Breathless (19 page)

My mom nodded in agreement, clearly oblivious to the thick fog of tension encircling our captive trio.

“
No curfew, Lia, but use good judgement,” she reiterated, looking more at Chaseyn than at me. He winked at me again and flashed an enormous grin at my mom, who seemed giddy with anticipation. Her excitement was piquing my curiosity, but a part of me was still focussed on the day’s earlier events. I shook my head in an effort to rid the thought from my mind. Chaseyn grabbed my hand then, as if aware of my internal angst, and in his most soothing voice suggested we begin our evening.

“
We had better get Addie and Rob before she kicks up a tantrum bigger than a category five hurricane,” he said, only half laughing. He'd spent enough time with Addie to know patience was not one of her many virtues.

“
Mom, are you and Kevin staying in with grandma,” I asked, slightly embarrassed that I had forgotten to ask about her plans.

“
Grandma and I are introducing Kevin to our long-standing tradition,” she said wryly.

I had been privy to that tradition for the past 16 years. It entailed ordering Chinese food and watching the ball drop on Times Square at 10 p.m. our time. I was happy to have alternate plans this year, but she seemed content enough with the same old. I just shrugged and turned to grab my coat.

“
Have fun,” my mom shouted as we made our way through the heavy door and into the blustery darkness.

I saw my grandma scowl. Did she really think I was going to simply succumb to the fear instilled by her cryptic story and break all intimate connections with Chaseyn before completely investigating the details.

As I sat beside Chaseyn in the warmth of his conspicuously remodelled sportster, I felt something unusual course through my veins. Typically, I felt only happiness and security when we were alone together, but tonight, I struggled to find a word to match my abnormally anxious state. Finally, I realized what it was. Trepidation.

I didn't fear Chaseyn—I was entirely certain he would not harm me. Almost. Now, a possibility boiled in the back of my mind—albeit a small possibility, but it surged none-the-less. Did Chaseyn have an ulterior motive for being with me?

My changed behavior did not go unnoticed. As we slowed to a stop in front of Addie's house—palace, really—Chaseyn took both of my hands in his and stared deep into my eyes. Using his most serious, gentle voice, he whispered four words to me that did as much to quell my nerves as they did to raise my curiosity—and heart rate.

“
Everything will work out.”

What could he possibly mean?

Addie and I had been anticipating this night for weeks. Well, perhaps she had been a little more expectant than I. She was prone to strong emotional reactions, while I was considerably more restrained. Not to mention that she had come to the conclusion that this would be the night that she gave herself to Rob—mind,
body
, and soul. Sealing their commitment with the ultimate act of intimacy had been a long time coming, and I was surprised they had waited this long. Of course, there is strength in numbers, so in an effort to convince herself that she was, in fact, making the right decision, Addie had suggested I offer Chaseyn the same level of commitment.

Though the thought was tempting, and I gave it serious consideration—even going so far as to purchase a frilly black lingerie set—I came to the realization that we needed to explore all of the avenues of our relationship before delving into carnal lust. There was no doubt that I loved Chaseyn, but I felt we owed it to ourselves to know each other better on a mental and emotional level first—no sense in rushing. I was certain—even at this early stage—that we would have the rest of our lives together to explore the physical.

At Addie's, we parked Chaseyn's Mustang in the front drive and transferred to a waiting car, complete with driver. Addie would be impressed. Being the eve of such an important annual event, one may have expected a limousine, but with Chaseyn, I had learned that he was nothing if not completely unique and original. Addie, shivering with anxiety, not cold, I was sure, was already seated in the back of the massive Hummer H3, Rob clinging to her side. He had no idea that she was planning to cap the night with a surprise of her own. Chaseyn had been fully informed, and he gave my hand a knowing squeeze when he took in the wide-eyed look on Addie's innocent face. Innocent...for now.

When I told Chaseyn of Addie's plan, I had expected him to inquire about our own union. But again, Chaseyn could not be held to the same standards as other boys our age. He made no such suggestion—not even a hint of expectation sounded from his lips. Instead, he simply smiled and stated that Addie had to make the choices that were best for her. At that moment, my internal struggle came to a crashing halt, and I knew it was right for us to wait. Even now as I thought back to that moment, it made me tingle. I snuggled into Chaseyn's side, my arms wrapped tightly around his.

What happened next was completely unexpected. Simultaneously, both Chaseyn and Rob pulled a little black scarf from their coat pockets. They instructed us to lean forward so they could position the dark cloth over our eyes, tying it securely at the back. Given the earlier events of my day, this seemingly innocent gesture now had me slightly on edge. Being devoid of this one important sense left me feeling moderately helpless. Though I took some comfort in the fact that Chaseyn and I were not alone. Despite the fact that my grandma's story seemed utterly impossible on the surface, I knew she had no reason to expose such information and risk my affections for her if she didn't fully believe in its truth. This knowledge, combined with my deep emotional connection to Chaseyn, left me feeling entirely obscure—conflicted. For this one night, I would try to conceal my emotions. Though I was fairly certain Chaseyn had caught on that something was affecting me other than his grand plan for the evening. Addie, though she had known me longer—was oblivious.

In the darkness—complete darkness, thanks to the silky fabric robbing me of even the slightest shadows—I could feel the rocky surface of the path we were following, tossing our bodies about the vehicle like ragdolls. Curiosity flooded my mind. So did visions of Alexei and Lorelei.

As the vehicle slowed to a halt, I could feel Chaseyn shift his weight toward Rob. The motion was followed by the sound of their mumbling voices, kept low so as not to spoil the surprise. The creaking of the car door signalled the end of our brief journey, and a blast of cold air stung the parts of my face that were not shielded by the makeshift blindfold. Someone, presumably Chaseyn, pulled the collar of my parka up high around my neck and then gently wrapped something heavy around my back, forcing my body forward gently as he took great care to cover my arms and shoulders thoroughly. A gentle tug of my hand was Chaseyn's wordless signal that it was time to exit the vehicle. I slid my body across the seat in the direction he guided and braced myself against the cold night air. Chaseyn lifted me gracefully to the ground when I reached the doorway and ensured my feet were securely planted on the earth before directing me to take a step forward. Rob, though well-intentioned, lacked Chaseyn's poise and grace. Strength was not his forte, and though I was certain he must have intended to mimic Chaseyn's thoughtful acts, I heard a thud and then a low yelp from Addie.

“
She's okay,” Chaseyn said so quietly that only I could hear. He chuckled lightly before continuing. “She just hit the top of her head on the door frame.”

I laughed a little. Rob had always been the ultimate catch. Now, Rob’s numerous flaws were exceptionally evident. At one time, like every other girl in Evergreen I pined after Rob's affections. True, his skills on the field, court, or diamond were unparalleled. And, his impeccable style and boyish good looks had been second to none, until Chaseyn came along. When Chaseyn arrived nearly three months ago, I realized little, if any of those qualities mattered.

When Addie and I were standing side-by-side, our hands firmly locked together—my left with her right—Chaseyn loosened the knot at the back of the cloth that had been keeping me temporarily blinded, letting it slip down around the base of my neck. More darkness greeted my eyes as they struggled to focus. In the blackness, I began to make out silhouettes of indescribable objects. Rob stumbled as he struggled to shift in front of Addie. Chaseyn, however, glided effortlessly into my view. With his face just inches from my own, my body tensed with anticipation—would his lips lock with mine? Or maybe, his teeth would clench the throbbing pulse in my neck? I felt his warm breath in a steady flow against my skin. My heartbeat raced, and the blood coursed through my body at lightning speed, warming me to the core.

“
Turn around,” he whispered, the edges of his lips brushing against my earlobe as he said the words in a thick, husky voice.

With both hands braced lightly on my shoulders, he twisted me slightly to the right-away from Addie. Rob made an effort to guide Addie in a similar fashion, but their feet tangled as they turned. Blocking their clumsy interaction from my mind, I focussed solely on the location Chaseyn indicated. Sucking in an enormous breath, I let out a huge gasp as I laid eyes upon the intended surprise. In that instant, I wished it were just the two of us there. Addie would find Rob's role in this most elaborate event unbelievable incredible, and truthfully, so would I. Only Chaseyn was capable of engineering such an elaborately grandiose gesture, but I was certain he had so skilfully included Rob that the poor guy actually believed he had a hand in the details. It was a kind act on Chaseyn's behalf.

An ornate wooden gazebo was nestled between ancient fir trees in a small outcropping at the top of one of the foothills. This area was not known to me, and judging by the rough ride to the location, there had been to pre-cut trail.

“
Chaseyn, "I said exasperated. “How did you do this?”

“
We,” he corrected, and I knew Addie must have been within earshot "came up with the idea a few weeks ago."

Twinkle lights covered every inch of all the trees in our view, and two wrought-iron bistro tables—like the ones that line European sidewalks—were set at each end of the gazebo. Chaseyn led me to one of the tables, and we settled in for a gourmet meal. Propane heaters kept us warm. A catering tent could be seen in the distance, just past the last set of twinkle lights. Butlers clad in black tuxedos brought silver serving platters to our tables. We dined on lobster tail, garlic mussels, rice pilaf, and twice-baked potatoes. Sparkling cider that had been iced with frozen cranberries washed down every delectable bite. I felt like a pampered princess from a childhood fairytale. The night could not have been more splendid, save the hexing thoughts that were hovering inside my head.

After dinner, soft sounds swept through the calm night air. The boys had strung a series of speakers from the tallest trees. Chaseyn led me to a clearing in the woods that served as a makeshift dance floor. I draped my arms loosely around his neck, rested my head on his sculpted chest and listened.

A heartbeat. The throbbing sound was a welcome relief. How could Chaseyn be undead if he had a heartbeat?

I sighed in true contentment, and Chaseyn kissed the top of my head.

“
Mmmm, pineapple,” he said , taking in the scent of my fruity shampoo. “My favorite.”

We swayed in the moonlight for what seemed like hours, and though I wanted to stay that way forever, the frigid air began to take its toll. Though outdoor heaters warmed the dance floor, I could no longer take the wintry chill.

“
We should go. You're cold,” Chaseyn said with clear reluctance.

“
No,” I said through chattering teeth. Hardly convincing. “I'm fine.”

With that, he led me to the waiting car and silently urged Rob to do the same with Addie.

Chaseyn and I sat in the very back row, cuddled together for warmth. We looked longingly at each other, sharing stolen kisses between bumps in the road. They were soft kisses—the kind that revealed a deep love rather than a lustful need—and I wanted to believe that Chaseyn could never be the monster my grandma had described.

Addie looked a nervous wreck. She and Rob sat like statues in the second row, and I could see her face in the rear view mirror. She looked ill. With my elbow, I poked Chaseyn in the ribs. He smiled and gave Addie a gentle, knowing squeeze on her left shoulder—out of Rob’s view.

To Rob’s utter surprise, we left them at a bed and breakfast on the outskirts of town. Rob had sincerely believed he would be spending the night at Chaseyn’s house, so he was completely shocked when Chaseyn tossed Rob’s duffel bag out the door and wished him luck. I gave Addie a firm hug and whispered words of encouragement in her ear.

“
It’s right for you. I know it is,” I said. She just held tight.

Holding her out at arm’s length, I asked, “ You love him, right?”

She nodded.

“
Then, everything will work out fine.”

Addie grabbed her Louis Vuitton bag, and hurried toward the cozy cottage house.