Page 61 of Rise of the Melody
Aunt Lorna was super giggly and wobbly when she got out of the car. Ron took her by the arm to lead her up. Was she tipsy? No way.
“Hi, darling!” she said to me, taking my cheeks and kissing me on the nose. “Did you have fun?” I got a whiff of alcohol. Yep. She was sowing her wild oats, too. Good for her.
In that moment as my aunt and I gazed at one another, I knew Zar was wrong. He’d only been five. It had to have been a misunderstanding of some sort. I trusted my aunt, and the alternative was unthinkable. My whole life had been turned upside down and shaken into something altered and scary. Aunt Lorna was the only thing that remained right-side-up and steady.
“Did you guys have fun?” I asked.
“Well, I sure did!” she answered, patting Ron’s chest. “And this one took good care of me. We went pub hopping like old times. Mo and Leon are a riot together!” She looked at me and stage whispered. “Ronald didn’t want to pub hop, but I talked him into it.”
He gave a tight grin. “Yep. Now let’s get you to bed.”
“Thanks, Ron,” I told him as he walked her past me. He tipped an invisible hat like the gentleman he was.
I felt tired and wanted to go to bed, but Aunt Lorna didn’t deserve to wake up tomorrow to a messy kitchen, especially if she was hungover. So, I set to gathering the hot chocolate mugs and magicking up all of the popcorn the guys had dropped on the floor. While I was wiping the table, I spotted a brown wallet. I picked it up and opened it to see Chrys’s face on the displayed license. I also saw the corner of a foil packet and felt the round outline of a condom. Ew. At least he was being safe, but still.
I texted the group thread to let them know. He texted right back, asking if it was okay to swing back right now to get it. I told him sure, and then I bundled up in a blanket on the porch to wait.
It was the first time I’d sat outside at night. The sound of the ocean seemed amplified, as if competing with the forest noises. Screaming crickets, mostly. An ominous feeling came from the dark stillness of the forest. Was Zar out there? I kept staring, scanning, expecting him to step out. I was almost freaked out enough to wait inside, but headlights began flashing through the trees on the other side and I let out a breath.
Chrys threw his tiny electric car into park and jumped out to meet me on the steps.
“Here you go.” I held out the wallet and debated whether or not I should say something about what I saw. I decided against it.
He slid the wallet into his pocket and gave me his signature naughty grin.
“You look good wrapped in a blanket.”
I gave him a blank glare. “Good night, Chrys.”
I turned to go when he touched my shoulder to stop me. “I’m serious,” he said. “What would it take to get you to go out with me?”
I faced him straight on, disbelieving. “Um, well. Let’s see. It would take you not leading on Clare every chance you get. It would take you not kissing Erin on the side of my house?—”
He threw his head back and laughed. “Oh, come on! You saw that?”
More glaring. The anger was rising inside of me again. His blasé attitude was annoying.
“They know I’m not ready to settle down,” he assured me. “I’m straight forward about that. Everyone knows.”
“Clare might know, logically, that you’re a player who doesn’t want a girlfriend, but that doesn’t mean her emotions aren’t involved. She cares about you. You must see that. So, it’s just mean to keep giving her hope.”
“It’s not like that,” he said gently. “You’re still new around here, so you don’t know all of our history. I’m an open book. I like to have fun. No harm. And I think you and I could have some fun.”
“No—”
“Oh, come on,” he said jokingly. “I know Teague has his eyes set on you, but we all know he’s got some baggage with Mairi still. I’ve got no baggage. Just fun.” He raised his arms. “And nobody needs to know.” He stepped closer. Gods, he was really hot. Charisma for days.
I stepped back. “Not happening.”
Chrystamos dropped his arms. “Okay.” He nodded, giving me that sideways grin that surely won over so many girls. “Okay. How about this? One kiss. One kiss, and if you don’t want more, I’ll leave you alone for good.” He stepped in, again with the grin. “But you’re gonna want more.”
Something burned inside of me. It wasn’t hatred. I didn’t hate him. But I felt a raging desire to teach him a lesson, even though I knew nothing I could say would make a difference. I lifted my face to him and watched his eyes light up with anticipation before I said, “I hope the next time you’re getting it on with a girl, you can’t get it up.”
His eyes widened and he stepped back as if I’d shoved him. He grasped the back of his neck, frowning. “That’s harsh, Letty.” I held his eyes another long moment before turning and going inside.
Chapter16
Whoopsie
