Goddess Bared: Goddess Series Book 5 (Young Adult / New Adult) (13 page)

Chapter Fourteen

Legacy was still reeling because of her new revelation—that River liked Calli—so she stared at River for a few seconds before she could even speak.

“How long?” she asked, trying to make her smile go away. No luck.

“What are you talking about?” River asked, bewildered.

“How long have you liked Calli?”

“What?” He looked shocked. “I-I don’t,” he mumbled, looking away.

If there was any doubt before—
and there wasn’t
—his reaction just negated that doubt! “Liar, liar, pants on fire!” She laughed out loud, unable to control herself.

“No, really, Legacy. I, er, I just think she’s nice,” he said quickly, walking up to her.

“You’re a big, fat liar!” She laughed again. She couldn’t contain herself. She was too shocked, too happy. “Big. Fat. Liar.”

“
Legacy
,” he groaned. “You’re blowing this way out of proportion.”

She wasn’t buying it. “You want to borrow her sugar!” She giggled, remembering that totally unpleasant conversation they had when they’d all first met at the store during the summer.

“I-I don’t know what to say. I was in love with you for so long, but as soon as that love disappeared …” He trailed off, shaking his head.

She gave him a slanted look, waiting for his confession. She wanted to hear it, and she wasn’t giving up until he admitted it. “Where are your balls, man?”

“Yes, fine, I like her!” he whispered heatedly. He threw his head back in disbelief that he was saying this out loud. “When we were staying with you after Adin died, it devastated me to see you upset, but watching her cry…” He shook his head at the memory and looked at Legacy. “That was torture. I-I didn’t understand why I had such a hard time seeing her like that, but I had such an overpowering instinct to console her. Then when I’d hold her, her heart would flutter. I even caught myself smelling her hair. Her hair!” He became animated, gesturing with his hands, disbelief coloring his face. This was priceless. “It smelled like apples, and I’d wonder why someone with strawberry blond hair would choose apple scented shampoo! Just that thought was enough to drive me crazy. After you two would go to bed, I’d cut open an apple just to smell it, and I don’t even like apples!”

Oh yeah. Priceless. She smirked at his little rant, and he took a deep breath, calming his fervent tone.

“Then as time went on, I found myself thinking about her all the time,” he murmured. “If I couldn’t talk to her, I’d stare at her aura, and you know I don’t even like looking at auras, but hers is just so beautiful. Then when I got to dance with her at Teen Scene, I was thrilled,” he breathed, lost in the memory, but then he shook his head. “I don’t even have to tell you how much I hated chaining her to that wall. Knowing I had to let Mom use her as bait worried me more than I can even explain.” He sighed, shutting his eyes. “But because of our bond and your friendship with her, I didn’t want to show that I liked her. I didn’t want to hurt her if I was just going to fall in love with you, and I didn’t want to cause you pain by pursuing her if we were meant to be together.”

“So when you were avoiding me after Adin’s death…”

He groaned, looking at her. “I told you I wasn’t avoiding you. It was just that I was so confused. I didn’t want to like her, but by that point, I just couldn’t deny it to myself anymore. It wasn’t that I felt guilty about not being in love with you. I felt guilty about liking her. But even being able to admit it, I still didn’t know how to deal with it. I still remembered how it felt to be bonded to you.”

“But we’re not bonded now.” Legacy smiled.

He smiled too. “Yeah,” he whispered. “So what should I do?” he asked.

“Um, I don’t know.” She shrugged.

“Oh my gods. You’re not any good at this girl talk stuff,” he said with a laugh.

She laughed too. “Well, you’re pretty smooth with the ladies. I’m sure you can figure this out.”

“Please?” he asked softly. “She’s not just some girl to me. I want to do this right.”

“Okay.” She thought for a minute. “How about we all go on a picnic tomorrow? I’m sure I’ll be giving Adin most of my attention, so that’ll leave you and Calli to hang out.”

He shook his head like that wasn’t good enough. “We hang out all the time already.”

“Yeah, but you’ve been under the impression you’ve been bonded, taken. You’re not under that impression now. And if you want, I’ll feel her out too. See what your chances are.”

He smiled widely. “Okay.”

She smiled back and stepped up to him, her best friend. She reached up and stroked his cheek. “I love you, River,” she whispered.

“I love you too, baby,” he whispered back, wrapping his arms around her. “I’m so happy that everything seems to be working out for you.”

“Me too,” she whispered. “Everything’s going to work out for you too.” She had a wonderful feeling that it would.

He chuckled. “I hope so.”

She pulled away and looked into his eyes. “You don’t mind if I leave now, do you? I haven’t seen Adin in, like, forever. We have a lot of catching up to do.” She started to turn around before he responded, her body already wanting to be in Adin’s arms.

River grabbed her arm, and she turned back around to face him. “Even though I’m happy because you’re happy, I still think you should be careful, Legacy. I’m not sure what to think about all of this yet.”

She nodded, though she didn’t know what to make of that. River had said before that even though he wasn’t in love with her anymore, he was still possessive. She figured this was just part of his possessive nature. He’d just have to learn how to let that feeling go where Adin was concerned.  No need in voicing that now, though. River would learn how to deal in his own time. Maybe focusing on Calli would help him with that. She gave him an acknowledging smile and turned back around, and he followed her out of the kitchen.

She walked up to Adin and Calli. They were talking and laughing, sitting on the stairs in the foyer.

“Hey, guys, we want to go on a picnic tomorrow. It’s almost spring and the weather is supposed to be nice,” she said with a smile. “How’s that sound?”

“Sounds great,” Adin murmured, standing up and stepping over to Legacy.

“Sure,” Calli said with a shrug.

She glanced at River, and he was watching Calli. She figured he was interpreting her every move. She’d have to have a talk with him about reading her energy, though. It wouldn’t be fair if he did that. “You can call Seth and see if he wants to bring Kate,” she told him.

River nodded. He noticed her eyeing him, but he turned his attention back to Calli. Yep. She would definitely have to talk to him about abusing his little ability.

“How about noon?” she asked, and everyone nodded. “Okay. Why don’t you ride with River, Calli?” she said, nonchalantly.

She glanced at him and smiled. “Okay.”

He smiled softly at her and flashed his eyes at Legacy. She gave him a reproachful look, and he looked at her with an innocent expression. He knew she knew what he was doing. Now that her immediate work was done, they said their goodbyes and left.

“What where you talking to River about?” Adin asked once they were in the car.

“Um, nothing. He just has the hots for Calli.” 

“Oh.” He chuckled.

“That’s why I wanted to do the picnic. He’s helped me out so much, so I’d like to be able to help him out too.” And, apparently, she’d have to help him be noble with his ability.

“That’s very sweet of you, princess,” he murmured, reaching over and taking her hand into his. He kissed the back of it and placed their joined hands in his lap. “I want to take you out tonight,” he said, looking at her. “We haven’t gone out on a date since before Thanksgiving.”

She smiled at him. “I’d love that.”

“Good.” He nodded with a smile.

“So, where are we going?”

“Um, I don’t care.” He shrugged. “As long as I’m with you.”

She giggled. “Well, how about seafood?”

“Mmmm…lobster sounds great,” he murmured as he pulled into her driveway. He got out and opened her door. “Can we make it early? Say five o’clock?” he asked, walking her to the front door.

“Sure,” she said as she frowned at him. “Are you not staying?” He had been gone for so long. She didn’t want to spend one more minute away from him.

He shook his head. “You were the first stop I made yesterday. I still have to tell my mom and grandma the good news. Besides,” he whispered, stepping up to her, “I have to get ready for my hot date.” Bending his head down to her ear, he whispered, “Wear something nice.”

“Okay,” she whispered, trying not to giggle as he wrapped his arms around her.

“I’ll see you at five.” He kissed her on her lips and on her forehead and walked over to his grandma’s house.

She walked into her house with a true feeling of happiness. The first time in nearly two months she’d felt whole.

Once inside, she rummaged around in her closet trying to find something to wear. Adin wanted her to dress up, and she was eager to oblige him. But nothing looked right. When she felt irritated that she’d have to settle for something less than perfect, she remembered that Calli had a killer new dress. When she got out of the shower, she called and asked her if she could borrow it, though she knew she wouldn’t mind. Calli agreed to bring it right over.

“Come in,” she answered when she knocked on her bedroom door.

“Here,” she mumbled as she walked in and placed the dress on the bed. “I brought the matching shoes too. You know I had to buy new shoes when I bought the dress.” She giggled.

“Those are adorable!” The dress was off-white and the matching shoes had a little bow on them. The color of the dress and shoes would go great with her new pearls.

“Yeah. At least
you
can put them to use.” She pretended to scowl.

She laughed, though she was sure she’d be able to wear her new outfit soon too.

“So where is he taking you?” Calli asked as she sat on the bed.

“I mentioned seafood and he told me to dress up, so I think we’re going to Cajun’s.”

“Mmmm, yum!”

She wagged her eyebrows as Legacy sat beside her and grabbed her nail polish.

“This must be so—I don’t know—weird for you. I mean, I’m so happy for you, but this is just so weird.”

“Yeah, I think I’m still in shock. Not only is Adin alive, but he’s not bonded to Venus. I’m not bonded to River, and I don’t have to worry about killing Adin—again.” She smiled. “We’re free to be together. There’s always been something we had to deal with, and now all that drama is gone.” It really felt freeing.

“Well, you still have to deal with Hades. I’m sure he’s going to step up his game now that Medusa is dead and he knows about your true abilities.”

“I’m sure you’re right, but I’m not going to worry about him right now. I want to take a little time and enjoy my life again. I haven’t really been able to do that since Adin died.”

“Yeah, I was really worried about you at first. So was River,” Calli said softly, looking down.

Legacy figured she could use this opportunity to get Calli’s thoughts on River. Maybe even tell her how he felt.

“Um, Calli, speaking of River…” Her BFF’s head shot up, and she forced herself not to smile at her eagerness. “You two have spent a lot of time together lately, so I was wondering if you were interested in him. You know, like you were when we first met him.”

She seemed to be groping for words.

Legacy smiled at her. “It’s all right if you are. I don’t love him like that. Adin’s the only man I want to be with.”

“Er, well, I try not to think of him like that,” she said timidly.

“Why?” Legacy asked, leaning toward her.

She sighed. “Because he’s been gaga over you ever since we first met. Then I met Zach and pretty much locked away any attraction I felt for River. I just haven’t ever considered unlocking it.” She shook her head, looking away. “That sounds silly.”

“No, it doesn’t.” She titled her head to meet her gaze. “You just didn’t think it was a possibility, so you pushed it out of your mind. I get that. But now that River isn’t taken—like he put it in the summer—then he’s going to start dating again. All I’m saying is if you think you’re interested, now’s the time to see.”

“Has he told you he’s going to start dating again?” Legacy detected a hint of sadness in her tone and tried not to smile.

“Not in so many words.” She hesitated. “But he is interested in someone.”

Calli’s face fell as she said that. “Oh.”

“Yeah, he’s told me about this girl he can’t stop thinking about.”

She groaned and looked away. It was obvious. She liked him too.

“So you
are
interested,” she challenged. “You wouldn’t be acting like that if you weren’t.”

“What does it matter if he’s already found someone he wants to be with?” She shrugged her shoulders, looking down. “When he finds someone he likes, he’s like a dog with a damn bone,” she grumbled.

“Do you like him, Calli?” Legacy asked softly. She wanted her to confess it too.

“Ugh. Yes,” she said, looking back at her. “Every time he touches me, I get goose bumps! It seemed like—at least lately—he was more attentive around me. Sure, he’s a gentleman, so I tried not to think too much of it, but when he opens the door for me, he puts his hand on my back—he didn’t do that before. When I hug him, he holds on a little longer than he used to. When we talk, he brushes his hand against my arm or shoulder. Even when he was chaining me to the wall of his basement, it seemed like he was trying very hard not to hurt me.” Her voice got softer. “I was screaming at him, and he wouldn’t look at me, but I could see him. His eyes were so sad, and his hands were shaking. It really seemed like he hated what he was doing to me. He never left me alone with Medusa. If she was in the room, so was he. Then after she left and he told me what was going on, it still seemed like he was scared for me.” She stopped, shaking her head. “He’s the real reason I didn’t start dating again after I got over Zach,” she mumbled.