Extras
Lunangelique ~ Cole’s POV
The day of the pool party.
I watch from the window as teenagers enter Lexi’s home. At the moment, only one person is standing at the door; someone I can’t believe I’m seeing.
Shit! I need to call Kakabel about this.
Before I can reach into my pocket and pull out the cell phone, Lexi laughs at whatever the scoundrel is saying. Even at this distance I can see her cerulean eyes piercing right through me.
I laugh out loud even though there is no one to hear me. That’s the game she came up with now, is it? That girl has no clue what she’s doing to me, or does she?
I went to her house earlier to apologize and saw her leaving. Since, she was gone and I was already on my way over, I had a little talk with Alex. Turns out, they’re having a pool party. Alex invited me, though, he made a point to give me a heads up that Lexi definitely did not want me there. I gave Alex my wings to give to Lexi. It looks like a peace offering, but it’s so much more. It’s a part of me; something more important than my own heart.
At the time, I was heartbroken. I thought I made a mistake by giving her space yesterday to cool down. Maybe it was still a mistake. Maybe I shouldn’t have given her my wings. However, now, her actions are telling me that she’s still waiting for me. It’s not too late for us after all.
A smile has somehow crept up.
The cell phone crushes with a loud Crunch! As I watch Lexi step forward and entwine her arm with Samson’s. Again, she cuts eyes right through me with a victorious look.
I am not smiling anymore!
Can she see me watching? I step away from the window and go in search of a new phone.
*
I wait hours after everyone has finally left before I make my way to Lexi’s house.
Kakabel was not happy with the call I was finally able to make after driving to the nearest electronics store to procure a new cell phone. I swear, he acts like everything is always my fault. Like, I could have stopped Samson from meeting Lexi or going to her house. Like I should have already known. How the hell was I supposed to know something like that? I’ve been placed in front of her house, not stalking her, like the golden angel is supposed to be doing. How Patryck missed that is beyond me. He was probably up some skirt at the time she met Samson. Again, how he can accomplish that is beyond me. When Lexi is in the vicinity, I can’t see anything else.
I knock on the front door because it is kind of late and I don’t want to disturb anyone’s rest. Within seconds Alex is answering the door.
“Hey, Lexi is out back. You can come through.” Alex opens the door wider.
That’s what I like about this kid. No nonsense.
When he came to my house the other night, I thought he was going to rip my head off and skewer it on a stake. His concern for his sister is really touching; something I miss with golden angel, asshat. Instead of skewering my head, we had a long talk and came to an understanding… end of story.
“Thanks,” I tell him. I look into the house and see their parents sitting cozily on the couch. “Um… I think I’ll just walk around.”
Alex’s eyebrows shoot into his hairline. “Suit yourself. I gotta warn you, though. You are not her favorite person right now.”
“Thanks for the heads up,” I comment as I walk down the porch steps and around the side of the house.
At the gate, I pause and watch Lexi. She’s alone with her feet dipped into the pool, looking down at something silver and shiny in her hand. My wings.
I lift the lock of the gate up and see her head swivel to see what made the noise before she quickly turns away and stares into the pool.
I hope she isn’t going to lash out at me. Or worse, ignore me. I’ve gotten a taste of her anger and it’s the most fiercely beautiful emotion I have ever seen on her. I can just picture her as a warrior; she would be superior.
“Mind if I join you,” I ask from a distance just in case she decides to swing her legs around and drop kick me for being the biggest asshat ever.
“Not at all,” she tells me with disinterest. Ouch. That hurts.
I slip off my flip-flops and sit down next to her in the same posture she has adopted. The water is comfortably warm from the sun bearing down on it all day.
“What are you doing out here?” I ask once I’ve determined she will probably ignore me all night if I don’t say something soon.
“How did you know I was out here?” she counters, finally looking at me from the corner of her eye.
“Alex told me.” She seems taken aback from that answer, like she expected me to say I was spying on her. She wishes. Oh, wait, that’s technically true in most cases, just not this time.
“I just needed to calm down from all the craziness of the day.” She looks sad as she says that. I wonder if she’s sad it’s over. Am I bothering her by being here? Does she wish Samson was here instead?
“It sounded like fun. I’m sorry I wasn’t invited. I know that the fault was all mine.”
“Maybe,” she admits and finally cracks a smile. I can’t help but return her smile.
“Then, am I forgiven?”
“I haven’t decided yet.” Ouch, again. This girl is killing me. Not only did she just say that, but her gorgeous smile disappears, too; making my smile wilt as I see the look of concentration on her face.
“Lexi, how can I make it up to you?” I would do anything to make her smile again.
“I don’t know.” She shakes her head and covers her face with her hands. “I don’t even know where to start. I don’t know how we left off. I don’t know what to say to you.”
“I see that you got my present.” I indicate to the wings she just smashed against her face.
“This?” she asks. “How did you give me this? I found it in my bedroom this morning.”
“I asked Alex to leave it somewhere where you would find it.” Why didn’t Alex tell her I gave it to her? Why would he just leave it carelessly in her room? That’s the last time I trust that guy with anything. And I thought we bonded the other night.
“Why didn’t he tell me?” Lexi whispers in a thoughtful tone. “I asked everyone today if it was theirs and he never said a word.” She pauses in thought again and then asks, “When did you come over?” Like she doesn’t know.
“This morning. You were already driving away from the house when I started coming over. I’m really sorry I missed you. Alex also told me about the party, but since you weren’t the one to invite me, I thought it better not to come.”
“I’m sorry about that. As you can probably guess, I was a little mad at you. And I’m sorry for Alex bombarding you last night. I had no idea he went over there until he came home and told me. What did he say to you?” Her voice sounds worried. She must have not have known beforehand that Alex came over.
“You’re lucky to have a brother who cares about you. Not too many would feel it necessary to defend their sister’s honor.” That’s the truth.
“Oh, God. How bad was it?” She starts to worry her bottom lip with her teeth. I want to reach out and pull her lip from them. Instead, I laugh at her concern.
“It wasn’t bad at all. Seriously, Lexi. I promise you, I was not offended or embarrassed. I would have been mad if he hadn’t spoke up for you. So, have you come up with a way to make this, us, different?” I stumble through my words and reach out to touch her hair. Hair is safe ground. It’s still slightly wet and feels like velvet.
I’m overwhelmed with my feelings for her all of a sudden. At the moment, I don’t care about any rules; not the schools, not Kakabel’s, no one’s. I can’t remember feeling this intense about anyone, not even her, and I can remember everything.
“Maybe.” That one word means everything to me.
“And…” I whisper the word, drawn to her. Mesmerized. I can’t stop the pull I feel to kiss her, right now. My eyes instinctively close when our lips come close to contact. The moment… Oh, shit!
I cannot believe she just push me into the water. I quickly resurface to see her running towards her porch and laughing a giggling, bell-like laugh. I hope she isn’t going inside without finishing our conversation. Thankfully, she just turns on the lights for the pool.
“That was not very nice,” I tease her and she continues her twinkling laughter. “Come here so I can get you in the water.” I pull myself out and take off my soaked tee-shirt. Good thing I was already dressed in board shorts.
“Nuh, uh. Not interested in getting in again today, thank you.” There is no way she is going to get away with that. She totally ruined a perfect moment. Why? I have to get her to tell me what she’s thinking.
I see her look to the porch like she’s going to make a run for it. She’s not leaving without talking to me first. Before she can move her body towards that direction, I order, “Don’t run.”
I take my time, knowing I’m playing a dangerous game, as I walk up to her and wrap her in my arms, making sure that everything from my dripping legs to chest and arms are touching her before throwing her up into my arms.
I carry her back to the pool and jump in, not letting go of her for a second. She squeals as we resurface and I could die a happy man when she wraps her arms around my neck.
“How do you do that to me?” she asks in her curious, accusing tone.
“What?” I act innocent.
“Make me do what you want me to do and not what I want to do.”
“I don’t make you do anything you don’t want to do. I don’t think anyone can do that.” That’s mostly the truth.
“I’m serious,” she presses the issue and lets go of me. “Just now, you told me not to run, which was what I was thinking about doing, but I couldn’t. So, I’m asking you, how do you do that?”
I keep up the charade of ignorance. “I don’t know, but you can’t say I was making you do anything against your will. I’m sorry if you felt like you had to do it. You didn’t feel threatened did you?”
“No, of course not. Forget it,” she looks defeated and I’m almost positive this is the first time she’s lost anything.
It’s time to change the subject. “Anyways. So, your maybe comment? What were you implying?”
She smiles at me and I know the argument is over and forgotten. Whew. “My mom has no problems with us seeing each other. She recommends that we just play it cool at school and nobody will get hurt or fired.”
Seems doable. “We can try.” Oh, we are going to do a lot more than try. I will persuade anyone who threatens us to forget what they saw or heard. She throws herself into my arms and kisses me with fervor, which makes me laugh at happy I just unknowingly made her. “I think I’ll have to give in to a lot more things if I get this response every time.”
“Shut up.”
I hope she isn’t going to lash out at me. Or worse, ignore me. I’ve gotten a taste of her anger and it’s the most fiercely beautiful emotion I have ever seen on her. I can just picture her as a warrior; she would be superior.
“Mind if I join you,” I ask from a distance just in case she decides to swing her legs around and drop kick me for being the biggest asshat ever.
“Not at all,” she tells me with disinterest. Ouch. That hurts.
I slip off my flip-flops and sit down next to her in the same posture she has adopted. The water is comfortably warm from the sun bearing down on it all day.
“What are you doing out here?” I ask once I’ve determined she will probably ignore me all night if I don’t say something soon.
“How did you know I was out here?” she counters, finally looking at me from the corner of her eye.
“Alex told me.” She seems taken aback from that answer, like she expected me to say I was spying on her. She wishes. Oh, wait, that’s technically true in most cases, just not this time.
“I just needed to calm down from all the craziness of the day.” She looks sad as she says that. I wonder if she’s sad it’s over. Am I bothering her by being here? Does she wish Samson was here instead?
“It sounded like fun. I’m sorry I wasn’t invited. I know that the fault was all mine.”
“Maybe,” she admits and finally cracks a smile. I can’t help but return her smile.
“Then, am I forgiven?”
“I haven’t decided yet.” Ouch, again. This girl is killing me. Not only did she just say that, but her gorgeous smile disappears, too; making my smile wilt as I see the look of concentration on her face.
“Lexi, how can I make it up to you?” I would do anything to make her smile again.
“I don’t know.” She shakes her head and covers her face with her hands. “I don’t even know where to start. I don’t know how we left off. I don’t know what to say to you.”
“I see that you got my present.” I indicate to the wings she just smashed against her face.
“This?” she asks. “How did you give me this? I found it in my bedroom this morning.”
“I asked Alex to leave it somewhere where you would find it.” Why didn’t Alex tell her I gave it to her? Why would he just leave it carelessly in her room? That’s the last time I trust that guy with anything. And I thought we bonded the other night.
“Why didn’t he tell me?” Lexi whispers in a thoughtful tone. “I asked everyone today if it was theirs and he never said a word.” She pauses in thought again and then asks, “When did you come over?” Like she doesn’t know.
“This morning. You were already driving away from the house when I started coming over. I’m really sorry I missed you. Alex also told me about the party, but since you weren’t the one to invite me, I thought it better not to come.”
“I’m sorry about that. As you can probably guess, I was a little mad at you. And I’m sorry for Alex bombarding you last night. I had no idea he went over there until he came home and told me. What did he say to you?” Her voice sounds worried. She must have not have known beforehand that Alex came over.
“You’re lucky to have a brother who cares about you. Not too many would feel it necessary to defend their sister’s honor.” That’s the truth.
“Oh, God. How bad was it?” She starts to worry her bottom lip with her teeth. I want to reach out and pull her lip from them. Instead, I laugh at her concern.
“It wasn’t bad at all. Seriously, Lexi. I promise you, I was not offended or embarrassed. I would have been mad if he hadn’t spoke up for you. So, have you come up with a way to make this, us, different?” I stumble through my words and reach out to touch her hair. Hair is safe ground. It’s still slightly wet and feels like velvet.
I’m overwhelmed with my feelings for her all of a sudden. At the moment, I don’t care about any rules; not the schools, not Kakabel’s, no one’s. I can’t remember feeling this intense about anyone, not even her, and I can remember everything.
“Maybe.” That one word means everything to me.
“And…” I whisper the word, drawn to her. Mesmerized. I can’t stop the pull I feel to kiss her, right now. My eyes instinctively close when our lips come close to contact. The moment… Oh, shit!
I cannot believe she just push me into the water. I quickly resurface to see her running towards her porch and laughing a giggling, bell-like laugh. I hope she isn’t going inside without finishing our conversation. Thankfully, she just turns on the lights for the pool.
“That was not very nice,” I tease her and she continues her twinkling laughter. “Come here so I can get you in the water.” I pull myself out and take off my soaked tee-shirt. Good thing I was already dressed in board shorts.
“Nuh, uh. Not interested in getting in again today, thank you.” There is no way she is going to get away with that. She totally ruined a perfect moment. Why? I have to get her to tell me what she’s thinking.
I see her look to the porch like she’s going to make a run for it. She’s not leaving without talking to me first. Before she can move her body towards that direction, I order, “Don’t run.”
I take my time, knowing I’m playing a dangerous game, as I walk up to her and wrap her in my arms, making sure that everything from my dripping legs to chest and arms are touching her before throwing her up into my arms.
I carry her back to the pool and jump in, not letting go of her for a second. She squeals as we resurface and I could die a happy man when she wraps her arms around my neck.
“How do you do that to me?” she asks in her curious, accusing tone.
“What?” I act innocent.
“Make me do what you want me to do and not what I want to do.”
“I don’t make you do anything you don’t want to do. I don’t think anyone can do that.” That’s mostly the truth.
“I’m serious,” she presses the issue and lets go of me. “Just now, you told me not to run, which was what I was thinking about doing, but I couldn’t. So, I’m asking you, how do you do that?”
I keep up the charade of ignorance. “I don’t know, but you can’t say I was making you do anything against your will. I’m sorry if you felt like you had to do it. You didn’t feel threatened did you?”
“No, of course not. Forget it,” she looks defeated and I’m almost positive this is the first time she’s lost anything.
It’s time to change the subject. “Anyways. So, your maybe comment? What were you implying?”
She smiles at me and I know the argument is over and forgotten. Whew. “My mom has no problems with us seeing each other. She recommends that we just play it cool at school and nobody will get hurt or fired.”
Seems doable. “We can try.” Oh, we are going to do a lot more than try. I will persuade anyone who threatens us to forget what they saw or heard. She throws herself into my arms and kisses me with fervor, which makes me laugh at happy I just unknowingly made her. “I think I’ll have to give in to a lot more things if I get this response every time.”
“Shut up.”
I watch from the window as teenagers enter Lexi’s home. At the moment, only one person is standing at the door; someone I can’t believe I’m seeing.
Shit! I need to call Kakabel about this.
Before I can reach into my pocket and pull out the cell phone, Lexi laughs at whatever the scoundrel is saying. Even at this distance I can see her cerulean eyes piercing right through me.
I laugh out loud even though there is no one to hear me. That’s the game she came up with now, is it? That girl has no clue what she’s doing to me, or does she?
I went to her house earlier to apologize and saw her leaving. Since, she was gone and I was already on my way over, I had a little talk with Alex. Turns out, they’re having a pool party. Alex invited me, though, he made a point to give me a heads up that Lexi definitely did not want me there. I gave Alex my wings to give to Lexi. It looks like a peace offering, but it’s so much more. It’s a part of me; something more important than my own heart.
At the time, I was heartbroken. I thought I made a mistake by giving her space yesterday to cool down. Maybe it was still a mistake. Maybe I shouldn’t have given her my wings. However, now, her actions are telling me that she’s still waiting for me. It’s not too late for us after all.
A smile has somehow crept up.
The cell phone crushes with a loud Crunch! As I watch Lexi step forward and entwine her arm with Samson’s. Again, she cuts eyes right through me with a victorious look.
I am not smiling anymore!
Can she see me watching? I step away from the window and go in search of a new phone.
*
I wait hours after everyone has finally left before I make my way to Lexi’s house.
Kakabel was not happy with the call I was finally able to make after driving to the nearest electronics store to procure a new cell phone. I swear, he acts like everything is always my fault. Like, I could have stopped Samson from meeting Lexi or going to her house. Like I should have already known. How the hell was I supposed to know something like that? I’ve been placed in front of her house, not stalking her, like the golden angel is supposed to be doing. How Patryck missed that is beyond me. He was probably up some skirt at the time she met Samson. Again, how he can accomplish that is beyond me. When Lexi is in the vicinity, I can’t see anything else.
I knock on the front door because it is kind of late and I don’t want to disturb anyone’s rest. Within seconds Alex is answering the door.
“Hey, Lexi is out back. You can come through.” Alex opens the door wider.
That’s what I like about this kid. No nonsense.
When he came to my house the other night, I thought he was going to rip my head off and skewer it on a stake. His concern for his sister is really touching; something I miss with golden angel, asshat. Instead of skewering my head, we had a long talk and came to an understanding… end of story.
“Thanks,” I tell him. I look into the house and see their parents sitting cozily on the couch. “Um… I think I’ll just walk around.”
Alex’s eyebrows shoot into his hairline. “Suit yourself. I gotta warn you, though. You are not her favorite person right now.”
“Thanks for the heads up,” I comment as I walk down the porch steps and around the side of the house.
At the gate, I pause and watch Lexi. She’s alone with her feet dipped into the pool, looking down at something silver and shiny in her hand. My wings.
I lift the lock of the gate up and see her head swivel to see what made the noise before she quickly turns away and stares into the pool.
I hope she isn’t going to lash out at me. Or worse, ignore me. I’ve gotten a taste of her anger and it’s the most fiercely beautiful emotion I have ever seen on her. I can just picture her as a warrior; she would be superior.
“Mind if I join you,” I ask from a distance just in case she decides to swing her legs around and drop kick me for being the biggest asshat ever.
“Not at all,” she tells me with disinterest. Ouch. That hurts.
I slip off my flip-flops and sit down next to her in the same posture she has adopted. The water is comfortably warm from the sun bearing down on it all day.
“What are you doing out here?” I ask once I’ve determined she will probably ignore me all night if I don’t say something soon.
“How did you know I was out here?” she counters, finally looking at me from the corner of her eye.
“Alex told me.” She seems taken aback from that answer, like she expected me to say I was spying on her. She wishes. Oh, wait, that’s technically true in most cases, just not this time.
“I just needed to calm down from all the craziness of the day.” She looks sad as she says that. I wonder if she’s sad it’s over. Am I bothering her by being here? Does she wish Samson was here instead?
“It sounded like fun. I’m sorry I wasn’t invited. I know that the fault was all mine.”
“Maybe,” she admits and finally cracks a smile. I can’t help but return her smile.
“Then, am I forgiven?”
“I haven’t decided yet.” Ouch, again. This girl is killing me. Not only did she just say that, but her gorgeous smile disappears, too; making my smile wilt as I see the look of concentration on her face.
“Lexi, how can I make it up to you?” I would do anything to make her smile again.
“I don’t know.” She shakes her head and covers her face with her hands. “I don’t even know where to start. I don’t know how we left off. I don’t know what to say to you.”
“I see that you got my present.” I indicate to the wings she just smashed against her face.
“This?” she asks. “How did you give me this? I found it in my bedroom this morning.”
“I asked Alex to leave it somewhere where you would find it.” Why didn’t Alex tell her I gave it to her? Why would he just leave it carelessly in her room? That’s the last time I trust that guy with anything. And I thought we bonded the other night.
“Why didn’t he tell me?” Lexi whispers in a thoughtful tone. “I asked everyone today if it was theirs and he never said a word.” She pauses in thought again and then asks, “When did you come over?” Like she doesn’t know.
“This morning. You were already driving away from the house when I started coming over. I’m really sorry I missed you. Alex also told me about the party, but since you weren’t the one to invite me, I thought it better not to come.”
“I’m sorry about that. As you can probably guess, I was a little mad at you. And I’m sorry for Alex bombarding you last night. I had no idea he went over there until he came home and told me. What did he say to you?” Her voice sounds worried. She must have not have known beforehand that Alex came over.
“You’re lucky to have a brother who cares about you. Not too many would feel it necessary to defend their sister’s honor.” That’s the truth.
“Oh, God. How bad was it?” She starts to worry her bottom lip with her teeth. I want to reach out and pull her lip from them. Instead, I laugh at her concern.
“It wasn’t bad at all. Seriously, Lexi. I promise you, I was not offended or embarrassed. I would have been mad if he hadn’t spoke up for you. So, have you come up with a way to make this, us, different?” I stumble through my words and reach out to touch her hair. Hair is safe ground. It’s still slightly wet and feels like velvet.
I’m overwhelmed with my feelings for her all of a sudden. At the moment, I don’t care about any rules; not the schools, not Kakabel’s, no one’s. I can’t remember feeling this intense about anyone, not even her, and I can remember everything.
“Maybe.” That one word means everything to me.
“And…” I whisper the word, drawn to her. Mesmerized. I can’t stop the pull I feel to kiss her, right now. My eyes instinctively close when our lips come close to contact. The moment… Oh, shit!
I cannot believe she just push me into the water. I quickly resurface to see her running towards her porch and laughing a giggling, bell-like laugh. I hope she isn’t going inside without finishing our conversation. Thankfully, she just turns on the lights for the pool.
“That was not very nice,” I tease her and she continues her twinkling laughter. “Come here so I can get you in the water.” I pull myself out and take off my soaked tee-shirt. Good thing I was already dressed in board shorts.
“Nuh, uh. Not interested in getting in again today, thank you.” There is no way she is going to get away with that. She totally ruined a perfect moment. Why? I have to get her to tell me what she’s thinking.
I see her look to the porch like she’s going to make a run for it. She’s not leaving without talking to me first. Before she can move her body towards that direction, I order, “Don’t run.”
I take my time, knowing I’m playing a dangerous game, as I walk up to her and wrap her in my arms, making sure that everything from my dripping legs to chest and arms are touching her before throwing her up into my arms.
I carry her back to the pool and jump in, not letting go of her for a second. She squeals as we resurface and I could die a happy man when she wraps her arms around my neck.
“How do you do that to me?” she asks in her curious, accusing tone.
“What?” I act innocent.
“Make me do what you want me to do and not what I want to do.”
“I don’t make you do anything you don’t want to do. I don’t think anyone can do that.” That’s mostly the truth.
“I’m serious,” she presses the issue and lets go of me. “Just now, you told me not to run, which was what I was thinking about doing, but I couldn’t. So, I’m asking you, how do you do that?”
I keep up the charade of ignorance. “I don’t know, but you can’t say I was making you do anything against your will. I’m sorry if you felt like you had to do it. You didn’t feel threatened did you?”
“No, of course not. Forget it,” she looks defeated and I’m almost positive this is the first time she’s lost anything.
It’s time to change the subject. “Anyways. So, your maybe comment? What were you implying?”
She smiles at me and I know the argument is over and forgotten. Whew. “My mom has no problems with us seeing each other. She recommends that we just play it cool at school and nobody will get hurt or fired.”
Seems doable. “We can try.” Oh, we are going to do a lot more than try. I will persuade anyone who threatens us to forget what they saw or heard. She throws herself into my arms and kisses me with fervor, which makes me laugh at happy I just unknowingly made her. “I think I’ll have to give in to a lot more things if I get this response every time.”
“Shut up.”
I hope she isn’t going to lash out at me. Or worse, ignore me. I’ve gotten a taste of her anger and it’s the most fiercely beautiful emotion I have ever seen on her. I can just picture her as a warrior; she would be superior.
“Mind if I join you,” I ask from a distance just in case she decides to swing her legs around and drop kick me for being the biggest asshat ever.
“Not at all,” she tells me with disinterest. Ouch. That hurts.
I slip off my flip-flops and sit down next to her in the same posture she has adopted. The water is comfortably warm from the sun bearing down on it all day.
“What are you doing out here?” I ask once I’ve determined she will probably ignore me all night if I don’t say something soon.
“How did you know I was out here?” she counters, finally looking at me from the corner of her eye.
“Alex told me.” She seems taken aback from that answer, like she expected me to say I was spying on her. She wishes. Oh, wait, that’s technically true in most cases, just not this time.
“I just needed to calm down from all the craziness of the day.” She looks sad as she says that. I wonder if she’s sad it’s over. Am I bothering her by being here? Does she wish Samson was here instead?
“It sounded like fun. I’m sorry I wasn’t invited. I know that the fault was all mine.”
“Maybe,” she admits and finally cracks a smile. I can’t help but return her smile.
“Then, am I forgiven?”
“I haven’t decided yet.” Ouch, again. This girl is killing me. Not only did she just say that, but her gorgeous smile disappears, too; making my smile wilt as I see the look of concentration on her face.
“Lexi, how can I make it up to you?” I would do anything to make her smile again.
“I don’t know.” She shakes her head and covers her face with her hands. “I don’t even know where to start. I don’t know how we left off. I don’t know what to say to you.”
“I see that you got my present.” I indicate to the wings she just smashed against her face.
“This?” she asks. “How did you give me this? I found it in my bedroom this morning.”
“I asked Alex to leave it somewhere where you would find it.” Why didn’t Alex tell her I gave it to her? Why would he just leave it carelessly in her room? That’s the last time I trust that guy with anything. And I thought we bonded the other night.
“Why didn’t he tell me?” Lexi whispers in a thoughtful tone. “I asked everyone today if it was theirs and he never said a word.” She pauses in thought again and then asks, “When did you come over?” Like she doesn’t know.
“This morning. You were already driving away from the house when I started coming over. I’m really sorry I missed you. Alex also told me about the party, but since you weren’t the one to invite me, I thought it better not to come.”
“I’m sorry about that. As you can probably guess, I was a little mad at you. And I’m sorry for Alex bombarding you last night. I had no idea he went over there until he came home and told me. What did he say to you?” Her voice sounds worried. She must have not have known beforehand that Alex came over.
“You’re lucky to have a brother who cares about you. Not too many would feel it necessary to defend their sister’s honor.” That’s the truth.
“Oh, God. How bad was it?” She starts to worry her bottom lip with her teeth. I want to reach out and pull her lip from them. Instead, I laugh at her concern.
“It wasn’t bad at all. Seriously, Lexi. I promise you, I was not offended or embarrassed. I would have been mad if he hadn’t spoke up for you. So, have you come up with a way to make this, us, different?” I stumble through my words and reach out to touch her hair. Hair is safe ground. It’s still slightly wet and feels like velvet.
I’m overwhelmed with my feelings for her all of a sudden. At the moment, I don’t care about any rules; not the schools, not Kakabel’s, no one’s. I can’t remember feeling this intense about anyone, not even her, and I can remember everything.
“Maybe.” That one word means everything to me.
“And…” I whisper the word, drawn to her. Mesmerized. I can’t stop the pull I feel to kiss her, right now. My eyes instinctively close when our lips come close to contact. The moment… Oh, shit!
I cannot believe she just push me into the water. I quickly resurface to see her running towards her porch and laughing a giggling, bell-like laugh. I hope she isn’t going inside without finishing our conversation. Thankfully, she just turns on the lights for the pool.
“That was not very nice,” I tease her and she continues her twinkling laughter. “Come here so I can get you in the water.” I pull myself out and take off my soaked tee-shirt. Good thing I was already dressed in board shorts.
“Nuh, uh. Not interested in getting in again today, thank you.” There is no way she is going to get away with that. She totally ruined a perfect moment. Why? I have to get her to tell me what she’s thinking.
I see her look to the porch like she’s going to make a run for it. She’s not leaving without talking to me first. Before she can move her body towards that direction, I order, “Don’t run.”
I take my time, knowing I’m playing a dangerous game, as I walk up to her and wrap her in my arms, making sure that everything from my dripping legs to chest and arms are touching her before throwing her up into my arms.
I carry her back to the pool and jump in, not letting go of her for a second. She squeals as we resurface and I could die a happy man when she wraps her arms around my neck.
“How do you do that to me?” she asks in her curious, accusing tone.
“What?” I act innocent.
“Make me do what you want me to do and not what I want to do.”
“I don’t make you do anything you don’t want to do. I don’t think anyone can do that.” That’s mostly the truth.
“I’m serious,” she presses the issue and lets go of me. “Just now, you told me not to run, which was what I was thinking about doing, but I couldn’t. So, I’m asking you, how do you do that?”
I keep up the charade of ignorance. “I don’t know, but you can’t say I was making you do anything against your will. I’m sorry if you felt like you had to do it. You didn’t feel threatened did you?”
“No, of course not. Forget it,” she looks defeated and I’m almost positive this is the first time she’s lost anything.
It’s time to change the subject. “Anyways. So, your maybe comment? What were you implying?”
She smiles at me and I know the argument is over and forgotten. Whew. “My mom has no problems with us seeing each other. She recommends that we just play it cool at school and nobody will get hurt or fired.”
Seems doable. “We can try.” Oh, we are going to do a lot more than try. I will persuade anyone who threatens us to forget what they saw or heard. She throws herself into my arms and kisses me with fervor, which makes me laugh at happy I just unknowingly made her. “I think I’ll have to give in to a lot more things if I get this response every time.”
“Shut up.”
The art museum
The first thing we notice when we walk through the door is the poster that introduces the artist portrayed tonight.
Shit! It’s Kakabel. You have got to be kidding me.
I see Lexi’s eyes bug out and follow her line of sight until I see Kakabel standing alone on the stairs.
Lexi grabs my hand in a death grip. “I didn’t know he was an artist?” she practically accuses me like I hid it from her when I’m just as shocked and embarrassed and, if I’m being honest, slightly scared after the threats he just spit at me for dating Lexi.
He is not going to be happy about seeing us.
“I didn’t know he was going to be here,” I confess to Lexi. If I had known, I would have called in sick or something.
“Are you okay?” she asks. Damn, do I look that ill about it?
“Yeah. I’m just surprised and a little mad that he didn’t tell me.” I try to school my features so she doesn’t freak out and get the wrong idea, or the right idea in this case.
Lexi reaches her hand to stroke my face and before I can lean in to steal a kiss, the curator calls out my name and I have to turn away from her and face the music. I groan as I walk through the small crowd and up to Kakabel.
“What the Hades are you doing her with my daughter? Do you ever listen to anything?” Kakabel sneers with a charming grin on his face for his crowd.
“I can’t just walk away. I thought we discussed this, sir?”
Before he can answer, or maybe he doesn’t want to, he walks away and leads the crowd into one of the wings. I follow behind and set myself up in a corner and start playing for the guests.
I keep my eyes on Lexi the entire time I perform. My eyes are so focused on her; it’s too late when I realize what the subject of Kakabel’s art is.
Damn the fool.
The art museum
The first thing we notice when we walk through the door is the poster that introduces the artist portrayed tonight.
Shit! It’s Kakabel. You have got to be kidding me.
I see Lexi’s eyes bug out and follow her line of sight until I see Kakabel standing alone on the stairs.
Lexi grabs my hand in a death grip. “I didn’t know he was an artist?” she practically accuses me like I hid it from her when I’m just as shocked and embarrassed and, if I’m being honest, slightly scared after the threats he just spit at me for dating Lexi.
He is not going to be happy about seeing us.
“I didn’t know he was going to be here,” I confess to Lexi. If I had known, I would have called in sick or something.
“Are you okay?” she asks. Damn, do I look that ill about it?
“Yeah. I’m just surprised and a little mad that he didn’t tell me.” I try to school my features so she doesn’t freak out and get the wrong idea, or the right idea in this case.
Lexi reaches her hand to stroke my face and before I can lean in to steal a kiss, the curator calls out my name and I have to turn away from her and face the music. I groan as I walk through the small crowd and up to Kakabel.
“What the Hades are you doing her with my daughter? Do you ever listen to anything?” Kakabel sneers with a charming grin on his face for his crowd.
“I can’t just walk away. I thought we discussed this, sir?”
Before he can answer, or maybe he doesn’t want to, he walks away and leads the crowd into one of the wings. I follow behind and set myself up in a corner and start playing for the guests.
I keep my eyes on Lexi the entire time I perform. My eyes are so focused on her; it’s too late when I realize what the subject of Kakabel’s art is.
Damn the fool.
I stop playing abruptly when I see her talking to Kakabel. She looks scared and pissed and he looks like he’s apologizing. I look up at the picture behind them and see Selene’s face. Lexi’s older self.
Kakabel is such a fool to have these paintings so close to where Lexi has access to them. Maybe this will encourage him to tell her the truth.
The man is so foolish to believe no one knows about his children. That the angels don’t know about his millenniums long relationship with the moon goddess. Selene was my matron, in a sense. She was my biggest supporter; the only person who had faith in my, the only person who didn’t shun me. We had no secrets from each other. It was me she told first when she realized she was pregnant with the twins.
Despite what Kakabel feels, I know Selene would support my relationship to Lexi. If for nothing else than to rub it in Kakabel’s face just to start one of their infamous arguments.
I watch as Lexi pulls away from Kakabel and runs in the direction of the exit of the exhibit. I practically throw down the violin and rush to her side. I can tell how shaken up she is. She looks like if she opens her mouth to say one word, she will break down in tears, so I quickly guide her out of the room.
After I sit her own a bench and bring her a glass of wine, the cure for nerves, in my opinion, I ask her, “What happened?”
“I don’t know,” she sputters, still shaking like a timid mouse caught in a corner. I bring the wine up to her lips and don’t pull it down until she drinks a healthy gulp.
“Shh… Shh...,” I coo at her and wipe the tears streaming down her face with my thumbs.
“I’m just really confused right now.” She gasps out. Not the answer I was just expecting. Is this about more than the painting?
“About us?” I ask in confusion.
“No, no, no. Well, partly. Edmund has a painting in there and the resemblance is a little too close for comfort.” Damn Kakabel for this. I want to tell her, but it’s not my right. I need to get him to realize that Lexi is a lot smarter than he gives her credit for.
“You should go back in there. I’m just going to collect myself and then clean up in the bathroom before heading back,” she tries to console me. Yeah, I’ll go back in there alright.
I get up without saying another word to her. My mind is too caught up in wanting to tell Kakabel off.
I leave her in the Egyptian wing and head straight for Kakabel, even though he is surrounded by humans.
“Lexi is questioning things,” I lie.
“This is not the time to talk about this,” Kakabel seethes without losing his polite smile. I really hate him.
“What do you think you meant to accomplish by bringing these pictures so close to her? Do you want her to puzzle the pieces out on her own?”
“I said, not now!” He loses some of his perfect control.
I walk away from him with a huff that doesn’t go unnoticed and continue playing, a little too furiously for the tastes of the guests.
Not too much later as the guests start to leave, I decide it’s time to pack up. Lexi still looks sick and I want to get her out of here as quickly as possible.
I start to place the violin in its case and see Lexi coming towards me. “Are you feeling better?”
“I’m starting to,” she says nervously, looking around, probably trying to spot the location of Kakabel.
“Good.” I give her what I hope is reassuring smile. “Do you want to stay and walk around the museum or just go?”
“Let’s just go.” I stop playing abruptly when I see her talking to Kakabel. She looks scared and pissed and he looks like he’s apologizing. I look up at the picture behind them and see Selene’s face. Lexi’s older self.
Kakabel is such a fool to have these paintings so close to where Lexi has access to them. Maybe this will encourage him to tell her the truth.
The man is so foolish to believe no one knows about his children. That the angels don’t know about his millenniums long relationship with the moon goddess. Selene was my matron, in a sense. She was my biggest supporter; the only person who had faith in my, the only person who didn’t shun me. We had no secrets from each other. It was me she told first when she realized she was pregnant with the twins.
Despite what Kakabel feels, I know Selene would support my relationship to Lexi. If for nothing else than to rub it in Kakabel’s face just to start one of their infamous arguments.
I watch as Lexi pulls away from Kakabel and runs in the direction of the exit of the exhibit. I practically throw down the violin and rush to her side. I can tell how shaken up she is. She looks like if she opens her mouth to say one word, she will break down in tears, so I quickly guide her out of the room.
After I sit her own a bench and bring her a glass of wine, the cure for nerves, in my opinion, I ask her, “What happened?”
“I don’t know,” she sputters, still shaking like a timid mouse caught in a corner. I bring the wine up to her lips and don’t pull it down until she drinks a healthy gulp.
“Shh… Shh...,” I coo at her and wipe the tears streaming down her face with my thumbs.
“I’m just really confused right now.” She gasps out. Not the answer I was just expecting. Is this about more than the painting?
“About us?” I ask in confusion.
“No, no, no. Well, partly. Edmund has a painting in there and the resemblance is a little too close for comfort.” Damn Kakabel for this. I want to tell her, but it’s not my right. I need to get him to realize that Lexi is a lot smarter than he gives her credit for.
“You should go back in there. I’m just going to collect myself and then clean up in the bathroom before heading back,” she tries to console me. Yeah, I’ll go back in there alright.
I get up without saying another word to her. My mind is too caught up in wanting to tell Kakabel off.
I leave her in the Egyptian wing and head straight for Kakabel, even though he is surrounded by humans.
“Lexi is questioning things,” I lie.
“This is not the time to talk about this,” Kakabel seethes without losing his polite smile. I really hate him.
“What do you think you meant to accomplish by bringing these pictures so close to her? Do you want her to puzzle the pieces out on her own?”
“I said, not now!” He loses some of his perfect control.
I walk away from him with a huff that doesn’t go unnoticed and continue playing, a little too furiously for the tastes of the guests.
Not too much later as the guests start to leave, I decide it’s time to pack up. Lexi still looks sick and I want to get her out of here as quickly as possible.
I start to place the violin in its case and see Lexi coming towards me. “Are you feeling better?”
“I’m starting to,” she says nervously, looking around, probably trying to spot the location of Kakabel.
“Good.” I give her what I hope is reassuring smile. “Do you want to stay and walk around the museum or just go?”
“Let’s just go.”
The first thing we notice when we walk through the door is the poster that introduces the artist portrayed tonight.
Shit! It’s Kakabel. You have got to be kidding me.
I see Lexi’s eyes bug out and follow her line of sight until I see Kakabel standing alone on the stairs.
Lexi grabs my hand in a death grip. “I didn’t know he was an artist?” she practically accuses me like I hid it from her when I’m just as shocked and embarrassed and, if I’m being honest, slightly scared after the threats he just spit at me for dating Lexi.
He is not going to be happy about seeing us.
“I didn’t know he was going to be here,” I confess to Lexi. If I had known, I would have called in sick or something.
“Are you okay?” she asks. Damn, do I look that ill about it?
“Yeah. I’m just surprised and a little mad that he didn’t tell me.” I try to school my features so she doesn’t freak out and get the wrong idea, or the right idea in this case.
Lexi reaches her hand to stroke my face and before I can lean in to steal a kiss, the curator calls out my name and I have to turn away from her and face the music. I groan as I walk through the small crowd and up to Kakabel.
“What the Hades are you doing her with my daughter? Do you ever listen to anything?” Kakabel sneers with a charming grin on his face for his crowd.
“I can’t just walk away. I thought we discussed this, sir?”
Before he can answer, or maybe he doesn’t want to, he walks away and leads the crowd into one of the wings. I follow behind and set myself up in a corner and start playing for the guests.
I keep my eyes on Lexi the entire time I perform. My eyes are so focused on her; it’s too late when I realize what the subject of Kakabel’s art is.
Damn the fool.
The art museum
The first thing we notice when we walk through the door is the poster that introduces the artist portrayed tonight.
Shit! It’s Kakabel. You have got to be kidding me.
I see Lexi’s eyes bug out and follow her line of sight until I see Kakabel standing alone on the stairs.
Lexi grabs my hand in a death grip. “I didn’t know he was an artist?” she practically accuses me like I hid it from her when I’m just as shocked and embarrassed and, if I’m being honest, slightly scared after the threats he just spit at me for dating Lexi.
He is not going to be happy about seeing us.
“I didn’t know he was going to be here,” I confess to Lexi. If I had known, I would have called in sick or something.
“Are you okay?” she asks. Damn, do I look that ill about it?
“Yeah. I’m just surprised and a little mad that he didn’t tell me.” I try to school my features so she doesn’t freak out and get the wrong idea, or the right idea in this case.
Lexi reaches her hand to stroke my face and before I can lean in to steal a kiss, the curator calls out my name and I have to turn away from her and face the music. I groan as I walk through the small crowd and up to Kakabel.
“What the Hades are you doing her with my daughter? Do you ever listen to anything?” Kakabel sneers with a charming grin on his face for his crowd.
“I can’t just walk away. I thought we discussed this, sir?”
Before he can answer, or maybe he doesn’t want to, he walks away and leads the crowd into one of the wings. I follow behind and set myself up in a corner and start playing for the guests.
I keep my eyes on Lexi the entire time I perform. My eyes are so focused on her; it’s too late when I realize what the subject of Kakabel’s art is.
Damn the fool.
I stop playing abruptly when I see her talking to Kakabel. She looks scared and pissed and he looks like he’s apologizing. I look up at the picture behind them and see Selene’s face. Lexi’s older self.
Kakabel is such a fool to have these paintings so close to where Lexi has access to them. Maybe this will encourage him to tell her the truth.
The man is so foolish to believe no one knows about his children. That the angels don’t know about his millenniums long relationship with the moon goddess. Selene was my matron, in a sense. She was my biggest supporter; the only person who had faith in my, the only person who didn’t shun me. We had no secrets from each other. It was me she told first when she realized she was pregnant with the twins.
Despite what Kakabel feels, I know Selene would support my relationship to Lexi. If for nothing else than to rub it in Kakabel’s face just to start one of their infamous arguments.
I watch as Lexi pulls away from Kakabel and runs in the direction of the exit of the exhibit. I practically throw down the violin and rush to her side. I can tell how shaken up she is. She looks like if she opens her mouth to say one word, she will break down in tears, so I quickly guide her out of the room.
After I sit her own a bench and bring her a glass of wine, the cure for nerves, in my opinion, I ask her, “What happened?”
“I don’t know,” she sputters, still shaking like a timid mouse caught in a corner. I bring the wine up to her lips and don’t pull it down until she drinks a healthy gulp.
“Shh… Shh...,” I coo at her and wipe the tears streaming down her face with my thumbs.
“I’m just really confused right now.” She gasps out. Not the answer I was just expecting. Is this about more than the painting?
“About us?” I ask in confusion.
“No, no, no. Well, partly. Edmund has a painting in there and the resemblance is a little too close for comfort.” Damn Kakabel for this. I want to tell her, but it’s not my right. I need to get him to realize that Lexi is a lot smarter than he gives her credit for.
“You should go back in there. I’m just going to collect myself and then clean up in the bathroom before heading back,” she tries to console me. Yeah, I’ll go back in there alright.
I get up without saying another word to her. My mind is too caught up in wanting to tell Kakabel off.
I leave her in the Egyptian wing and head straight for Kakabel, even though he is surrounded by humans.
“Lexi is questioning things,” I lie.
“This is not the time to talk about this,” Kakabel seethes without losing his polite smile. I really hate him.
“What do you think you meant to accomplish by bringing these pictures so close to her? Do you want her to puzzle the pieces out on her own?”
“I said, not now!” He loses some of his perfect control.
I walk away from him with a huff that doesn’t go unnoticed and continue playing, a little too furiously for the tastes of the guests.
Not too much later as the guests start to leave, I decide it’s time to pack up. Lexi still looks sick and I want to get her out of here as quickly as possible.
I start to place the violin in its case and see Lexi coming towards me. “Are you feeling better?”
“I’m starting to,” she says nervously, looking around, probably trying to spot the location of Kakabel.
“Good.” I give her what I hope is reassuring smile. “Do you want to stay and walk around the museum or just go?”
“Let’s just go.” I stop playing abruptly when I see her talking to Kakabel. She looks scared and pissed and he looks like he’s apologizing. I look up at the picture behind them and see Selene’s face. Lexi’s older self.
Kakabel is such a fool to have these paintings so close to where Lexi has access to them. Maybe this will encourage him to tell her the truth.
The man is so foolish to believe no one knows about his children. That the angels don’t know about his millenniums long relationship with the moon goddess. Selene was my matron, in a sense. She was my biggest supporter; the only person who had faith in my, the only person who didn’t shun me. We had no secrets from each other. It was me she told first when she realized she was pregnant with the twins.
Despite what Kakabel feels, I know Selene would support my relationship to Lexi. If for nothing else than to rub it in Kakabel’s face just to start one of their infamous arguments.
I watch as Lexi pulls away from Kakabel and runs in the direction of the exit of the exhibit. I practically throw down the violin and rush to her side. I can tell how shaken up she is. She looks like if she opens her mouth to say one word, she will break down in tears, so I quickly guide her out of the room.
After I sit her own a bench and bring her a glass of wine, the cure for nerves, in my opinion, I ask her, “What happened?”
“I don’t know,” she sputters, still shaking like a timid mouse caught in a corner. I bring the wine up to her lips and don’t pull it down until she drinks a healthy gulp.
“Shh… Shh...,” I coo at her and wipe the tears streaming down her face with my thumbs.
“I’m just really confused right now.” She gasps out. Not the answer I was just expecting. Is this about more than the painting?
“About us?” I ask in confusion.
“No, no, no. Well, partly. Edmund has a painting in there and the resemblance is a little too close for comfort.” Damn Kakabel for this. I want to tell her, but it’s not my right. I need to get him to realize that Lexi is a lot smarter than he gives her credit for.
“You should go back in there. I’m just going to collect myself and then clean up in the bathroom before heading back,” she tries to console me. Yeah, I’ll go back in there alright.
I get up without saying another word to her. My mind is too caught up in wanting to tell Kakabel off.
I leave her in the Egyptian wing and head straight for Kakabel, even though he is surrounded by humans.
“Lexi is questioning things,” I lie.
“This is not the time to talk about this,” Kakabel seethes without losing his polite smile. I really hate him.
“What do you think you meant to accomplish by bringing these pictures so close to her? Do you want her to puzzle the pieces out on her own?”
“I said, not now!” He loses some of his perfect control.
I walk away from him with a huff that doesn’t go unnoticed and continue playing, a little too furiously for the tastes of the guests.
Not too much later as the guests start to leave, I decide it’s time to pack up. Lexi still looks sick and I want to get her out of here as quickly as possible.
I start to place the violin in its case and see Lexi coming towards me. “Are you feeling better?”
“I’m starting to,” she says nervously, looking around, probably trying to spot the location of Kakabel.
“Good.” I give her what I hope is reassuring smile. “Do you want to stay and walk around the museum or just go?”
“Let’s just go.”
Kakabel’s house; after NYC
“Edmund? Can I talk to you, alone, for a minute?” Lexi suddenly asks Kakabel. It’s such a drastic change of emotions, I almost get whiplash.
“Sure, come this way,” Kakabel answers and leads her down the hall to his ‘library’ as he likes to call it.
I don’t linger in the hall; instead, I walk into the kitchen with asshat trailing after me.
“So, Astaroth, how’s your love life treating you this time?” Phanuel gloats with an evil smirk he reserves just for me.
“Vaffanculo,” I tell him in not so nice Italian as I head to the fridge and grab a bottle of water before sitting down at the kitchen table and avoid looking at him.
“You used to be such fun, Astaroth. What happened?”
I ignore him.
“You’ll mess this one up to. You know that, right? You just can’t seem to help yourself… messing everything up.”
I’m about to slam his head into the table. Repeatedly.
“Dignity?” We hear Lexi’s voice escalate.
“Time’s up,” Phanuel taunts again.
“He’s a disgraced angel, his wings have been removed. No self-respecting angel will respect you as long as you’re with him. Patryck hasn’t been disgraced. He is well-respected among the angels. He is a more suitable match and you guys have common interests.”
“Awe… Did you hear that? Once again, you are the naughty angel and I’m the good one,” Phanuel whispers dramatically.
I clench my hands until my knuckles turn white.
“You’ve been disgraced. Do you plan on my mother to take you back when she is free? Wouldn’t that be stooping low?” We hear Lexi’s voice continue.
“Your mother and I have had thousands of years to build our love. She will not care about such matters. If your argument is based off that then you are just an ignorant child,” Kakabel growls.
Lexi has a point.
“I don’t care if I am ignorant. I am not going to tolerate you interfering with my love life. I choose Cole. I don’t care what he is or what has been done to him. He is the one I love and I want you to accept that.”
I watch Phanuel’s face. It’s kind of comical the way it drops when Lexi sticks up for me, and then lightens when Kakabel talks. Up, down, up, down. Damn, I really hate that guy.
Kakabel says something we can’t hear and then Lexi’s voice, still at a yell, says, “I’m not going to stop loving Cole because you want me to. I came in here to tell you that you need to accept and get onboard with it…”
And here comes Kakabel yelling again… “You will not tell me what I have to do! I am your father, Alexis. I’ve tolerated you speaking to me with disobedience in the past, but I will not stand for it much longer.”
“You’ve never been my father.”
“Ouch, I bet he doesn’t appreciate that much,” Phanuel comments with a grin.
I look over Phanuel’s head to see Alex standing at the living room doorway across the hall. He’s silently watching us. Wonder if he thinks Phanuel’s as much as an ass as I do?
There is more mumbling from down the hall and then we hear the door open. Alex quickly steps back into the living room and out of view. Kakabel comes into the kitchen with Lexi trailing behind him. I meet Lexi’s eyes for only a second.
I can’t look at her right now. I’m utterly humiliated.
“Ollie told me something that is bothering me a little,” Lexi says. That piques my attention a little.
“I’m sure he would tell you anything to make you angry. He is a deceitful creature. What was it about?” Kakabel remarks.
“Well, he didn’t know what I was or who I was, but he knew you had interest. He said he had been following you all around Virginia. That they finally settled in the area when you did. They knew you guys were up to something. They thought you were gathering an army or something. I think he might have thought that I knew what it was.”
“So, what bothered you about that?” We all look at Lexi in confusion. What is she getting at?
“I want to know how long you guys were in the area. What were you doing? Were you amassing an army? And… how long were you watching me and Alex?”
Oh, shit! And this is where my new life comes crashing down. I can almost hear it fall, like a meteorite crashing to earth.
Edmund takes a deep breath. “Take a seat, Alexis.” Kakabel holds out the seat next to Phanuel, but she sits next to me instead.
“We are not amassing an army. It would be impossible. Most of the angels that side with us are afraid of the consequences that will happen if they get too close. Though many of them know the truth, they are not willing to risk their wings.” Edmund looks at Patryck. “Cole doesn’t have that to fear anymore. Patryck is determined to fight, but I won’t let him risk that. We just can’t get enough on our side. It’s too great a risk. I don’t want any of them to risk the humiliation and loss.”
He takes a sip of his water and continues, “I had to hide you and Alex. I couldn’t keep you with me, so I left you in a hospital in northern Virginia. I thought I would be able to track where they took you, but I couldn’t. So, I had Cole try to persuade people into giving us the information, but it was a feeble attempt. There were a few twins in the system around the same age. We tracked them all down and watched them grow until we knew which ones were you two.”
Alex finds his way back into the room. “How did you not know? Why did you have to wait and watch us grow?” he asks Edmund.
Kakabel looks embarrassed. I’d be embarrassed, too. “I only had you for a day before I made the decision to hide you. I couldn’t keep you with me. I was afraid of the attachment; the longer I kept you, the harder it would have been to give you up. It was still harder than I imagined. I promised your mother to protect you and that was the best way I could. I don’t think she was thinking when she put you in my arms.” He rubs his eyes with his fist. “I couldn’t recognize my own children. I didn’t even know if you guys stayed in the same state. I wanted to stay and watch before I moved on somewhere else.”
“So, how long were you watching us?” Lexi asks.
“We became certain of you when you were four,” I admit to her, hearing that meteorite finally crash down in a ground-trembling impact.
“Yes,” Edmund admits, “but we had to keep moving so that the other side wouldn’t discover you. I knew we were always being tracked. Either Cole or I would come back to the area to check on you, waiting until you were old enough...”
“Old enough to claim back!” Lexi seethes.
She jumps up from the table and runs out of the room. The ground stops trembling. It’s no longer there. There is nothing left.
Betrayal is unforgivable. A lesson I learned the hard way.
Kakabel returns to his office.
Phanuel buoyantly leans over to tell me. “My turn, brother!”
I really hate that asshat.
“Edmund? Can I talk to you, alone, for a minute?” Lexi suddenly asks Kakabel. It’s such a drastic change of emotions, I almost get whiplash.
“Sure, come this way,” Kakabel answers and leads her down the hall to his ‘library’ as he likes to call it.
I don’t linger in the hall; instead, I walk into the kitchen with asshat trailing after me.
“So, Astaroth, how’s your love life treating you this time?” Phanuel gloats with an evil smirk he reserves just for me.
“Vaffanculo,” I tell him in not so nice Italian as I head to the fridge and grab a bottle of water before sitting down at the kitchen table and avoid looking at him.
“You used to be such fun, Astaroth. What happened?”
I ignore him.
“You’ll mess this one up to. You know that, right? You just can’t seem to help yourself… messing everything up.”
I’m about to slam his head into the table. Repeatedly.
“Dignity?” We hear Lexi’s voice escalate.
“Time’s up,” Phanuel taunts again.
“He’s a disgraced angel, his wings have been removed. No self-respecting angel will respect you as long as you’re with him. Patryck hasn’t been disgraced. He is well-respected among the angels. He is a more suitable match and you guys have common interests.”
“Awe… Did you hear that? Once again, you are the naughty angel and I’m the good one,” Phanuel whispers dramatically.
I clench my hands until my knuckles turn white.
“You’ve been disgraced. Do you plan on my mother to take you back when she is free? Wouldn’t that be stooping low?” We hear Lexi’s voice continue.
“Your mother and I have had thousands of years to build our love. She will not care about such matters. If your argument is based off that then you are just an ignorant child,” Kakabel growls.
Lexi has a point.
“I don’t care if I am ignorant. I am not going to tolerate you interfering with my love life. I choose Cole. I don’t care what he is or what has been done to him. He is the one I love and I want you to accept that.”
I watch Phanuel’s face. It’s kind of comical the way it drops when Lexi sticks up for me, and then lightens when Kakabel talks. Up, down, up, down. Damn, I really hate that guy.
Kakabel says something we can’t hear and then Lexi’s voice, still at a yell, says, “I’m not going to stop loving Cole because you want me to. I came in here to tell you that you need to accept and get onboard with it…”
And here comes Kakabel yelling again… “You will not tell me what I have to do! I am your father, Alexis. I’ve tolerated you speaking to me with disobedience in the past, but I will not stand for it much longer.”
“You’ve never been my father.”
“Ouch, I bet he doesn’t appreciate that much,” Phanuel comments with a grin.
I look over Phanuel’s head to see Alex standing at the living room doorway across the hall. He’s silently watching us. Wonder if he thinks Phanuel’s as much as an ass as I do?
There is more mumbling from down the hall and then we hear the door open. Alex quickly steps back into the living room and out of view. Kakabel comes into the kitchen with Lexi trailing behind him. I meet Lexi’s eyes for only a second.
I can’t look at her right now. I’m utterly humiliated.
“Ollie told me something that is bothering me a little,” Lexi says. That piques my attention a little.
“I’m sure he would tell you anything to make you angry. He is a deceitful creature. What was it about?” Kakabel remarks.
“Well, he didn’t know what I was or who I was, but he knew you had interest. He said he had been following you all around Virginia. That they finally settled in the area when you did. They knew you guys were up to something. They thought you were gathering an army or something. I think he might have thought that I knew what it was.”
“So, what bothered you about that?” We all look at Lexi in confusion. What is she getting at?
“I want to know how long you guys were in the area. What were you doing? Were you amassing an army? And… how long were you watching me and Alex?”
Oh, shit! And this is where my new life comes crashing down. I can almost hear it fall, like a meteorite crashing to earth.
Edmund takes a deep breath. “Take a seat, Alexis.” Kakabel holds out the seat next to Phanuel, but she sits next to me instead.
“We are not amassing an army. It would be impossible. Most of the angels that side with us are afraid of the consequences that will happen if they get too close. Though many of them know the truth, they are not willing to risk their wings.” Edmund looks at Patryck. “Cole doesn’t have that to fear anymore. Patryck is determined to fight, but I won’t let him risk that. We just can’t get enough on our side. It’s too great a risk. I don’t want any of them to risk the humiliation and loss.”
He takes a sip of his water and continues, “I had to hide you and Alex. I couldn’t keep you with me, so I left you in a hospital in northern Virginia. I thought I would be able to track where they took you, but I couldn’t. So, I had Cole try to persuade people into giving us the information, but it was a feeble attempt. There were a few twins in the system around the same age. We tracked them all down and watched them grow until we knew which ones were you two.”
Alex finds his way back into the room. “How did you not know? Why did you have to wait and watch us grow?” he asks Edmund.
Kakabel looks embarrassed. I’d be embarrassed, too. “I only had you for a day before I made the decision to hide you. I couldn’t keep you with me. I was afraid of the attachment; the longer I kept you, the harder it would have been to give you up. It was still harder than I imagined. I promised your mother to protect you and that was the best way I could. I don’t think she was thinking when she put you in my arms.” He rubs his eyes with his fist. “I couldn’t recognize my own children. I didn’t even know if you guys stayed in the same state. I wanted to stay and watch before I moved on somewhere else.”
“So, how long were you watching us?” Lexi asks.
“We became certain of you when you were four,” I admit to her, hearing that meteorite finally crash down in a ground-trembling impact.
“Yes,” Edmund admits, “but we had to keep moving so that the other side wouldn’t discover you. I knew we were always being tracked. Either Cole or I would come back to the area to check on you, waiting until you were old enough...”
“Old enough to claim back!” Lexi seethes.
She jumps up from the table and runs out of the room. The ground stops trembling. It’s no longer there. There is nothing left.
Betrayal is unforgivable. A lesson I learned the hard way.
Kakabel returns to his office.
Phanuel buoyantly leans over to tell me. “My turn, brother!”
I really hate that asshat.
Awakened Gods ~ Deleted Scene ~ Alex's POV
Deleted Chapters
Alex POV
(Originally, I was going to use Alex's POV instead of Patryck's; however, I quickly realized that wouldn't work because I needed a character that was more in the action than Alex would be, since he was in college for most of the beginning of the book.)
“I have to go say hi to Kaitlyn,” I plead with Io who is lying in my bed only dressed in sheets.
“No, you don’t. You owe her nothing.” Io pouts at me. She’s trying to act playful but I see the anger underneath.
I pull on a shirt and sit back on the bed, angling myself so I can look at her as I try to explain. “I owe her friendship. The same thing she gave me for years.”
“Friends don’t leave friends,” she cuts me off and looks down like she is ashamed of saying that.
“I understand why she left. And I can’t say I blame her. I was already starting to shut her out and push her away.” I grab Io’s chin and lift her head till her eyes are looking into mine. “I just need closure, okay?”
She nods her head but doesn’t say anything else while I get my shoes on and head out the door. “I’ll be back soon,” I tell her as I close my bedroom door. I hope she gets dressed before coming downstairs. My parents would have a heart attack if they saw Io walking around in her preferred state of undress.
I still can’t believe out of all the men, gods and angels in the world that she is in my bedroom. Since coming with us after leaving Turkey, she had been acting nervous around me, not her flirty, clinging self. Once I was settled in Boston she showed up and admitted to her strong feelings for me. That though she seduced many other’s before she had never felt the pull of attraction she has for me. Of course, I didn’t believe her; thinking it was another of her seduction tricks. However, three months later and she is still here, wanting to be by my side. So what can I do, but take it one day at a time?
Seeing Kaitlyn though, is going to kill me. We grew up together, her and Lexi have been best friends, we know all each other’s secrets, she’s in my heart, and she’s in my mind. How do I break away from that? How do I forget and move on? I’m sure psychologist Dad would say not to have any contact with her; that the best way to get over someone is to move on. However, this Kaitlyn. She’s been more than a girlfriend, she’s been a best friend and I owe her a continued friendship. Lots of couples break up and are still friends. Why should we be any different? Why should we feel we have to turn and walk away whenever we see one another on campus or sit on opposite sides of the lecture hall during a seminar?
I drive over to Kaitlyn’s house due to the flooding. I would have preferred to walk the short distance to her house so I can think through what I want to say. I have no idea what I am going to say. Start with ‘hi’ and see where it goes from there? Ask her why she left? Tell her we can work through this, even though that’s not fair to her? I don’t know what I am going to say.
I pull into her driveway and notice her car is there. That’s good. Neither one of us took our cars with us to school since we would be living on campus. Her car might be there because it got flooded out. Her parent’s car isn’t here so maybe they all went somewhere together or she took their car.
I wish I could get my logical brain to shut down once in a while.
I walk up to her front door and ring the doorbell. In just a couple of seconds I hear movement inside and then Kaitlyn is standing inside the open doorway.
“Hi,” I say.
“Alex, what are you doing here?” Not the response I was expecting.
I look down at my flip flops and jeans that I rolled up to prepare myself for walking through the flooded waters. “I-I… haven’t talked to you in the longest time and thought…” I take a deep breath and look back at her face. “I just needed to see you and talk to you.” There. I spit it out.
“Okay. You can come inside. My parents are out shopping for all the Black Friday deals, so…” She gestures for me to come inside and I do. I wait while she shuts the door and leads me into their family room. I wait till she sits on the couch before taking a seat on her Dad’s Lay-Z-Boy. She starts to play with her hands, which is a nervous habit and I think she’s hurt that I didn’t sit with her.
“So, I hear you started dating someone?” I ask her.
“And I hear you and Io are an item,” she shoots back. I look away and feel ashamed of the accusation in her voice.
“Yeah, I guess. I don’t know.” We’re both quiet for several moments.
“Why are you here, Alex? What do you want? What are you expecting from me? We both know that it’s not going to work out between us. You have immortality, I don’t.”
“I know,” I cut her off. “But you’re my best friend and you’re Lexi’s best friend and we both miss you. I know I can’t have you in my life forever, but I still want you in my life for as long as I can get.”
I watch her as she takes in a staggered breath. “I can’t give you that.” She stands up abruptly and wraps her arms around herself. I stand up too and we stare each other down. “You guys live in an entirely different world that I am not a part of and will never be a part of. I don’t want to be a part of it. I want to live my life as normal as it can get. I don’t want to be tainted by your world. Can’t you understand that?”
I can understand that, but I don’t have to accept it. I feel my body sink in dejection. This is not how I expected this conversation to go. I don’t know what I expected but it wasn’t this.
“Are you just going to forsake your friends? Cut all ties with us and act like we don’t exist? What do you want, Kaitlyn?”
“I just want my memories of the good times. I’m sorry, I know that sounds cold. I just can’t deal with your world. I thought I could. I thought it was so magical and special. I felt so lucky to be a part of it. But, there are too many games to be played, too many ways to get hurt. I don’t want that. I’m sorry.”
Feeling as betrayed and dismal as they come, I quickly turn away from her and walk to the door. When I swing the door open to leave I almost run into a man about to knock.
He looks a lot like me with blond hair and blue eyes. He’s a little taller than me and he has a tan like he just spent the week in the tropics. He’s dressed in a pair of jeans and a tee-shirt with a dress jacket pulled over it. I would say his age to be about twenty-three, give or take a year.
He gives me a broad smile. “Hello, I’m look for Kaitlyn.” Before I can respond, Kaitlyn runs towards the door and I move out of the way as she jumps into this man’s arms.
“Zack!” she squeals before kissing him passionately. My heart drops down to my stomach.
Zack pulls Kaitlyn gently away and sets her back on her feet. “I leave you alone for a couple days and already you’re with someone else,” he tells her in a teasing tone. At least she has the good sense to look embarrassed, whether it’s at me seeing this display of affection or being caught with an ex-flame. Either choice doesn’t bother me.
“Oh, umm… Zack, this is Alex. He’s my ex-boyfriend and my ex-best friend’s brother.” I stare her down with as much abhorrence I can at the words she just spoke. I swear I thought I knew her. I never knew Kaitlyn to be so cold. Calling Lexi her ex-best friend? Lexi is going to bring the claws out on that.
I push passed them both and quickly get in my car and drive away. I need to find Lexi and tell her what Kaitlyn said. Maybe she can talk some sense into Kaitlyn. She’s acting like she’s possessed or something. How could she say such things? Kaitlyn has always been the sweetest, most understanding person.
I drive down the two blocks back to home and pull into the driveway. I should check on Io and get her, but instead I head across the street to Cole’s house. I don’t even think to knock before I’m barging in the front door. Cole never locks his doors.
Before I can call out to Lexi both her and Cole sit up from the couch looking disheveled. Lexi has a blanket wrapped around her and I realize I probably just walked in on something I should not know about.
“Alex! What the hell are you doing coming in here like that?” Lexi snaps at me. I divert my eyes so I don’t accidently see my sister in the nude.
“Sorry, I wasn’t thinking.” I can feel my face burn red in humiliation. Then, Lexi and Cole start laughing.
“What’s so funny?” I ask them with my face still turned away.
“Alex, we’re not indecent. You woke us up,” Lexi manages to say. She sensed my embarrassment of walking in on them. Why would they sleep on the couch? Oh, well, not my business.
“I went and saw Kaitlyn and wanted to talk to you about it,” I tell her as I turn back to them and see that they do in fact have their clothes on and the disheveled look was probably from sleep.
I watch Cole get up and head towards the kitchen. He’s wearing a pair of flannel pajama pants and a grey shirt. He’s wings seem to float behind him like a separate entity. Man, I’m glad I don’t have fairy wings. I turn back around and notice Lexi’s adoring look as she watches Cole. I can see now that she’s wearing a thermal shirt. I walk over and sit down on a chair across from her and wait while she continues to watch Cole.
“I have some frozen orange juice I can make. Do you guys want that or water? I’m pretty much out of anything else,” Cole calls out from the kitchen.
“I’ll take some,” Lexi tells him at the same time I say, “No, thank you.”
Finally Lexi turns to me. “How is Kaitlyn? I want to visit her sometime this weekend. Is she going to be home all day?”
I shake my head at her. “She’s not the same person. She doesn’t want anything to do with either one of us. She says she can’t get involved in our world and wants to live in her own without interference. And then her boyfriend showed up. Zack? Do you know anything about him?”
Lexi shakes her head and I notice her face is red in anger. “No, she hasn’t been talking to me. I thought it was because she was busy with classes and school stuff. I try calling her all the time. Sometimes she answers with an excuse to not be able to talk and sometimes she doesn’t answer. This isn’t like her, Alex.”
“I know.”
Cole comes in then and hands a glass of orange juice to Lexi before sitting down next to her. “What’s going on with Kaitlyn?”
“Basically, she doesn’t want anything to do with us,” Lexi tells him.
Cole’s brows furrow in concern. “That doesn’t sound like her. She loves you guys. Anyone could see that when we were in Italy. You’ve known each other all your lives. You’re going to go over there and talk some sense into her, right?” He looks to Lexi as he asks and her face softens at him.
“How well you know me?” She leans over and kisses him.
“I hope you will,” I tell her, interrupting their lip locking session. “Something seemed off about her.”
Lexi pulls back from Cole and fixes me with a determined look. I know that look. It means she isn’t going to give up until she wins. And Lexi is the super girl who can do anything. “I’ll go talk to her right now. You said her boyfriend is there?” I nod my head. “He won’t be for long.”
*
Lexi slams the door shut as she comes back into Cole’s house. She’s been gone for over an hour at Kaitlyn’s house. Me, Cole and Io have been channel surfing, waiting for Lexi to come back.
“He’s not human,” she says as she plops down next to Cole on the couch. He immediately takes her hand and plays with the ring he gave her.
“How do you know?” Cole asks her before I get the chance.
“Because he told me while he had me pinned up to a wall.”
“What!” Cole exclaims and jumps off the couch, dragging Lexi with him. They are now standing face to face and Cole has moved so that I can’t see her. I can tell he is holding her face in between both of his hands and Lexi is shaking but I can’t tell if it’s with anger or if she’s crying.
“It’s Zeus,” she spits out and now I know she was shaking in anger and not crying. “He’s got her under some spell. He was threatening me and… she didn’t even acknowledge our conversation. It was like we weren’t there. He’s going to use her against me, Cole.” Her voice sounds distraught by the end.
“Does this mean you told Cole what’s going on?” I ask her warily. I don’t know why she’s keeping Zeus’ threat from Cole. He needs to understand what happened when Lexi eventually disappears and Cole won’t ever be able to find her.
“No, she hasn’t told me yet. However, we already have a plan to divert whatever his intentions are,” Cole speaks up for Lexi, not taking his eyes off her. I hear him mumble to Lexi, “We’ll fix this, all of it. Do you trust me?” She nods and then sinks into him.
“What does Zeus intend to do with Kaitlyn?” Io speaks up.
Without pulling her head off Cole’s chest Lexi answers her, “Basically keep her as a play toy, keep her thinking she hates us, and if needs be, he is threatening to lock her away in the Underworld.”
Alex POV
(Originally, I was going to use Alex's POV instead of Patryck's; however, I quickly realized that wouldn't work because I needed a character that was more in the action than Alex would be, since he was in college for most of the beginning of the book.)
“I have to go say hi to Kaitlyn,” I plead with Io who is lying in my bed only dressed in sheets.
“No, you don’t. You owe her nothing.” Io pouts at me. She’s trying to act playful but I see the anger underneath.
I pull on a shirt and sit back on the bed, angling myself so I can look at her as I try to explain. “I owe her friendship. The same thing she gave me for years.”
“Friends don’t leave friends,” she cuts me off and looks down like she is ashamed of saying that.
“I understand why she left. And I can’t say I blame her. I was already starting to shut her out and push her away.” I grab Io’s chin and lift her head till her eyes are looking into mine. “I just need closure, okay?”
She nods her head but doesn’t say anything else while I get my shoes on and head out the door. “I’ll be back soon,” I tell her as I close my bedroom door. I hope she gets dressed before coming downstairs. My parents would have a heart attack if they saw Io walking around in her preferred state of undress.
I still can’t believe out of all the men, gods and angels in the world that she is in my bedroom. Since coming with us after leaving Turkey, she had been acting nervous around me, not her flirty, clinging self. Once I was settled in Boston she showed up and admitted to her strong feelings for me. That though she seduced many other’s before she had never felt the pull of attraction she has for me. Of course, I didn’t believe her; thinking it was another of her seduction tricks. However, three months later and she is still here, wanting to be by my side. So what can I do, but take it one day at a time?
Seeing Kaitlyn though, is going to kill me. We grew up together, her and Lexi have been best friends, we know all each other’s secrets, she’s in my heart, and she’s in my mind. How do I break away from that? How do I forget and move on? I’m sure psychologist Dad would say not to have any contact with her; that the best way to get over someone is to move on. However, this Kaitlyn. She’s been more than a girlfriend, she’s been a best friend and I owe her a continued friendship. Lots of couples break up and are still friends. Why should we be any different? Why should we feel we have to turn and walk away whenever we see one another on campus or sit on opposite sides of the lecture hall during a seminar?
I drive over to Kaitlyn’s house due to the flooding. I would have preferred to walk the short distance to her house so I can think through what I want to say. I have no idea what I am going to say. Start with ‘hi’ and see where it goes from there? Ask her why she left? Tell her we can work through this, even though that’s not fair to her? I don’t know what I am going to say.
I pull into her driveway and notice her car is there. That’s good. Neither one of us took our cars with us to school since we would be living on campus. Her car might be there because it got flooded out. Her parent’s car isn’t here so maybe they all went somewhere together or she took their car.
I wish I could get my logical brain to shut down once in a while.
I walk up to her front door and ring the doorbell. In just a couple of seconds I hear movement inside and then Kaitlyn is standing inside the open doorway.
“Hi,” I say.
“Alex, what are you doing here?” Not the response I was expecting.
I look down at my flip flops and jeans that I rolled up to prepare myself for walking through the flooded waters. “I-I… haven’t talked to you in the longest time and thought…” I take a deep breath and look back at her face. “I just needed to see you and talk to you.” There. I spit it out.
“Okay. You can come inside. My parents are out shopping for all the Black Friday deals, so…” She gestures for me to come inside and I do. I wait while she shuts the door and leads me into their family room. I wait till she sits on the couch before taking a seat on her Dad’s Lay-Z-Boy. She starts to play with her hands, which is a nervous habit and I think she’s hurt that I didn’t sit with her.
“So, I hear you started dating someone?” I ask her.
“And I hear you and Io are an item,” she shoots back. I look away and feel ashamed of the accusation in her voice.
“Yeah, I guess. I don’t know.” We’re both quiet for several moments.
“Why are you here, Alex? What do you want? What are you expecting from me? We both know that it’s not going to work out between us. You have immortality, I don’t.”
“I know,” I cut her off. “But you’re my best friend and you’re Lexi’s best friend and we both miss you. I know I can’t have you in my life forever, but I still want you in my life for as long as I can get.”
I watch her as she takes in a staggered breath. “I can’t give you that.” She stands up abruptly and wraps her arms around herself. I stand up too and we stare each other down. “You guys live in an entirely different world that I am not a part of and will never be a part of. I don’t want to be a part of it. I want to live my life as normal as it can get. I don’t want to be tainted by your world. Can’t you understand that?”
I can understand that, but I don’t have to accept it. I feel my body sink in dejection. This is not how I expected this conversation to go. I don’t know what I expected but it wasn’t this.
“Are you just going to forsake your friends? Cut all ties with us and act like we don’t exist? What do you want, Kaitlyn?”
“I just want my memories of the good times. I’m sorry, I know that sounds cold. I just can’t deal with your world. I thought I could. I thought it was so magical and special. I felt so lucky to be a part of it. But, there are too many games to be played, too many ways to get hurt. I don’t want that. I’m sorry.”
Feeling as betrayed and dismal as they come, I quickly turn away from her and walk to the door. When I swing the door open to leave I almost run into a man about to knock.
He looks a lot like me with blond hair and blue eyes. He’s a little taller than me and he has a tan like he just spent the week in the tropics. He’s dressed in a pair of jeans and a tee-shirt with a dress jacket pulled over it. I would say his age to be about twenty-three, give or take a year.
He gives me a broad smile. “Hello, I’m look for Kaitlyn.” Before I can respond, Kaitlyn runs towards the door and I move out of the way as she jumps into this man’s arms.
“Zack!” she squeals before kissing him passionately. My heart drops down to my stomach.
Zack pulls Kaitlyn gently away and sets her back on her feet. “I leave you alone for a couple days and already you’re with someone else,” he tells her in a teasing tone. At least she has the good sense to look embarrassed, whether it’s at me seeing this display of affection or being caught with an ex-flame. Either choice doesn’t bother me.
“Oh, umm… Zack, this is Alex. He’s my ex-boyfriend and my ex-best friend’s brother.” I stare her down with as much abhorrence I can at the words she just spoke. I swear I thought I knew her. I never knew Kaitlyn to be so cold. Calling Lexi her ex-best friend? Lexi is going to bring the claws out on that.
I push passed them both and quickly get in my car and drive away. I need to find Lexi and tell her what Kaitlyn said. Maybe she can talk some sense into Kaitlyn. She’s acting like she’s possessed or something. How could she say such things? Kaitlyn has always been the sweetest, most understanding person.
I drive down the two blocks back to home and pull into the driveway. I should check on Io and get her, but instead I head across the street to Cole’s house. I don’t even think to knock before I’m barging in the front door. Cole never locks his doors.
Before I can call out to Lexi both her and Cole sit up from the couch looking disheveled. Lexi has a blanket wrapped around her and I realize I probably just walked in on something I should not know about.
“Alex! What the hell are you doing coming in here like that?” Lexi snaps at me. I divert my eyes so I don’t accidently see my sister in the nude.
“Sorry, I wasn’t thinking.” I can feel my face burn red in humiliation. Then, Lexi and Cole start laughing.
“What’s so funny?” I ask them with my face still turned away.
“Alex, we’re not indecent. You woke us up,” Lexi manages to say. She sensed my embarrassment of walking in on them. Why would they sleep on the couch? Oh, well, not my business.
“I went and saw Kaitlyn and wanted to talk to you about it,” I tell her as I turn back to them and see that they do in fact have their clothes on and the disheveled look was probably from sleep.
I watch Cole get up and head towards the kitchen. He’s wearing a pair of flannel pajama pants and a grey shirt. He’s wings seem to float behind him like a separate entity. Man, I’m glad I don’t have fairy wings. I turn back around and notice Lexi’s adoring look as she watches Cole. I can see now that she’s wearing a thermal shirt. I walk over and sit down on a chair across from her and wait while she continues to watch Cole.
“I have some frozen orange juice I can make. Do you guys want that or water? I’m pretty much out of anything else,” Cole calls out from the kitchen.
“I’ll take some,” Lexi tells him at the same time I say, “No, thank you.”
Finally Lexi turns to me. “How is Kaitlyn? I want to visit her sometime this weekend. Is she going to be home all day?”
I shake my head at her. “She’s not the same person. She doesn’t want anything to do with either one of us. She says she can’t get involved in our world and wants to live in her own without interference. And then her boyfriend showed up. Zack? Do you know anything about him?”
Lexi shakes her head and I notice her face is red in anger. “No, she hasn’t been talking to me. I thought it was because she was busy with classes and school stuff. I try calling her all the time. Sometimes she answers with an excuse to not be able to talk and sometimes she doesn’t answer. This isn’t like her, Alex.”
“I know.”
Cole comes in then and hands a glass of orange juice to Lexi before sitting down next to her. “What’s going on with Kaitlyn?”
“Basically, she doesn’t want anything to do with us,” Lexi tells him.
Cole’s brows furrow in concern. “That doesn’t sound like her. She loves you guys. Anyone could see that when we were in Italy. You’ve known each other all your lives. You’re going to go over there and talk some sense into her, right?” He looks to Lexi as he asks and her face softens at him.
“How well you know me?” She leans over and kisses him.
“I hope you will,” I tell her, interrupting their lip locking session. “Something seemed off about her.”
Lexi pulls back from Cole and fixes me with a determined look. I know that look. It means she isn’t going to give up until she wins. And Lexi is the super girl who can do anything. “I’ll go talk to her right now. You said her boyfriend is there?” I nod my head. “He won’t be for long.”
*
Lexi slams the door shut as she comes back into Cole’s house. She’s been gone for over an hour at Kaitlyn’s house. Me, Cole and Io have been channel surfing, waiting for Lexi to come back.
“He’s not human,” she says as she plops down next to Cole on the couch. He immediately takes her hand and plays with the ring he gave her.
“How do you know?” Cole asks her before I get the chance.
“Because he told me while he had me pinned up to a wall.”
“What!” Cole exclaims and jumps off the couch, dragging Lexi with him. They are now standing face to face and Cole has moved so that I can’t see her. I can tell he is holding her face in between both of his hands and Lexi is shaking but I can’t tell if it’s with anger or if she’s crying.
“It’s Zeus,” she spits out and now I know she was shaking in anger and not crying. “He’s got her under some spell. He was threatening me and… she didn’t even acknowledge our conversation. It was like we weren’t there. He’s going to use her against me, Cole.” Her voice sounds distraught by the end.
“Does this mean you told Cole what’s going on?” I ask her warily. I don’t know why she’s keeping Zeus’ threat from Cole. He needs to understand what happened when Lexi eventually disappears and Cole won’t ever be able to find her.
“No, she hasn’t told me yet. However, we already have a plan to divert whatever his intentions are,” Cole speaks up for Lexi, not taking his eyes off her. I hear him mumble to Lexi, “We’ll fix this, all of it. Do you trust me?” She nods and then sinks into him.
“What does Zeus intend to do with Kaitlyn?” Io speaks up.
Without pulling her head off Cole’s chest Lexi answers her, “Basically keep her as a play toy, keep her thinking she hates us, and if needs be, he is threatening to lock her away in the Underworld.”