Eternal Starling (Emblem of Eternity Trilogy) (4 page)

The sky was bright blue and feathered with wisps of clouds as we drove into town. I needed to know where to drop Alex off so I could get him out of my life. I broke the silence and asked, “Is your car at the sporting goods store?”

“Yep.”

I pulled into the parking lot and saw his blue Audi sitting in a spot on the north side of the lot. I stopped the Jeep next to his car and watched as he shifted to grab his backpack from the back seat. I was relieved we wouldn’t have to spend any more time together.

Alex opened the door. He was about to get out when he turned around, his intense eyes searching mine. He paused, leaning toward me again, inches from my face. This time though, I wasn’t expecting anything. In a low voice he said, “Since you lost the bet, I’ll see you Saturday.” He was out of the car before I realized it, my neck still tingling from the spot where his breath had hit it.

Chapter 3

“That’s it?” Jasmine asked, her eyebrows skimming her hairline. “After everything that happened, the only thing he said to you the whole way home was, ‘I’ll see you Saturday’?”

Jasmine was grilling me about the disaster date. I was concentrating on the pan I was scrubbing in the sink and Jasmine was sitting at the kitchen table chewing her gum and blowing bubbles.

“No, he also said, ‘Since you lost the bet, I’ll see you Saturday.” I rinsed the pan and wiped my hands on a dishcloth. I sat down across from Jasmine and started eating some candy from the dish on the table. “I can’t believe what a jerk he is. Wait, yes I can. I have a habit of dating idiots.”

“Has he called you about the date yet?” she asked.

“Not yet. I’m hoping he doesn’t. I don’t want to see him.” As I unwrapped a pink Starburst, I heard a knock on the door. “Is Zach coming over?” I asked.

“I don’t think so.” Jas got up to answer the door. After a minute, she came around the corner holding a pink-tinted vase half her size. It was overflowing with pink orchids, each one sparkling like it had been sprinkled with glitter. I gasped when I saw them—pink orchids were my favorite.

Jasmine was even more excited than I was. “Read the card! Read the card!”

“I have to find it first, help me look for it!”

We searched through the orchids as daintily as we could, trying not to disturb the flawless arrangement. I saw a black card between two flowers and pulled it out. I sliced the envelope open. Inside was a piece of black cardstock with silver writing. The handwriting was neat with sharp angles. I read the note out loud:

Evie,

Since you don’t strike me as the type of girl who goes back on her word, I assume you’re planning to hold up your end of the bet. Be ready at 6:30 Saturday night. I’m sending someone to pick you up.

–Alex

I stood by the kitchen counter, glaring at the flowers and seething at Alex’s arrogance.

“What are you going to do?” Jasmine asked.

I tapped the card against the counter. “I’m going on the stupid date and I’m going to let him know exactly what I think of him!”

Jas tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. “Do you really think that’s a good idea?”

I gave her a confident nod. “He’s challenging me. I’m not backing down.”

By Saturday I was still angry, but I was also nervous. I wasn’t sure which emotion would win out when I finally saw Alex face-to-face. Jasmine made sure she and Zach were at the house. She didn’t want to miss the confrontation in case Alex decided to pick me up instead of ‘sending someone.’

I was ready by six, my long chestnut hair flowing in large curls down my back and framing my face. I wore a black lacy wrap-around shirt and dark-wash jeans. My perfume was light, the scent a mixture of tropical flowers. I put on makeup, concentrating on my favorite part of my face: my eyes. When I was finished I sat around talking to Jasmine and Zach until, at precisely six-thirty, the doorbell rang. I got up, grabbed my purse from the couch, and answered the door. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Standing in front of my house was an actual horse, and behind it, a carriage. The carriage was enclosed so I couldn’t tell if Alex was inside or not. Jasmine and Zach were watching through the window, their mouths hanging open at the sight of my ride.

“I’m looking for Evangeline,” said the man at the door. He was dressed in a jet black suit, crisp white shirt, and black satin tie.

“That’s me,” I responded, dumbfounded.

“Mr. Night has instructed me to take you to your destination.”

I was still trying to wrap my head around the transportation parked in my driveway when I realized the man had called Alex ‘Mr. Night.’ At least now I knew his last name—something I probably should have found out before agreeing to go out with him on a mysterious date. I managed to gather my thoughts enough to say, “Great. Any idea where my destination might be?”

The man chuckled. “Mr. Night said you would ask that question. He said to tell you to enjoy the surprise.”

“Of course he did.” I turned to Jas and Zach and rolled my eyes. “I’ll see you later,” I said as I walked out the door.

“Good luck,” Jas said.

“Try not to kill him,” Zach offered.

The man opened the carriage door for me. I sat down and looked out the window. As we clip-clopped away, I could still see Zach and Jas watching me from the house.

I rode in the carriage for about twenty minutes. I wasn’t sure how long it took to get somewhere by horse. I had to admit, this was the most elaborate date anyone had ever planned for me. When we stopped, the driver opened my door.

“We have arrived,” he said.

“Thank you.” I stepped out of the carriage onto a cobblestone driveway that would be better suited to a street in Europe than the mountains of Gunnison. I looked around, noting the house had been built on a secluded mountainside. The house was stunning; a red brick home flanked by large turrets that reminded me of the towers from childhood fairytales that maidens were always trapped in—not necessarily a comforting thought considering no one knew where I was tonight. I could see lights on in the house, illuminating a gorgeous curving wood staircase. The wood alone was probably worth a small fortune. I took the time to wonder if this was some sort of reception hall, or if Alex could really afford a house like this. I was jolted away from my awe by the voice of the carriage driver.

“Mr. Night asked me to give you this.” He handed me a note, then climbed back onto the carriage seat and took the reins. I could hear the horse’s hooves on the pavement as I opened the black envelope. Another black card with silver writing was inside.

Follow the path on your left. –Alex

At least there was no snarky comment this time. I looked to my left and saw the path illuminated by landscape lights and followed it. The path wound around the outside of the house through a canopy of trees. Sweet floral scents and the smell of freshly turned soil surrounded me as I walked. I wasn’t on the trail for long when I noticed something shimmering ahead of me. The path became less obvious and soon I was on grass, trying to get a clear picture of the lights I kept seeing. As I came around a corner, the trees blocking my view were gone and I gasped. I saw at least a hundred black and white candles set up strategically throughout the massive yard. The glimmer I had seen was coming from the trees. They were glistening with what appeared to be thousands of crystals hanging from the branches.

I was taking it all in when I saw a figure step out of the shadows. Alex looked more mouthwatering than ever dressed in a grey suit with a sea-green colored shirt that magnified his bright eyes, and a silver tie. It almost made me forget I was supposed to be mad at him.

“What do you think?” he asked, a pleased smile on his face.

I wasn’t sure whether he was asking about the yard or his clothes. The answer was the same either way. “I’ve never seen anything like it.” I turned to look behind me. “Do you leave those up year-round?” I asked, thinking the scene reminded me of an elaborate Christmas display.

He laughed. “Of course not, those are for you.”

My chin dropped. “Why?” I asked. “I mean, I can’t believe anyone would go to all this trouble for me.”

He inclined his head and answered, “You deserve it.”

I was too stunned to speak.

Alex broke the silence. “I thought it might be nice to do something a little . . . less exciting, than your usual activities. Are you hungry? Our dinner is ready.” He gestured to a round table sitting on the patio. The table was covered in black linen and set with real glasses and silverware—something I noticed since my glasses at home were all plastic and my silverware usually comes from fast food restaurants. I walked toward the table and Alex followed me. As I got closer, I saw more candles, the flames sparkling like fireworks. Stems of pink orchids were scattered around the candles reminding me of the beautiful flowers at my house.

“The orchids,” I said. “How did you know they’re my favorite?”

His lips curved into a slow smile as he held my gaze. “You don’t seem like the roses type.”

I sat down, trying to reign in the vertigo I was feeling. Almost immediately, a waiter came out of the softly-lit home carrying two plates of salad. The salad had creamy ribbons of raspberry dressing covering delicate leaves of spinach; walnuts and feta cheese were sprinkled over the top of the salad like confetti. The bright salad dressing and green leaves provided a stark contrast to the white square plate the salad was served on. It looked like something that should be in an art museum instead of on a dinner plate. The waiter took a pitcher off the table and filled our glasses with fresh squeezed lemonade—my favorite. I slid my silverware off the black linen napkin on the table, put the napkin on my lap, and picked up my fork. Alex must have noticed how intently I was looking at my food.

“It won’t bite you,” he said.

I glared at him for a second. “It looks so elegant. I don’t want to ruin it by eating.”

“Well, I could have them bring out another plate with a messier salad,” he teased.

I moved my head to the side. “I think I’ll be fine, thanks.” I scanned the yard, then turned back to my salad, picking up my fork. I glanced up after a few bites and Alex was watching me.

“What are you thinking about?” he asked.

“You really pulled out all the stops tonight,” I said.

He contemplated something for a moment. “Details are important,” he said. “They let people know you care about them.”

“So all
this
,” I gestured to the candles, crystals, and food, “means you care about me?” I didn’t believe that for a second, not after what had happened at the lake.

He looked at me like he thought I was joking. When he realized I wasn’t, he said, “In the past couple of weeks I’ve saved you from what you thought was a wild animal, stopped you from flinging yourself off the side of a cliff, been your personal mountain guide, and pulled you out of a lake. After all that, I still asked you out. I thought my feelings for you were pretty obvious.”

With Alex’s ego back in full-force, I found the anger I had forgotten when I walked into his backyard and saw the fancy date he’d planned. “You know, I came here to tell you off.” Alex cocked an eyebrow as he leaned back in his chair and gestured with his hand like I should go ahead, which made me even madder. I didn’t need permission to tell him what a jerk he was. “How could your feelings have been obvious?” I asked, my voice rising. “You make comments that imply you’re interested in me, but your actions are the complete opposite! You won’t even touch me.”

He didn’t flinch, tell me I was crazy, or accuse me of being hormonal. Instead, he looked straight at me. “I’m sorry I upset you. I didn’t mean to.”

I waited for him to continue. He didn’t. “That’s it?” I asked. “You’re not going to explain yourself?”

He closed his eyes, rubbing his forehead with the tips of his fingers. “I wouldn’t know where to begin.” He took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, Evie. I didn’t mean to make you mad. I want to spend more time with you and see what happens between us.”

I watched him for a minute, assessing his anxious expression. He seemed sincere and I could tell he really was sorry. Finally, I nodded. “Okay. We can try it. But you need to stop acting like such a pretentious idiot or this isn’t going to work at all.”

Alex gave a soft laugh as he picked up his fork. “I’ll try to stop pushing your buttons.”

I smiled and took a sip of lemonade. “If we’re going to have some sort of relationship, I need to know you better,” I said. “Tell me about your family.”

“There’s not much to say. My parents died a long time ago. I was an only child. Since my parents were gone, I was basically raised in a boarding school. It’s one of the reasons I graduated from college so early. I spent most of my time studying and college was pretty easy to get through.”

I felt horrible for thinking he’d been self-righteous when I first met him and he told me he’d been in an accelerated degree program.

“My family was well-off. When my parents died, I inherited all of their assets and invested the money I received.”

I was dumbfounded at his casual manner talking about his family and what must have been a horrible tragedy. I had the urge to reach over and squeeze his arm in a gesture of comfort, but for some reason, I didn’t feel like I should. “I’m so sorry,” I said. “I can’t imagine what that must have been like.”