Waiting for Mercy (Cambions) (18 page)

We were a bit clumsy at first. “Thought you could skate Bishop,” I teased him calling him by his last name.

“Why Miss Moore, are you prepared to offer a bet as to who will go down first,” he said, winking at me.

“I think I’d be ready to make that bet,” I said placing my index finger of my free hand to my lips.  My other hand still clasped in his.  “What will you wager?” I asked.

He eyed me thoughtfully, “What is it you would like?” he countered.

I titillated, “Oh, Mr. Bishop, there are many things I want. What about you?”

He eyed me thoroughly. “Miss Moore, I think you know exactly what I want,” he said.

But before we could settle on a wager, we went down together.  We hadn’t been paying attention to what we were doing and we both ended up flat on our backs.  We laughed and laughed.  It didn’t matter how long we lay there, because we weren’t bothering anyone else.  He ended up kissing me on the ice and our heat kept me warm from the freezing ice at my back. 

Too soon we were skating again finding a rhythm from past times on the ice.  I remembered how to skate backwards at some point and was proud not to have fallen after that one and only time.  Being with him here alone was amazing.  I noticed that the Evergreen trees that lined the rink were strung with lights.  I imagined that if he’d brought me here at night like he planned, the place would have been enchanting.  But that thought didn’t take away from what we had at this moment.  There was no place I would have rather been than here with him and no one else.

When we finally left after our allotted time, there was a line outside of patrons waiting for the rink to open to the public.  I felt absolutely extraordinary in having that time private with him.  Still, he wasn’t done.  We walked, instead of to his car to the mall which is the area around all the national museums downtown.  I’m not sure why it’s called the mall because there are no shops.  But that however was the name.  We walked from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial.   Because it was still winter the place wasn’t packed.  There weren’t many visitors.  We sat on the steps in front of the massive statue of Lincoln.

“You know,” he said, looking into my eyes. “Lincoln was right.”

Moving, I tucked my coat around me because the air was growing chillier.  I hadn’t paid much attention to the weather channel but I thought it was suppose to get warmer as the day progressed.  But I was certain when I spoke and mist escaped my mouth, it was getting colder. “What?” I asked.

“We’re all free,” he said, pointing back at Lincoln’s statue. “I know that isn’t what he said and maybe I should quote Martin Luther King, but we’re all free to make our own choices no matter what we are born into.”

His words had me thinking.  I sat looking out in the wave pool in front of us.  There were struggles people made all over the world for freedom, even now, some still weren’t.  I’d felt like a slave to my succubus demon.  I’d spent too long not living except in fear of it.  I’d let Luke leave me because I was sure I’d damn him.  But ultimately that had to be his choice.  Was he referring to what I was and that I was free not to be evil like the demon that resided in me?

“You’re shivering,” he said leaning over and cuddling me. “We should go.”  We walked back to the car with a picturesque scene unfolding while light snow floating down, melting once in contact with the ground.

It was only early afternoon when we arrived back at the house.  He only walked me to my door. “You’re not coming in?” I asked not ready for him to go.

“I have a few things I need to do,” he said, looking like he didn’t want to leave me either.

Sadly, I said, “I had an amazing time.”  I had a need to let him know just how special this day had been for me.  Feeling for the chain around my neck, his eyes followed.

“Will you always wear it?” he asked, referring to the necklace he’d given me for my birthday that had an inscription on the back that read ‘My heart belongs to you’.

I nodded. “I’ve never taken it off,” I said honestly.

He bent down and kissed me fiercely.  I had to lean on the door to recover when he backed off.  “I’ll see you later,” he said.

Nodding again, I felt strangely like a bobble head.  But I think that was more to the fact he’d kissed me senseless and I was lightheaded from it.

I stared after the boy that stole my heart for the second time.  Although I had a connection to Paul and I couldn’t deny it, Luke was the one.  I also felt a connection to Flynn and Sebastian and I should hate myself for it.  The long and short of it was, my connection to Luke was electric and not anything like what I felt for the others.  It was also true that I loved Luke.  Our love was still new and could change.  It could grow or it could die and that was reality.  Only time would tell, but in my heart, he felt like he could be my forever.  

obsequious
(adj.)
excessively compliant or submissive

My head was in a whirlwind while Maggie and Amber moved about my room.  Clothes, hair products, and makeup covered every available space. The clutter was more disturbing than it should be.  Maybe it was my nerves.  The party had started and we had yet to make an appearance.  Paul, Flynn and Sebastian were all downstairs.  Even though Flynn knew, this would come as a shock to Paul and maybe Sebastian that Luke and I were back together.

“Why do you look sad?  It’s time to celebrate,” Amber said to me with a radiant smile.  I hid any reaction I might have had and plastered a fake smile to my face.  I understood her happiness. I was no longer a threat to a relationship between her and Paul. 

Continuing my fake smile, I said, “I’m just tired.”  But truthfully, I was feeling grouchy and maybe a bit too obsequious.  With Amber around I found myself again in a skirt.  I missed my skinny jeans.  Maggie wore a printed chiffon tiered skirt with banded lace waist paired with a pale blue tank.  Amber wore a white tiered mini skirt black skinny belt and yellow tank.  They’d brought me a rose color rosette bubble mini skirt I wore with a black tank top.  I felt like a walking rose bush.

Twirling in the mirror, Amber appraised the summer outfit she was wearing.  It wasn’t yet spring, but here we were in thin strap tanks and skirts with flip flops on our feet.  Maggie spiral curled my hair and I said nothing. I knew when I was beat.  “You know, I always knew you two would get back together,” Amber continued while surveying her perfection in the mirror.

Amber, gifted and skilled in all things makeup, had done my face.  She had a way about making it look like you wore nothing.  It was natural looking.  That’s why I had given into her skilled hands.  I felt bad I had nothing to contribute.  My skills are culinary.  I would have to make them a meal sometime soon.

Maggie walked out of the bathroom with her fiery red hair tamed by the flat iron to a silky smooth style she rarely wore, but when she did all heads would turn.  She saw my face and years of friendship had her understanding my mood with no words said.  “Amber you look amazing,” Maggie said deflecting the conversation.

“Do you think he’ll notice?” Amber said.

Maggie gave me a look that said I needed to fix this.  I wasn’t sure what I could do to sway Paul’s mind.  I had already tried to push him into her arms before.  Now he’d confessed he never loved her.  What more could I do.  Maybe tell her the truth and bring her heartache.  I don’t think so. “How could he not?” Maggie said to her. 

They were huddled together in front of the dresser mirror admiring themselves.  The boys would definitely notice them when they entered a room.  I silently envied their beauty.  I wondered how a girl as beautiful as Amber could be hung up on one boy, when she could have her pick of them.

Suddenly I found my voice. “Amber,” I said. They both turned to me.  Maggie’s smile dipped a bit in worry at what I was going to say.  She had nothing to worry about.  I would not be revealing any secrets.  My pause had Amber’s grin fading too.  I cleared my throat determined to say what needed to be said. “If Paul doesn’t realize just how wonderful you are, he’s a fool.”

Her face showed the force smile. I pushed on. “You could have your pick of guys. Paul has been a dear friend, but you deserve better.” She looked away and I wondered if the shine in her eyes would produce tears.  I hadn’t wanted to make her cry.  I just wanted her to realize her value.

Maggie, super-uber comforter, hugged Amber with the one arm that had been around her back and gripped her shoulder.  “She’s right Am,” Maggie said.  Whatever else Maggie said was lost on me for a second.  The ugly truth of jealousy flared at Maggie’s use of an endearment for her new BFF.  Somehow, I thought I was losing my best friend.

“Eme,” Maggie said. 

I looked up and saw that she’d been speaking to me.  “Huh,” I muttered.

“Are you ready?” she asked.  Amber’s face had perked back up.  Maggie had a way with words and now I wished I hadn’t blanked.  What had she said to turn my pep talk from Amber’s near tears to near glee in such a short time?

Dolled up and not ready to go, I smiled up at them. “You guys go ahead. I’ll be down in a minute.”  Forcing my smile a little higher, they nodded. 

Walking across the room to the door, Maggie looked back.  “Don’t be long, Eme,” she said.

I nodded and they were gone.  I only had one regret.  I wasn’t able to get Maggie alone without it looking like I was excluding Amber.  So I didn’t know if anything had happened between Maggie and Brent.  However, I assumed that the news would have been too big for Maggie not to have told me.  My assumption had to be that the deed hadn’t been done.

Glumly, I looked at the destruction of my room.  Needing a plan on how to handle tonight, I began to sort through the clothes that had been left.  Creating piles of Amber’s and Maggie’s, I folded clothes taking my time.  Yes, I was avoiding the party.  In no time, I was nearly done.  The mess had only looked worse than it really was.

The clothes neatly lay on my dresser in two piles when a knock came at my door.  “Come in,” I said walking out of my bathroom after tiding up in there as well.  I looked up and into the eyes of my California boyfriend.

His gentle smile and the way he looked at me like I was the whole world stopped my breath.  “Luke,” I exhaled.

Stepping into my room he closed the door as quietly as he’d entered.  “You are the most beautiful girl here tonight,” he said.

I managed a grin as my cheeks reddened.  I looked away for a second not able to take such a compliment.  When I returned my gaze back to him, his face held a slight frown.  Nervousness had me asking, “What’s wrong?”

“I was just wondering how many heads I’m going to knock around tonight,” he said, looking strangely serious.

Blushing again, I surveyed the dress I wore.  I was a little bustier than both of my friends.  The top of the dress did nothing to minimize my assets.  But at the same time, it wasn’t slutty looking either. “Why would you be fighting anyone tonight?” I asked quizzically.

He snorted a laugh.  “Because someone is going to stare too long and I don’t share,” he mused.

It was a compliment of sorts.  But I wasn’t sure what to do or say.  I wasn’t used to the way he looked at me right now.  He had a need on his face I hadn’t seen before.  He didn’t move or try to kiss me.  My face must have revealed my puzzlement because he said, “We should probably get to the party.”

“Do we have to go?” I asked.  I really wasn’t ready to face the music.

He sucked in an audible breath. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to stay here,” he said.

I tilted my head and asked the question with my eyes.  He smiled and his eyes roamed over me in ways he’d never done before.  He’d always been the perfect gentleman. “I lack the control I need to be alone with you right now,” he said, with his voice sounding tight.

Quite pleased that I affected him that way, I walked to him and wrapped my arms around his neck. I tilted my head back to meet his eyes.  On auto pilot, the flirtatious side of me escaped with the ease of a practiced practitioner.  “Maybe I want you to lose control,” I heard myself say.

His eyes were trained on my mouth and he licked his lips. “If I didn’t know any better, I would say you were trying to tempt me,” he said.

Standing on my toes with my eyes closed, I pressed my lips to his.  He kissed me back but it was chaste.  My arms fell from his neck and glided down his arms.  When my hands reached his wrist, I guided his arms around me.  “Is it working?” I teased some more.