Page 41 of Sweet Poison

What I don’t tell my parents is that since I’ve been here, I’ve felt eyes on me. It’s weird. I don’t feel like I’m in danger, just that I’m being watched. Suddenly, black eyes flash through my mind.

Cold eyes, beautiful eyes.

“Hey, do you guys remember Madden?” I ask, trying to gauge their reactions. His name has been a sore spot in our home for years. Of course, my parents know he’s a famous formula 1 driver, but that’s about the extent of it. He disappeared one night and we never heard of him again. Not even my father’s connections helped find him until he was already grown and by then it was too late.

I watch as Mom’s face falls a little, her eyes misting with sadness. “Sweet boy. Yes, of course we remember him,” she says, letting out a sigh.

Dad’s eyes narrow. “Why do you bring him up?”

I take a deep breath, feeling a flutter of butterflies in my stomach. “Well, this is actually his hotel.”

Dad’s expression darkens, and he barks, “No. Not for you, baby. You stay away from that.”

Mom quickly reaches over and places her hand over Dad’s mouth, her eyes pleading with him to stop. “Oh, hush, you beautiful giant.”

A moment of silence passes, and all I can think about is about my father’s reaction to Madden. He was never a fan of his, but then again, he’s never been a fan of any man with a pulse who gets near me or Mom.

The conversation turns awkward after Dad’s comment but then Mom’s smile reappears, though tinged with a bit of sorrow. “Well, honey, we’ll let you go. Please stay safe and enjoy the rest of your day.”

I nod, trying to shake off the tension. “Thanks, Mom. I will. I love you both.”

Mom’s hand still lingers on Dad’s mouth for a moment before she gently removes it. “Love you till the sun dies,Mo Chuisle, but for all that’s fucking holy stay away from boys.”

Boys. He still sees me as his little girl, so of course he refers to men my age as boys.

“Will do, dad!” I reply with a quirky smile. “Love you more. Talk to you soon!”

As the video call ends, I stare at the screen, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside me.

With a positive attitude and with a light heart after talking to my parents I make my way towards the tent reserved for our research project.

As I walk, I notice Ethan approaching from the side, his casual stride and easy smile lighting up his entire face. He holdssomething out to me as he gets closer, and I can’t quite make out what it is until he’s right in front of me.

“Hey, Will,” he says while signing. “I saw this and thought of you.”

He extends his hand, revealing a beautiful yellow puka shell necklace. The tiny shells are strung together in a simple yet elegant pattern, their natural sheen catching the sunlight.

I blink, momentarily taken aback. “Oh, wow. This is really beautiful.” It is. I also love the color. Yellow. It’s my favorite color after green.

Ethan grins, a hint of mischief in his eyes. “I thought you would like it. I saw it and thought it would look good on you.”

That was… nice.

I take the necklace from him, feeling its cool weight in my hand. The shells are smooth and worn, each one unique, giving the necklace an antique charm. “Thank you. It’s very thoughtful.” I sign.

Glancing up at him, I catch him looking at me with a small smile on his face. A flutter of nerves stirs in my stomach as I slip the necklace over my head.

The shells rest comfortably against my skin as I look up at him.

Ethan’s eyes sparkle with something unreadable as he takes in the sight of the necklace on me. “It really does suit you,” he says softly while signing. “You look beautiful, Willow.”

I smile shyly. “Thanks,” I sign back.

“You’re welcome.” Ethan’s grin widens.

An awkward silence follows before he speaks again. “Let’s get to work then.”

I nod, returning his smile.

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