Wanderlove (11 page)

Miriam stood up. Her expression was painted with obvious disapproval. “And what then, Gabe? Tell me what would happen if she did remember?”

“I could protect her!”

Miriam snorted derisively. “And if you couldn’t? You would never forgive yourself and you know it.”

Gabe couldn’t seem to answer her. He hunkered down, onto a nearby bench. He stroked his hands through his hair, looking rather exhausted. Suddenly, he looked up at Miriam with wide eyes. “
Damn
,” he muttered under his breath.

“What?” she asked, confused. Her head started to turn towards the house in the direction he was eyeing. “
Ohhh
,” she murmured in realization.

I quickly moved away from the blinds, crouching down behind the wall. I winced, feeling like an idiot. How could I completely forget that Gabe had the ability to see me? How could I forget such an important detail? I had to make this look like I wasn’t eavesdropping-and quickly!

I moved from my spot and headed out into the backyard, approaching Miriam and Gabe. They both stared at me curiously, which made me feel even more awkward.

“I didn’t mean to intrude on your conversation. I just needed to ask you something, Grams.”

“Yes?” she asked.

I racked my brain for something,
anything
to say at that moment. But nothing was coming to me. Why oh why did I even bother trying to cover up the fact that I was spying? It had to be painfully obvious to them either way.

“Um, where can I find the laundry detergent?”

It sounded lame, but it was the only question I could think of.

“The laundry detergent?”

“Yes, I need to wash my uniforms. They’re um, starchy.”

My grandmother arched a curiously high brow.

“It’s in the laundry room. In the shelf above the washer.” It was a matter-of-fact statement. I could feel the blush creep into my cheeks.

“Thanks. Uh, would you like me to wash anything for you?”

“I believe there are a few sets of sheets in the hamper.”

I nodded and turned to leave. The sooner I could get myself out of this awkward situation, the better.

I breathed in and out as I left the patio, not realizing I’d been holding my breath nearly the entire time. I was happy to get out of there. I still felt like such a fool. There was no doubt in my mind they both knew I’d been lying. But what else was I supposed to say? That I was spying because I was entirely too fascinated by the neighbor? That even though he could be rude and deceitful, I still found him alluring? Should I have said that my very own body wills itself to Gabe’s presence, like he was a magnet and I couldn’t help but be drawn towards him?

No, I
definitely
couldn’t tell the truth.

Besides, I was embarrassed of myself as it was. There was no need to further that embarrassment. Not to mention that Miriam would fly through the roof if she knew her seventeen-year-old granddaughter had developed a sort of crush on a twenty-something-year-old man. Even my own father would disapprove. Well, that wasn’t true, I supposed. Christo would approve of anyone who was wealthy.

I found myself wondering who Gabe had been referring to-- this mystery woman who had forgotten him. He had sounded so forlorn about it. And I was more than a little jealous by the way he talked about her. It sounded as if. . .as if he
loved
her. Could it be true? Could Gabe love someone who didn’t reciprocate that love for him? And was that why he broke off the engagement with Annika? It hardly made sense to me. Who could possibly forget someone like Gabe? He was much too striking. I knew that
I
could never forget someone like him.

“Lola!”

I smiled at Dakota’s excitement as she hurried in through the foyer, dropping her bags to the floor.

“I’m so happy to see you’re still here!” She threw her arms around me in hug so wrenchingly tight that I couldn’t breathe for a moment.

I laughed as soon as she let go of me. I had missed Dakota’s cheerful nature. “You didn’t think I would be?” I asked curiously.

She shrugged and said, “The gypsy life is hard to let go of. We don’t all have the strength to stick around in one spot for very long. And I guess I’m a little surprised you decided to stay. You struck me as a wanderer.”

I considered what she said. “I suppose I am a little surprised at myself,” I admitted. “I’ve never stayed in one place so long before. But I don’t feel that horrible restlessness I usually do at this point.”

“Well,
I
, for one, am certainly happy you don’t feel it. It’s nice having you around.”

I smiled, flattered. “What brings you into town so early?” I asked. “I didn’t expect you ‘til Thanksgiving.”

“I decided to skip two of my classes so I could come home early. I always attend the Fall Festival and the Constantin party. It’s the talk of the town, you know. Nothing much else happens on Clearwater Beach.”

I’d been hearing people gossip about the Constantin party at school. Apparently, the town held a festival along the beach every year and the Constantin family threw a huge party at the same time. I’d seen for myself the extravagances being shipped next door. Giant tents were set up. Truckloads of food were unloaded. Laborers were even putting together small carnival rides. It was impressive by anyone’s standards. Still, I refused to go.

“So I see you’ve started school at Frightwell,” Dakota mentioned, breaking into my thoughts. “And I also see you’ve been…” she shut her eyes, searching for something and tilting her head. “Have you been doing volunteer work?” she opened her eyes now, perplexed.

“How did you know? Did Miriam tell you?”

“No,” Dakota grinned. “I saw it when I hugged you.”

I scrunched my brows together, shaking my head. “No wonder you’re so affectionate. Especially when it gives you the chance to spy on people.”

Dakota grabbed her suitcase and headed for the hallway. “I couldn’t possibly know what you’re talking about.”

I laughed, despite myself. And then I stopped short. Thankfully, Dakota was already in her room at that point. I abruptly realized everything I might have let Dakota see about me. Everything about my father, everything about Gabe. . .it was too much of a risk. As much as I would hate it, I knew I should take extra precautions to stay away from Dakota while she was here. Because she couldn’t find out that I betrayed my father. And she definitely couldn’t find out about my inexplicable feelings for Gabe, which completely betrayed Annika. I would absolutely die of shame.

“Come in here, I have something for you,” Dakota called from her room.

I stood in the entryway, trying to not move anywhere near her. I watched as she removed a garment bag from her suitcase and carefully unzipped it. She pulled out a silver dress, holding it up so I could view it.

It was beautiful. Shiny, intricate jewels on the hems of the capped-sleeves formed a pattern up across the shoulder. The bust of the dress was tightly woven, which would cling closely to the wearer’s torso and would probably reveal a racy amount of décolletage. From the hip downwards, it flowed into a shimmering pool of silver silk, which would cut right above the knees.

“It’s for you,” she informed me. “I picked it out at the mall in Tampa. Do you like it?”

I was stunned for a moment, trying to comprehend that Dakota was giving me this beautiful dress. When I finally found my voice, all I could say was, “For what?”

Dakota giggled. “For the festival, silly. After the day events, the Constantins’ throw this huge, glamorous party, which is more like a ball because it’s so grand. I knew you didn’t have anything to wear, so I thought I would come prepared.”

I smiled ruefully. “That’s very sweet of you, Dakota, but I wasn’t planning on going.”

Dakota put her hands on her hips. Her mouth slightly parted, as if I had shocked her. “What do you
mean
you weren’t planning to go? This is the biggest event for miles around. And we are actually
invited
.”

I didn’t know what to say. And I couldn’t very well tell her my real reasons. So I simply shrugged. “I just wasn’t planning to go,” I mumbled.

She raised a stubborn brow. “Well, you are now. I took my time picking out this dress. The cut should be perfect for your frame. Now try it on and tell me how it fits.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but then shut it again. This wouldn’t have been so difficult if she hadn’t done something that was so very
nice
. I definitely hadn’t expected her to buy me a dress. And I had no idea I would have even been presumed to attend the party in the first place.

“I guess I can stop by for a little while. It
is
a lovely dress. It would be a shame leaving it hanging in the closet.”

Dakota grinned widely. “It’s going to be a blast,” she promised me. “You are guaranteed to have fun. Trust me.”

The mood lightened and I forgot about trying on my new dress as Dakota told me about all her recent college adventures. She told me how she accidentally touched one of her professors as she handed him a report, and then had a vision of him in bondage.

“It was the most disgusting thing you’ve ever seen!” She giggled throughout the story.

Afterwards, she began telling me about each member of the Constantin family, preparing me for the big event tomorrow.

Baro was the eldest. He was supposedly a burly man, massive with muscle, but wise beyond his years. He had lived for many lifetimes. And, of course, there was Gabe, whom Dakota mentioned had been previously engaged to Annika. “Don’t say his name in front of her,” Dakota told me. “She may not seem like it, but she’s very torn up about the whole thing.”

I nodded, once again feeling guilty for harboring my secret crush.

Next there was Rex, who Dakota warned me wasn’t very friendly, despite his handsome exterior. She told me Rex had a sour personality and liked to start fights all the time. I was supposed to steer clear of him, if I could help it.

Then she told me about Cam, who, of course, I already met at school. “Oh, I love Cam!” Dakota exclaimed. “I’m so happy you’ve become friends with him. He can be a snob at times, but he’s a lot of fun, too. Have you met Molly, as well?”

I shook my head. “I’ve passed her in hallways at Frightwell’s, but I’ve never talked to her.”

Truth be told, Molly Constantin frightened me a little. I swore I’d caught her staring daggers at me each time I’d passed her, almost like she carried a personal vendetta. At first, I’d thought I was imagining it, but then I’d noticed her around her friends, smiling and laughing. She was very pretty. She was tall and blonde like Cam, and when she smiled, it softened her features. I only ever saw her wearing her menacing stare while she was looking at me.

“Molly is a doll, too,” Dakota continued. “The whole family is pretty awesome. We’re going to have so much fun tomorrow. I can’t wait!”

My smile was just an act, but I tried my best to look happy. I hoped she was right. I was determined to stay positive. Everything would be fine. It was just a party, after all.

Later on that night, I heard something tapping against my window. I immediately bolted upright in bed. The silence settled back in, but I didn’t move an inch. I listened quietly, trying to determine if I was imagining things. I let out a slow, shaky breath, trying my best to stay quiet.

I heard the tapping noise again.

My body tensed with trepidation. Whoever had been following me yesterday had found me! I wondered if it was a member of my troupe. Had they decided to kill me? It was extreme, but possible.

I burrowed myself in the corner of the wall, holding the sheet up to my eyes. Whenever the moment presented itself, I would pull the sheet over my head for protection. Because sheets were always the best protection against scary things lurking in the middle of the night.

I sat there for a while, scared out of my mind. I counted the last few precious seconds I had left while I waited for my window to burst open. But then I heard more noises coming from outside. As I listened closer, I could tell the noises were muffled voices. Distinctly male, muffled voices.

I forced myself to abandon my protective sheet and snuck a peek out of the window. I could hardly believe what I was seeing.

Out on the lawn, it appeared that Gabe was there. And he was fighting with…could it really be? I recognized the curly brown hair and darkly tanned skin easily enough. It was Luca!

I ran downstairs as fast as I could and shoved the front door open.

There, kneeling on my front lawn was Gabe, wearing a murderous expression. And he was holding my ex-fiancé to the ground by his collar.

“Who are you?” Gabe shouted, shaking Luca roughly. “And why are you here?”

“Stop!” I choked as I said the word. I was completely taken aback by the whole situation and I wasn’t sure how to stop it. All I knew was I needed to stop it-and quickly-before Gabe actually did some damage to Luca.

Gabe looked up from where he was kneeling. His expression seemed to soften when he noticed me.

“Lola, go back inside. There was an intruder, but I’m handling it.”

I shook my head fiercely. “I know him. He’s from my troupe.”

Gabe appeared confused for a moment. “He tried to break in through your window,” he pointed out.

“He was probably only trying to talk to me. I’m sure Luca doesn’t mean me any harm. He and I…we used to be…betrothed.”

The shock of what I’d said loosened Gabe’s hold on Luca’s collar long enough to allow him the ability to jump up from where Gabe had been holding him down.

Luca ran to me, hugging me tightly. “Lo,” he breathed. “I knew you would be here.”

It pulled away from him, inspecting his features. He seemed so. . .relieved. “You’re not mad at me?”

“Why would I be mad? I know you did what you did because you didn’t want to be sold to Madam Wilda.”

“That was part of it,” I admitted.

He smiled longingly at me, placing his dark hands over mine. “We can be together now.”

The impact of what Luca said took a few moments to sink in.
Oh no
, I thought, shaking my head in shame. This was awful. I never thought for a moment that Luca would chase me down with the idea that I would still want to be with him.