Kate Evangelista - Til Death

“No, no, no, no! They’re a feature that brings out the sea in your eyes! You’re beautiful.” She kissed the tops of Selena’s cheekbones. When she finally let the clearly embarrassed girl go, she said, “And who is this handsome young man?”

The slight widening of her eyes told him she already knew. But they were playing Lets Blend In after all. “Dillan Sloan, ma’am.”

The boom of a deep voice from behind the door startled everyone but him. He’d been waiting for the other half of the fearsome duo to show up since recognizing her.

“What are you doing? Let Kyle’s guests in, woman!” A massive arm snaked around Riona’s waist and lifted her away. She laughed.

A bear of a man in his late thirties stood in her place. He wore his black hair clean-cut and short. He’d broken his nose enough times to give it a crook. A silver hoop glinted on his ear. He looked like a linebacker in an expensive suit. Garret Hearth. If the Illumenari had trading cards, Garret would be a collector’s item. Dillan did his best to hide his awe by keeping his expression passive.

“I apologize for my wife,” he said. “She gets excited when we have guests over. Come in, come in.” Garret stepped aside and let them through.

A circular table dominated the foyer with a centerpiece made up of flowers. The combination stung his still sensitive—by human standards—sense of smell. At times like these, his training literally hurt. He flicked his gaze up. A circular skylight sent afternoon sun streaming into the space. Ahead of them, a grand staircase curled upward.

“Garret,” Kyle said, “this is Dillan and Constance.”

Like a fan meeting an idol for the first time, he quickly lowered the bags he carried and reached out his hand a little too enthusiastically. Then he stammered out, “Dillan Sloan, sir.”

“Sloan?” A glint entered Garret’s gaze.

“Rainer Sloan’s nephew,” Kyle clarified. As if he didn’t already know.

“Ah! I see the resemblance. You have a strong grip, boy. Perfect for holding a sword, aye?”

He got the distinct feeling they were all bullshitting each other, especially now that he recognized Garret’s voice as the second speaker during Rainer’s “anonymous” introductions. He pulled his hand away and kept his annoyance in check. Despite the grin and wink, the bastard’s joke was loaded. He might as well have introduced himself as a mercenary instead of Kyle’s other legal guardian. In front of two humans, no less.

“I must apologize for my husband,” Riona said sympathetically. “Besides cars, he’s enamored with medieval weaponry.”

“I’m not that bad, am I?” Garret grumbled.

Riona smiled sweetly at him.

The situation got stranger when the big guy wrapped Selena in a bear hug. This kind of affection confused him. The familiarity seemed off. He got familial closeness…and something else. It frustrated him not to know. He really had to corner Kyle somewhere and get him to explain this charade. He calculated how long the god-awful task of beginning the diorama would take. The sooner they finished for the night, the faster he could get to the bottom of what they were hiding in Valley View.

Selena

Taking Up Cross Country Running

Kyle borrowed a whiteboard on wheels and multicolored markers from Garret’s office and mapped out a plan of attack for the group and outlined a schedule. He deftly assigned tasks like a general commanding his troops. According to his calculations, and this was in his words, if we all stuck to his timetable, we’d be finished with the foundation before dinner, and done with the whole thing by late afternoon the next day. OCD much? From experience, only someone with a death wish messed with Kyle and his schedules.

Unfortunately, that evening, I must have had one, because everything went according to plan until the ticking time bomb that was me and Dillan in a room together exploded. This was one of those times I wished I had a vision. Not that I could avoid the argument, but it would have been nice to be prepared.

“We should use Popsicle sticks for the dock,” I said, heat already entering my tone.

“Toothpicks are easier to manipulate,” Dillan bit back. The sight of him glaring at me as if in challenge put my panties in a bunch.

“Popsicle sticks will make the dock look more authentic.”

“No way. Their width would look too big for the clay people we’ll add.”

“You’re just against this because I suggested it.” My voice climbed a notch. I threw down a Popsicle stick. It bounced once then rattled.

“Don’t flatter yourself.” He leaned forward and placed his hands on the table. “Your freckles are clouding your judgment.”

Blood rose up my head so fast I thought it would explode. I was shaking now, my vision tunneling toward my dark-haired target.

“Guys, guys,” Kyle held up his hands, “where’s this going?”

Constance continued mixing Plaster of Paris in a tub as she said, “Calm down, you two.”

“I’m calm!” Dillan and I yelled in unison. If I went by the heat on my cheeks, my face was as red as his.

“Constance, come with me behind the whiteboard, please.” Kyle grabbed her arm. “This is about to get ugly.”

“Can’t you just do what I say?” I narrowed my gaze at Dillan.

He smirked. “What happened to compromise? You know the meaning of that word, don’t you? Or should I get a dictionary?”

I let out a keening growl and threw the tub of glue at him without thinking twice about it. The jerk had it coming. Too bad he sidestepped just in time. The tub sailed past his head, bouncing off the whiteboard and twirling to a stop on the floor. It scattered gooey white glop everywhere. I scowled in disappointment. The thud made Kyle and Constance peek out from either side of the board like prairie dogs.

After what seemed like the stare down of the century, Dillan left the living room through the way we’d come in. Not wanting to follow him, I escaped through the terrace doors, slamming them behind me.

My fingers clenched into fists while my lips disappeared into a tight line. Dillan brought out the worst in me. And I hated him for it. The jerk. I didn’t deserve his attitude problem. I ran until the stone banister stopped me. I spread my hands on the rough stone and breathed in. Standing on tiptoe, I let the crisp night air clear my head of the urge to commit murder and plead temporary insanity.

Nothing bothered me the way Dillan did. I couldn’t stand being emotional over something so petty. But right then, being petty was all I felt. I’d thrown glue at his head like a second grader. I closed my eyes and groaned.

“I can ask him to leave if you want.”

The statement startled me more than the voice that said it. I didn’t turn around. Kyle came forward until he reached the terrace’s long, thick banister. He placed his hands on the rough stone. Our pinkies touched. Such a small gesture, but it brought a crashing wave of comfort. I hardly remembered my life before Kyle became one of my best friends. He helped hold my world together. Just like he did tonight.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” I kneaded my forehead. “It’s stupid.”

“It’s called puberty.”

“This is different. I’m not being hormonal.”

“Of course not.” He looked up at the sky already filled with stars.

I wanted to smack him, but I let my hands fall to my sides instead. I’d had too many violent tendencies for one day. I distracted myself by staring at my ratty sneakers. I needed to buy new ones soon.

“You like him.”

My heart leapt into my throat and beat there for several seconds before it tumbled into my belly. Suddenly, I couldn’t breathe. Kyle sounded like he believed what he’d said. Me? Like Dillan? The idea was certifiable.