They yap all the way to their middle school about Gabe and Nate until I finally pull up to their junior house of learning and unleash them on society.
“Sheesh,” I say as they slam the door shut behind them. Mom owes a serious apology to humanity for raising a couple of hormonal fashionistas.
I turn the corner on Saddle Drive, and Gage materializes in the seat next to me.
I let out a blood-curdling scream and cross into oncoming traffic before he takes the wheel and saves us from impending doom.
“What the hell was that about?” I shout, clutching my chest while continuing down the road at an accelerated pace.
“I wanted to surprise you.” His eyes widen as if he’s just realized it was a dicey idea at best.
“With what, a casket?” I say as my heart starts in on a livable rhythm. “And, thank you.” I reach over and tweak his leg. God, I miss touching Gage, and it hasn’t even been a week. “This is insane.” I shake my head.
“I agree. You should choose me and end the insanity.” He says it dry like he really doesn’t believe I’m going to choose him.
“Maybe I will.” God, I hope I will.
We pull into West and park out on the dirt extension since the main lot is already cluttered with cars. You wouldn’t think there were that many people enthused to be here this early on the first day.
A white SUV barrels in after us and narrowly misses my fender as it fishtails to a dramatic stop.
“Shit,” I hiss, killing the engine. Gage and I get out, ready to tell off the bastard that nearly took out the Mustang, and gasp in unison when the driver springs from the car.
“Morning!” Giselle bounds over and envelops us in a three-way hug.
“Who let you…Did the Kraggers…?” Poor Gage can’t even choke out a sentence, he’s so ticked.
“Relax.” Her eyebrows narrow with a look of hurt just the way his did a moment ago in the car. “Emerson had a license and everything. This is totally legal.”
“Emerson may have had a license”—Gage starts, trying to keep his voice even-keeled—“but you’re technically three, not sixteen, and you haven’t logged enough time as a passenger let alone a driver.”
“I’m not three.” Her jaw squares out. “You’re not the boss of me.” She takes a few steps backward and nearly trips over a branch. “The next thing you know you’ll be telling me which boys I can and can’t kiss.”
“You can’t kiss boys.” Gage shakes his head incensed she would even consider it.
A small squeak escapes her throat as she takes off toward campus.
A laugh bubbles from me as I pull him in by the arm.
“Skyla,” he moans. “It’s not funny. That’s my baby sister.”
“You’re right.” I cinch my arm around his waist. “It’s totally not funny. But I think you’re going to make a great dad someday—just not to Giselle.”
He tightens his embrace and looks down at me with an intensity that reduces me to butter on a hot L.A. day.
“I want to be a great dad.” His dimples flex. “I want to share all of those things with you.”
A swell of emotion rises in me, and I swallow back the tears that beg to surface.
“You probably already know all this.” I don’t mean for it to come out as accusingly as it does. But he does have the gift of knowing. Gage with his pale skin, his hair as dark as midnight. He stands out like a prince against the evergreens.
“I do know some things.” He swivels his hands up and down my back and exhales as if he’s waited a lifetime to do just that. “But I don’t understand everything. Sometimes I wonder if I got it all wrong. Tell me I don’t have it all wrong, Skyla.” He swallows hard as if his sanity depends on it.
“I don’t think you have anything wrong.” It comes out weak like an assurance I’m not strong enough to offer.
A familiar white truck speeds in and knifes past us as if it had a death warrant.
“And here he is.” Gage ticks his head back.
Logan jumps out of the truck and heads on over. He slinks his arm around my waist and whisks me off toward campus.
“Welcome to senior year, Gage,” he shouts over his shoulder.
I glance back, stunned to find that Chloe has materialized by Gage’s side. Jealousy rips through me a mile wide.
She walks slowly next to him as they follow along behind us.
I turn around and try to get the image out of my mind before it imprints itself there permanently.
Chloe and Gage walking side by side through life.
Now there’s something I can never allow to happen.
***
First period is chemistry with Logan, Gage, Lexy, Em, Chloe, and Michelle.
If you ask me, eight a.m. is a little too early to be Bunsen burning with the best of them, or, in Chloe’s case, the worst.
Em, Lex, Chloe, and Michelle have sealed their status as the asshole brigade as they situate themselves conveniently in the row behind us. A series of long tables decorate the class, along with stools for each of us to sit on. A beaker and Bunsen burner is located in front of each student. I’m not sure if arming us with quasi-weaponry is such a great idea. Although, how much damage can a girl do with shards of glass and fire? A smile slides up my lips at the thought of inflicting injury to Chloe so early in fall semester and before homecoming no less.
The bell shrills overhead and still no sign of Marshall. Figures. He’s up to his old I’ll-see-you-when-I-see-you antics.
“I bet he forgot.” Gage leans his head back, and his stitches stretch taut.
“That looks like it hurts,” I say gently running my fingers through his hair and bringing his head back to an upright position. “How could you walk with her after what she did to you?” I whisper in the event Logan hears and picks up on the jealous tirade in the making. “I saw her talking to you.” I may have turned around a time or two before we got to class.
“I wasn’t walking with her.” His lips stretch tight. “She just appeared. Besides she was rambling something about not being able to light drive into her future. She wanted to know if I had any dreams about her.”
A silent laugh huffs through me. “Wouldn’t she like to believe she’s the girl of your dreams?”
His steely eyes lock over mine, and my body floods with heat.
“You’re the girl of my dreams, Skyla.” His lips curve in a deliciously crude manner. “And one day I plan on giving you a demonstration on exactly what I’ve been doing with you all those lonely hours.” He cuts a quick glance over his shoulder before leaning in. “I’ve had a dream or two about Chloe,” he says it with a look of disgust, and yet I find little comfort in this.
Every muscle in my body freezes.
“Is that so?” I whisper.
“Yes, that’s so.” He makes a face.
Logan pulls me away from his raven-haired nephew. He pulls me in by the waist, and I lean my body into his just to keep from clawing Chloe’s eyes out. I glance back at her, and the protective hedge winks over at me with its silver filigree edges, delicate as lace, that pure blue eye dotting the center, clear as a summer sky.
“Is this a private conversation, or can anybody join?” He blows it hot in my ear as Gage hardens his expression.
“No, I’d love to change the subject,” I say. If Gage’s strategy is to make me want to murder Chloe he’s already achieved it.
“Great.” Logan takes up my hands and twirls me around until we’re face to face. “I’m thinking we should do that light drive this weekend.”
“Logan,” I gasp. “We should go tonight.” I don’t mean to make Gage insane, but I’m dying to find out all I can about the pendant. Plus, meeting Logan’s grandmother is a total bonus. Technically she’s Gage’s grandmother, too—great-grandmother.
He withholds a smile as he glances over at Gage. “Saturday.” He leans into my ear. “I want you all day and all—” Logan thrusts backward as a loud explosion goes off. A plume of smoke appears in hi
s wake.
“Sodium.” Marshall barrels in, tossing his briefcase rather violently over the counter. “Explosive in nature.” He strides toward the center of the room still wearing his dark trench coat, his eyes narrowed in on Logan. “How dare you get in my way.” His voice rides low, just this side of fury. Marshall scoops Logan up by the shirt and thrashes him against the wall. “Repeat what I just said to you,” he grits it through his teeth.
“Sodium is explosive—like you.” Logan gives a placid smile at my favorite Sector, only at the moment his standing is teetering on oblivion. If he thinks he’s going to spend the entire next year making my boyfriends disappear and appear at random, only to accost them in his downtime, he’s got another thing coming. Did I just say, boyfriends?
Marshall drops him like a dirty dishrag and heads to the front.
Do you know where I’ve been, Ms. Messenger? Marshall turns his back to the class and begins jotting something down on the board.
“No,” I say it low, but Gage twitches his brows at me with curiosity.
I’ve been to see the Justice Alliance. They weren’t too interested in my teaching hobby, thus the unexpected delay.
Crap.
I glance over at Logan as he makes his way back to his seat and take up his hand low by my thigh.
Marshall said he was with the Justice Alliance, and he sounds good and pissed! I give Logan’s hand a squeeze. He knows damn well he’s responsible. He’s the one that threw him under the litigious celestial bus to begin with.
I could have guessed. Logan gives a slow blink.
Marshall turns around and openly glares at Logan.
“Some properties have things they don’t wish for the other elements at the table to discover about them.” He takes a step forward, never breaking his stare with Logan, and I’m quick to cross my arms. No use in enraging an already ticked off Sector. In fact, I scoot a little into Gage to defuse the situation all together. “Some properties have the ability to self-destruct all on their own and when they panic, they try to take others down with them. Tsk, Tsk.” Marshall twitches a smile. “They usually only hurt themselves in the end.”
Marshall gets to the task of class business by passing out textbooks, lab manuals and the syllabus.
“Looks like a lot of work,” I say it under my breath.
Gage steps in behind me. His warmth radiates over my body like a magnet pulling us together.
“Let me help you. It’ll be fun, just like last year.”
I glance over at him and smile just as Marshall clears his throat.
“Each person is to choose a partner. You have one minute to decide, pair up so we can begin.” Marshall blinks a smile at me because he knows I can’t decide.
Logan and Gage stand on either side of me. Logan latches onto my gaze and ticks his head as if inviting me to the other side of the room. I glance over at Gage, and his eyes widen with promise.
I raise my hand and wave Marshall over.
“Ms. Messenger?” He averts his gaze as if he knows what’s coming next.
“Do you need a partner?” I’m desperate here.
Marshall’s lips curve into a devilish grin as he observes both Olivers with a look of smug victory.
Only in the bedroom, he muses. “I’m afraid you’ll need a peer, Ms. Messenger, to assist you with assignments.” I spoke with your mother. He dips his chin as if he’s trying to seduce me with my mother of all people.
“Excellent.” I raise my brows. He knows I’m dying to hear what she has to say. “Oh! Is Ellis in this class?” Ellis could be the answer to all my problems.
Why, yes, he is—truant at that. Marshall leers at me like it’s all my fault because it sort of is.
“How is he?” I whisper. Logan and Gage lean in to hear the news as well.
“In need of recuperation. And to answer your first question, indeed, Mr. Harrison is in this class.”
“Great.” I lean back and take a breath. “That’s who my partner will be.”
“Very well.” Marshall straightens the excess papers in his hand. “In the meantime, I’ll allow you to join the Oliver clan.” He pulls his lips in a line, no smile. Such as in life. But make no mistake about our future. Delphinius was at the trial and gave a startling revelation.
I take a breath and wait for it.
It involves flesh. He tilts his head seductively.
A strong pull of attraction sizzles between us. I can feel Marshall’s good vibrations launching an assault on my body without him even having to touch me. A warm tingle rides down my spine, circles around my waist before dipping down to far more intimate places—places that have the ability to set my insides on fire.
I gasp for air.
“What in the hell is going on?” Logan whispers, trying to break me from the trance I’ve fallen into.
I open my mouth to say something, and only a choking sound comes out.
The bell shrills through the air unleashing me from the bondage Marshall held me captive in—an alarmingly wonderful, achingly enjoyable bondage.
The class disbands around us. Marshall occupies himself in the front, and I don’t dare go near him in fear of another fit of pleasure that both Logan and Gage will bear witness to.
Instead, I stuff my books in my backpack and head toward the exit with Logan and Gage. I don’t have Marshall again until fifth and that’s for trig which is useless. A few hours might give me enough time to catch my breath. If he plans on launching a tirade of seduction each day, twice a day, I’m in for a hell of an exciting senior year.
Chloe cuts us off at the pass with a pissed off Miller by her side.
Michelle doesn’t waste any time in jabbing her finger into my chest. “I knew you hacked my head off.”
“No,” I try to deny the allegation. That was at Ethan’s stupid party last summer.
“Don’t worry, Skyla,” Chloe says it in a way that assures me I have plenty to worry about. “You don’t have to hide anymore. I filled Michelle in on every last detail. She knows all about the fact you’re a witch with magical powers.” Her lips curve at the tips.
“I’m not a witch,” I hiss. “I’m an angel,” I say it directly to Michelle, pumped and ready to correct all the wrongs Chloe most likely filled her in on, except for the fact I hacked off her head—that I’ll deny until the day I’m dead even if it is true.
Gage wraps an arm around my shoulder and leans in. “Let’s get out of here.”
But Chloe doesn’t look at Gage once. Instead she steps past me and gets right into Logan’s face.
“I know,” she whispers.
Logan gives a slow blink and the slightest hint of a nod.
Gage ushers me out of the room as an entire sea of bodies stream between us and Logan.
Just what in the hell does Chloe Bishop know?
7
Deflower Power
Friday after school, and a rather torturous session of cheer practice, I straggle home with my brain on overload. I lounge in a nice hot shower trying to melt this entire week off my body—out of my mind. West doesn’t have a football game for two weeks which gives Logan and Gage a tiny reprieve before the skull cracking initiates. Logan and Gage. They waft in and out of my mind like ghosts, each calling for my attention. I try to put them out of my mind, focus on Ellis—the fact Ezrina is taking her sweet little time with my favorite party animal. It would figure Chloe’s blood is incapable of healing anyone. I thought for sure he’d be back by now, sporting a scar that would lure all of those love honies into his den of seduction. I’ll have to make arrangements with Marshall and head down to the Transfer. If anyone can speed things along with Ezrina, it’s him.
Afterwards I head downstairs in hopes of smelling something delicious emanating from the kitchen but no such luck.
“How was school?” Mom asks dressed in her best cashmere sweater, her navy pencil skirt, and pointy black heels. She’s got Beau strapped to her chest like a bomb while she spastically loads his diaper bag with pla
stic containers, bibs, and spare nipples.
“School was school. Where you headed off to?” If she says Demetri’s I’m going to hurl the burrito I scarfed down from the caf. I should have taken Gage up on his offer and went off campus.
“Tad and I are catching the last ferry to Seattle.” Her eyes expand, and her lashes flex like spider legs. “I owe the fertility clinic the final payment, and Tad wants to deliver it in person with a few choice words thrown in.” She shakes her head.
Tad is a world-class ass. Mortifying my mother, or anyone for that matter, is just par for the course with him.
“Sounds like a good time will be had by all.” And by all I mean me and not my mother. I do rather enjoy a ‘rent free weekend.
“Anyway it’ll be good to get away for a minute. I’ll be back Sunday afternoon, so hold down the fort would you?”
“Sure. What could go wrong?” The entire last year plays out in my mind like a horror movie. Cerberus actually showed up to one of the cringe-worthy events that were hosted at Casa Landon.
“Absolutely nothing,” she says with her best sarcastic undertone. “In fact, I was just thinking, both you and Gage turn eighteen in a couple of months,” she sings, as wedding bouquets spray out in her eyes. “And, I guess since you’re almost an adult things are probably getting serious.” Her demeanor shifts, she’s donned the good mom hat, and I think this conversation is about to enter the ovum protection zone.
“Gage and I, we’re—”
“Someone say my name?” A familiar voice booms from behind.
I spin to find Gage smiling back at me, and I wrap my arms around his neck. Giselle is standing behind him, speaking with Mia, and I give a wave.
“I miss you,” I say it low, for his ears only. I’d much rather spend time holding Gage than exploring the wonderful world of contraceptives with my mother.
“And, God, I miss you,” he blows it in my ear before placing a careful kiss just under my jawline, and my body quivers from his electric touch.