Splitsville.com (5 page)

Six

“Let’s go before we are late.” I look up at Bradley and realize he’s a good five inches taller than me. I scoot Bradley out the front door so he can’t look at the mess I didn’t finish cleaning up. I could have done better than my jeans and white t-shirt, but with no other clean clothes, my options are limited. Bradley seems to like what he sees, and I relax.

I catch my reflection in the side mirror. Not bad, like I’ve always belonged right there. I look back over at Bradley. His hair whips around as the air travels through it. I’ve known him for what, 24 hours? And I’m already falling hard for him.

“This is going to be fun.” He flashes his bright smile while his blue aura shimmers.

Erin is more than eager to meet up with us at the annual Spring Fling our community puts on to welcome spring. Every year Erin and I go dateless, but not this year. She’s been so far up Kent’s butt, the only way for me to see her is to see her is when she’s with Kent. I still haven’t shaken the uneasy feeling his aura gives me.

This year I’ll introduce Bradley as my date and other single girls will flash me those looks I give the couples strolling along the lake, hand in hand. I’ve always envied those couples who ride the ferris wheel and kiss when it stops at the top. I am going to be
that
couple tonight. I’m not even worried about the auras and all the people.

What a difference a year makes. What a difference a day makes. 

Park City is so pretty in the spring. The city has gone through great lengths to beautify down town. They added a new side walk with patches of grass sprinkled all the way down the street. Old time carriage lamp posts are adorned with Spring Fling flags and hanging flower baskets.

I’m not sure if it’s the renewal of spring or the beginning stages of a new relationship that’s lifting my spirits, but I like it.

In no time, the car ride is over. We pull into the parking lot, only to be flagged over into the grass near the lake. The paddleboats are in full swing, with the line all the way around the lake. I smile due to the collective aura around the crowd. If only people can learn patience. I especially love watching the mothers’ auras. They have little tolerance, but quickly turn when someone compliments their child.

Bradley steps out of the car and motions for me to wait. He opens my door.

“A true gentleman.” I take his hand and step over the mud created by a car before us. He has to be a good five inches taller than me.

“I don’t want you to have muddy toes.”

I probably shouldn’t have worn flip flops, but they were the closest to the door and like I said, I didn’t have time to find anything. I guess if I did pick up my messy house, I’d have my shoes in one place and I wouldn’t have this problem.

It amazes me where all of the people come from. I know there aren’t this many people living in Park City. Or if they do, I haven’t seen them. The tilt-a-whirl is in full motion. I am enjoying seeing all the eager faces on all the kids. The smell of cotton candy brings back all the wonderful times Erin, Aunt Matilda and I spent coming here. A tradition.

“Scream if you want to go faster,” the Alpine Rollercoaster operator yells in the microphone, and blood curdling screams are heard throughout the park. “Louder!”

I clamp my lips together to keep from squealing out loud and point. “I’ve always wanted to get a picture in one of those,” I say hoping Bradley will catch on.

Bradley rolls his eyes. “Is that your way of telling me you want to take a picture?” He’s caught me in my trick to trap him.

“Yes.” I do my best school girl impression then dig out the change from the bottom of my purse. “Can we?”

Bradley stops me from getting money out. “No let me.” He puts his hands in his pocket and pulls out some change.

He’s such a gentleman. Not to mention hot, great kisser, and mine. “Are you mine?” I blurt.

He pulls me close and plants a kiss on my ready lips. “Definitely,” he says, and I melt a little inside.

I pull back the curtains exposing a tiny metal stool. So the photo will be of me sitting on Bradley’s lap. Sweet.

Bradley goes in head first and pats his leg. “Just for you, gorgeous.” His hand brushes my hair behind my shoulders.

I close the curtain behind me and take my rightful spot. I keep my weight on my toes. I don’t want to make his legs go to sleep, but he pulls me back and I practically fall in his lap. His arms curl around me, and a fuzzy sensation climbs up my body.

I look in the glass box. His blue aura is lying up against me. I’ve never been fond of blue on me, but his blue looks great and comment on how good we look together.

“Let’s do a silly one first,” Bradley says. He twists his lips and flares his nostrils.

The flash goes off.

“Let’s stare at each other.” Bradley turns his face towards mine and I do exactly what he says. We are nose to nose.

The flash goes off.

“Kiss me.” Bradley whispers before his lips press against mine.

The flash goes off.

He deepens the kiss, keeping it gentle and allowing his tongue to find mine. His hands move along my face. I don’t dare move as they tighten to hold steady so he can have the kiss just how he wants it. I am more than willing to give it.

The flash goes off.

“That will be the best one.” Bradley smiles, pulling away.

“I already know it’s my favorite,” I say and go back for seconds.

“What?” Bradley pulls back with a questionable look on his face. “You have a funny look in your eye.”

I bit my bottom lip. I wonder if Dabi Stone ever got the chance to get her picture taken in a photo booth. I know I should tell him about Splitsville.com and who I really am. Only, I don’t know him all that well and frankly I’m not ready to give up a blue aura.

“Nothing.” I smile and lean in next to his ear. I twirl a little curl of his hair around my finger. “I’m happy. That’s all,” I whisper and go back for seconds,
again
.

***

“See.” I’m so proud to have the one-inch by one-inch piece of paper and hold it up for Erin to see.

“Oh fun!” Erin turns to Kent and begins to beg him with a whining voice, “Let’s make one.” 

Kent scoots his chair away from Erin. “No way.”

Erin’s smile fades, but she doesn’t give up. “Please?”

Her words make me cringe. I hate hearing her beg. Why won’t he do it? Why can’t she find a guy that’ll make her happy like Bradley’s making me happy?

“Eh.” He has no problem letting us know his disgust as he takes a quick look at my pride and joy. “Don’t you think you’re a little old for something so childish?” His eyes stab me in my soul and I wince. I can’t stare too long or his aura will ruin the entire night.

“No.” Bradley takes the picture from my hand. “We love it.” He smiles and leans down giving me a peck on the cheek. Bradley speaks softly into my ear, “Don’t mind him. He’s jealous.”

I inhale, bringing life back into my deflated body. Even though we’ve only known each other a short time, somehow Bradley knows exactly what to say.

He’ll never hurt me like Kent will hurt Erin. Or at least that’s what his aura tells me. And auras are
never
wrong.

“We like to go to The Gallery.” Kent puts his arm around Erin as if he owns her. “Besides, we have some things to talk about.”

La-ti-da, who gives a big crap about going to The Gallery. It’s a swank art gallery in the newly revamped downtown area where you have to dress up, drink wine, pretend you know art, and act like you’re somebody you’re not. Besides, Erin hates The Gallery, or at least that’s what she said when Plan It did the grand opening for them.

Erin gives Kent a questioning look. “Really? What?” Erin looks off into the dark.

I hide my surprised expression as I watch Kent’s normal aura turn a more dull grey. The only time I ever see this is when someone’s trust is about to be broken. I wonder what he’s keeping from her?

Erin shakes her hair out of her face and gently touches his forearm. “Oh, okay.” She looks at me and raises her brows while lifting her shoulders. “I'll talk to you tomorrow.

“Goodnight Kent.” Bradley shakes Kent’s hand then nods at Erin. “Goodnight."

“Night.” Erin takes Kent’s hand and lets him led the way.

I have to do something to stop her. “Are you sure you don’t want a caramel apple over The Gallery’s day-old cheese?” I sympathize with her.

She smiles and shakes her head no-like a good little girl.

I’m disappointed that Erin and I can’t spend more of the evening together. I can tell by the slump in her walk that she’s going to miss our Spring Fling tradition- eating cotton candy, popcorn, elephant ears and riding the tilt-a-whirl until we’re sick to our stomachs.

“Off to the ferris wheel and then the space rocket.” Bradley takes my hand and leads the way.

I look over my shoulder to a purse-lipped Erin who loves to ride the ferris wheel. Unfortunately, I'm sure Kent thinks it’s childish. Plus apparently he's about to break her trust.

“Can you believe that jerk?” I shake my head and grumble to Bradley. “She deserves so much better. I know there’s more evil to him than he lets on.”

I look back at them again and read Erin’s body language. She's standing still as a statue while Kent’s lips move a mile a minute. I can’t make out what he’s saying, but her open-mouthed stare tells me she’s not happy about it.

“Come on, Olivia.” Bradley nudges me closer to the ride. “We don’t need to be involved in their relationship.”

All the white bulbs going off in sequence and the music stirs an excitement helping me resist the urge to run back to her. “We do if he’s hurting her.” I glance back in time for Kent to catch my eye. He must’ve told her what was on his mind because his aura is black and I sure don’t want that to touch me.

“Why do you think he’s hurting her? It’s an argument.”

I shrug, zipping my lips. Every time I’ve told someone about my “gift”, they’ve run off. Invasion of privacy. Freak. You name it, I’ve heard it. Bradley is a keeper, so the longer I can wait to tell him, the better.

“He’s not hurting her. She’s a big girl, she’ll figure out what a jerk he is.” Bradley pulls me toward the ferris wheel. We stand with our feet on the mat and wait for our seat to swing by so we can board.

“You’re right.” I slip back into the seat and peer over the lake on the upswing of the ride.

I see the back of Erin’s grey aura walking towards the parking lot, behind Kent’s red aura. Red is usually good. Great even. It means passionate. Kent’s red is mad. This relationship is exhausting and her aura tells me so.

I point in their direction. “Where are they going?”

“Who cares?” Bradley pulls me close and kisses me. I know he’s hoping I will forget about Kent and Erin. “I’m going to learn everything about you, Olivia Davis.”

If only. I frown, wishing I could tell him everything about what I see or who I really am.

***

The carriage lights are burning bright on our way through the deserted downtown streets. When we pass the retirement community, I glance down the side street and make sure Aunt Matilda’s truck is neatly parked in front of her house. This way I know she’s safe and sound at home.

The Mini-Cooper turns onto my dark street. For years I’ve begged the city to put streetlights in my neighborhood, but it’s not high on their priority list. It’s the oldest section of Park City and they’d have to put in all new electric lines in order for it to happen.

I’ve taken great pride in my little cottage house over the past few years and the spring flowers popping up along the white picket fence and along the cobblestone walk add to the cuteness I’ve been trying to achieve.

When I painted my door red, the neighbors chuckled. “She’s young. Kids now-a-days, they don’t know what looks good.”

I rolled my eyes and chalked it up to them being old. Thank God, Aunt Matilda isn’t like them. She loved it and helped me.

Bradley parks the car in my driveway and asks me the question I fear most. “Are you going to invite me in?”

I panic.

Is he a neat freak? Will my messy side be a deal-breaker for him? I’d say we’re on step two of my dating stage list and being a slob is not a good trait to have.

“Uh, sure.” My brain scrambles to think up a complete lie about the state of the house. “I’ve been working so hard for the past couple weeks, I can’t guarantee the house is spotless.” A total understatement.

I slowly turn the key and pray it’s not as bad as I remember it being.

It’s worse.

“Oh, just step over it.” I refer to the empty shoebox in the middle of the floor.

I flick on the light revealing the clothes piles everywhere. They’re on the couch, on the floor. A blouse is haphazardly tossed across the lampshade. A bra hangs on the closet door-knob where I’d hung it to dry. Not to mention the dirty dishes piled on the coffee table plus the kitchen counter top.

“Sorry, I haven’t unloaded the dishwasher yet.” I grab an arm load of clothes off the couch, snatching the bra at the last second, and hurry back to my room.

There is no way any hanky panky will be happening here tonight. My bed is a rumpled mess. The beige goose-down comforter in a heap in the center, pillows and shams scattered on the floor. The rest of my wardrobe thrown all over the room. I dump the pile in my arms on the floor with the rest of them and close the door behind me.

I find Bradley sitting in the free spot I cleared, only he’s up right and not lounging back.

“Sit back.” I gesture and pick up the pile of plates. I take them to the kitchen and add to the pile on the counter. I might not be good at cleaning, but I am good at moving piles around. I peer around the corner of the kitchen door. “Do you want something to drink?” 

He raises his eyebrows. “Do you have any clean dishes?” he asks, and I see the fear in his eyes and curiosity in his aura.

My shoulders slump. “Yes.” I try not to be hurt by his jab. Since it’s true and all. “I've been so busy lately. . .” I trail off. By the look on his face I know I can’t tell him the truth. If he freaks about my messy house, think what he'll do when he finds out I'm sort of psychic. The truth about my “gift” or my problem with trying to keep my house clean—which one will scare him off?