Love You to Death (25 page)

What was he doing?

“Looks like they wanna be alone,” Jesse
laughed knowingly.

My heart deflated. I had to bite my lower lip
to stop it from quivering. Suddenly, Jesse was yanked back, almost
taking me with him. Cort stood behind him, a handful of tuxedo
jacket in his fist.

“Beat it, jerk wad,” he growled.

Jesse started to argue, but Cort whispered
something into his ear and Jesse took off, not bothering to look
back.

“What is goin’ on?” He barked at me. “You and
Gideon should be dancin’. How did you end up with Jesse? Where’s
Gideon?”

“Gideon left me for Stephanie,” I told him,
trying not to burst into tears. Maggie came over, looking
worried.

“What happened?” she asked.

“Gideon left with Stephanie,” I told her,
barely holding back the tears.

“I go to the bathroom for five minutes and
everything goes to hell.” She threw up her arms.

“I’m gonna call it a night guys.” I tossed
Maggie a crushed look.

“No way.” She took me by the wrist. “We’ll be
right back,” she told Cort as she dragged me off. The bathroom was
empty, but Maggie checked under the stalls anyway.

“Okay, tell me what happened.”

I explained everything in less than a minute.
Maggie cursed up one side and down another.

“That girl is a friggin’ menace!” she
shouted, caught herself, and lowered her voice. “For years she
baited Gideon. Came on to him, chased him, and finally wore him
down. And that’s only because Gideon and Cort’s parents died in a
car accident five years ago and he was so out of it.”

“Oh no.” I remembered the photo in the
office, the laughing couple. My heart went out to Gideon.

“It just about killed us all. They were great
people, Joe and Louise. Gideon was so lost without them. He shut
down. He didn’t go anywhere or hang out with his friends, not even
Cort. All he did was work and go to school. Then Stephanie swooped
in and got him at his weakest. They dated for about six months
until Gideon came to his senses. Well, more like he caught her at a
party with Jesse...in the bedroom...in the dark. He dumped her so
fast she didn’t know what day it was. Then he turned hermit again.
Sissy had to threaten to disown him to get him to go with Cort to
Baltimore.”

“She cheated on him with Jesse?” My mouth was
hanging open. Stephanie definitely had something wrong with
her.

“She just liked the Shepherd name and the
money. She never loved him. Gideon knows that. I don’t know what
he’s doin’ out on the balcony with her. It makes no sense. Are you
sure you told me everything?” She tapped her freshly manicured nail
on her chin.

“Well...” I came clean and confessed to
trying to make Gideon jealous and Jesse trying to kiss me.

“Oh, Arden, that was the worst thing you
could’ve done,” she moaned.

“Did I know the story? No, I didn’t.” I
defended myself. It didn’t matter though, I felt horrible. I hated
playing games. In fact, I normally didn’t. I don’t know why I did
it.
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

“Okay. Here’s what you do. You go out on the
balcony and push Stephanie off. Then you grab Gideon by the lapels
and lay a big wet kiss on him.”

It took me a second to figure out she was
kidding. Her voice was that serious.

“Seriously, Mags, what can I do? He must
still have feelings for her.” I pulled a handful of tissues from
the box on the counter and dabbed at my eyes. The last thing I
needed was two black eyes dripping drown my face. “It’s probably
for the best. I don’t belong with Gideon. He deserves someone
better...” Someone honest. Someone single.

“Shut up,” Maggie ordered. “You’re the best
for him. Since you came here he’s actually not working around the
clock. He’s enjoying life again. Instead of spending day and night
locked in that hospital, he went swimming, and riding, and spent
all day Sunday teaching you to drive. I’d think you the suckiest
driver ever if I didn’t recognize the signs of a woman’s
intelligence at work. You milked that pretty good. I was proud of
you.” She nodded appreciatively. “He really likes you. I can
totally tell. And so can my parents and Cort and even Sissy. You
two belong together,” she said confidently, tossing her long hair
over her bare shoulder.

You two belong together.

I had no right to feel so happy about that. I
had no justification to stay here and try to make it work when I
already knew it never could. It never would. Not as long as Cass
was alive.

“Look, it isn’t like we’re talkin’ marriage
here. You don’t have to drag out the old ball and chain and get
hitched or nothin’. I’m talkin’ about datin’ the guy. Just let it
happen, see where the road takes you.” She took my hands in hers,
giving them a reassuring squeeze. “We all know you got a story,
Arden. You’re runnin’ from something or someone. But I can
guarantee you this...Gideon Shepherd is the finest, kindest, most
honest man you’ll ever know.” She met my gaze and held the stare.
“Next to my Cort,” she added with a dazzling smile.

She had a point. It wouldn’t hurt to be with
Gideon. Just for a little while, until...I don’t know. Forever
didn’t seem long enough for me. Maybe I could tell him I didn’t
believe in marriage. I just wanted to live in sin with him. Some
people did that. My mother would spin in her grave. On second
thought, no, she wouldn’t. She’d be happy that I escaped Cass and
found true happiness. She wouldn’t bother judging me for how I had
to get it.

All of the sudden I felt a surge of
confidence. In that moment, I realized I loved Gideon, and if I
wanted him, I was going to have to fight for him.

“I’m ready,” I told Maggie. I hurried from
the bathroom, power walking past a surprised Cort. Maggie was
practically running to keep up. I could hear the rustle of her
skirt. I crossed the room to the open the double doors leading to
the balcony, not stopping until I saw Gideon, standing alone, by
the railing. He looked forlornly out over the city of
Lexington.

“Gideon,” I breathed out, drawing another
breath to tell him how I felt.

He turned at the sound of me calling his
name. “All done with your dance?” he asked. There was a distinct
sharpness to his voice.

“Gideon, I—”

“I don’t care, Arden. I’m fine. Go back
inside.” He raised a bottle of beer to his lips and took a long
pull.

“Don’t tell me what to do,” I snapped. “Just
shut up and listen.” I wet my lips and took a step closer to him.
We were only inches apart. “I don’t like Jesse. He’s a pig. I only
did what I did because I saw you and Stephanie glued together. It
made me furious. I was childish and stupid, I know, but I couldn’t
help myself. I wanted...I wanted you to dance with
me
. Not
her.”

I was wringing my hands, nervously looking
over the railing. People and cars moved around, but I barely
noticed them. Seconds ticked by and Gideon was silent. Unable to
take it anymore, I twisted my neck to see what he was doing. He was
slowly walking to a side table to carefully set the bottle of beer
down.

I watched him give me a steady measured look.
Then he took three steps, pulled me into his arms, and finally, at
last, kissed me.

It was everything I thought it would be and
more. His lips were warm and soft, moving urgently over mine. He
wasn’t hurting me, but he wasn’t gentle. It was like he was
channeling all his passion into this one kiss. Every bone in my
body was melting. I molded myself against him, hanging on for dear
life. My hands gripped his shoulders, drawing him closer. He had
his arms secured around my waist, locking me in place.

I’d never been kissed like this before.
Everything seemed to stand still. Nothing existed in time except
for me and Gideon. Right here. Right now. I knew I’d finally found
the one I was going to love forever.

Gideon ended the kiss and leaned back. I was
swimming in haze of ecstasy. I thought I might liquefy onto the
concrete floor, dissolve into a puddle, or fall into a coma or
something tragic because this just couldn’t be happening. It was
too good. But Gideon held onto me, casting out with his soulful
eyes and reeling me in. He placed a kiss on my forehead, dropping
down to the tip of my nose then each cheek and finally placing a
quick kiss on my lips.

“I’m sorry,” I murmured as I pressed my face
to his chest.

“I’m sorry, too,” he whispered into my ear,
rubbing my back. “I was so mad at myself for lettin’ you dance with
him. Then I was mad at you for fallin’ for him, like all the other
girls—”

“I didn’t fall for him,” I corrected.

“I know, but my heart was ignoring what my
head was tellin’ me.”

“We’re a couple of idiots,” I said, laughing.
He laughed too, his chest rumbling in my ear.

“What a birthday,” I sighed to myself.

“It’s your birthday?” He stepped out of our
embrace to hold me at arm’s length. “Why didn’t you say so?”

“It’s no big deal.” I shrugged.

“What? Of course it is.” He looped his arm
around my waist. “You’re freezin’. Let’s get you inside.”

Maggie and Cort were just inside the door,
waiting. They looked like they won the lottery when they spotted
us.

“Hey, did ya’ll know it was Arden’s
birthday?” Gideon told them.

“No!” Maggie huffed. “Why didn’t you say
somethin’? We’d have made a cake and bought presents.”

“How old are you?” Cort asked.

“You never ask a lady her age.” Maggie rolled
her eyes.

“It’s no big deal guys. I’m nineteen. It
isn’t like a milestone or anything.”

“It’s a big deal to us,” Gideon said.

“Yeah, now we really have a reason to raise
the roof.” Cort reached out and pinched my cheek with brotherly
affection. “Let’s grab a bottle of bubbly.”

* * * *

We ended up back in our room. The formal
attire was chucked for comfy clothes. Cort had ordered part of the
h'orderves
from the appetizer table to be delivered to the
room along with a plate of petit fours. He and Gideon took two
bottles of Dom Perignon on our way out. I guess it technically
wasn’t stealing since they were the ones paying for the party.

“Here’s to Arden.” Maggie lifted her plastic
cup. “May this year be her best ever. Happy Birthday!”

“To Arden! Happy Birthday.” Cort and Gideon
cheered, plinking their plastic cups to Maggie’s and mine.

“Let’s play a game,” Maggie suggested.

“Does it involve gettin’ naked?” Cort asked,
eyeing Maggie lasciviously.

“If it does, I’m outta here.” Gideon drained
the contents of his cup, lounging on my bed with his long legs
stretched out over the comforter, feet dangling off the edge.

“Later, cowboy.” Maggie winked at Cort, “How
about a nice game of Truth or Dare?”

The boys groaned.

“Aw c’mon, party poopers,” she whined,
batting those big baby blues at Cort. “Just one game.”

“Ahh! Fine. One game.” Cort lunged forward,
rolling Maggie back onto the mattress in a bear hug and smothering
her with kisses.

Maggie squealed happily before sitting up and
situating herself. I sat next to Gideon on the bed, cross legged,
the pleasant buzz of champagne humming in my ears.

“Okay, birthday girl goes first.” She smiled
eagerly at me, “Arden, truth or dare.”

“Dare,” I said quickly.

“Really?” She looked surprised.
“Okay...Umm...I dare you to tell us something about you.”

“That isn’t a dare,” I said.

“Sure it is.”

I looked at Gideon then to Cort. Neither
seemed inclined to agree with me.

“Alright,” I sighed. What was so interesting
about me? “I love Twizzlers.”

Maggie growled in frustration. She didn’t
argue though.

“Interesting,” she said in a tone that
contradicted the statement, “Your turn.”

“Cort, truth or dare?” He raised his brows at
me, surprised. I guess they thought I’d pick Gideon.

“I’m brave...gimme a dare.” He stretched his
arms up over his head, cracking his knuckles.

“I dare you to lick the bar of soap in the
bathroom.”

Maggie erupted beside him, her laughter
tinkling around us. Cort jumped to his feet and headed for the
bathroom. A second later he came out wrestling with the wrapping.
Then, with a steady look at Maggie, he stuck his tongue out,
bringing the bar to his mouth and quickly flicking the tip of his
tongue over the surface.

“Easy,” he bragged, getting ready to toss the
soap.

“Not so fast, Romeo,” I said, stopping him.
“I said lick it, not touch it with the tip of your tongue.”

Cort grimaced. He looked at the soap and
swallowed. He didn’t look so brave now.

“Go ahead, Danger Dan,” Gideon
encouraged.

Cort narrowed his eyes at his brother. Then
he raised the soap to his mouth and licked it end to end. He
immediately started gagging, wiping his tongue with the end of his
shirt. Maggie, still laughing hysterically, handed him a cup of
champagne.

“That was disgusting,” he said between
wipes.

“Guess you’ll pick a truth next time.” I
grinned.

“My turn.” He smiled back at me. Uh-Oh.
“Truth or dare?”

“I already went,” I said.

“No rule says you can’t go again.”

“What? No way. It’s my birthday. Don’t I get
to make the rules?”

He shook his head. “Nice try. Pick one.”

“Fine. Truth.” I didn’t trust him with a
dare. The look in his eyes told me I chose wisely.

“What happened to you that day we found you
in our trailer?”

The smile I was wearing froze on my lips. I
sucked in my breath. This was the last thing I expected. Cort
wasn’t being mean. I could tell he was simply curious. They all
were. In the last five months no one had asked about what happened.
I figured they were politely waiting for me to spill my guts. I’d
been waiting for them to ask, especially since I put the kibosh on
Stewie and his motor mouth. But I didn’t expect it tonight or that
Cort would be the one asking.