My Soul to Take
Page 5
Nash frowned in concern, and I closed my eyes, barely noticing the sudden swell of music from the club. I knew that look. It was the one mothers give their kids when they fall off the slide and sit up talking about purple ponies and dancing squirrels.
I know it sounds crazy weird, but
He took both of my hands, twisting to face me more fully on the flattened box beneath us, and again the colors in his irises seemed to pulse with my heartbeat. His mouth opened, and I held my breath, awaiting my verdict. Had I lost him with talk of creepy black shadows, or did my mistakes start all the way back with the spilled drink?
Sounds pretty weird to me .
We both glanced up to find Emma watching us, a chilled bottle of water in one hand, dripping condensation on the grimy concrete, and I almost groaned in frustration. Whatever Nash had been about to say was gone now; I could see that in the cautious smile he shot at me, before redirecting toward Emma.
She twisted open the lid and handed me the bottle. But then, you wouldnt be Kaylee if you didnt weird-out on me every now and then. She shrugged amiably and hauled me to my feet as Nash stood to join us. So you had a panic attack because you think some girl in the club is going to die?
I nodded hesitantly, waiting for her to laugh or roll her eyes, if she thought I was joking. Or to look nervous, if she knew I wasnt. Instead, her brows arched, and she cocked her head to one side. Well, shouldnt you go tell her? Or something?
I I blinked in confusion and frowned at the brick wall over her shoulder. Somehow, that option had never occurred to me. I dont know. I glanced at Nash, but found no answer in his now-normal eyes. Shed probably just think I was crazy. Or shed get all freaked out. And really, who could blame her? Doesnt matter, anyway, because its not true. Right? It cant be.
Nash shrugged but looked like he wanted to say something. But then Emma spoke up, never hesitant to voice her opinion. Of course not. You had another panic attack, and your mind latched onto the first person you saw. Couldve been me, or Nash, or Traci. It doesnt mean anything.
I nodded, but as badly as I wanted to believe her theory, it just didnt feel right. Yet I couldnt make myself warn the redhead. No matter what I thought I knew, the prospect of telling a perfect stranger that she was going to die felt just plain crazy, and Id had enough of crazy for the moment.
For the rest of my life, in fact.
All better? Emma asked, when she read my decision on my face. Wanna go back in?
I was feeling better, but that dark panic still lingered on the edge of my mind, and it would only get worse if I saw the girl again. I had no doubt of that. And I would not giveNash an encore of the nights performance, if at all possible.
Im just gonna head home. My uncle had taken my aunt out for her fortieth birthday, and Sophie was on an overnight trip with the dance team. For once Id have the house to myself. I smiled at Emma in apology. But if you want to stay, you could probably catch a ride with Traci.
Nah, Ill go with you. Emma took the water bottle from my hand and gulped from it. She told us to leave together, remember?
She also told us not to drink.
Emma rolled her big brown eyes. If she really meant that, she wouldnt have snuck us into a bar.
That was Emma-logic, all right. The longer you thought about it, the less sense it made.
Emma glanced from me to Nash. Then she smiled and headed down the alley toward the car lot across the street, to give us some privacy. I dug my keys from my pocket and stared at them, trying to avoid Nashs gaze until I knew what I was going to say.
Hed seen me at my worst, and rather than flipping out or making fun, hed helped me regain control. Wed connected in a way I wouldnt have thought possible an hour earlier, especially with someone like Nash, whose one-track mind was a thing of legends. Still, I couldnt fight the certainty that this evenings dream would end in tomorrows nightmare. That daylight would bring him to his senses, and hed wonder what he was doing with me in the first place.
I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. My keys jangled, the ring dangling from my index finger, and he frowned when his gaze settled on them.
You okay to drive? He grinned, and my pulse jumped in response. I could take you home and walk from there. You live in the Parkview complex, right? Thats just a couple of minutes from me.
He knew where I lived? I must have looked suspicious, because he rushed to explain. I gave your sister a ride once. Last month.
My jaw tightened, and I felt my expression darken. Shes my cousin. Nash had given Sophie a ride? Please dont let that be a euphemism
He frowned and shook his head in answer to my unspoken question. Scott Carter asked me to give her a lift.
Oh. Good. I nodded, and he shrugged. So you want me to take you guys home? He held his hand out for my keys.
Thats okay, Im good to drive. And I wasnt in the habit of letting people I barely knew behind the wheel of my car. Especially really hot guys whorumor had ithad gotten two speeding tickets in his exs Firebird.
Nash flashed a deep set of stubbly dimples and shrugged. Then can I have a lift? I rode with Carter, and he wont be ready to go for hours.
I know it sounds crazy weird, but
He took both of my hands, twisting to face me more fully on the flattened box beneath us, and again the colors in his irises seemed to pulse with my heartbeat. His mouth opened, and I held my breath, awaiting my verdict. Had I lost him with talk of creepy black shadows, or did my mistakes start all the way back with the spilled drink?
Sounds pretty weird to me .
We both glanced up to find Emma watching us, a chilled bottle of water in one hand, dripping condensation on the grimy concrete, and I almost groaned in frustration. Whatever Nash had been about to say was gone now; I could see that in the cautious smile he shot at me, before redirecting toward Emma.
She twisted open the lid and handed me the bottle. But then, you wouldnt be Kaylee if you didnt weird-out on me every now and then. She shrugged amiably and hauled me to my feet as Nash stood to join us. So you had a panic attack because you think some girl in the club is going to die?
I nodded hesitantly, waiting for her to laugh or roll her eyes, if she thought I was joking. Or to look nervous, if she knew I wasnt. Instead, her brows arched, and she cocked her head to one side. Well, shouldnt you go tell her? Or something?
I I blinked in confusion and frowned at the brick wall over her shoulder. Somehow, that option had never occurred to me. I dont know. I glanced at Nash, but found no answer in his now-normal eyes. Shed probably just think I was crazy. Or shed get all freaked out. And really, who could blame her? Doesnt matter, anyway, because its not true. Right? It cant be.
Nash shrugged but looked like he wanted to say something. But then Emma spoke up, never hesitant to voice her opinion. Of course not. You had another panic attack, and your mind latched onto the first person you saw. Couldve been me, or Nash, or Traci. It doesnt mean anything.
I nodded, but as badly as I wanted to believe her theory, it just didnt feel right. Yet I couldnt make myself warn the redhead. No matter what I thought I knew, the prospect of telling a perfect stranger that she was going to die felt just plain crazy, and Id had enough of crazy for the moment.
For the rest of my life, in fact.
All better? Emma asked, when she read my decision on my face. Wanna go back in?
I was feeling better, but that dark panic still lingered on the edge of my mind, and it would only get worse if I saw the girl again. I had no doubt of that. And I would not giveNash an encore of the nights performance, if at all possible.
Im just gonna head home. My uncle had taken my aunt out for her fortieth birthday, and Sophie was on an overnight trip with the dance team. For once Id have the house to myself. I smiled at Emma in apology. But if you want to stay, you could probably catch a ride with Traci.
Nah, Ill go with you. Emma took the water bottle from my hand and gulped from it. She told us to leave together, remember?
She also told us not to drink.
Emma rolled her big brown eyes. If she really meant that, she wouldnt have snuck us into a bar.
That was Emma-logic, all right. The longer you thought about it, the less sense it made.
Emma glanced from me to Nash. Then she smiled and headed down the alley toward the car lot across the street, to give us some privacy. I dug my keys from my pocket and stared at them, trying to avoid Nashs gaze until I knew what I was going to say.
Hed seen me at my worst, and rather than flipping out or making fun, hed helped me regain control. Wed connected in a way I wouldnt have thought possible an hour earlier, especially with someone like Nash, whose one-track mind was a thing of legends. Still, I couldnt fight the certainty that this evenings dream would end in tomorrows nightmare. That daylight would bring him to his senses, and hed wonder what he was doing with me in the first place.
I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. My keys jangled, the ring dangling from my index finger, and he frowned when his gaze settled on them.
You okay to drive? He grinned, and my pulse jumped in response. I could take you home and walk from there. You live in the Parkview complex, right? Thats just a couple of minutes from me.
He knew where I lived? I must have looked suspicious, because he rushed to explain. I gave your sister a ride once. Last month.
My jaw tightened, and I felt my expression darken. Shes my cousin. Nash had given Sophie a ride? Please dont let that be a euphemism
He frowned and shook his head in answer to my unspoken question. Scott Carter asked me to give her a lift.
Oh. Good. I nodded, and he shrugged. So you want me to take you guys home? He held his hand out for my keys.
Thats okay, Im good to drive. And I wasnt in the habit of letting people I barely knew behind the wheel of my car. Especially really hot guys whorumor had ithad gotten two speeding tickets in his exs Firebird.
Nash flashed a deep set of stubbly dimples and shrugged. Then can I have a lift? I rode with Carter, and he wont be ready to go for hours.
