Twisted Magic (31 page)

Slade nodded. “You were always saying it only works half the
time
and running out of space. I added some of my favorite songs to it.” He shrugged,
biting
at his lip.

I replaced the lid. “Thanks.”

Slade reached out and grasped the necklace from Hutch. “
How original, t
hat’s not obvious at all.”
He pulled back. T
he red slippers hit
me in the
chest.

“I think it was sweet,” I said. “So, where’s Audrey?” My anger was back now.

Slade shook his head as if I was ridiculous for asking such a thing. “I have no idea.”

I pushed my hair behind my ear. “That’s a scary thought. I’m sure she will be pissed knowing you showed up to my birthday party.”

“Wouldn’t have missed it,” Slade said staring me down.

“You should have.” I crossed my arms, getting out of the guest
way,
so they could get drinks and a bite to eat. Slade grabbed my arm.

“Let’s take a walk,” he said, I pulled away from
him.

“I don’t want to walk with you.” The memory of their kiss swarmed in my thoughts. And the anger coursed my veins. I cleared my throat knowing what would make me feel better. “I
almost
slept with Hutch.”
I admitted
,
dishing out the same thing he had given me days ago.

Slade’s expression
changed for
a split second and then morphed back to the somber one he was always wearing. “I slept with Audrey.”

My heart cracked in my
chest. I
recoiled as if something bit me. That
didn't make
me feel better at all. I pushed him out of the way and headed out of my party,
but he was on
my heels.

“Go away, Slade. You’re nothing but an uncaring asshole. I don’t even know why you would show up here.” The sand gave way under my high
heels,
and
finally,
I had enough and ripped them off and ran
for
the water with them in my hand.

He kept his distance watching me cry as I stared
across
the water.

“Does it feel bad hearing
me say so
?” he asked. “Did you enjoy
almost sleeping with him?
Do you like that guy?”

I shook my head. “Why does it even
matter?
This thing we had was nothing but a joke.”

Slade crossed his arms. “I never said I didn’t care about you.”

I laughed, wiping at my face. “You didn’t have to. And if
you’re
all about being honest right now then yes, I do like Hutch.” I waited for him to admit that he liked
Audrey,
so I could feel better knowing everything happened for the right reason.
However,
he just stood there and said nothing.

“And don’t think
you’re going to fight him
like Tucker. Not everyone can be bullied by you.” I pointed
out;
afraid
Slade was going to go back to the party and punch Hutch
for
almost
sleeping with me
.

“I don’t go around beating up people like you think. I got into it with Tucker because he was disrespecting you.
I stood up for you.” Slade shrugged. “I just came to wish you a happy birthday because you deserve one.”

He started across the sand
leaving
.

“It’s not very happy now that you ruined it.” I shouted. “What did you think you were accomplishing coming here?” I kicked at the sand angry.

“I don’t know,
” Slade said over his shoulder.

“Just admit it
. Admit that you care about
her,
just
put me out of my freaking misery.” I raised my hands to the heavens completely spent from our
five-minute interaction
.

Slade stopped walking and turned around. “I’ll never admit that.”

“Why?” I demanded.

“
Because that will never be true, there’s only one girl I care about.
” He stared at me
, not saying who that one girl was
. I shook my head, the words of Kidd playing again.
Slade’s an
idiot. He
doesn’t think Hope. He just doesn’t think.

“What do you want, Slade?” I asked, shaking my fist at him in frustration.

He didn’t answer. He wasn’t willing to give me what I wanted. And I didn’t know why.

“Then I don’t know what else there is to say,” I told him. “We are still in the same boat. You can’t give me what I want.”

I ran back to the party, pressing my palm against my face to clear the tears and mascara.

I slipped through the
dance floor
weaved around the table and found a spot against the back wall and took a seat. I was sure I would go unnoticed there. I
dabbed at my eyes every couple of seconds trying to keep the tears away, but they were still coming.

As the fifth stranger shot me a sympathetic
smile,
I had had enough and decided a bathroom break was in order.

I pushed the bathroom
door open
and took the first stall. I dropped against the wall, biting my hand to
stifle
the sobs escaping. How many times was he going to crush me? I wasn’t sure how much more I could take. Coming home had turned into the worst mistake I
had
ever made
.

A soft tap echoed against the stall. I quickly straightened up and waited for the culprit to speak.

“Everything
alright,”
Karsen called. “I know a lot of people take that song literal on their
birthday,
but this is going too far.”

Karsen shook the door. I unlocked it and dropped down on the toilet.

“You know…it’s my
party,
and I’ll cry if I want to.” She scanned my somber expression for any hint of a smile.
Finally,
she dropped down at my level and smoothed my hair.

I sighed.

“I told him it was a bad idea.” Karsen crossed her arms across her pale pink dress. “He insisted he was only going to wish you a happy birthday not make you semi suicidal.”

“You know I envy
you,”
I told her. She helped clean up my running makeup and
listened
to my
harebrained
reasoning.

“Why would you envy me?” She always did this
,
as if her beauty wasn’t comparable. As if her personality wasn’t something every girl wished they had. Everything came so easy with Karsen. Nothing ever felt
worry-free
with me.

“Everything you do you do it so well. You meet
Kidd,
and he falls head over heels for you. You find out he’s a
witch,
and you handle it impeccably, while I am failing
miserably.” I lifted my head allowing her better access to my
mouth,
so she could apply new gloss.

My entire life I wished I was more like Karsen. She was
carefree,
and I was guar
ded. Her family was still
together
while mine was horribly broken.

Her mother loved her to death and worried about her every move while mine worried about herself and her boyfriend.

“So your first serious relationship failed. It happens to everyone. I thought I was i
nsanely in love plenty of times, i
ts infatuation.” She capped the gloss and sifted through her tiny clutch for blush. “Your first sexual exploration always leaves you thinking
the boy who deflowered you is G
od. You learn quickly that
it’s
nothing more
than
one of those crazy cults that live
off in
the country forcing people to drink
Kool-Aid,
and you get over it.”

I rolled my eyes. “I don’t know where you come up with these things.” I
stood
,
ready to return to my party. I was going to try
to
keep Slade far from my mind.

“Nona wants to cut the
cake,
so I suggest you hurry. And Mr.
Tall,
blonde and sexy is still out there celebrating your birthday without you.” Karsen snapped her purse shut and threw her arms around me.

“Thanks, Karsen. I feel a lot better.” I eyed myself in the mirror. You could barely tell I had two or three nervous breakdowns.

“No problem
,
that’s why I’m your best
friend,
I’ll always be here for you.” She grabbed my arm stopping me from exiting. “And by the way, if
you’re
wondering what a guy completely entranced looks
like;
take a good look at Hutch. He’s totally smitten.”

I scoffed. Sure he was sweet, but did that have to mean he was into me? Maybe this was why I was heartbroken and crying in
bathrooms,
and Karsen was in love with Kidd
because I was completely oblivious
to boys
.

“
Come on matchmaker let’s get some cake before Nona drinks
too
many martinis.”

I bit at my lip embarrassed all the attention was on me. The happy birthday song finished
up,
and I held my hair back blowing out my nineteen birthday candles. Everyone cheered and the staff quickly hurried to dish slices of berry cake with lavender frosting from one of the expensive
bakeries
in Cherry that Nona raved about
regularly. 
She said the
bakery,
and the gym got the bear share of her money because their cake was so good she had to spend a week at the gym after going there.

Guest quickly took seats and my actual friend
s
: Karsen, Kidd, and Hutch stayed
at
the table. Kidd and Hutch chatted easily with each other. I loved that about Kidd
,
he was such
an
easy-
going guy
, who
could make friends with anyone. I understood why Karsen was so into him. He was truly a genuine guy.

Dad came to stand next to me an empty cake plate in
hand,
“ready
for you
r
gift?”

I looked at him. I wasn’t expecting
anything;
I really thought he was just prolonging an excuse on why he didn’t have a gift for me. I knew Dad always wanted to do the right thing by us kids, but when you couldn’t
financially,
there was nothing you could do about
that,
and I didn’t mind. It wasn’t about gifts.

Suddenly,
Hutch was behind me lowering a blindfold around my head. He tied it securely and took me by the shoulders. “
You’re
going to love this. Your dad already gave us all a peek.” His warm breath tickled my neck. I smiled
,
excited to see what the big surprise was.

Someone guided me to a seat. I prayed it wasn’t
a stripper
because that would
have been
an awkward gift from my father. I kept my legs crossed and planted my hands in my lap waiting patiently.

“Okay Hutch, undo
her,
so she can see what her amazing father did for her,” Dad told Hutch a thick
excitement
attached to his words.

Black turned to
light
and I opened my eyes squealing with excitement. I jumped from my chair and raced for Dad and the Great Dane puppy in his hands. Hutch laughed
,
standing beside Karsen and Kidd watching me unable to control my excitement.

I grabbed the gray puppy from dad’s arm squeezing him
tightly,
“his
eyes!”

Dad grinned. “You always loved the gray ones with blue
eyes,
and if it wasn’t for having one horse already I would have bought you one. I figure it gives you a reason to visit all of us more often.”

I smiled at Dad. “Of course I will visit. It doesn’t take a dog to do that.
Nevertheless,
this is the best gift ever.”