Current Impressions (16 page)

He kept his expression nonchalant. “I have
no idea what you’re talking about,” he said. “A day in the sun and
a long swim must have gone to your head.”

I walked passed him, shaking my head. “You
were totally holding back earlier. I can’t believe I fell for
it.”

“Ah, don’t be too hard on yourself,” he said
next to my right ear. “I can be quite convincing.”

“Apparently.”

He bumped my shoulder with his arm. “You’re
still rather impressive.”

“Thanks.” I fought to look angry. I wanted
to laugh.

“Even if you’re slow,” he added. I punched
his arm. “Ow!”

Dinner was uneventful. Once again, Dad
wasn’t there. Neither were Aunt Brigid or Angus. I ate with Ula and
my Uncle Ren’s family. Kieran sat across the room, keeping his
distance from Ula.

After dinner, we went to the study and
played cards. My heart wasn’t in it. I was relieved when the sun
was low in the sky, and I could excuse myself and go to my room. I
read for several hours, well past sunset. It was time.

“
Evan?”
My mind called out while I
fingered the necklace. Was it my imagination or did it feel warmer
in my hand?
“Evan? Can you hear me?”

I paused and waited. Silence. Maybe
Stonewall didn’t give him the necklace. Disappointment settled in
my chest. I really hoped this would work.

Meara?
Evan’s voice was clear, if
confused.
Where are you?

You can hear me?
I sat up in bed. Ula
was right. The necklace used telepathy. I heard Evan clearly in my
head, the way I heard Kieran when he talked to me in seal form.
I’m at Ronac, Evan. The necklace… it’s what allows us to
communicate.

His rumbling laugh warmed my insides. I
wanted to see him.

Are you in your room?
I asked.

Yes. Finally.
He sighed.
I didn’t
think they’d ever let me stop working today.

Are you alone?

Yes.
His voice was deeper. Sensual.
My stomach fluttered. Could I go? Would anyone know? I’d been to
the house twice. I could picture it clearly in my mind. Who would
miss me here? If I was back before dawn, there was no chance of
getting caught.

Can I see you?
I asked.

Do you have to ask?
He paused.
But
how?

Just don’t freak out
. I closed my
eyes to transport, and then realized I didn’t know which room was
his.
What room are you in?

Second floor, last on the right when you’re
looking at the back of the house.

He knew that we came in from the cove then.
That was good. Maybe I wouldn’t shock him too much.

Close your eyes
, I told him.
Don’t
open them until I say so.

Meara—

Do it!

He thought I was joking, I could tell by the
way he said my name. I closed my eyes and pictured the room. HIS
room. I saw it clearly in my mind before I commanded my body to go
there. I felt a pull deep in my abdomen and had the sense of moving
really fast. When the movement stopped, I opened my eyes and
grinned. I was in his room. He was sitting on his bed with his legs
stretched out and crossed at the ankles. His eyes were closed as I
requested, a smirk on his face, as if he were waiting for me to
tell him it didn’t work. I walked quietly to the bed and stopped by
his feet.

“Keep your eyes closed,” I whispered aloud,
no longer needing the necklace to communicate.

I startled him, but he did as I said. I
moved to the head of the bed and sat at his side. Leaning over, I
kissed one eyelid and then the other. I slid my fingers through his
hair before leaning down and kissing his full mouth. He wrapped one
arm around my waist and placed the other hand on the back of my
head. He kissed me back greedily. When the kiss ended, I rested my
head on his chest, content to listen to his heart.

We were together. Alone. We could see each
other every day while he was in Scotland.

“Can I open my eyes now?” he asked in a
teasing voice.

“Oops.” I looked up and met his blue eyes.
“Sorry!”

“No need to apologize.” He lifted the chain
around his neck. “I think this has to go into the category of best
gift ever.”

I bit my lip and smiled. “Pretty cool, isn’t
it?”

“A personal communicator that allows me to
talk to you? To arrange to see you in person? Freaking awesome I’d
say.” He lifted the charm on my necklace with his finger and
studied it. “Where did you get these?”

“Ula found them,” I said. “They belonged to
my grandparents. They used them when they were courting.”

“I’m glad we can carry on the tradition.” He
ran his hand along my cheek, cupping my face in his palm. “God, I
missed you.”

My throat tightened. “I missed you,
too.”

He leaned over and turned off the light. The
room lit with the glow of the silvery moon, casting his face in
shadows. “We have lots of lost time to make up,” he said in a husky
voice. I didn’t get a chance to respond because his mouth covered
mine.

****

When I woke, moonlight streamed into the
room. Evan thrashed and moaned next to me. The sheets tangled
around his lower body. His chest was bare, beaded with sweat. The
room was cool, bordering on chilly. Something was wrong.

“Evan.” I shook him. “Evan, wake up!”

He groaned and rolled away from me. I
touched his head and jerked my hand back. He was burning up. In a
panic, I visualized a cool washcloth and placed it on his forehead.
He quieted as I dabbed the cloth across his fevered skin. I wished
he’d wake up.

“Evan?” I called quietly, so I wouldn’t
startle him. “Are you awake?”

“Meara,” he croaked. “So thirsty.”

“Drink this.” I handed him the tall glass
full of cold water I just conjured. He gulped it down greedily.

“More,” he begged. He pointed a shaky finger
to his dresser. “Advil, too, please.”

I got out of bed and walked to the dresser.
Opening the bottle, I took out two pills. The bottle was half
empty. Wordlessly, I refilled the glass and handed it to him with
the medicine. He drank the water almost as fast the second
time.

Falling back against the pillows, he closed
his eyes. He no longer looked flushed, but he was pale.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

“I will be,” he said. “Thanks to you.” He
patted the bed next to him. “Come back to bed.”

I slid in next to him under the sheet. His
warm body comforted my cold skin. Selkies weren’t supposed to be
affected by the cold. Could’ve fooled me.

“Does that happen often?” I asked.

“Just recently,” he mumbled, already falling
back asleep. “Better in the morning.”

His reply didn’t comfort me. I laid awake
and listened to him breathe. His breath grew steadier as he fell
into deeper sleep. I couldn’t push tonight, because he needed his
rest. Tomorrow was another story. Tomorrow night, he was going to
talk and tell me what the hell was going on with him.

Time passed, and the room lightened. I knew
the sun would rise soon. I slipped out of bed. Evan didn’t stir. I
closed my eyes and pictured my room at Ronac. When I opened them, I
was there. I crawled into my own bed and pulled the covers over my
head. The last thought I had before I fell asleep was that it
worked. I could have the best of both worlds. I could be with Evan
and
live as a Selkie.

Evan woke. Had it been a dream? He lifted
the chain around his neck. It looked like any gold chain. The kind
some men wore. Evan never considered wearing jewelry, maybe a
wedding ring one day. He didn’t mind the necklace. It felt light
and substantial at the same time. Last night, he was pleasantly
surprised to find it was so much more than just jewelry.

Meara?
He thought her name rather
than said it aloud.

Her voice, though sleepy, rang clear in his
head.
Yes?

His lips twitched. No dream.
Good
morning.

Morning.
Her voice was silk in his
mind, erasing the lingering twinges of his headache.
Feeling
better?

Yes
, he answered.
Thanks to
you.

I’ll see you tonight?

Was it his imagination or did she sound
tentative, unsure?

Tonight
, he confirmed.

It wasn’t like having a phone conversation,
but it came close. One minute, he sensed her presence, and the
next, it was gone. He glanced over at the clock. There was only ten
minutes left until Ted knocked on the door, if he kept the same
schedule as yesterday. Time to get dressed.

He was tying his shoe when the knock came.
Evan laughed at the professor’s startled expression when he opened
the door.

“Oh!” Ted said. “You’re up.”

“Time for work, right?” Evan fought to keep
a straight face. He gave up and grinned.

“Yes,” Ted said slowly. His eyebrows
wrinkled in confusion. “You’re chipper this morning.”

“No headache,” Evan replied. “I feel
great.”

He stepped past Ted and ran down the stairs.
The dining room table was already set with steaming dishes. This
internship was feeding him well.

“Good morning.” Ken sipped his coffee and
watched Evan take his seat. “Sleep well?”

“Yes. Thank you.” Evan filled his plate with
bacon, eggs, and toast. Ted sat down across from him and began to
do the same.

“Do you get headaches often?” Ted asked.

Evan shrugged, his mouth full. He swallowed
and answered, “I never used to, but the last couple of weeks, I’ve
been getting them on a regular basis.”

Ted’s gaze flicked to Ken, who waved his
hand in reply. “It’s Scotland,” Ken said. “This overcast weather
bothers everyone.”

Evan didn’t bother to point out that the
headaches started back home, or that there had been very little
rain since he arrived here, just that one day when it poured and
then stopped abruptly. The rest of that day, the sky was a
cloudless blue. Strange weather in Scotland, sure, but headache
inducing? He didn’t buy it.

They ate in silence until Ken spoke again.
“New necklace, Evan? I don’t recall seeing it before.”

Evan had a strange urge to tuck the necklace
into his shirt. Instead, he forced himself to smile and say
nonchalantly, “It was a gift. I just decided to wear it today.”

Ken nodded, still eyeing the necklace. “It
looks expensive. The giver obviously cares for you.”

Nodding, Evan continued to eat, although he
wanted to squirm under Ken’s gaze. Ted watched their exchange with
interest, his fork paused halfway to his mouth.

Evan swallowed his toast. “Thank you. I like
it, too.”

When their plates were almost clear, Ken
asked, “Did you have a chance to ask your girlfriend to
dinner?”

“Not yet.” Evan had completely forgotten.
“But I will.”

“Good, good.” Ken rose. “See if she’s free
on Saturday night. She’s welcome to bring her friend with her.”

“Friend?”

Ken’s brows rose. “Of course. The one who
came to the house with her. Keith? Carter? I don’t recall the
name.”

Evan was confused. “Did you meet them?”

“Stonewall told me,” Ken said. “It is, after
all, my house.” Was that a warning? Evan tried to read Ken’s
expression, but there was nothing there really. He looked pleasant.
Pleasantly neutral.

“We leave in five minutes,” Ken said before
walking out of the room.

Ted was quiet this morning. They finished
their coffee and juice in silence, and he rose from the table
first. “Are you ready?”

Evan nodded and followed him out. Once they
were climbing down the stairs to the docks, Evan asked, “Why is Ken
so interested in Meara?”

Ted made a dismissive noise. “It’s not just
her. He likes to entertain.”

“Why?” Evan asked.