Page 17 of Between Now and Forever

He holds me still.

“Be good,” he whispers into the top of my head before he turns and gives me a slight shove out the door. “And be home on time. I have plans for us tomorrow, bright and early.”

“Yes, Mom.” I sarcastically singsong and dart down his paved walkway before he can stop me again.

3

ALL THAT GLITTERS

ELISABETH

I pullopen the passenger side door of Duke’s completely blacked-out Tahoe and hop in.

“Hey,” I chirp as I slide into the cool interior, sweat already beading down my back from the short walk down the drive.

“It’s so hot today,” I sigh as the A/C wafts over me and buckle my seat belt. I reach into my bag, digging around for my sunglasses.

“Where’s James?” Duke asks.

His question surprises me enough that I forget about my sunglasses and look at him.

“Did you invite him, too?” I ask, confused by this.

“No. I just thought when you said you were staying with him that…” His voice trails off. I frown at him, thrown off-kilter by how disappointed he sounds.

He and James were close when we were kids, but as far as I know, they only see each other when our families get together. And even then, I’ve never seen them do more than exchange hellos.

“I asked him to come, but he’s being the responsible heir apparent and working,” I say, trying to keep the mood light.

He doesn’t respond, and I shift uncomfortably in my seat. My thoughts of triumph over the girls at the party today begin ebbing away. I look down at my freshly-waxed legs to hide the tears I feel stinging my eyes.

“If you don’t want to take me anymore, I understand,” I say quietly.

He starts the car with a sharp turn of the key and the engine roars to life. I glance over at him in surprise to find him smiling at me.

“No, man. Let’s go. It’ll be fun.”

I try not to look as relieved as I feel, but my nod of agreement is so vehement my neck pops.

We pull out of the driveway; the car’s radio is blaring and gives me cover from the small talk I’m not capable of.

I close my eyes and lose myself in the place where I am always safest - my imagination.

I picture the lake we’re headed to. I’ve only been once, but I know it’s beautiful this time of year.

At dusk, the dappled light makes the leaves glow like amber, honey and jade as they catch the last of the sun’s rays. The bonfires are lit as soon as the sky gets that first hint of lavender. The fire casts long shadows of the people gathered around and that’s where I find my gold.

I used to imagine when I was a little girl that the fairies and unicorns and angels we all believed in—but couldn’t see—lived in those shadows.

Most children were afraid of the dark. But to me, it’s always been a kindred spirit.

Misunderstood.

Underutilized.

In my shadows, I was free to imagine a world where I was beautiful. Elisabeth Mortimer Wells had wings and flawless skin that changed colors, depending on my mood. And when the handsome, dark-haired Fey lord kissed me, I was always the same emerald color of his eyes. When he picked flowers for me, I glowed with sparkling yellow. When he sang songs he’d written for me, I became the same color as the night sky. Deep, deep, deep blue flecked with a million diamond stars.

It’sdaytimethat I wish I could sleep through.

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