Sever (The Ever Series Book 3) (23 page)

“My grandmother lives an hour outside of Bordeaux,” Alex explains.

My mom taps her cheek and smiles.

“I
thought
I heard a slight accent.”

Taking a cup of yogurt from the refrigerator, I stifle a sigh. This has been a strange morning.

“Mom? You want toast? A bagel?”

“Um, a bagel. Alex? Are you sure you don’t want anything?”

“I’m fine, but thank you again.”

“So how did you two meet? Let me guess … Wren’s art class? I didn’t think seniors and juniors had so many classes together.”

I cringe at her vague allusion to Ever.

“We had French together very briefly, and I’m ashamed to say I pulled your daughter’s pigtails.”

My mom laughs.

“Metaphorically speaking, of course,” he smiles.

“I would hope so. Wren hasn’t worn pigtails since sixth grade.”

“Now, that is something I would enjoy seeing.”

“You’re in luck, Alex.”

“Mom!” I say sharply, watching in despair as she starts walking toward the living room.

She comes back a second later holding her purse. Sitting down at the kitchen table next to Alex, she takes out her overstuffed wallet containing an embarrassing assortment of pictures. The few photos with my father in them have been folded over to hide his existence, and for the first time I think I understand how my mom feels. When Alex reaches out for the wallet, I set the bagels and cream cheese on the table before trying to swipe the photos out of his hand. Of course, he’s too fast for me.

“Mom, I’m confiscating those pictures,” I growl.

I watch warily as Alex flips through the pictures. When he stops at the one of me from fourth grade, I blush. I’m missing my two front teeth, and I’m wearing pigtails.

“You can have that one if you want,” my mom laughs. “I have a million copies.”

Alex slides the picture from the plastic covering and places it in his own wallet before looking up at my mom.

“Caroline, I would like to take your daughter to her school dance this evening.”

“A
re you out of your
damn
mind?” Lindsay gasps shrilly. “
I
get back together with my boy toy just in time for prom—and then you manage to break up with the hottie of the century? What
the
hell?”

The woman working on Lindsay’s nails frowns as water splashes from the bowl Lindsay’s fingers are dipped in.

“Oh Wren, I’m so sorry!” Taylor says.

“Worst timing
ever
!” Ashley groans.

“I know,” I mumble. “I feel awful. I mean, I wasn’t going to go at all, but this is probably going to be the last time we’re all together.”

“So what happened with you guys?” Taylor asks.

“It’s a really long, complicated, messed up story.”

“Yeah? So spit it out already!” Lindsay commands.

I blow out a breath.

“You guys remember that guy Alex? He was here last year for, like, a week.”

Taylor’s eyes widen. She’s thinking of our conversation about Alex the day we got ice cream and almost got swallowed by an enormous crack in 23
rd
. I’m relieved when she doesn’t say anything.

“You mean the random hottie with copper hair, wicked blue eyes, smokin’ body? The one who was totally into you?” Lindsay demands.

I nod. No point now in trying to deny it.

“I
knew
it!” Lindsay shrieks.

“So, I ran into him last night …” I shake my head. “And things kind of got out of control.”

“Out of control how?” Ashley asks, gesturing for me to hurry up.

“I …” I look down, blushing. “Well, I kissed him.”

“What the
what
? And you were giving
moi
grief about that Victor guy?” Lindsay asks, really on a roll now.

“I know, I know. I didn’t mean for any of it to happen, but … it did.”

“What are you going to do?” Taylor asks gently.

I shake my head.

“I don’t think there’s anything I can do. Ever won’t talk to me—and I don’t blame him.”

In reality, he
may
want me dead, but how can I tell my friends something so crazy when I don’t even want to believe it? Ashley comes over and wraps her arm around me.

“Don’t smudge your nails!” Lindsay yips.

“Yes, Mother!” Ashley grins before turning to me. “Don’t worry—we’ll all dance with you.”

I bite my lip. There’s really no good way to break this next piece of news.

“Are you
serious
?” Lindsay screeches before I can even get a word out. “You’re going to
prom
with the guy you hooked up with? Even
I
think that’s
cold-blooded, Wren.”

Taylor and Ashley stare at me, judgment hidden behind their eyes.

“I know!” I nearly scream.

“Does that mean you’re giving up on you and Ever?” Taylor asks quietly.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath, trying not to cry.

“I don’t think I have a choice. I think I’ve lost him.”

“Damn,” Lindsay says, blowing at her nails. “I hope this new guy is worth it, girlfriend.”

I look down at my blood-red fingernails. She’s missing the point. It’s
me
I don’t think is worth it.

***

I’m sitting in my desk chair in front of the mirror on the closet door, and my mom has just started her magic, winding my hair into a complicated braided chignon I could never do on my own. Taking a clip from between her lips, she looks up and smiles at our reflections.

“Is it just me, or does it feel like time is moving really fast?”

“Too fast,” I agree.

“Wren? Are you sure you’re all right?”

“No.”

When I force a smile, her brow crinkles.

“Are you sure you want to go tonight?”

I nod. I’m not getting a do-over if I skip prom. Besides, I need something from the real world to hold onto. When I first found out that Ever wasn’t from this world, I remember thinking that things couldn’t get any weirder. But since that moment, my life has been flipped upside down more times than I can count. I can’t even tell anymore which way is up, or if there is such a thing. It feels like I came back from Ever and Alex’s world a different person. A person I don’t even understand.

Looking into the mirror, I wonder if this is what it would be like to lose myself and become Irisa’s puppet—to feel like everything is spinning out of control. The only problem is that
I
did this. No one else did. I
chose
Alex.

Thinking of Ever—and the terrible look on his face when he realized it was
me
and not Irisa kissing Alex—I feel a tear slip down my cheek.

I love Ever. I will always love him. And I still wish I could turn off or forget my feelings for Alex, but I can’t. He haunted me this past year, and now that he’s back I can’t deny what I feel for him.

“You know, when I was a little older than you are now, I was in love with two different boys,” my mom says softly.

My head jerks up, my eyes locking onto my mom’s until she pushes my head forward again and continues working on my hair.

“You never told me that!”

“Well, I’m telling you now.”

“And?” I gasp, forced to stare at my lap as her fingers deftly divide my hair into sections.

“I was in college, my first time away from home …”

I listen, my eyes down, as my mom describes her life long before I was born. Two men. One reserved and quiet, the other arrogant and quick-witted. One of them with blond hair and deep blue eyes, the other dark-haired and green-eyed. She loved the first, but the second consumed her, she whispers, clearly lost in thought. Suddenly I feel myself going pale.

Dark hair, green eyes, handsome, arrogant.

“My father,” I swallow. “You’re talking about my father.”

I look up into the mirror as she pins my hair, and she nods. Oh …
wow
.

“You were in love with both of them?” I whisper with a desperation that scares me.

“I was.”

“Who was the other guy?”

She looks down.

“His name was James.”

She touches my hair. Then I watch as her hand darts to the corner of her eye. My heart speeds up.

“How did you know you made the right choice?”

She smiles.

“I got you.”

This is the second time she’s said that, and it makes me wonder which of us she’s trying to convince.

“Okay. But have you thought about looking him up now?”

“Oh, honey. It’s ancient history. He probably wouldn’t even remember my name after all these years. Besides, I’m sure he’s married, and I’m seeing—”

I grab her hand before she can say
Richard
.

“Mom, time is nothing. Believe me. If you really, really loved this guy, then look him up. Please. For me.”

When she laughs, I squeeze her hand. I need to believe that my mom has a chance at a happy ending, no matter what happens to me.

“Okay, okay.” She steps back. “There. You’re all done.”

Standing up, I study the result of my mom’s skill. My hair is perfect; the dress Audra picked out is beautiful; the black diamond studs my mom gave me last year are perfect. I frown. Everything is perfect, but something’s missing.

My infinity pendant and the matching engagement ring. I’ve given up any sign of Ever’s love for me.

Closing my eyes, I can see him standing at the foot of the stairs looking up at me. He organized an entire party after I missed junior prom—and now I’m going to senior prom with someone else. Not just someone else. Alex. There’s only one thing I could have done that’s worse—and that’s go to prom with Victor.

“You look so beautiful, sweetie!”

I smile crookedly. She always says that.

“Thanks, Mom.”

“Hold on one second. I’ll be back.”

Watching as she rushes out of my room, I realize it’s up to me to save my mom and everyone else—including people I’ve never met and never will meet—from Victor. I don’t think I’m a savior or a hero, but if I can make a difference, then I have to make the choice that will spare everyone else.

My mom comes back into my room holding a thick envelope with a red bow around it. When she hands it to me, I look down and raise an eyebrow. It has the logo for the University of Oregon. I shake my head.

“I don’t get it.”

“Open it.”

My heart starts to pound. All my friends already know where they’re going in the fall, but when I decided last year—at the last minute—to apply to Oregon schools, I made a decision: if I didn’t hear back in time, I would work and take classes at the community college near our house until I could transfer.

“Mom, I missed the deadline for U of O. Remember? I got that letter saying I could reapply for winter term?”

“Wren! You are ruining your birthday present! Open it already!”

I open the envelope slowly and look down at the first sheet of paper. I let out a scream before I can stop myself.

“How is this even possible?” I gasp as I skim the letter.

I look up and see my mom beaming.

“Richard knows the president of the university.”

My smile fades.

“You mean …
he
got me in?”

“No, baby.
You
got you in. Richard just pulled some strings so that they didn’t have to defer your acceptance. … Your father and I discussed it, and your first year is paid for!”

My head starts spinning. I just got the best news and the worst news in one sitting. I could be going to school with Taylor in the fall, but my mom’s evil, un-human boyfriend was the one who got me in.

“Wren? What’s wrong? I thought you’d be thrilled!”

I force a smile and throw my arms around her.

“I am! It’s amazing. I’m just a little … surprised.”

Surprised, excited, freaked out, angry—these don’t even begin to cover it.

“Well, they made special allowances, so you should respond as soon as possible.”

“How about after prom?” I smile, hugging her tighter. “Thanks, Mom. You’re the best.”

“Remember to call your father and thank him, too. And Richard the next time you see him.”

I cringe. If Richard is a friend of the president of the university I’m going to attend, then how far does this go? How many part-time humans are out there, waiting to take over the world when Victor ascends the throne?

“I will,” I lie as I pull away from her.

“What time do you leave?”

“I think Alex is picking me up in about a half hour or so,” I answer numbly, my mind still in a fog.

“You’d better get dressed. And remember—I want to get some pictures before you go.” She pauses with a funny expression clouding her features, and I see a fuzzy image of Ever in her mind. “You know, I can’t help feeling a little bad that you’re not going with Ever.”

It feels like a hand just squeezed my heart.

“Mom! I feel guilty enough.”

I wince. Actually, it’s not possible for me to feel guilty enough.

“Oh, sweetie. I didn’t mean it that way. It’s just that he was your first boyfriend.”

Was
. Like he doesn’t exist anymore.

“Mom, I still love him,” I whisper.

“I know, Wren. I know. A part of you will always love him.”

Like I still love James
, she thinks with a wistful expression.

I want to tell her—again—to find James, but I can’t. I just have to trust that she’ll be true to her heart. I want to do the same, but I don’t know if I can trust my own heart anymore … because it’s telling me I love Ever
and
Alex.

And I know that I’m not going to have some convenient little epiphany that I really love one of them like a friend or a brother. My heart has been severed in two. I love Ever and Alex equally, even if Ever now hates me. And maybe that’s my punishment: to lose them both over and over. First Alex when he saved me, and now I’ve lost Ever
because
I love Alex.

“Stop frowning, you serious little thing! Make this your night. You just turned eighteen. This is the beginning of your life, Wren. Enjoy it.”

“Thanks.”

I smile as my mom starts walking toward the door. Remembering that my contact with Ever and Alex has changed me, I reach deep down and try something I’ve never thought of trying before.

“Mom?”

When she turns back, I look into her eyes.