Shine: The Knowing Ones (25 page)

He reached the bottom of the stairs and moved toward her dressed for the occasion in dark designer slacks, and a suit coat to match. He lifted the bouquet, his open collar parting with his movement, teasing her with a hint of what lay beneath. A slight smile ignited softness in his eyes. She drew in the breath he had taken from her and smiled, a flush to her cheeks. “Thank you.”

He nodded.

She gave him a once over. “Do
you
ever clean up nice. Where do you shop? London?”

He raised an eyebrow, pursed lips accentuating his masculine jaw. “Occasionally.”

Sam smirked.

He took in her heavily painted face. “I love your makeup.”

“Thanks,” she replied. “I’m going to wear it like this from now on.”

“Awesome.” He searched her face as if sincerely looking for something, then lowered his face and pressed his soft lips to her neck just above her collar bone. She giggled sensing his dilemma. “I can’t...” he gestured toward her face, “you know, you’re all...that’s a lot of makeup.”

Sam laughed.

“How’re you doing?” he asked, his tone more serious.

“I’m good,” she replied. “I really am. I’m excited.”

He smiled with satisfaction. “I’m glad,” he replied. “I’ll be right there the whole time if that changes.”

“I know,” she said. “Have you met my parents yet?”

Trin shook his head. “No. I guess I should go get that done, huh?”

“Probably. They’re excited to meet you.”

“Okay.” He lingered for a moment, tall muscular frame towering over her. “I don’t remember what I’m supposed to say. Is it
bad
luck to say ‘good luck’, or don’t break a leg or something?”

Sam laughed out loud. “Just close your eyes for the final lift so you don’t have nightmares,” she replied.

Trin huffed, glancing at the ceiling. “Yeah,” he responded. “What are your parents going to think? Have you told
them
Ivan is gay?”

Sam balked, but before she could shove him, he pressed her body to his in an iron embrace, his lips hard against her neck with unnecessary enthusiasm. “Trin” she whispered, stifling another laugh. She pushed him off her, while resisting the urge to pull him closer. “My costume is going to be a mess now,” she said, giving him a shove.

“You look beautiful,” he replied.

She flushed, lowering her eyes and smiling. She shot a brief glance over her shoulder. “I have to go.”

“Okay,” he said. He pulled her close, stealing another kiss on the neck.

“Trin!”

“I can’t kiss you anywhere else!”

A moment passed between them, eyes locked.

“Love you,” she said.

“Love you,” he responded. “More than I can say.” His hand drifted to the small of her back, fingers leaving a trail of hot ice on her skin. He rested there a moment, his electric eyes gleaming, contrasting his tanned masculine face. He turned, darting up the steps and back to the theater doors right before they closed.

Trin watched Sam dance with a reverent awe, her movements so graceful, so elegant...unparalleled perfection. The whole audience was moved, but Trin could
see
what they all felt—the multifaceted energy surrounding her form. Every time she pushed off the floor she engaged her element and it responded giving her added strength and balance, propelling her movements with brilliant results.

The showcase came to an end. The curtain closed following an impressive finale, and then drew back as the performers came forward to take their bows. Sam and Ivan came to the front, eliciting a standing ovation and thunderous applause. Trin started a whooping fist pump, getting an elbow in the ribs from Anna, laughing. “It’s not a ball game, Trin.”

He shrugged, grinning, and released a sharp whistle.

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN

T
rin, Anna, and Sam made their way through the parking lot to Trin’s truck. Sam had showered and changed in the dressing room and they were headed to Trin’s to get him some comfortable clothes. Anna had introduced him to Sam’s parents who showered him with praise over his performance and representation in the Olympics. But there was a party to attend—Griffin’s twenty second birthday, and they had promised Vig an appearance despite their overwhelming weekend schedules. Trin’s next meet was in Las Vegas the next day. He was terrifi ed about leaving Sam by herself, but they truly had no choice. He was due at the meet and she was due on stage. Any deviation from that would bring undue attention and very possibly expose Sam completely.

Trin opened the door for both girls, and then slid into the driver’s seat.

“I can’t believe how good you are,” Anna said. “You just shine up there.”

Trin turned to Sam. “She’s right. You’re beautiful.”

“You need to transcend,” Anna said. “Leave this college stuff behind and go join a big New York company...no, wait.” She said. “That would take you from me so never mind.”

Sam laughed. “You could move with me.”

“I’m not moving to New York.”

“Hey,” Trin said. “How about we go to a party?” He turned the key in the ignition. “No one is moving to New York tonight.” He checked his rearview mirror, then turned to back out. “Anna, do you need to stop at the dorm for anything?”

“I have everything I need at Vig’s.”

Trin nodded and pulled out of the parking lot.

A large crowd gathered in front of the dance building, people discussing the showcase, talking with the dancers, and making their way to the parking lot. From the center of the crowd a stranger emerged, watching them drive away—soft black hair fringing a stern face, scintillating jade green eyes locked in on the departing vehicle.

“I beat the penguin at beer pong.”

Chris came staggering out of Vig’s house. Trin had just pulled up to the party and was opening the door to get out when his intoxicated roommate appeared out of nowhere, cheering victory and dragging with him a gigantic stuffed penguin, nearly his size. Trin climbed out of the truck and opened the door to the backseat for Anna, who was already doubled over laughing. “Couldn’t find a date, huh, Chris?” Trin moved to the opposite side of the truck to open Sam’s door.

Anna climbed out. Chris came forward, tripping all over the giant plush toy in a struggle to complete the three steps it took to reach her. Swaying back and forth, he lifted the penguin’s right fin.

“I beat the penguin.”

“Yes,” she said, patting the penguin’s head. “You make a lovely couple. Go have another beer.”

“Heeeey...” A sweet, familiar voice rang out from the porch. Vig jogged up to Anna, wrapping his arms around her. “I’ve missed you, babe,” he said, squeezing her to him. “It’s like eleven o’ clock already.” He turned to Sam. “How long they make you dance for, girl?”

Sam smiled.

He jerked his chin at Trin, grinning from ear to ear. “How’s it goin’, bro?”

“It’s goin’,” Trin smiled. They all looked down at Chris, who was now on the ground using the penguin as a bed.

Trin glanced sideways at Vig. “Wanna give me a hand?”

Vig laughed. “With
him
or the
penguin
?”

Trin shook his head. They reached down, grabbing him under the shoulders and pulled him off the penguin.

“Let’s see if we can’t find you somethin’ better inside, bro,” Vig chuckled. He turned to Trin. “This guy swimming for you guys tomorrow?”

Anna reached down and grabbed the giant bird. “Poor penguin,” she said. “Let’s go see if we can’t find something better for
you
inside. This penguin has been violated,” she declared as they walked toward the house.

Trin and Vig hoisted Chris through the door and into the crowded chaos. The party was in full swing. Random students slapped Chris on the back and in the head as Trin and Vig dragged him through the rooms. Pulsing music resonated through the walls as half the campus swarmed the property, inside and out. Trin and Vig found an empty couch and deposited Chris.

Trin grinned up at Vig. “Thanks man.”

“No problem,” Vig beamed. “You want a drink or something?”

“No, I’m good.”

With another glance at Chris, Vig shook his head and laughed. “Good luck with
that.”

“Yeah, thanks.”

Vig went to find Anna as Trin assessed the environment—loud. Everyone was hammered. He cast a glance at Sam
. You don’t belong here.
He kept the thought to himself as he watched her socializing with some girls she knew. Just then, further down the hall, a familiar energy caught his attention. Erika...standing at her side—Ryan, as he expected. It didn’t surprise him. Just made him sad and even more intent on taking Sam and leaving. With a deep breath he smiled in Sam’s direction, making his way to her side.

Her friends saw him coming.

“Damn,” one said.

“Seriously,” said another. Reaching Sam’s side he lowered his head, and took her hand. “You doin’ okay?”

“I’m fine,” she said, confused at his sudden concern
. “Are you?”

He looked around. “Not really my scene.”

Sam cracked a smile. “I know,” she said, “just an appearance.”

Trin nodded.

Sam introduced her friends. “This is Eva and Amber,” she said. “Guys, this is—”

“Trin Kosolov,” the blonde said. “We know who he is.” She gazed up at him. “You’re amazing,” she swooned, tipsy from two hours at the party.

Trin’s beautiful eyes glinted as he rested a hand on the small of Sam’s back. “Thank you.”

She moved closer...too close. “What was it like winning all those Olympic medals?”

Trin’s brow furrowed. “Are you here with anyone?”

She smiled as her alcohol level disabled her ability to catch the real intent of the question. “Not yet...”

Sam put a hand up. “Okay, Eva, that’s enough.”

Eva disregarded Sam and moved closer still. “Relax, Sam. You don’t own him,” she slurred.

Sam flared. “
Excuse me?”

Amber put a hand on Eva’s arm. “Come on, Eva.”

Sam stepped in front of Trin, facing Eva head on. Trin tried to rein her in, but she shook him off.

“Well, you
don’t
,” Eva quipped, scanning Trin’s streamlined body starting from his stunning face and drifting downward from there. “He’s got too much to offer.”

A gleaming flash torched Sam’s eyes. A Russian curse sounded from behind her as Eva did a double take, shrinking backward, trying to reconcile what she had seen. Sam was aware of nothing in the room but Eva.

Trin went against his nature, taking her firmly by the arms.

With a lurch, the earth beneath the house shifted.

Another Russian curse and Sam was over Trin’s shoulder, being toted down the hallway and out of the house.

“What are you doing, Trin? I’m not finished!”

“You’re finished.”

“Where are we going?” she demanded. “We told Vig we would make a solid appearance!”

“We did,” he replied. “Very solid.” He continued through the doorway, shaking his head. Outside, among the massive crowd of partying students, he descended the front steps with Sam over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Setting her down, he pulled her to the side away from the others, Sam still engaged in heated protest. “Were you just in there with me?” she shrieked. “I’m
not
going to—

Trin took her by the arms, fixing her in a stern gaze.
“You feel that?”
he asked.

“Feel
what?”

“All that anger, vengeance, rage,” he said. “Soak it up and get to know it because
that
is what we fight
against
.”

Sam paused, as Trin’s powerful words flushed out the poison and filled her with truth.

His light eyes held her a moment longer, and he let go, straightening up. “There are two types of anger,” he said. “Justified anger is simply knowing the difference between right and wrong and doing something about it. You see someone who needs help and you help them without judgment, without hate.” He held her gaze, lowering his head. “
Rage,
what you’re feeling now, is destructive. You want to race in there and destroy that girl.
Her words and actions have nothing to do with you, Sam,”
he said. “She isn’t fighting with you, she’s fighting herself. Her words are nothing more than an external display of her own inner conflict. It’s a projection; an outward show of her inner chaos. You can’t retaliate against that.
You
have discernment, Sam, the ability go deeper and read what really propels a person’s behavior.
Use it.”

Sam stared at the grass. Trin rested a hand on her shoulder, pushing her hair from her face. “You might be in the way when someone else’s issues come up, and you might get hit, but it isn’t about you. We are all stumbling through life, experiencing and working our paths. Sometimes we collide. Separate yourself from her inner chaos. It has nothing to do with you.”

Sam took in a deep breath, looking into his beautiful eyes, awed by his wisdom. He took her face in his hands.

“That feeling,” he said, “that ugly, dark venom you felt in there...whenever that comes,
recognize
it for what it is and
do not cater to it.
You know where it comes from now, Sam. You’ve seen him. What we put out there, fuels him. Our actions, words, even our thoughts create living energy for him to use against us...with crippling consequences...and you can’t
ever
take it back.”