Laney (21 page)

Chapter 23 - The Cookie-Making Gothic Princess

I didn’t want to get out of the car, but I knew I had to. As I started to open my door, Oliver grabbed my arm and pulled me toward him, laying a fantastic, breathtaking kiss on me.

Then he whispered into my ear, “Don’t say anything about Oscar or the other night.”

I nodded as I tried to recover from that kiss.

Hayden and Lola met us in the driveway. The sight of that dog and her floppy ears made me so happy. I crouched down and she nuzzled into my chest as I scratched behind her ears. She licked my face, which made me laugh, and we headed inside, but not before Hayden wrapped her arms around me in a tight hug. There was a sharp spark between us and we immediately jumped back from each other, letting out a little scream.

“What happened?” Oliver asked, alarmed.

“She shocked me,” we said in unison before we both started laughing.

We walked up the L-shaped path to the entrance. Hayden opened the sage-green front door and Lola scooted past us into the house. The house was warm and it smelled like wood, spices, and cookies. The living room was to the left as we entered. It was decorated in dark wood and leather furniture with accent fabrics in gold, burgundy, plum, and dark green hues. There were bookshelves along one wall that were packed with books. A fireplace was lit and there was a chaise just to the right of it; it looked so comfortable and inviting.

As we walked beyond the living room, we passed a hallway on the right and a dividing wall on the left that separated the living room from the kitchen. As we entered the kitchen, I thought my eyes were deceiving me. The gothic princess was baking—actually baking! She just didn’t seem like the type. I imagined her more of the store-bought cookie girl, not the actual bake-it-from-scratch type. It was obvious she had made them herself, unless the mess of flour, sugar, eggs, and such across the kitchen counter was just for show. She pulled the most mouthwatering cookies from the oven and began placing them on a cooling rack that was sitting on the kitchen island.

“Yum,” Hayden said, taking two already cooled cookies and handing one to me.

“Thanks,” I said quietly. I took a nibble and my senses were floored. Never had I had such a fantastic chocolate chip cookie. I finished it, trying not to totally inhale it. I couldn’t wait for another.

The kitchen and dining room were decorated in the same colors as the living room with multi-color bead-trimmed valances over the two windows; one window was over the kitchen sink and the other to the right of the back door—which was between the two windows on the wall opposite the front door.

Julz turned her attention to us after placing the last of the cookies on the cooling rack. Her amethyst chaos was pulled back into a ponytail, strands falling around her pretty face. She had a cream-colored apron on over her jeans and T-shirt. The apron was covered in dancing pickles wearing top hats.

“Hi,” she said in a cheerful voice. “I didn’t expect you two so early.” Her smile was big and seemed almost strained.

Holy Jekyll and Hyde!
My eyes had to have been huge. I was expecting the snotty attitude I had gotten the first time I’d met her.

“How was your cookie, Laney?” she asked, holding the smile in place. She was so pretty, unusual even, with her chaotic amethyst-streaked hair. I had expected her eyes to be purple, but now, seeing her with her sunglasses off for the first time, I could see that they weren’t and I was actually a little disappointed. Her eyes were brown, just a solid medium brown.

“Oh, it was great,” I responded, still surprised by how pleasant she was.

“Here. Have another,” she said, handing me one more cookie. “Would you like anything, Oliver?”

“No, thanks. I’m going to get our things out of the car.” Then he whispered into my ear, “You okay here for a few minutes?”

I nodded, still floored. Speaking of floors, something I noticed: The floors were covered in a mix of slate tiles through the front of the house to the kitchen. It even ran down the hall. I had noticed the same tile around the fireplace.

Oliver went out the front door and Hayden took my hand, leading me to the living room. I glanced back at Julz who was staying behind in the kitchen. She flashed me a wicked smile; a smile I knew held a secret—or even several secrets, for all I knew. It was an evil smile with narrowed eyes—a chill ran through me.

Jekyll and Hyde
, I thought again. I didn’t trust her; there was something about her….

I made myself comfortable in that very inviting spot on the chaise by the fire. The fabric was soft, almost velvety. It was cushier than regular furniture and fancier, too, with its golden fabric and twisted fringe that surrounded the bottom and brushed the floor. I munched on my cookie with Lola lying across my feet on the floor. Hayden started to chatter on and on about a book she was reading and she asked me questions about school. She, too, was fascinated with astronomy and she told me that Oliver had taught her a lot about it.

I watched her closely.
Her dad is a vampire; does she know?
There were so many more questions I wanted to ask about her, but Oliver had said no. She looked just like any other beautiful teenage girl and acted like one, too. There was nothing about her that would make me think she was different. She did look like Oscar. There was no doubt in my mind; I knew she was his.

The fireplace crackled as I scanned the room and enjoyed the best cookie ever. A dark leather couch sat in front of a window on the same wall the front door was on, and a matching loveseat sat at an angle with its back against the front entrance creating a makeshift entry hallway. There were large, wrought iron and dark wood end tables on either side of the couch. Each end table held a large, brushed bronze lamp with a fancy decorated shade. Maybe Julz was very crafty?

When I had finished my cookie, I left the cozy spot and scanned the bookshelves while listening to Hayden babble. The shelves were filled with book after book about vampires, werewolves, dragons, and anything else having to do with mythical creatures and the sky.

Mythical, my butt; I’ve got my very own mythical creature and he’s gorgeous and real.

I scanned the fireplace with the huge wrought iron scroll above it and noticed there were four framed pictures on the mantel. The first looked like a recent one of Hayden with Julz and Isaac sitting on a large rock, maybe at the beach; I couldn’t tell. The second was an older one of the three of them. Julz looked the same, Isaac looked younger, and Hayden appeared to be about three. They were in the midst of a bunch of wild flowers. Isaac and Julz were sitting on the ground and Hayden was standing between them with her arms wrapped around both of their necks. They looked very happy and they were dressed in spring colors, the girls in flowing, pastel floral dresses and Isaac in khaki shorts and a light, thin-striped, blue and white, button-up shirt left untucked. They were all barefoot.

The third was what looked like a prom picture of Julz and Isaac. Something about her looked different. She didn’t seem as pretty or thin and they were both missing their colored hair. Her hair was much longer, about midway down her back, very curly like it was now, but a darker brown, and she had bangs, rather high bangs that arced into a wave that I imagine took lots of hairspray to hold there. Isaac’s hair was longer in the back than the front, almost a mullet, but not quite. It looked like it might have even had light highlights in it. He was wearing a tuxedo with tails. I was starting to believe their ages. Julz was wearing a shin-length shimmery blue ruffled and black lace strapless dress. It was ugly, really ugly. She also had on black heels and a big, obnoxious corsage on her wrist. The background was a fake city scene that looked like it was made from black poster board and aluminum foil. The entire thing was gaudy and screamed 90s.

The last picture was of Oliver with his stunning smile, holding a baby in his arms who was about six months old. They were outside; the picture was taken fairly close up and they were both looking up at the camera. It was obvious from the eyes that the baby was Hayden. Oliver looked exactly the same—gorgeous. It made me wonder if vampires could even have babies. I had my suspicions about Julz. Knowing what I now knew about vampires, I was pretty sure she was one.
Maybe they could only have babies with their own kind…not with a mortal like me.
I felt a twinge of sadness at the thought.

Just then Oliver walked in. He was talking with Isaac and Felix who had apparently just arrived.

“Dad, you’re home!” Hayden squealed and rushed across the room into Isaac’s arms. After her snuggle with Isaac, she hugged Felix. She was so tiny engulfed in his arms.

They both said “Hello” to me. Isaac headed off to the kitchen saying something about cookies and Felix helped Oliver down the hall with the large ice chest.

I settled back onto the chaise next to Lola who had made herself comfortable on it. The others joined us in the living room. Oliver sat at the foot of the chaise where a little patch of room was left. Lola was a big dog. They chatted with each other and I scanned each one of them to see if I could pick out vampire traits. I already assumed Julz was; it was Isaac I had my doubts about.

The conversation turned to an invitation. Felix and Isaac were in a band and they were going to be playing in our town in a few days. They invited us as a couple and Oliver turned to me and asked if I’d like to go.

“Sure, why not?” I said with sarcastic enthusiasm. He narrowed his eyes at me, but kept a smile.

Julz was sitting on her feet beside Isaac on the couch, no longer wearing her dancing pickle apron, when I noticed her get Oliver’s attention and gesture out of the room.

Oliver kissed my forehead. “I’ll be back in a few minutes,” he said and I watched him follow Julz down the hall. The look on Isaac’s face as he watched them head down the hall piqued my curiosity.

I pretended to listen to Felix talk for a few minutes, while continuing to give Lola more love. Felix was on the loveseat, his arm across the back and his immense body took up almost all of it. Hayden was perched on the arm of the loveseat with her bare feet pressed against one of his thighs and her elbows on her knees, her face resting in her hands. She was intent on every word that he spoke. Isaac sat alone on the couch where Julz had left him. Felix and Isaac were talking about their tour schedule when I asked where the bathroom was.

“First door on the left,” Hayden answered from her spot next to Felix. She pointed without even looking at me.

Lola stayed where she was and I could hear Felix’s deep booming voice and Hayden’s giggles as I snuck past the bathroom and on down the hall.

I found a bedroom on the right with the door open a few inches. I peeked in and instantly saw Oliver sitting on the foot of a bed, his back to me, with Julz standing in front of him between his legs. My heart started to pound. Their fingers were laced, palms together and he was staring up into her eyes.

Nothing ever between them?
I felt a burst of red hot fury run through me.
How could he? How could I be such an idiot!
A lump formed in my throat and tears welled up in my eyes. I thought I was going to throw up.

Julz spoke: “How long will you torture yourself? How long can you bear to be with her when you crave her?” Her eyes fluttered to the door where I was watching from and immediately back to Oliver. “How can the two of you be together when one craves the other’s blood?”

I choked back a cry and turned and ran to the bathroom. I locked the door and sat on the edge of the tub. I started sobbing, trying to be quiet so the acute vampire ears in the house wouldn’t hear me. The pain in my chest was so terrible, I couldn’t breathe. I began to gasp. I felt like my world was dying, slowly, torturously. It hurt so bad to think of him with someone else, of him not with me.
What did she mean ‘How long will he torture himself?’ I’m torture? He craves me? Should I be afraid of him? I’ve never felt afraid and right now I feel pissed and hurt.
I wanted to go home, alone. I looked around the bathroom. There was a small window above the shower. It would be a tight squeeze. I could probably get through it, but I probably couldn’t get away. No, I’m stuck here with them.

There was a quiet knock on the door.

“Laney,” Oliver’s voice said from the other side of the door, “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” my voice cracked. I desperately wiped the tears from my face. “I’ll be out in a minute.” I rinsed my face with some cold water and blew my nose. I took several deep breaths and hoped I could keep it together long enough to get out of here. My eyes were a little puffy, my nose was red, and my head was starting to hurt. I came out and he was leaning against the wall opposite the bathroom door.

His emerald eyes searched mine. “Let’s take a walk,” he said, taking my hand in his.

Crap!

I made sure my phone was in my back pocket. I had charged it in the car but it was close to dying again.
Maybe I could make a break for it and call someone to come get me.
Yeah, right. He probably has dog senses and could smell me out. Plus, where the hell would I go? He knows where everyone I know lives.

He called Lola to go with us.

Great. Now I’ll never get away.

Lola stayed right beside me as we walked through the neighborhood, her big, floppy ears bouncing as she trotted along.

“You’re upset. I can feel it. What happened?”

Damn him and his freakin’ ability.
I tried to think of a bunch of different things, hoping to throw him off.
Should I lie? Tell the truth? What do I do?
“I’m not feeling well,” I lied.
Can he sense it’s a lie?

He didn’t say anything, just stared down at the ground as we walked.

Yep, I’m pretty sure he knows I just lied. Crap!
I did feel like I was going to throw up and now my head was killing me, so it wasn’t a complete lie.

We walked the rest of the way back to the house in silence. He was still holding my hand, but I wasn’t holding his back. I wanted to jerk it out of his and scream.