Shadow Keeper (6 page)

“A girl?” she repeated.

“Yes, Mom. Is it so hard to believe that a girl actually came to see me?”

“No, it’s just that this is the first time, and I’m not really certain how I feel about you having a girl in your room.”

“Jeez. We were in there barely two minutes when Grandma got all hyper and sent Krystal in to check on us.”

“I’m done with this.” Grandma grabbed the loaf of bread and pulled out a couple slices. “Ellie, he’s your son. Just tell me what the rules are. Girls in his room—yes or no?”

“I don’t know.” Mom closed her eyes and rubbed her fingers through her curly red hair. Her eyes opened and she looked directly at me “No. No girls in your room. I’m certain it was completely innocent this time, but things can happen.”

“Oh, Mom.” My eyes rolled to the top of my head. “Save that speech for Krystal when she starts dating.”

“Dear lord.” Mom covered her face with both hands. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready for my baby girl going out with boys.”

The phone in the living room rang. Mom dropped her hands to her sides. “Who could be calling this time of night?”

“I’ll get it,” I said.

“No.” Grandma flipped the dial for the stovetop. “Let your mom get it. You and I need to talk.”

Mom glanced at the two of us, but left the room without an argument.

Grandma stuck a piece of cheese between two slices of buttered bread and tossed it in the frying pan before looking at me. “Your mom thinks everything was innocent between you and Lisa, but she didn’t see the two of you groping each other in the living room.”

“Grandma—”

She held up one hand to stop me. “Do you want to look me in the eye and tell me the same thing wasn’t going on in your bedroom?”

I turned away from her scrutinizing stare.

“That’s what I thought. And that’s why I asked you to come back into the living room.”

“It wasn’t like we were going to do anything—not with you and Krystal here. And I knew Mom and Stevie were on the way home.”

“I know, but you just met this girl. She seems like a really sweet young lady. You need to slow down and get to know her first before you get too serious.”

“You’re right, I barely know her.” I let out a long sigh before admitting the rest. “But I really like her.”

“Then slow down.” She turned back to the stove and flipped the sandwich. “I’m certain she’ll be worth the wait.”

I walked up behind her and put my arm around her neck in a fake strangle hold. “Sorry I got mad at you, Grandma. Any other advice?”

“Yes. Wear a condom.”

“Mom!” My mom stood in the middle of the kitchen, her eyes opened wide and her mouth agape.

Grandma and I both broke into laughter, but Mom didn’t look the least bit amused.

“The phone is for you, Brendon,” Mom said. “It’s Lisa.”

That sobered me up quick. I dashed for the living room and grabbed the receiver. From the static on the line, Lisa called from her cell. The reception generally wasn’t good in this area, but I could make out what she said. She wanted me to meet her at the Brooks minimart by the casino, which sat a couple miles up the road. I told her I’d be there in about ten minutes.

Now all I had to do was convince my mom to let me borrow the car. After Grandma’s remark about a condom, that might be a hard sell.

Chapter Seven

I spotted Lisa’s car right away at the minimart. She’d backed into the front row of the parking lot next to a security lamp. The metallic orange Hummer glowed iridescent under the brilliant lighting. I parked the car in an empty space and hurried to her. She rolled down the window and waved her arm, motioning for me to get in on the passenger side.

“Sorry about my grandma,” I said as I crawled into the car. “She’s kind of old fashioned, or maybe just overly protective. She thinks guys shouldn’t have girls in their room.”

“Your grandma is sweet even if she’s overprotective.” She curled one leg under her and turned to face me. “My grandparents live in Florida and I only see them once a year, but when I do, they treat me like I’m still five years old.”

I twisted in the seat so I could see her better. The light shining through the windshield illuminated her face and made her eyes sparkle. Her tongue flitted across her lips. The moisture left on her mouth glistened in the bright glow. I swallowed hard and tried to focus my thoughts. “I see my grandma every day and she still treats me like I’m five. So does my mom.”

“Your mother can’t be as bad as mine.” She rolled her eyes. “If my mom had her way, I wouldn’t date until I was thirty–five.” She stretched her hand toward my chest, but pulled back without touching me.

I wasn’t sure if I should make the next move. She seemed so shy. If I rushed into anything, I might upset her worse than I did in Spanish class. I tried to keep the conversation going. “Does your mom let you date?”

“A little, but only if she knows the person really well. And their parents.” She made that cute little giggle. “And only if she gets to chaperon.”

“I guess my mom isn’t that bad.”

She reached for me again. This time her hand pressed against my chest. Her fingers climbed up to the neck of the clean blue tee shirt I’d put on. Thoughts of moving slow vanished from my mind. I touched the back of her hand and skimmed my palm over the warm, smooth skin of her bare arm.

Her body moved closer. She tucked her fingers beneath the collar band of my shirt and tugged at the neckline. I threaded my fingers through her hair and cupped the back of her head so I could pull her to me.

“You’re too tall.” She pushed me away. “There’s a shadow across your chest and I can’t see you.”

I pulled her back. “This is fine. We don’t need any light.” I was positive I could find her mouth even if it was pitch black inside the car.

She shrugged off my hand and leaned over my body. “Let me recline the seat back. The knobs are down here.” She thrust her hand into the space between the door and seat. Her upper body squirmed in my lap as she fumbled with the buttons.

I struggled for control, but had already lost that battle. My wild imagination conjured up all sorts of reasons why Lisa wanted the car seat reclined. Whatever her purpose, I was there. My head flopped back against the headrest, lost in the moment.

When the seat reclined to a forty–five degree angle, she grabbed at my arm to right herself. As she struggled to get off me, her elbow dug into my groin. I jerked forward while doubling up in pain. My shoulder smacked against her and she tumbled off my lap.

“Lisa!” I grabbed for her, but not quick enough. She crashed against the glove box and landed upside down on the floorboard. “Are you all right?”

“No. I hit my head.”

“Let me help you.” I reached down, but found only a tangle of legs and arms. I searched around, trying to get my hands secured at her waist.

She let out a squeal. “Stop that, Brendon!”

I don’t know what I grabbed, but it was soft and warm. I lifted my hands and held them in the air. “I’m only trying to help you up.”

“I can get up by myself.”

I doubted that. Her body seemed wedged into the small area between the door and the center console. My muscular calves and big feet shared the space, making it even tighter. “Let me move my legs out of the way.”

“Ow! You’re stepping on my fingers.”

“Sorry.”

“Open the door and get out,” she demanded.

That seemed like the best course of action. As soon as I opened the door, the interior light popped on. I almost laughed out loud at the sight. She looked like a human pretzel twisted up on the floor, but I didn’t mention it. At the moment, she probably wouldn’t think it was very funny. I slipped my right foot out and placed it on the blacktop. Carefully, I extracted my other foot from the tangled mess of the little pretzel girl.

“Alexander?” a voice near the front of the car called out. “I thought that was you.”

My head jerked up, and I stared at the person standing by the front bumper. A curse rumbled from my lips. Bill Watkins was a bully and a trouble maker, but fortunately, he graduated three years ago.

“Watkins.” I tried to act nonchalant. “What’s up?”

“I’m just getting off work at the casino.” He slid his fingertips over the hood of the car. “Nice Hummer. Is this yours?”

“No, it’s, ah—” The rest of my words were cut off when Lisa tumbled out of the car.

“Way to go, Alexander,” Bill said. “A hummer in a Hummer.”

“Shut up, Watkins.” I grabbed Lisa’s arm to steady her. “Are you all right?”

“No.” She slammed the car door shut. “I smacked my head.”

“I’m really sorry.”

She flung her hair out of her face with one arm. The sight of Watkins made her gasp. She twisted free of my grip and stomped around the car to the driver’s side.

I followed her, but she’d already climbed inside and shut the door. “Lisa—”

The three–point–seven liter engine roared to life. I stepped back when she shoved the gearshift into drive. She tore out of the parking spot and headed for the exit. I watched the taillights disappear before turning back to Bill. He used to push me around during my freshman year, but I’d bulked up since then. My hands clenched into fists. I was itching for a way to get rid of some pent up frustration. “Thanks a lot, you jerk wad.”

Instead of looking insulted, Bill broke into laughter. “Don’t thank me. Thank your girlfriend. She’s the one who left you stranded here.”

Chapter Eight

As soon as I walked through the front door, my mom started with the interrogation. She sat on the couch with Grandma watching some program on TV, but grabbed the remote and hit the mute button.

“Did you explain the rules to your friend?” she asked.

“No, Mom, but you can stop worrying.” I tossed the car keys on the coffee table with a clunk. “After tonight, Lisa will probably never speak to me again.”

“What happened?” Both her eyebrows arched.

“I don’t want to talk about it.” Actually, I didn’t know what happened other than Lisa tore out of the parking lot, and this time she didn’t bother to look back.

I headed down the hallway, but before opening the door, kicked off my shoes. This late in the evening, Stevie would be sound asleep. In the darkness of the room, I slipped off my jeans and laid them over the back of the desk chair. I couldn’t remember where I’d tossed my flannel pajama bottoms, but I didn’t care. I slid into bed wearing my boxer briefs and stretched out on the cold sheet. When I closed my eyes, the image of Lisa leaning over me sifted through my brain. I put one arm across my eyes, hoping if I pressed hard enough, I could squeeze all thoughts of her from my skull.

Visions of her no longer lingered on the inside of my eyelids, but I could smell her. Her scent permeated my shirt. She’d leaned against me and squirmed around in my lap. Heat flashed through my body at the memory. I uttered a groan as I skinned off the shirt and tossed it through the dark room.

“Sleep,” I said out loud. “I need sleep.”

****

Lisa stood in front of me. Her blue eyes sparkled from the sunlight. A breeze tousled her long blonde hair. Her moist lips curved into a smile. She extended her slender arm, and her fingers beckoned me closer. I reached for her, but she lingered just outside my grasp. I tried to take a step toward her, but couldn’t move. My feet felt like the shoes I wore were filled with cement. I stretched my arm to its limit. The tips of my fingers brushed across hers. My skin tingled from her warmth.

Something flickered behind her. A swarm of darkness gathered and grew in size. My flesh pricked and the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. The darkness transformed into a living, breathing thing—a man, but not quite. Scraggly, black hair covered its scabby, humped body. Razor sharp claws protruded from its bony, paw–like fingers. The big, ugly creature, with a face resembling a rat, reared up on its hind legs before receding into the shrouded blackness where it hid.

I shouted a warning to Lisa. Her smile faded and her lips thinned. I grabbed for her, but couldn’t reach her. My feet were too heavy. My legs wouldn’t budge. I struggled harder, trying to free myself from the force that held me to the ground.

The darkness swirled around her like a thick, dense fog consuming her. Devouring her. Only her eyes remained visible. A strangled scream caught in her throat. Her hand thrust out of the black shroud. She shouted my name while reaching for me.

“No,” I yelled to the filthy beast trying to drag her from me. Searing heat shot through my legs as I strained to pull free. I pushed down the pain as I struggled harder. One foot slipped free of the constraints holding me. I grabbed her hand while forcing my other foot loose. I thrust my hand into the darkness, searching for her arm so I could pull her into the light.

The ugly creature poked its deformed head out of the black shroud. Dark, beady eyes surrounded by pools of red glared at me. A loud snarl snorted from the pointy nose. Its mouth opened and green slime oozed off the tip of its black tongue. Sharp teeth nipped at my throat. I put one arm across my neck to protect the jugular. My other hand gripped Lisa. I wouldn’t let her go. I couldn’t.