August Page 17

  “Where have you been?” she asked. “You look terrible.”

  I made a face at her. “How are you feeling?”

  “I’m fine,” she said. Moving over on the couch to make room for me, she started to look through the groceries.

  “I’m fine,” she said again between bites of Doritos. “I don’t remember anything and I have no idea what all the fuss was about.”

  “Yeah, people making a fuss over you almost drowning. That’s a complete mystery to me,” I told her sarcastically.

  She rolled her eyes at me.

  “You know what I mean. I feel fine now. When I woke up my mother was crying hysterically and she said Nick has a black eye? That’s crazy. What was Nick doing getting in a fight? I texted him but he wouldn’t answer. He just said he’d be right over.”

  “He was defending your honor, or you. I think,” I replied, trying to remember what had led Big Jake to punch him.

  I heard a car roar into the driveway and Carley grinned. “That must be him,” she said. “Will you let him in?”

  When I gave her a panicked look about the apparent fact that she couldn’t get up, she rolled her eyes. “Spare me. I’m fine. Just lazy and expecting to be fawned over for the rest of the day.”

  I grinned and got up to do as she asked.

  I barely had gotten the door open when Nick came barreling into the house. “Carley!” was all he said before he pelted past me and over to the seat I’d just left. “Are you alright?” he asked, taking her hands.

  “Yeah, I have Doritos hands, though,” she said, looking down at the slight red stains on her fingertips.

  Nick laughed. “Like I care.”

  “Your eye looks terrible,” Carley commented, raising her eyebrows at him. “And you’re wondering if I’m okay?”

  Nick bit his lip. “I had to do it. If that idiot hadn’t thrown you into the water.…”

  “Michael is very nice,” said Carley primly, wrapping the blanket around herself more closely.

  “Michael? His friends call him Big Jake, and it’s not a comment on his brain size,” said Nick.

  “We really need to work on your insults,” said Carley.

  “Yeah, thanks,” said Nick.

  Before they could keep fighting about Jake, I heard another car drive up.

  “Who’s that?” asked Carley.

  “Holt,” I said. “I invited him over early to hang out.” And talk, I thought silently. I was glad that he’d gotten there in time to stop Carley and Nick from fighting with each other. They always fought when they were stressed about each other, but neither of them seemed to see that it was just because they cared so much. Oh well.

  I opened the door for Holt. He looked wonderful in a white t-shirt and jeans and he held flowers in his hands.

  He came in and gave Carley a huge smile. “How are you feeling?” he asked, presenting her with a delicate bouquet of white roses.

  Carley flushed and smelled the flowers. “Thank you. They’re wonderful.”

  Nick looked stricken. “I didn’t think to bring you flowers! I brought you chocolate, because I know how much you like to eat.” Then he smacked his forehead. “Sorry, I didn’t mean it that way. You don’t love to eat like it’s a bad thing. It’s just -”

  “You’re only making it worse,” I commented drily from the door. “Give up now.”

  Nick went beet red.

  Holt still held flowers in his hand. “Who are those for?” I wanted to know.

  “Mrs. Hightower,” said Holt. “I couldn’t come to dinner without a gift.”

  Carley smiled. “Thanks so much, Holt,” she said. “I heard you came to the hospital last night. That was so thoughtful of you.”

  Holt hugged her back. “How are you feeling?” he asked. “You look great.”

  Carley gave him a huge smile. “I’m feeling much better,” she said. “Thanks.” She still had a crush on Holt.

  “So Holt,” said Nick, irritation clear in his voice, “where have you been the past mouth or so?”

  Holt grinned at Nick. “Went to visit some friends. Glad to be back, though.” His eyes flicked to me.

  Nick folded his arms over his chest and leaned against the wall. “Yeah, we missed you. Autumn really missed you.”

  I wanted to kick Nick right about now.

  “So,” I said, trying to change the subject, “who wants dinner?”

  Nick ignored me. “So, Holt, where’d you go?”

  I held my breath. I had been wondering the same thing, but hadn’t dared to ask.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Holt’s response was anticlimactic. He simply shrugged as he sat down and said, “I was visiting family in Phoenix for a while.”

  “What family?” asked Carley, still holding her flowers.

  “My older sister,” said Holt.

  I felt a jolt. I hadn’t even known that Holt had an older sister. I hated being reminded that there was still a lot of stuff I didn’t know about him.

  “So,” I said through gritted teeth, coming to sit down opposite him on the couch next to Nick and Carley, “how was Arizona?”

  Holt looked over at me. He knew I was mad. I wasn’t even sure why, other than the fact that he’d left me for a month without bothering to contact me at all or tell me where he was going. I’d pictured him in the middle of some desert, without easy access to water or a phone. Instead he’d been living it up in Phoenix. Granted, it was still the desert, but there were most definitely phones. I glared. I glared like it was the last thing I’d ever do and it felt great.

  “Am I missing something?” asked Carley.

  “Nope,” I said, still glaring.

  “Yeah, okay, well, anyway, let’s talk about me now,” said Carley.

  “Yes, let’s,” said Holt, breaking eye contact with me.

  “Were you there last night?” Carley asked, sitting forward. “Did you see what happened to me?”

  “No,” said Holt. “I only got to the hospital after you were brought there, but I did talk to Samuel.”

  “Oh, yeah,” said Carley. “HE was the one who saved me, right?”

  “Yup,” said Nick before Holt could say anything, “he’s the one who saved you.”

  “Aww, I know you did too,” she said. She gave him mooneyes.

  “Alright,” I said. “I think Holt and I are going to go for a walk.”

  “Don’t rush back,” said Nick, barely looking at me. Carley giggled. Without even looking at Holt I turned on my heel and headed out the door. He followed close behind.

  I was glad to be outside. The day was still fresh and warm, and there was another breeze to ruffle my hair, but not enough that it bothered me.

  “You probably have some questions,” said Holt. He kept step with me as I marched down the driveway.

  “How could you not call?” I almost yelled. “After what happened at the party and then just disappearing for a month. You can’t get away with something like that. I was lonely. I was worried. And Nick and Carley are all over each other all the time so it’s not like I had a lot of company.”

  “I figured you’d see Susan and maybe Logan since you two are the same age,” said Holt.

  “Don’t compare me with your brother,” I said before I could stop myself.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” asked Holt, stepping off the road as a car sped past. I shouldn’t have said that. Holt loved his family more than anything.

  “Nothing,” I muttered. I had no intention of telling Holt that Logan made me a little uncomfortable. They were brothers and I was sure Holt would just tell me I was paranoid.

  “Have you see Susan?” he asked.

  “Yes. I mean, a little. She sort of stayed away from me, which is understandable given that I caused a war and ruined your family’s home, and was so impossible to be around that you left!” I was crying now, but I couldn’t help it. All of the hurt and pain that I’d felt since I discovered Holt gone had come back, washing over me like a bucket of ice.<
br />
  Instantly he put his arm around me. “I’m sorry,” he said into my ear. “Hurting you was my last intention. In fact, it’s exactly what I was trying to avoid.”

  “No,” I blubbered. “You were trying to avoid putting your family in any more danger, which is admirable, and here I am yelling at you about it.”

  “So are you mad at me or not? You need to make up your mind,” said Holt, almost laughing.

  “You shouldn’t have left like that. You should have let me contact you,” I said flatly.

  “I know,” said Holt. “It was a mistake. I was trying to do the right thing at the time and I really didn’t think Mrs. Cheshire would leave as long as I was around. Plus, I know you have some stuff to figure out.”

  “What stuff?” I cried. “I’d figured it out. I wanted you. That’s what caused this whole mess in the first place! If I’d just gone along and accepted Samuel’s Rose like a good little human, none of this would have happened.”

  Holt was quiet. I told myself it was because he knew I was right.

  “But I came back,” he pointed out.

  “Yeah, to see your family,” I said bitterly.

  “No,” said Holt, coming to a stop, “because Susan let me know that you were in danger.”

  “Oh, so she could contact you? That’s awesome,” I said angrily.

  “There are ways to contact me that you can’t use,” said Holt.

  “Oh,” I said. Fairy magic. Unfortunately for Holt, that reminded me of another grievance. “And I wanted to learn more about Fairies from you, because I only know what I’ve read on the internet and who knows if that’s true, but Susan didn’t want to teach me and I couldn’t ask Samuel and YOU LEFT. I wanted to talk to you about becoming one!”

  Holt went very still. “You are interested in Fairies?”

  “Yeah, why would I be interested in it when I just might become one?” I said.. Holt’s arm was still around my shoulder and although I didn’t want to admit it I felt happier at his touch.

  “Look, of course I want to talk to you about that. I just wanted to leave the decision up to you. It’s one thing for you to date a Fairy, but it’s another thing to give up your life for one. Your humanity.”

  “But if I’m destined to be with Samuel that’s what was going to happen anyway,” I pointed out. I wasn’t sure when I had reached the conclusion that becoming a Fairy was what had to happen; maybe it was when it became clear that the Water Sprite was coming after me and I wasn’t strong enough to defend myself. I would be strong enough if I were a Fairy.

  We’d reached the same spot at the lake where we’d found Nick at the beginning of the summer. I trudged over to the dock and sat down on it. Holt sat next to me, dangling his feet in the water.

  “Are you sure that’s safe for you?” I asked, eyeing the water.

  “Yes,” said Holt. “This is a lake and I’m the Summer Prince. The Water Sprite wouldn’t dare.”

  I listened to the confidence in his voice and hoped that it wasn’t misplaced.

  Holt was quiet for so long I was worried I’d said something to upset him. When I finally nudged him he said, “You really want to become a Fairy?”

  I took a deep breath. He wasn’t looking at me, but I was looking at him. “Yes.” I was rewarded when I saw a smile spread across his face.

  “What?” I asked, a little defensive. I had no idea how he would react to this news. I’d had all summer to think about it and to imagine the reaction that I wanted, but I had no idea what he would actually do.

  He looked at me. His eyes were shining. “I can’t imagine anything more wonderful!”

  I told Holt all about why I thought being a Fairy was a good idea. I wanted to be able to protect myself should another Water Sprite attack. I knew being a Fairy was my destiny. It was what I wanted and I didn’t want to wait.

  Holt was quiet, just holding me. When I had finished explaining he said, “You would have to accept a Rose.”

  It was the question I hadn’t asked him. I had sort of been hoping that I could turn into a Fairy without choosing. I still felt like it was the rest of my life, but I just said, “Why?”

  Holt sighed. “Because for anyone to become a Fairy who isn’t one already, the role has to be clear. If you just became part of the Court then you could never be Queen.”

  “Once I agree to be Queen, what does that mean?”

  “It means you rule with the king of the Court. And hopefully love him,” said Holt quietly.

  I looked out over the water. We were quiet for a long time, just holding each other, happy in the circle of one another’s arms. I wished this peace could last forever.

  Suddenly, I sat up with a start. “Dinner!” Holt helped me to my feet.

  “What happens with the Water Sprite now?” I asked. I wanted to change the subject. I didn’t want to think about the decision I had to make.

  “Until we catch it you’re in danger,” he said.

  “I want to go swimming again at some point.”

  “I know,” said Holt. “We need to talk to the Cheshires and figure out a plan.”

  “The Cheshires?” I asked. I might have had a problem saying stuff against Holt’s little brother, but I had no problem laying into Lydia and Leslie Cheshire.

  “I don’t want the girls involved,” I said. “Samuel’s fine; I trust Samuel. But I don’t trust Lydia and Leslie as far as I can throw them.”

  “Look, I know they helped the Winter Queen, but they had to. She’s their monarch,” said Holt quietly. “They can’t defy her.”

  “You didn’t see what I saw,” I argued. “Yeah, they had to help her, but they enjoyed it. It wasn’t, like, hard for them. They enjoyed watching everything in your garden die. They enjoyed threatening the guests. They get off on pain and I can’t deal with that.”

  I left out that I suspected they had lied about dealing with the Water Sprite in the first place. In fact, I was pretty sure they had wanted it to take me, and if not for Holt’s perfect timing in coming home, it probably would have.

  We’d almost reached the house by then. I could see four figures on the porch. I made a little sound of delight; Samuel was sitting there with Carley, Nick, and Susan.

  “You didn’t tell me she was coming,” I said to Holt, smiling.

  Holt laughed. “I didn’t know.”

  “Oh,” I said, and waved. I was pretty sure that Susan’s being there would defuse the attention I was worried Mrs. Hightower was going to pay to my relationships and me.

  Once Holt and I had reached the porch and greeted everyone, Carley offered us lemonade. Holt accepted, but I said I wasn’t thirsty.

  “Glad Susan’s here?” Nick asked, grinning at me.

  “I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said primly.

  “HA. Sure you do,” said Nick. “Her being here means Mrs. Hightower will have a harder time asking why you have the two most eligible bachelors in Castleton following you around.”

  “Actually,” I said, “I already had a plan for getting Mrs. Hightower off that topic.” I grinned wickedly.

  “Oh, and what plan is that?” asked Nick, still smiling.

  My smile broadened. “I was going to throw you and Carley under the bus.”

  Everyone laughed.

  Mrs. Hightower’s voice came out to all of us on the porch. “Everyone, dinner’s ready. Let’s all sit down together and eat!”

  I gulped.

  Chapter Nineteen

  From my perspective, the dinner was going surprisingly well.

  First of all, I hadn’t realized that Mrs. Hightower was going to make all the food from scratch and that she was really good at it. She’d made pasta primavera, a salad filled with vegetables from the local farmers’ market, and fish chowder. She also had breads and a fruit and cheese platter, and just in case that wasn’t enough she’d grilled chicken as well. She also had freshly squeezed lemonade to go along with the usual assortment of sodas.

  “Just w
ait until you see the dessert menu,” was all she said when everyone broke out in compliments.

  I mostly thought that dinner was going well because I wasn’t doing much of the talking. Instead, Mrs. Hightower quizzed all my friends about their lives. She obviously relished having the children of two of the most powerful families in town at her table, and she took full advantage. At least, from her perspective she did. At one point she actually got into a discussion with Samuel about water quality in lakes. At that point I had basically tuned out, but Samuel participated in the discussion intelligently and with a smile. I was impressed.

  Not to be outdone, Holt and Susan also added their opinions, which actually sounded like they had given the issue some thought as well.

  On the bright side, I was seeing entirely new sides of them and I didn’t have to talk. I gave myself a pat on the back for the evening having turned out alright after all.

  Unfortunately, it wasn’t to last, but the trouble came from a surprising source.

  For the whole night the only other person who spoke as little as I did was Nick.

  I didn’t even realize it at first. But at some point between the soup and the salad course, Carley made some flirty remark to Samuel. I didn’t even hear what she said – she liked to flirt, after all – but I knew she was doing it, because a blush crept up her cheeks and she batted her eyelashes more than was necessary.

  Nick, sitting across from me, muttered, “Geez, you flirt with absolutely everyone.”

  Carley didn’t look like she had heard, but Susan did. Her head snapped up in dismay and she glanced over at Samuel, who was smiling back at Carley. Susan looked at me and then looked down again.

  Crisis averted.

  Or so I thought.

  When Mrs. Hightower got up to get the desserts, Carley said, “Samuel, will you pass me the bread?” The bread was well within her reach.

  “Can’t you do it yourself?” Nick asked, this time laying down his fork. He didn’t care who heard him.

  Carley froze. “I don’t want to be rude and reach across the table,” she answered primly.

  Samuel handed her the bread.

  “It has nothing to do with being rude,” said Nick.