Oracle Rising (26 page)

Even he got the trials of being judged.

He lifted her chin with his big fingers so he could stare into her beautiful brown eyes.

“Juliett.”

“What? It’s the truth. Men don’t like scary women who have dirty secrets. Trust me. I’ve been through half of Laramie looking for one who wouldn’t run.”

“Then that’s their loss, not yours.”

She laughed. “Right. I’m a total freak, and not in a good way.”

“Please don’t say that about yourself. You’re not anything like that. I can tell by just talking to you. What you see as a curse is a gift. If I was dying, and all alone, I would wish that someone was there with me to cross me over. What you do is amazing. That’s not a freak thing. That’s a compassion thing. That’s something you don’t find in people much anymore. In fact, I think it’s the best trait to find in someone to date.”

She stared at him.

The tears filled her eyes.

And then she started crying.

“Oh, shit!” he said, sliding out of the booth.

What the hell did he do now? No one ever told him what to do if he made a girl cry. Mad, yes. You ducked. When a woman wept…

“Juliett! I’m so sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry. I shouldn’t have said anything,” he said, dropping his arm around her shoulders to offer her comfort.

She sniffled.

“Please stop crying. I promise I won’t bring it up again.”

There was nothing worse in the world than having to watch a woman cry. A good man would always react to it.

That’s what his mother used to tell him.

“I’m sorry,” she said, wiping her eyes. “I didn't mean to…”

He turned her head toward him, so they could be eye to eye. “Don’t apologize for feeling, Juliett. It’s okay.”

She couldn’t believe her luck and misfortune.

Here, she found the perfect man.

And in the end, she would be going home.

Of course.

“I’ll go back over to my side of the booth,” he said, starting to slide away. “You don’t need me crowding you.”

“Don’t,” she said softly. She actually felt better with him near. She was empathic, and he was gentle.

He didn't move.

“I like having you beside me.”

He grinned. “Then here’s where I’ll stay.”

She wished he meant forever, but she’d never get that damn lucky, and she knew it.

Chapter ELEVEN

Avalon was a little surprised when Nate came rushing into the room to suggest they actually leave the cabin.

Honestly, it never really happened.

She was pretty much kept under lock and key, even now that her murdering bastard father was dead.

Instead of staying in, he dropped a baseball cap on her head before leading her outside to the Hummer.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“A date.”

Avalon opened and then closed her mouth. “No, really. Where are we going?”

Nate was ashamed of himself.

Her response was proof that he was doing a shitty job of being a boyfriend. He wasn’t surprised. He’d never made long term attachments for just this reason.

He was married to his career.

Now, he wanted to be married to Avalon, and unless he changed his ways, it wasn’t going to happen.

When he found out she was alive, he promised to join her in that gilded cage, and instead he had inadvertently locked her away by herself.

Again.

“It’s a nice night, so I thought we could go for ice cream. There’s not a lot to do in Crosspointe, but ice cream is fun.”

She turned her head and was studying his aura. “Why, Nathaniel?”

He got ready to lie.

“Don’t do it,” she stated. “Once you put it out there, it’s stuck in the universe forever.”

“There are times that I really hate that you can do that.”

She laughed. “Yeah, it sucks to be you. Now why don’t you tell me the real reason why you’re taking me out?”

“I’m a shitty boyfriend.”

She didn't say he wasn’t.

“Wow, see?” he offered. “You didn't disagree. Maybe I’m too old to be doing this kind of thing.”

Again, she didn't say anything.

“Uh, Avalon, you can jump in any moment here.”

“Nathaniel, you’re not too old, and you’re not a shitty boyfriend. I just don’t know where this is going. I’m afraid to say anything. I don’t want to make this worse.”

Well, that said a lot. When a woman viewed your relationship in degrees of crappiness, it was destined to end.

It was official.

He was going to lose her.

“Are you happy with me, Avi?”

She didn't hesitate. “Yes.”

“Now who’s lying? I saw the way you practically swooned when the sheriff gave Juliett that flower.”

Avalon wasn’t good in many situations, but she was pretty sure comparing Nate to another man would be a bad thing, so she opted to only answer half his question.

“I don’t lie, Nathaniel. I wake up every day so grateful to have you in my life. We barely survived Wade Miller. I’ll never regret a second of our lives.”

“Do you wish I was more romantic?” he asked.

“My gut instinct is to lie and say no, but I respect you too much. I hope I’m handling this the right way. I have to be honest, but yes, I wish you were more romantic.”

“I see.”

“I don’t think you do. It’s not about you. It’s about me. I’m damaged. I was locked away. I’ve never had anyone romance me before, so I’m grateful that you even love me. I’m not exactly a catch. I’ve seen you. You can do so much better. If anything, you’re the one who’s suffering more.”

He pulled into the parking lot and slammed the Hummer into park.

They slid to a stop.

“Wait! Why would you say that? You’re more than I’ll ever deserve, Avi. I’m the lucky one. I have a sexy, sweet, beautiful younger girlfriend. Trust me. I won the prize this time.”

“I’m also forced to hide in plain sight. I’m naïve about everything, and I can’t see the stars. I didn't even know what ‘going commando’ meant. It has to be exhausting to have to teach me everything. For God’s sake, you’re teaching me to read. You deserve better, Nathaniel. We both know it.”

She was in his head, but obviously not in his heart. If she was, Avalon wouldn’t be saying these things.

“I love teaching you things. It’s not a chore.”

“For how long, Nathaniel? At what point are you going to find me the anchor and not the lovely mermaid?” She was referring to a book he read to her, where the sailor died trying to find a woman he was crazy about. “In the end, I’ll just weigh you down.”

“Stop it.”

“I can’t. It’s the truth. We both know I’d be lost without you. I can’t see to do anything. I can’t have a normal life, and now you’re trapped with me. Every day, I feel guilty. I thought I’d be free, but I’m not really. I’m still in a cage, it’s just not red, white, and blue.”

“Avi, why didn't you tell me you were this unhappy? You could have come to me. I would have worked harder to make it better. I can do the flowers, the romance, and the surprises. I have it in me. I just…”

“You just what?”

“I didn't think you wanted it.”

Her face remained neutral, but there was a sheen in her pale blue eyes. “I see. I didn't want it or wasn’t worthy? Last I looked, I’m a normal woman. You get so pissed when people treat me differently, but you just did.”

“Avi.”

“Want to know why I never asked for more from you, even though I craved it?”

He took her fingers in his, and kissed them. He gave her what she, and he, wanted.

That connection.

That love.

That romance.

“Because who am I to ask for more? I have a beautiful home, a family I now call my own, and a wonderful man. How can I ask for anything else? I don’t deserve it.”

He took her hands in his. “Oh, sweetheart, you can always ask for more, Avalon. If it’s in my power, I’ll make it happen. No, you can’t see the stars, but I see them when I look into your eyes. You’re special, and I’m the lucky one. I can’t ask for more because there is nothing more than this for me. You’re my all. I haven’t been giving that back to you. I see that now, and for that I’m really sorry.”

“This is why I don’t say anything. You’re happy.”

“But you’re not.”

“I am. I really am. I just wish...”

“Please tell me. I’m new at this too. I can’t get better if I don’t know what’s bothering you.”

“I want out of the cage sometimes.”

His heart skipped.

“You know I don’t keep you locked away because I’m ashamed of you, right?”

She didn't reply.

“Oh, Avalon.” He ran his hands through his hair. She did think that. He could see it in her eyes. There was so much hurt there, and he put it in her heart. It was something he promised he’d never do, and he broke it.

“I just wonder what it’s like to be normal. Look around, Nate. All these people eating ice cream, and their biggest fear is not getting it all over them. With me, you have to worry about a million things. Will I trip? Will I embarrass you? Is someone going to recognize me?”

“It’s not like that, Avalon. I worry because I love you.”

She touched his cheek. “I know, and I love you too. I just want to feel what life feels like. I want to laugh, and blend into the group, and not be Oracle. I don’t want to be her anymore, Nate. I want to be Nathaniel Carter’s…” She wanted to say wife, but she didn't want to guilt him into that. That was sacred to her. As a teenager, she always wondered if someone would love her like that. It was a fantasy and fairytale all in one, “girlfriend.”

He wanted to push, but he knew there was something better he could do to prove he saw her pain. “Let’s go.”

She put her glasses on and waited for him to get her.

He came around and helped her out. Instead of tucking her into his side, he held her hand in his.

That was the first step. Tonight, she wasn’t in danger. She was simply a beautiful woman on a date with a nervous man.

Leading her to the counter, he waited. “What kind of ice cream do you want?”

“Chocolate.”

“Two please,” he said. When the woman gave them to him, and he paid, he led her away. Not far from all the people was a table. As they sat, he watched her eating her ice cream.

His heart broke.

He didn't understand what she’d lived through. He never would. Every day had been a battle, and now he’d made her life just as difficult.

“I’m sorry.”

She stopped. “Don’t be. I’m fine.”

Nate had a sister. When a woman said ‘fine’ it never was. In fact, it was the opposite of fine, and generally really bad. Callie had once said that word to Quinn, and he proceeded to ride the couch for a better part of a week until he figured out what she was really upset about.

That wasn’t happening to him.

Hell no!

“I love you, Avi.”

He said it pretty loud. In fact, it wasn’t only her that glanced over.

“I love you too,” she replied.

Then, he took off her sunglasses and tossed them onto the table. He was forcing her to hide behind them too.

“Nathaniel!”

“No. You’re done hiding. If something happens, we’ll face it together. You’re right. I’ve locked you away. I’m just like Uncle Sam. I’m not hurting you like this anymore.”

“It’s okay. I’m fine.”

He went for it. Impulsively, he buried his one free hand in the back of her hair, and then he yanked her to his mouth. For the last few weeks, he was treating her differently.

Nate was done with it.

He didn't care what the world thought. Yes, he was old enough to be her father, had he had her at sixteen, but he didn't care. Let people stare.

He wanted to show her what lived in him.

The kiss was a start.

Avalon didn't know what to think. His hand was in her hair, he’d taken away her glasses, and he was kissing her like he only did in the privacy of their bedroom.

When he set her free, she was breathing heavily.

“You’re the only woman I’ll ever love,” he said, when he noticed there was a little old lady and her husband sitting not far away.

He wanted to be them one day.

Nate wanted that kind of love.

Taking the ice cream from her hand, he tossed both hers and his.

“Hey!”

Her protest made him smile. When he was finished, she wouldn’t be thinking about the ice cream. Avalon was going to be focused solely on him.

She wanted spur of the moment?

Avalon wanted romantic?

So did he.

When he moved away from her, he only hoped she could track him by his aura.

“Nathaniel, what are you…?”

He cut her off.

“Avalon?” he said, his voice loud enough to be heard over everyone there.

People stared.

He didn't care.

Instead, he got down on one knee, took her hands in his, and stared into her blind eyes. She might not see him, but he saw her. “I’m sorry that I didn't see what you needed. I’m never going to forgive myself for making you hurt. That was then, and this is now. I want to move forward.”

“Nathaniel, why are you on the ground?” she asked, getting confused.

“I’m down on one knee.”

She didn't get it.

“Did you lose something?”

He wanted to kiss her again, just because she was sweet and innocent. “I’m on my knee because there’s something I need to do.”

The whole place got quiet. People turned, and Nate was giving her what she was worthy of.

Everyone’s attention.

If they only knew that this sprite of a woman had likely saved their lives countless times, they would be on their knees too.

“Okay. What?”

“Avalon, I can’t go a single day without asking you this. Will you do me the honor of marrying me and becoming my wife? Just to let you know, everyone is watching you, and if you turn me down, I’ll cry,” he said, laughing.

“Nathaniel!”

“You heard me.  Be my wife. I don’t have a ring for you yet, but I will. Marry me. Let me love you forever.”

Tears filled her eyes. “I can’t believe you did this and here.”

He didn't move. “Everyone, don’t you think she should marry me?”

Everyone began clapping and chanting ‘YES! YES! YES!’

She didn't know what to think. “Nathaniel, you don’t have to do this.”

Oh, yes he did.

It was time.

“I promised you that we’d be in a cage together, and I want to start our life out with us being husband and wife. Marry me, so we can start this adventure as a couple. I should have asked the day you walked back into my life, but I’ve been afraid. I don’t know if I’ll be enough to keep you safe or happy.”

She didn't know what to say.

“Nathaniel!”

He took her face between his palms and kissed her. It wasn’t chaste, and in fact, it was just shy of something x-rated. With his mouth on hers, he refused to let her free. As everyone cheered, he offered her his soul.