Wanderlove (37 page)
Authors: Belle Malory
I laughed now. My earlier anger faded completely. I finally understood why he’d been so abominably rude to me on the day I met him. I’d thought of Gabe as a conceited snob. But I guess I had been very, very wrong. So much for any magical gypsy instincts I may or may not have possessed.
Later that day, Gabe decided to take his boat out for a short test drive. He asked me to come along, and I happily agreed.
Stepping aboard, I glanced at the name
Sea Lily
etched along the side panel. It dawned on me that Gabe had named his boat for me. I smiled at the thought.
“It looks nice,” I noted while looking around. “Though it could use some new paint on the outside. Maybe a bright turquoise. Or a canary yellow.”
He started up the engine and asked me, “Do you want to help me paint it?”
I sat down on the nearest seat to him and grinned. “I could possibly see that happening in your future.”
“Oh, so you
do
have a crystal ball.”
“Nope,” I told him, shaking my head. “And not a stitch of good instincts, either. So you better just hope for the best.”
He chuckled as he pulled out of the marina. He drove slowly, until we reached the point where the speed limit increased. “Hang on,” he said, before pushing the lever to full speed. I jerked backwards, but caught myself on the back of my chair.
The little boat’s acceleration was quick. We were practically flying along the water. The boat crashed up and down as the ocean spray misted over us. The wind caused my hair to fly everywhere, but I didn’t care. I loved it. I was beginning to understand why Gabe didn’t feel the constant need to be on the move-because he already was. Boating, surfing and simply living next to the ocean in general was enough for him. It freed his spirit, like it was freeing mine now.
After a long ride through the gulf at full speed, Gabe finally slowed the boat down and we headed back to the marina just as the sun was setting. We simply sat there for a long while, staring out into the water. Gabe moved to sit next to me, wrapping his arms around my waist. I smiled because it felt so normal, like I was used to him touching me.
“Are you worried?” he asked me.
“A little,” I admitted. “But I guess we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it, right?”
“We’ll be prepared this time, I promise.” I could see it in his eyes that he meant what he said. “Besides,” he added. “It could take years for you to remember the oracle details.”
“Really?” I asked. For some reason, I had expected the memories to come back much sooner. I could remember Gabe in vivid detail. I decided to ask him about it. “So do you know why my memories of you came back to me so quickly?”
He grinned. “I thought that was obvious. It’s because you love me.”
I shook my head and rolled my eyes. I had obviously drawn my earlier conclusion together too soon. It turned out Gabe was a little conceited.
“Try not to reflect on it, if you can help it,” he suggested a few moments later in a more serious tone. “You need to distance your mind from your memories.”
I snorted and raised a brow to let him know what I thought of his advice. “And just how am I supposed to do that?”
“Well, I suppose I could help with that.”
“How could you possibly help?”
“I’m planning to do my best to keep your mind occupied.”
Taking me by surprise, Gabe moved closer and lightly touched his lips to mine. Then, he gathered me in his arms as he kissed me deeply.
Afterwards, I was left warm and shaken.
But sure enough, he was right, because I couldn’t even begin to think straight. In my opinion, it was a good plan.
Three years later…
I couldn’t breathe.
It was the first thing I became aware of after waking up from my nightmare.
I struggled to find my breath, and tore the bed sheets off of me in a frenzied panic. I couldn’t see anything through the inky darkness. I tried to focus my vision, desperately searching for something familiar, because I couldn’t remember where I was. More importantly, I couldn’t remember what year I was in.
I held my hands to my throat, as if doing so would somehow will the air to go back into my lungs.
Someone suddenly slapped my back and I swayed forward.
“Breathe, Lo!”
The impact opened my airways, causing a rush of air to plunge inside my lungs. I gasped several times.
“That’s it, baby. Keep breathing.”
Gabe’s voice calmed my chaotic senses, as it always had. I sputtered and coughed a few times, but eventually my breathing slowed to a normal pace. Hearing Gabe’s soothing voice and feeling his warm hand patting my back steadily brought me back to the present. Through the blackness of the night, I glimpsed my glittering engagement ring I wore on my left hand. The sight of it verified my present surroundings.
I stood up, running my hands through my hair. A new anxiety took over as I began to remember the dream I’d just been in. I opened the door to the balcony, letting the gentle sea breeze sweep over my clammy skin. I stared out into the sea drearily. We’d just moved to Miami only three days ago. There were still unpacked boxes scattered throughout our condo. Gabe was supposed to start his new position tomorrow in the Homicide Bureau at the Miami-Dade Police Department. And I was supposed to begin my first semester of college later this month.
This couldn’t be happening.
Not now
. Not when our lives were so sweetly perfect.
“Lola, what is it?” Gabe asked. His voice was concerned, yet he still sounded sleepy. He was going to hate to hear this. But he had to know. I had no other choice but to tell him.
“I remembered.”
Almost instantly, he woke up. I watched as his dark gray eyes turned hard and apprehensive.
“Are you sure?”
I nodded dimly. I couldn’t even bear looking at him. The fear of losing him was already setting in. My eyes watered at the thought. I turned away, facing the ocean again. I listened to the splashes of the oncoming waves, trying to regain my composure.
“Hey, don’t worry,” he said as he moved closer to me. He wrapped his heavy arms around my waist. “Everything is going to be okay this time. We have a plan, remember? I have a bag packed. We can be ready to go in ten minutes, tops.”
I sighed miserably. “I was really looking forward to college. This nursing program is one of the best in the country.”
“Don’t count that out yet.” He was trying to sound positive, even though I could see he was scared as hell, just like I was. “You’ll eventually get there. This might cause a slight delay, but you’ll get there.”
I smiled, but tears fell down my cheek anyway. “Gabe, it’s not what you think.”
“What do you mean?”
“The oracle, it’s not a crystal like everyone assumes.”
I could see confusion spreading over his features, even in the darkness.
“What are you saying?” he asked me. He tilted my chin upwards, so I would face him. “If it’s not a crystal, than what is it?”
I swallowed, choosing my next words very carefully.
“It’s a person. The oracle is a. . .girl.”
The End
Foretell
If you could provide anyone with the path to their deepest, darkest desires, would you?
Estelle Spencer has no choice.
With just a simple touch of her hand, wishes and dreams are instantly fulfilled. Her voice speaks of its own accord, lighting the way to good fortune.
But not everyone’s fortunes are desirable.
For most of her life Estelle hides in fear, living as a recluse in her sister’s shadow. Until the day comes when her existence is remembered.
Forced into running, Estelle meets Rex, a Romanian gypsy, and the only person who can help her hide. Together they search for a way to end the curse that controls Estelle’s life.
Before she destroys the world.
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