Shifting Shadows (Sparks Collide Trilogy) (24 page)

I waited downstairs in the living room
with the other guys and we watched some T.V. About a million years later the
girls came downstairs. We waited in the living room for the girls to present
themselves which was always hilarious in my opinion.

Whenever we went out somewhere nice
three things always happened without fail. One, Will would swallow his own
tongue whenever he laid eyes on Demi. This was to be expected but it was always
funny to watch him totally lose it. Two, Max got anxious over what Mena was
going to wear and if any of us guys were going to stare at her. We did but not
seriously. She was hot but it was a well known fact that Max’s greatest fear
was that one of us would date his sister. He didn’t talk to
Brandon
, his best friend, for almost two
months when he found out
Brandon
had kissed Mena at a party once. He’d
gotten over it but barely. Three, Logan would try not to stare at Annabella and
fail every time.

I know it wasn’t nice to laugh at my
friend’s private moments, anxiousness, or pain but it was weirdly kind of fun
for me to watch. I was a sick bastard sometimes. I waited to watch my friend’s
faces as the girls came in but Kira walked in first, looking like a goddess and
all other thoughts drifted away.

“Hey you guys ready to go?”

Other people mumbled things and she
nodded but I couldn’t hear the words. The girls came in behind Kira and I
remembered I wanted to do something when that happened but I didn’t care. I
couldn’t look away even if I wanted to.

Her blue eyes had heavy dark shadow and
she that seductive wing thing like Cleopatra or something. Her dark hair was around
her face and it curled at the ends brushing her bare shoulders. Her lacey dress
molded to her body like a glove, and it showed off her long legs.
Trent
gave me a hard shove and the world
came back into view.

We were heading to the car. I looked to
Trent who had the most wolfish smile I’d ever seen on his face and I shoved him
back but mumbled a “thanks” under my breath. Max offered to be the designated
driver and we all packed into
Trent
’s car. There were two less seats than
people and
Trent
told Kira she should sit on my lap and
told Demi to sit on Will’s. The girls agreed easily and
Trent
winked at me. I gave him a dirty look
but obviously I was grateful.

I took back everything I ever said
about disliking my exceptional sense of smell because Kira smelled even more
amazing up close. Her cinnamon scent had my mouth watering and I had to fight
to concentrate when she started to speak to me. I was going insane.

“So, have you ever been to the Club
we’re going to?” She asked, peering up at me through her lashes.

I thought “Wow.” But luckily I said
“Yes, a few times. It’s nice. It has a big dance floor area and the D.J is
pretty sick from what I remember. There are a lot of us so we should probably
do V.I.P.”

“Yeah that’s what
Logan
just said.” She looked at me like I
was slow.
“Oh, my bad.
Then I agree.” I said and
shrugged it off. I wasn’t about to pretend I’d been listening, there was no
point.

She kept looking up at me and laughing
until I asked “What is it?”

She smiled and since we were in a
packed car full loud music and even louder shifters she whispered so our
conversation could be somewhat private. Saying, “I really like Rosie.”

“Yeah, she’s great. She’s like a part
of the family.”

“Yes, she told me…”

I waited. Then realized what she meant.
“Oh no, what else did she tell you.”

“Just an adorable story about this
little boy who loved to wear purple so much that he got away with practically
murder for it.”

I felt my eyes pop out of my head in
disbelief.
“Oh my God.
I’m going to kill her.”

She smirked at me, her eyes shining. “I
doubt it”

“Well you’re right but still. I’m going
to get her back somehow.”

She kept looking at me and laughing.

“In my defense” I said even more
quietly. “I just wanted to make my grandfather laugh, I didn’t know it would
take him so long to find me but before he did I got to scare a lot of people
walking by. It was hilarious.”

“I bet.” She said “You must have scared
many children with your purple loving ways.”

“You are so gonna get it, Kira. I might
just call your parents tomorrow, I’m sure they’ve got plenty of hilarious
stories on the young witch, Kira Franklin.”

“You wouldn’t” she said appalled.

“Oh, I would. That is unless we don’t
tell anyone else this little story.”

“Deal but there’s something you should
know.”

“What?” I asked worriedly.

“Max and Mena were there too. Max
didn’t seem too happy that we were trying to find out something funny on you
but I wouldn’t put it past Mena to have told everyone already.”

“No” I said in horror.

“I’d tell her not to say anything as
you soon as you can and I’d sweeten the deal with a favor instead of trying to
black mail her out of telling if I were you.”

“Why do you say that?”

“I’ve just gotten to know her a little
better and that’s pretty much how her genius mind works. She likes things she
can use to her advantage.”

“I’ve noticed that about her too but
I’ve known her for years. You’re pretty smart you know that?”

She got shy again as her long lashes
swept down “Thanks.”

The two of us rode the rest of the way in
silence as everyone else chattered around us and the music blared, but it was a
nice silence, an altogether enjoyable silence. It was a silence that heated
between the two of us, her sitting on my lap in the crowded car.

 
The line at the club was out the door but we
went in through the
VIP
entrance after we flashed some I.D.
Everyone around here knew who owned
Dellarson
Mansion
. The music pounded through me like a
drug and I watched Kira’s eyes light up as she spied the crowded dance floor.
She grabbed Annabella and Mena’s arms and dragged them toward the center of the
club. I, on the other hand sat with my boys as we filled up our glasses.

“Dude, what are you waiting for?”
Trent
asked and everyone was looking at me
so I figured he meant me.

“Huh?” I answered eloquently.

“What are you waiting for with Kira?”

I leaned back in my chair “Who says I’m
waiting for anything?”

Logan
exhaled “Good because we were worried
you would never figure it out.”

“Figure what out?” I asked lazily but I
meant it more seriously than I was willing to admit.

“That Kira is perfect for you.” Demi
said walking in and sitting down with Will in tow. Everyone froze, staring at
the pair.

I took a deep breath. I had a feeling
this was a bigger deal than I could fully comprehend. I snuck a glance in on
Will’s face. He looked…relieved.

I returned my attention to Demi. “What
makes you think that?” I was really not down with the being the last to know
something in my pack so I was trying not to give that fact away. The fact that
my love life was now a pack discussion wasn’t something I had any control over.
This sucked.

“Jay, she’s the only one you listen to,
the only one who brought you out of your misery on your mom’s…on that day.
You’ve changed since you met her. You’re more bearable to be around.”

“Gee thanks, guys and let’s not forget
how I got trashed and started a fight with the Michigan Alpha on that same day
that I was ‘saved’ from.” I said slowly.

Demi leaned forward. “You would’ve done
way worse without Kira that day and you know it. Before she found you at the
pub, we’d all been calling you for hours. Even your father was upset that you
hadn’t picked up his calls and he didn’t even know what day it was.” She looked
down, probably worrying her last comment had gone too far but soon looked back
up and continued. “These past few years haven’t been easy for any of us. You’re
the leader, you hurt and it hurts us too. None of us think it’s your fault but
you can’t deny the fact that it’s been better lately. You’ve been better
lately. We think it’s because of Kira but what do you think, Jay?”

She might have been right, damn it.
Words jumbled around in my brain and before I could clearly understand what I
was thinking, some of the words tumbled out. “She’s not” I whispered low “a
shifter.”

She rolled her eyes but whispered back
“Annabella’s father isn’t a shifter either.”

I looked around quickly to make sure
Annabella was still far away on the dance floor. I barked a harsh laugh. “You
couldn’t have thought of a worse couple as an example.”

“Right but they’re awful people because
they’re awful people not because they’re a shifter and a human couple.”

“Still not seeing the point you’re
trying to make here,” I said, frustrated.

“My point” she looked around at the
pack.

“Our point is that if you and Kira ever
it got together it would be nothing but positive and beneficial for everyone.
We love her like a sister already and you know I can’t stand most people.”

I nodded because it was true, Demi
disliked most everyone.

“As usual, the one thing standing in
your way of getting what you want is you.”

“Got it and nice thinly veiled dig, I
almost didn’t catch it.” She shrugged and crossed her legs but I could see she
was pleased with herself.

Something unlocked inside me. I hadn’t
even known it but I was waiting to hear these words, this confirmation. Still,
I kept my game face. “As usual” I said trying to sound haughty “you guys worry
too much about my love life like nosy grandmothers and you try to make your own
agendas, pack business.” I took a breath “I appreciate your support but I’ve
got this so lets it drop it like it’s hazardous and never pick it up again.”

“Deal”
Brandon
said and everyone turned to him.
“What? I’m not down with being anyone’s grandma.”

Before anyone else could say anything more,
I got up out of my chair and headed for the dance floor. I had some catching up
to do.

I was completely zoned out and moving
to the music with Annabella and Mena. Or at least I had been until some guys
jumped on us like a pack of wolves. Pun intended. My friends got sucked into
the crowd and although I knew they were in the middle somewhere, I didn’t see
them anymore.

I looked around the club again and
smiled. We were all going wild and letting our proverbial hair down. There was
nothing quite like dancing all of your worries away or at least trying to with
a crowd full of people all intent on the same thing. The Deejay played all of
my favorite songs and finally some of the stress of the day dissipated.

I was big enough to admit that some of
the stress had been caused by the tension between Jay and me. He was…confusing.
That look he’d given me when I’d walked into the living room was just…well I’d
had butterflies ever since. Then again, this morning he was clearly unhappy
with my magical heritage. I thought of Riley’s adorable face and smiled. I knew
then that the day had been worth every ounce of fear and anxiety I’d felt
because I got to hang out with Riley and help him in some small way. I’d hoped
Riley’s mom was happy. I knew life didn’t always work out the way we planned
but if only one thing in this day worked out, I hoped it was Riley’s mom with
that cart.

The music changed to something slower
and I was ready for some water to cool down. I went to move away from the guy I
was dancing with when he was suddenly gone. I turned around to see Jay shaking
his hand and then turning to me. The butterflies intensified but I tried to
keep it together. “Hey” I heard him shout over the music.

I returned a
surprised
,“
Hey
. What’s going on?”

“I asked your friend if I could cut
in.”

I smiled. He wanted to dance with me.
“Oh, ok. You dance?”

“Who knows?
Ready to
find out?”

Don’t answer too fast. Breathe. Ok,
one, two, and “Yeah”

The song was slow and I put my arms on
Jay’s shoulders as he put his on my hips. As it turned out he could dance. As
the seconds ticked by, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. The air was too hot and
I was suddenly nervous. “You know what I was thinking about?” he asked.

“No. What?” I replied and tilted my
head at him.

“Riley” he said smiling.

“I was just thinking about him too.”

He pulled me slightly closer so we
could talk more easily with the music blaring. “Man that feels like a lifetime
ago. I can’t believe that was only a few hours back” he said.