Charade (Heven and Hell #2)(18)
Author: Cambria Hebert

I stared at him, without blinking, imagining my fist smacking into the side of his jaw.

He got up from the couch and ran a hand through his extremely messy head of hair. “Yeah, I’ll go, but not because you’re telling me too. Because…”

“Because you showed up here drunk and made an ass out of yourself?” I asked, mildly amused and stood from the table so I could show him the door.

“No. Because I’m sure my mom is freaked out and wondering why I never came home.”

“There went your Son of the Year award.”

“Yeah, well, at least my parents want me.”

His words were like a slap to my face. I stood there frozen for a few long seconds before I jerked forward and plowed my fist right into his jaw. I moved so fast he hadn’t even seen it coming and he fell backward onto the couch. It tipped before falling back into place onto the floor.

He looked up at me with wide eyes and slowly felt around his jaw.

“Get the hell out of here before I do it again,” I growled.

He went to the door and put his hand on the handle, but then he stopped but didn’t turn around. “I deserved that. I shouldn’t have said it. But next time… I’m going to hit back.”

“Looking forward to it,” I said.

His back stiffened, but he walked out the door. I stood there until I heard his truck drive away and then I crept back upstairs. I should’ve gone straight out to the barn and gotten to work but I wanted to see her. I had come to accept the fact that my parents didn’t want me—that I was emancipated at the age of sixteen. Cole’s words weren’t any surprise. They shouldn’t have hurt me.

But they did.

Chapter Five

Heven

Rain was pattering against the roof and window, making me burrow further into the sheets. Sam tried to slide out from beneath me, but I pulled him back in. “Don’t go,” I murmured.

He groaned. “The sun is already up. I have to leave so I can come back and start the barn chores.”

“It’s raining,”

“The horses still want to eat.”

“Five more minutes.”

He pressed his lips to my forehead. “Five minutes.”

Five minutes just wasn’t long enough because in no time, Sam was climbing out of bed and throwing on his T-shirt and shoes. I watched unhappily as he reached into my closet and pulled out one of the hoodies he kept there. He chuckled when he caught me watching and came to stand next to me.

“I’ll be right back.”

“But we won’t be alone.”

His eyes softened. “At least I’m off tonight.”

It reminded me. “Ugh, we have dinner tonight with my mother and her boyfriend.”

“At least we’ll be together.”

“Yeah.” I pushed the covers back and climbed out of bed. “I’ll meet you in the barn to help.”

He shook his head. “It’s chilly and rainy this morning. You stay inside.”

I was about to protest, but he kissed me. “Will you have some coffee ready for me when I’m finished?”

“Of course,” I murmured, smiling at him.

After he disappeared into the falling rain, I pulled the curtains closed, gathered up my clothes and went into the bathroom for a hot shower. On my way downstairs, I remembered that Cole was here and I was surprised Sam didn’t take me up on my offer to help in the barn, if only to keep me away from Cole. But when I came down the stairs I understood.

Cole was gone.

The blanket and pillows he used were all folded neatly and stacked on the couch.

I wandered into the kitchen, partly thinking that maybe he would be there, eating some of Gran’s cooking. But he wasn’t and Gran was staring out the window watching the rain fall.

“Cole left?” I asked.

“It seems so.” She seemed sad by this.

“He was probably just embarrassed because he was drunk.”

Gran didn’t turn from the window. “You’ve been friends with him for a long time?”

“A few years.”

“He’s a good boy?”

“Yeah, Cole’s great. First time I’ve seen him like that.”

“Wonder what’s wrong?” Gran said, almost to herself.

“Oh, he got into a fight with Kimber.” I brushed it all off and went to make some coffee for Sam. Frankly, I was relieved that Cole wasn’t here, even if it meant he was avoiding me. Now I could avoid all the awkwardness from last night’s kiss and Sam wouldn’t have a chance to deck him.

“That’s too bad.” Gran turned from the window and smiled. “Here, I’ll do that.” She grabbed the coffee pot and began filling it with water. I relinquished the coffee to her and began pulling out the makings for French toast. I thought briefly about calling to make sure Cole made it home okay, but I thought better of it.

If I called he would ask.

I couldn’t tell him.

Sam was still adamant that Cole not know about the demons and the Treasure Map. I managed to dodge the topic last night but luck only went so far. I didn’t want to lie to Cole so I figured I would say nothing at all.

*   *   *

The rain finally stopped, leaving the ground soggy and the air thick with moisture. The sun was out, doing its best to shine rays of light through the lingering clouds. We were standing on the front porch of my mother’s house (how odd that I didn’t see it as my house anymore), but I couldn’t bring myself to ring the doorbell and begin the evening.

Calm down.

I glanced over my shoulder at Sam. Is it that obvious?

He caught a strand of my hair between his fingers and tucked it behind my ear. They won’t see it, but I can feel it.

I don’t know what to expect. That was what made me so nervous. All my life I thought I knew exactly who my mother was. Sure, sometimes I didn’t always agree with her, but I could always understand her. Until she declared that I was marked by evil. Since that day, I’ve often wondered if I ever really knew her at all.

And then she threw another curve ball at me.

She’s dating.

It’s just going to be dinner, sweetheart. Sam’s voice cut through my thoughts.

Yes, but, my mother invited me and you, the boy she has made no secret of disapproving of, and her new boyfriend. She has a boyfriend, Sam.

His warm, rough fingertips trailed tenderly down the side of my cheek. Does that bother you?

My eyes were stinging and I blinked rapidly, telling myself that it didn’t. No. I want her to be happy.