Autumn Storm (The Witchling #2)(13)

The tension between her shoulders melted, and she found herself looking forward to the evening out, even if she rarely went out. At least, she didn’t think she did. She really didn’t know.

“You probably think I walk around asking out every pretty blond at school, but I really don’t. You seemed …a little lost.”

“I don’t feel lost,” she replied archly. As she suspected, he was taking pity on her. He was too charismatic for her to her to be angry. “It’s kinda weird. I probably should.”

“Why?”

“Never mind. It’s stupid.”

“Trust me, I don’t think anything you can tell me would be weird,” he said.

She smiled and looked out the window but didn’t volunteer anything else. The sun was setting already, casting long shadows across the road. The sky ahead of them grew darker.

“So, tell me about Autumn,” he prodded at her silence.

“I wish I knew.”

He waited. When she said nothing else, he glanced at her. “That’s it?”

“Pretty much.”

“Okay, I can make up a story about your background.”

Autumn returned her gaze to him.

“You’re from California, where you’re a part-time mermaid. The rest of the time, you rescue homeless dogs,” Beck started. “I think you can read minds, too, right?”

She shook her head. She didn’t want to smile but did.

“Well, you can now. Your favorite color is blue, because you’re a water element.”

“I like your version of things better,” she said. “But I’m not a water element. I’m afraid of water, I think. I can’t remember much of anything from before the accident.”

“Wow, that’s terrible.”

“I’m lucky I survived. I have scars all over,” she said, indicating her neck and body.

“Did they catch the guy?”

“I don’t know. I focused more on trying to get better. Today’s the first day I walked without my brace. I’ve been kinda happy about that.”

“That’s quite a story. What was a mermaid doing in the street?”

“Part-time mermaid,” she reminded him. “I don’t know. I can’t remember the accident.”

“I knew there was something different about you.” His smile was back. “Do you know your element yet? Or is it too soon?”

“I think I know,” she said, pensive. “I don’t understand a lot of that stuff yet.”

“Rough few days?”

“No,” she replied. “Familiar. Like you. I keep thinking this is déjà vu.”

“Okay, so the mermaid can’t read minds, but you can see the future. Who wins the game tonight?” he asked.

“Who’s playing?” she returned.

He chuckled.

“What … element are you? Or do you talk to or whatever it is we do with elements?” she asked.

“Earth.”

“The protector element,” she recalled from her reading.

Beck glanced at her again. “Yeah. Allegedly.”

“I can almost see that.”

“Almost.” He rolled his eyes. “Awesome.”

“You’re trying to be nice. I guess.”

“And failing miserably.”

“I’m sorry,” she murmured. “I’m being mean to you, aren’t I?”

“Oh, yeah.” He smiled to show he was joking.

“I’m earth, too. I think,” she said, thinking again.

“Are you? I didn’t sense it.”

“Is it possible to have two elements?”

“Very rare.”

“I think I do. Air and earth.”

“Air and earth,” he repeated. “Almost impossible, Autumn.”

The way he said her name made her look at him. His smile was gone, and he gripped the steering wheel tight enough for his knuckles to be white.

“I could be wrong,” she said, puzzled by the sudden tension in his frame. He wore the same expression he did when staring down the path they were forbidden from entering. It didn’t seem to be his nature to be serious and made her uncomfortable. “I just got here. I’m sure I’m wrong.”

He was silent.

“Could you say something please?” she asked uneasily.

“Sorry,” he said. He released a breath and looked at her. “Flashbacks.”

She was afraid to ask this time. She’d thought him joking earlier, but there was something he was remembering that he didn’t like.

“Do you always do this? Flip moods so fast?”

He laughed. “No. I’m the most stable person I know. Just, uh, dealing with some stuff on the personal side. Family business I inherited when I turned eighteen few weeks ago. I’m not used to it yet but am trying to adapt.”

“Oh,” she said. “’Cuz you’re kinda freaking me out.”

“I’m really sorry, Autumn,” he said with earnestness that left her face warm. “I’d never hurt you.”

It was an odd thing to say. If she didn’t think he’d flip into a weird mood again, she’d ask him why he said it. Instead, she changed the subject.