You Will Be Mine (Forever and Ever #7)(33)

My ankle rested on my opposite knee and I rubbed my finger against my bottom lip, thinking about the beautiful woman beside me. I’d give anything to know what she was thinking. Her face was as stoic as a statue, indecipherable. “What are you thinking about?”

She turned her head slightly, like she was broken from a trance. “My mom used to braid my hair by the fire.”

I returned my gaze to the hearth.

“And that I’ve had a wonderful time with your family.”

“Really?” I asked.

“Yeah. Your dad is funny and your mom is cute.”

“What about my sister? I wouldn’t judge you if you said you hated her.”

She chuckled. “I definitely don’t hate her. She’s pretty awesome.”

“They can’t hear you, you know.”

She laughed again. “I know you love them, Conrad. I can see through your act.”

Could she see through everything else? I pulled my ear buds out of my pocket and handed one to her. “Would you like to listen?”

She smiled then put it in her ear. “Sure.”

I scooted closer to her on the couch and played Bob Dylan.

“I love him,” she whispered.

“Neil Young?” I asked.

“I love him too.”

We settled into companionable silence while we listened to the music and watched the fire crackle and burn.

The times I spent alone with her were my favorite. Words didn’t need to be said and we didn’t need to be doing anything. We could just sit in silence and be comfortable. I never had that kind of relationship with someone. I couldn’t even lay in the same bed with a girl after sex because I was too uncomfortable. I kicked them out without caring about my rudeness.

My relationship with Beatrice was inexplicable. She was just a girl I hung out with. No sex was involved. That was hard for everyone to understand. It was even hard for me to understand. But it didn’t make it untrue.

“What do you want for Christmas this year?” she asked.

There was only one thing I wanted but I could never tell her. “I have everything I need.”

“I didn’t say need. I said want.” She tapped her finger against her thigh to the beat of the song.

I thought about Cayson and Skye, the couple I thought would survive anything. “For my friends Cayson and Skye to get back together.”

She turned to me, a quizzical expression on her face. “Who are they?”

“Really close friends. I thought they were soul mates. They broke up a few months ago and no one knows why. I really hope they can work it out. We’ll be seeing them tomorrow.”

“That’s sweet,” she whispered.

“What do you want?” I asked.

She pondered the question. “For my brother to have a good Christmas.”

“Did you call him?” I asked.

“No,” she whispered. “But I’m sure he knows I’m thinking about him.”

I studied her face, noting the reflection of the fire in her eyes. Her emerald eyes were lit up in green flames. They were hypnotic, impossible to ignore. She turned her gaze on me, her green eyes searing into my blue ones. I didn’t look away, not wanting to.

Moments like this made me question our peculiar relationship. She said she just wanted to be friends, but were we really friends? I didn’t stare into Roland’s eyes and never want to look away. I didn’t listen to music with him and sit in comfortable silence. Beatrice was the only one I did any of these things with.

She looked down and her hand moved to mine. Slowly, she gripped it and interlocked our fingers. Her hands were so small compared to mine, petite. I felt her faint pulse underneath the skin. I continued to look into her eyes, unable to stop. She stared back, unafraid.

Beatrice broke the connection when she turned her gaze to the fire. Her hand was still clutched in mine, giving no indication of letting go. I continued to stare at her, wondering what was going through that pretty head of hers.





Chapter Seven


Skye


Everyone was drinking and having a good time. Christmas was in full swing this year. I pretended I was okay, but I wasn’t. I was dying inside. Cayson would walk through that door any second and I had no idea how to act around him. Would he hate me? Would he refuse to speak to me?

Would he even look at me?

Trinity was by my side, giving me a sad look. “It’ll be okay, Skye.”

“Do I look that terrible?” I whispered.

“Well, you’re the thinnest I’ve ever seen you. And your eyes give you away…”

I knew when everyone came over, they would ask me a million questions. Most of them would hate me for what I did to Cayson—or at least what they think I did.

“No one knows what happened,” Trinity said. “Slade and I agreed not to tell anyone.”

My eyes searched her face. “Really?”

She nodded.

“How did you get Slade to agree to that? I’m surprised he doesn’t hate me.”

“He did—at first. But I reminded him that we’re all friends and family here. We can’t get involved with your relationship. It’s best if we just…let it go.”

“Yeah…let it go.”

“So, no one is going to ask you about it.”