A Spell of Time (A Shade of Vampire #10)(25)

It was a strange feeling. We’d grown up together, spent most of our lives together on the same island, yet it felt like we’d only just been acquainted. The conversations we had were those of strangers getting to know each other.

But I didn’t know if it was anything more than that. In the submarine I’d told Ben he didn’t need to be timid around me. And he wasn’t. He was true to his word in treating me like he would any other person. But I wasn’t sure if it was just an obligation he felt, or some kind of morbid curiosity, rather than spending time with me because he genuinely enjoyed my company.

There wasn’t really a way for me to know. But since he kept calling on my door and insisting on accompanying me for several days in a row, I guessed he got something out of hanging with me.

I felt embarrassed about my feelings toward him, especially while we were out together. It was hard to relax. I felt on edge, self-conscious, not sure where I stood with him. Or how I should relate to him. I was afraid to hope. After all, that was how my own brother had gotten his heart broken.

Expectations. Assumptions. I was careful to harbor none.

The most I held was a light optimism that Ben might want to keep joining Shadow and me on walks.

Because whatever it was we had, or were beginning to have, I was glad for his company.

Chapter 20: Aiden

I’d been avoiding Adelle like the plague and she was beginning to notice it. The fact that my daughter and son-in-law had almost died gave me some excuse for my reclusiveness, but even that was beginning to wear thin for the witch. She’d visited my penthouse twice in the past twelve hours. I’d ignored her. But when she knocked a third time, I decided to answer the door.

She stood on my porch, clutching a pile of papers in one arm. Her long fiery hair was tied up in a bun and she wore her signature summer dress, showing just enough of her long smooth legs to make my breath hitch.

“Aiden!” she gasped, reaching an arm around me and drawing me in for a hug.

I hugged her back awkwardly and stepped away as soon as she released me.

“I haven’t seen you around. How are you?”

“Fine.”

I stepped aside to allow her entrance into my apartment. She set her papers down on the dining table and drew up a chair.

“I’ll put some tea on,” I said, turning my back on her and busying myself brewing the chamomile tea I knew she was fond of. It was all I could do to avoid looking at her.

“So you’ve recovered?”

“Just about.”

“I knocked twice already. I guess you were sleeping.”

“Yeah…”

An awkward silence fell between us as we both listened to the electric kettle heat up. I reached into a cupboard and started rubbing a kitchen towel against an already bone-dry cup and saucer.

“I just, um, finished work at school. I stayed late today.”

More silence.

Eventually I could find no more excuses to keep my back to her. Once the water had boiled, I poured it into a teapot and placed it down on the wooden table along with the teacup and saucer.

Then I drew up a seat opposite her. I looked up. She was frowning.

“Are you sure you’re all right, Aiden?”

“Of course. Why do you ask?”

“You just seem a bit… uptight.”

“Ah, well, I’ve been through a lot recently. I guess it’s still taking its toll.”

I drummed my fingers on the table, desperately racking my brain for something to change the subject, help me forget the pain that consumed me at having her sit so close to me, our knees almost touching beneath the table. So close, yet so far…

She sipped her tea.

“Mmm,” she said, smiling. “You know how I like it.”

But not as well as Eli… As much as I mocked myself for it, I couldn’t stop the childish thought from flitting through my head. I was sure now that any innocent statement she made would cause my mind to start comparing myself with Eli.

“How’s, uh, everything at school? Is everything back to normal now?”

“Pretty much…”

“Good.”

More silence followed. I hated how stilted things had become between us. Even though it hurt, I realized that the only way to dissipate the awkwardness was to tackle it outright.

“Yuri tells me that you and Eli are going out. Congratulations.”

Blood rose to her cheeks, giving them a rosy glow.

“Uh, yes, actually.” She frowned. “I just wonder, how did Yuri know? Neither Eli or myself have told anyone yet.”

I cursed myself. In my hurry to make things right, I’d forgotten that I was the one who told Yuri about them.

“I’m not sure,” I said. “Perhaps he or Claudia caught sight of you somewhere.”

I made a mental note to talk to Yuri and Claudia to make sure we kept this story straight.

“Ah, okay…” Adelle’s voice trailed off and she busied herself sipping tea again.

I cleared my throat, picking up a pen and fiddling with it. I felt like snapping it.

“So, uh, how did it happen? He asked you out?” I asked, throwing her a casual glance.

“He did. Soon after we both returned from Caleb’s island.” She paused, smiling fondly. “There’s a side to Eli that you wouldn’t expect. He’s got a great sense of humor once he comes out of his shell.”