filled Asher's green eyes. “Do you play?”
Sitting on Asher’s other side, I gave him a smug smile. “It’s been awhile.”
“Why do I feel like I’m in trouble?” Asher asked.
Watching anime and playing video games was how Holden and I survived the first winter after Dad’s death. I was curious to see if I was any good against Asher. “Trouble?” I repeated. “Unless you’re horrible, probably not.”
We ended up pretty equal, which drove the competition in a fun direction.
When we finally called an end, we had about thirty minutes before Asher had to leave, so the two of us headed into the family room to watch an episode of an anime.
It felt so natural to curl up beside him, feet tucked up by me with his arm wrapped around my shoulder. How’d I get here? His comment from earlier floated through my mind, “I don’t want to be just lit partners.”
Honestly, I didn’t want to be either. I loved being around him, and it was obvious he felt the same about me.
“Does this count as a date?” Asher whispered into my ear as he played with my hair.
It tickled, a little, and I shrugged. I knew what he was asking. “No, this was hanging out. According to my Uncle Einar, a date is planned, prepared, and paid for.”
Wanting to tease him, I turned my face toward him, leaving my lips centimeters from his, which resulted in an invisible tug toward him, that swirled me with warmth and positive source.
“Tara.” He groaned, then he cupped my cheek and nuzzled his nose against mine.
His Mom’s rule was the only thing that kept me from actually kissing him—probably what kept him from kissing me.
Asher pulled his arm abruptly from behind me, putting a couple of inches between us, then picked up my hand instead, which he massaged through the rest of the show. I couldn’t follow the storyline.
That had been too much of a temptation. But it had been a mutual one. For so long, I thought I’d always be doomed to a one sided crush with Jerrick, and by the time I’d found out the feeling was mutual, it was too late.
A few minutes later, I walked to the door and stepped onto the porch with him.
“You’re sure that doesn’t count as a
second date?” he asked.
I pressed my lips together and shrugged. “I already said no.”
Asher grinned. “All right, my just lit partner, I’ll see you in the morning for our project and date.” He glanced at his phone.
“You’ve timed the route, haven’t you?” I asked.
“I’ve gotten pretty good at walking through our front door right at ten.”
The Harriet’s beagle barked, and the hair on my arms rose, as my gaze naturally flew over to their home. Ferdinand exited outside and headed to his car.
Asher touched my arm. “Ferdinand lives on the same street as you, too?”
The truck’s engine roared to life.
“No, his grandparents live there.” They were pretty good friends with Jerrick’s grandmother.
It was too dark to see Ferdinand as he drove past, but I still felt creepy crawlies squirming with dark source inside me. His attempt to date me last year flashed through my mind. As did the time last week he’d forced his way inside my house. Had I ever told Daniel about that?
Ferdinand slowed as he passed by us.
“Were you two ever friends?” Asher asked.
I shrugged, watching Ferdinand’s truck continue down our street. “We used to hang out a little. He’d come over to play video games on the weekends. Sometimes I’d go there. It all stopped when he tried to date me.”
“How’d that go?”
“Bleh. I wanted to be friends.”
Ferdinand turned right and disappeared from view.
Asher frowned, sticking his hands in his pocket. His gaze strayed toward the Harriet’s house. “When was that?” he asked.
Beyond our street, the open field was dark. “When was what?”
“When Ferdinand tried to date you?”
“Ferdinand?” I repeated. “I never dated Ferdinand.”
He looked confused.
Why are we even talking about Ferdinand? “You need to get home, or you’ll miss curfew.”
“Right.” He smiled, glancing at his phone. “I have about ten more seconds.” Asher stepped up to me, tilted my chin up with his index finger, and bent his head toward me.
Oh no—not the almost kiss again. I really wanted to reach around his neck and pull him to me.
The Changeling's Source (Evedon Legacy Book 1) Page 22
