Absolute Zero (16 page)

“I’ve only ever had one boyfriend in my entire life, so, it’s just weird, that’s all.”

“Zach, right?”

“Yeah.”

“He was your first love, then shows up with his new girlfriend earlier. That must have been hard.”

“A little.” Another stumble.

“Okay, you are a little clumsy, aren’t you?”

“Yep.”

“Seemed pretty coordinated at the party last weekend with Martin, and then the sliding glass window incident.”

“I could see what I was doing then. Pitch black doesn’t help much.”

“Almost there. It’ll be worth it.” He squeezed my hand. “So, he broke up with you to date your arch enemy, huh?”

“Georgia really did tell you the story while I was in the ladies room.”

“Pretty much.”

“And you’re not afraid my kissing you was a rebound thing?”

“Nope. It’s not.”

“Confident much?” My flip-flop caught another rock, and I lurched forward. Nate caught me around the waist before I tumbled to the ground.

“Wait. Hold on.” He turned around. “Hop on my back.”

“What?”

“Seriously, hop on. We’re almost there, but I can’t have you breaking a toe. That’d just ruin it.”

“How can you see so good?”

“Moon’s out. I’ve hiked this trail in the dark, like, a zillion times.”

“Take all your girlfriends up here?” I reached out and felt his back.

The moon was out, but it sure didn’t seem to brighten the sky much. I barely made out his silhouette enough to aim my little jump up onto his back.

“Hey now. All my girlfriends?”

I jumped. He caught me. I wrapped my legs around him, and he hoisted me up and held me tight.

“Okay, this is much better.”

He started walking.

“Have you had many girlfriends?” I rested my chin on his shoulder, near his neck.

“A few. Was in love once, too.”

“Did you find her in jail?”

“Very funny.”

As he walked, my body settled in close to his. I hugged him tight and inhaled. His cologne smelled like spice, with a hint of lime and sugar.

“I met her at college last year. We dated for about six months.”

“Yeah?”

“That was down in Phoenix. I ditched that school and moved up here with Tim and met Martin. When a vacancy opened at the same apartment complex as Martin, me, and Tim snagged it.”

“And you like to hike?”

“Actually, I love running these trails here. Killer hills. Feels good to burn the lungs sometimes. You know, de-stress.”

“Maybe I should take that up. De-stressing is good. I suck at school, so I’m sure I’ll be wiggin’ like every other day.”

“You’ll do fine. I’ll help you.”

“Oh, yeah. Brainiac. I forget. You sure don’t seem like you’re eighteen.”

He laughed. “I’ve heard that before.”

“So. How do you know that I’m not hanging with you on rebound? You sound so confident.” More confident than I felt, that was for sure.

“Not sure how I know. But if I’m wrong, then I’m wrong. I’m willing to take that chance.”

Okay, that was really romantic.

“Here we are. Are you ready?”

“For what?”

“I’ll let you down. You’ve got to see this.”

He loosened his grip, and I slid down his back to the ground. He grabbed my hand. Two steps later, I saw a sea of beautiful city lights. We must have been at the top of the mountain. The lights flickered like they were their own little stars. It went on forever.

“Amazing.”

He curled his arm around my shoulder.

We stood there in silence for a long time. I just watched the lights flicker, forgetting everything that was bugging me. Zach, Samantha, Georgia’s mom, the missing book, Andrey, school.

“Okay. Stay here. I’ll be right back.”

The next second, I was alone. Coolness replaced the warmth his arm had provided.

“Nate?”

No answer.

“Hello?”

Still no answer.

Okay, this was
not
good.

Chapter 21

S
huffling noises to my left freaked me out. “Nate?”

“Yeah. Hold on. Just getting this set up.”

“Man, that was so not cool.”

“What’d you think? I left you up here by yourself?”

“No.” Well, kind of.

“Sure.” The flick of a lighter sounded, and then instantly, I could see.

A flame from a candle danced off to my left. A second flick lit another candle. They sat on top of a cooler. A shadow bounced off something white a little further away from the flames. I couldn’t make out what it was, though.

He stepped toward me. “Ready for your present?”

I reached out and grabbed his hands. They were cool. I drew close to him and saw his chest heaving.

“What’s wrong? You’re breathing heavy.”

“I hid some stuff in a little spot off the trail. I just had to quick run and get it.”

“So, what is this?” I glanced around.

From what I could see, a blanket was spread out, and the cooler sat in the middle housing the two candles. He tugged me around the blanket, and the little white thing I’d seen earlier materialized into a telescope. Pointed toward the sky.

He let go of my hand and stepped toward the telescope. He peered through the glass and adjusted some things, then faced me. “Okay. Look.”

Thoroughly confused, I stepped forward. My eyelashes brushed against the glass as I looked through the viewer. It had been focused on a star. It burst with white light and twinkled.

“Wow. That’s really cool.”

“It’s yours.”

I pulled away. “Sorry?”

“I got you a star for your birthday.”

“What do you mean a star?”

“I bought it. It’s registered and everything. I have the paperwork in the car. Couldn’t read it much here in the dark anyway.”

“Seriously, there’s a star up there with my name on it?” I stared at the sky. Millions of stars twinkled. One of them was mine. “That’s way cool.”

“Good. I’m still getting to know you, so I thought this would be a fun first present, huh?”

“You did good, Nate,” I said, as I stared at the sky. I couldn’t pull my gaze away from the beauty.

I heard some shuffling beside me. Nate held the candles in one hand and tugged open the lid of the cooler. He pulled out a couple of cans of Coke. I stepped forward and reached out for the candles. “Here, let me—”

Of course, I tripped.

Blasted darkness.

I plowed into Nate, he dropped the candles and toppled over, me on top of him. I looked back. One candle went out, the other ignited the blanket.

Oh great.

I pointed to the tiny flame quickly growing and doused it with a little mist while holding Nate down by planting my other hand in his chest. A quick second later, I faced him, still on top of him. “Graceful, huh?”

“Remind me to never take you in the dark again. Unless I bring flood lights.”

“Are you okay?”

He wove his arms around my waist. “I could be in worse positions.”

“No rocks digging into your back?”

“Naw. It’s a nice flat area here. I’m good.” He rubbed his hands up and down my back.

“Thanks for the birthday present,” I said.

“Glad you like it.”

“I do.” I framed his face with my hands.

“Ooh, your hand is freezing. Are you cold? I can grab the blanket.”

“No. No. I’m good. You’re keeping me warm enough.” I leaned toward him and brushed my lips against his briefly. Then his cheek. Then behind his ear. He jerked beneath me.

“That tickles.”

Of course that made me do it again. My heart raced as I pressed my mouth against his soft skin even more. He wiggled beneath me, and I felt a laugh vibrate his throat.

His hands disappeared from around my waist and went to the sides of my face. He physically pried me from his neck. “That really tickles.”

“Good to know.”

He pulled my face to his, and our lips met with a burst of energy. His tongue found a fascinating rhythm against mine as they danced together. I tasted a spice with a hint of mint.

I felt dizzy, like I was hyperventilating. My body warmed as I melted against him, absorbing every hard plane of his body.

Our breaths came ragged and deep. I don’t know how long we kept it up, but all too soon, he pulled me away. He turned his body to the side, and I slid off his, much to my dismay. I actually enjoyed his warmth beneath me. Now it just felt like an empty void as I lay on my side.

His fingers curled around the nape of my neck, and my arms prickled with goose bumps. His chest heaved, and his dark eyes scanned my face, then down a little, then back. How could he see anything in this dark? I made out the silhouette of his square jaw line, the moon reflected the moisture of his eyes as they scanned my face again. But that was about all I could see.

I propped myself up on my elbow. We weren’t quite on the blanket, so the dirt kind of dug into my skin. I glided my free hand down the side of his face. His skin felt warm. I ran my thumb over his lips, still glistening from the moisture of our last kiss.

His hand followed the same course on my face, but continued to my neck, then over my shoulder. With a gentle push, he eased me onto my back.

Still propped up on one elbow, Nate leaned his body against mine and rested his hand on my chest like he’d done after our first kiss that night at the party. Placed his palm on my flesh, fingers near my throat, but yet, the base of his palm close to the fabric of my shirt. One slight shift, and he’d be touching one of my most intimate spots.

Maybe that’s why it felt so good? The anticipation and his hand being so close. It made my heart pound even more.

“Are you comfortable?”

I nodded, breathing so hard I didn’t dare speak.

“You’re so pretty, Mandy.”

“Thanks.”

“I’d love to bring you here during the day some time. I think you’d like it.”

“Where is here, by the way?”

“It’s called Thunderbird Trails. I love it up here. View of the city, although not quite as pretty in the day as it is now, and it’s away from the noise of it, too.”

“Sounds good.” I combed my fingers through his soft hair. “You know what?”

He leaned into my touch. “What’s that?”

“I’m kinda glad you picked this college to come to this time.”

“Really?”

“And I’m also glad you told me about your dark side.”

“Not too proud of it, but I guess I’m glad you know it, too. Just horrible circumstances that you had to find out. I can’t believe that balcony thing. And how you held on to me for so long, then hoisted me up like that.”

“Told ya not to underestimate my strength. I’m tiny, but I’m wicked-strong.”

“Just clumsier than all get-out though.” He laughed, leaning against me more. His laughter made my body jiggle.

“Yep, that’s true. You could have at least brought a flashlight.”

“Next time.”

“And maybe a thicker blanket to lay on, huh?”

“Hard ground getting to ya?”

“A little.”

“It’s probably time to head back down, anyway.” He leaned forward a little and pressed his lips against mine. “I’ll pack this stuff up, okay?”

I ran my hands through his hair to his neck, then pulled him forward. I lifted my head so my lips met his. He drew in a breath and leaned into me more. His heavy leg draped over one of mine. I parted his lips with my tongue, and he moaned, kissing me deeper.

His hand drifted down, grazing over the front of my body, then up my shirt. His warm hand found my stomach, and his fingers curled around the side of my waist.

I pulled him closer until he was nearly on top of me. I welcomed his body weight. Never mind I felt the rocks digging into my back, the warmth of his body on mine wiped that away. His mouth navigated to my neck. I tilted my head back, giving him more to work with. He seemed to like that because a shudder rippled through his body.

Nate drew in a long, deep breath, then slowed his kisses.

“We should probably pack up,” he said with a quick breath. “Oh wow. You feel really good.”

“So do you.” I ran my fingers through his hair.

He pressed a light kiss to my lips. “You are surprising, Mandy.”

“What do you mean?”

“Just that…” He looked down, then leaned forward and kissed my cheek. “I didn’t expect to feel this way about you so quickly.”

Chapter 22

“O
kay, girls—”

“Hey, no calling us girls!” Georgia said.

“Sorry, sorry!” Scott glanced at Jasmine, then back to me and Georgia. “Ladies.”

He raised his glass of wine, as did Jasmine. Georgia and I lifted our sodas.

“Happy birthday. I love you both.”

Our glasses clanked together, and we drank. The dim restaurant murmured with patrons. Nearly every booth was packed. One table, to the side and ahead of us, had a party of six girls. One wore a white veil and a T-shirt that had BRIDE written in big, black letters.

I looked at my plate. “I’m too full, I can’t eat anymore.”

“Wait, no, save room. I made cake for us,” Georgia said. “We have to eat some when we get back to our apartment.”

“I think I could cram some cake in,” Scott said as he leaned back into the booth and patted his stomach.

“Good. Let’s go.”

“Wait. Hey, guys. Um, well, Jess has been snooping around again for us.”

My stomach plunged. “Wait. No bad news on the birthday. Please don’t wreck it with bad news.”

“We can talk about it later,” Scott said.

“Wait. No. Now I’m dying to know,” Georgia said. “Come on, Mandy.”

“Me, too. Your timing sucks, bro.”

Man, he was going to totally douse a great day. Heck, last night, Nate and I really clicked. He made Zach a distant memory. Well, nearly a distant memory, but more of a memory. Then today, earlier, he left a note on my door wishing me happy birthday. In the afternoon, he popped down to the apartment with birthday cupcakes for me.

How sweet could a guy get?

Now Scott was going to drop a bombshell.

“Andrey popped up on the radar.”

I almost lost my fancy, steak dinner. I slid my hand over my mouth. Georgia did the same. “Where?” I spoke through my fingers.