Page 58 of Rise of the Melody
“No, of course not,” I said, but I wanted to puke up all of today’s food.
“Thanks for the pizza,” Shani said, changing the subject like a pro. Everyone started chatting again and she winked at me. I gave her a grateful smile in return.
Gods, how would they all react when they found out Zar MacCray was still alive? And here? And…that I knew about him? My stomach turned and, once again, I wished I’d eaten less. I felt sick.
At some point during the conversation Teague had moved closer to me, his leg pressed against mine, our shoulders touching. I didn’t hate it. It was comforting. I caught sight of Chrys’s hand near Clare’s and a few minutes later their pinkies were entwined. She wore that dreamy look again. I felt a spark of hope that the sweetness meant something, but it was followed up by worry that he was going to hurt her.
I listened as they told stories. Teague told us about a large steamship that had run ashore right outside the MacCray property in the 1936 when it was extremely foggy. I tried to imagine a massive ship sitting hard ground in front of my house, and it freaked me out.
My house.How quickly that had happened. But it felt more like my home than the Brooklyn apartment ever had.
“We should play a game,” Teague said.
“Spin the Bottle?” Chrystamos suggested. “Truth or Dare?”
“I was thinking Hide and Go Seek,” Teague told him. Chrys smacked his lips in disappointment and Clare gave him a little shove.
It was getting dark now, but the nearly partial moon and all the stars shone with no clouds. The porch light was also on, which was just enough illumination. We all agreed to play, and Teague laid out some rules. Stay on the property. No more than five feet into the tree line. No going down to the water.
Got it.
Teague agreed to go first. The sheet was base. Teague lay face down with his hands over his head. Chrys shook his butt near Teague’s head to make sure he wasn’t peeking, and when Teague started to count, we all sprinted, bouncing off each other and laughing before disappearing in different directions. I almost ran to the porch, but I saw Clare dash up there and crouch behind a chair, so I ran around the side of the house and slipped into the greenhouse. I kept the door open a crack and went to my knees so I could see through the window over the table. It was dark over here.
It got super quiet, and I felt my nerves on edge. Then light whispers and a giggle came from behind me. I turned my head to see two shadowy forms leaning against the side of the house. I squinted until I could make out Chrystamos…and that girl Erin. He had her backed up to the wall, his head tilted down, one hand on the wall beside her head and the other hand on her waist. She threw back her head in a silent laugh. I gasped when he kissed her neck.
Anger churned my stomach as she put her arms around his shoulders, and they started kissing. I looked away, grinding my teeth. Poor Clare! I was so distracted I almost didn’t notice someone large sprinting gracefully toward the greenhouse until he was almost on me. I squeaked and got lower just in time for Teague to run past me and straight toward Chrys and Erin. Chrys darted away. To my surprise, Erin whipped up a small tornado around herself, dirt and debris circling her as Teague battled against it.
As their screams and laughter rang out, I opened the door and ran full speed toward the front of the house. Based on the commotion and loud footfalls behind me, I had time. I saw two others standing on the sheet. Clare and Declan.
“Come on!” Clare said, jumping up and down. I ran into her arms, and we tumbled to the sheet, laughing. Chrys landed next to us, and Teague grabbed Erin around the waist before she could get there. She screamed and kicked out her legs. Nora and Shani ran in from the side, holding hands.
“Erin’s it!” Teague called out.
I sat up and watched Erin smiling and trying to catch her breath. I wondered if she knew Chrystamos and Clare were a thing. Of sorts. I wasn’t mad at her, but I wanted to punch Chrys in the nuts. Especially when I looked over and saw him nuzzling Clare’s shoulder with his nose, trying to be cute.
I stood and reached for Clare. She grabbed my hands and let me pull her to her feet. I didn’t want to ruin the fun right now, but I would definitely be telling her what I saw later. Not that it would make her like him any less. It would just make her feel bad. I debated internally until I heard counting.
Erin sat facing the sea and buried her face into her knees, her arms wrapped around her head, counting loudly. The rest of us scurried off in a jumble of chaos and whispered screams. I started toward the far side of the house, but a warm, strong hand turned me around and tugged me toward the forest. Teague.
I let him.
In the tree line, we weren’t far from where I’d been yesterday when Zar captured me. I froze and peered around.
“It’s okay,” Teague whispered. “We’re safe.”
Were we, though?
My eyes continued to dart until he swung us around the trunk of a tree and leaned back against it, pulling me until our bodies were flush, his hands spread across my back. I put my palms on his chest and looked up at him. Even in the dark, I felt his full gaze on my face, taking me in. My heart went berserk in my chest. I held back the urge to press myself harder against him, especially as his sweet and spicy scent filled my senses, helping to temporarily erase my other intrusive thoughts.
“We fit nicely,” he said in a low whisper that sent a tingle through me.
“Teague….” I needed to be strong.
“Yeah?”
“Have you talked to Mairi?”
His long silence was answer enough. Disappointment sank my spirits. I wanted so badly to kiss him, but I also wanted to stick to my values—values that his hot body was currently shredding to pieces.
