Chapter ELEVEN
I woke to blinding light, streaming through the massive window that overlooked the lake. My mind was racing as I blinked the sleep from my eyes, going over everything I had just learned.
There was a knock at the door and a moment later Alex stepped inside. He wore a red t-shirt and a pair of white basketball shorts. I couldn’t help but grin as he crossed the room to me. Red was always my favorite color on him.
“Good morning sleeping beauty,” he breathed as he crawled over the foot of the bed, sliding up my body.
“Morning,” I said as my lips met his.
“You look really amazing when you sleep, did you know that?” he asked as he brushed the back of his hand against my cheek.
“You watch me sleep?” I asked as I raised my eyebrows at him. “Doesn’t that seem just a bit creepy to you?”
He chuckled. “Just occasionally. There’s not exactly a lot to do around here at night.”
“Just a few more days and there will be plenty to do at night,” I teased.
“Six days,” he growled, biting at the neckline of my tank top playfully.
“I can’t wait to see what Costa Rica is like,” I said as I ran my hands through Alex’s sandy blond hair. “You’ve practically traveled the world and the only place I’ve ever been to was Cole’s decaying mansion.”
“Sandy beaches,” he said as he kissed my throat. “Warm waters,” he moved to the space just below my ear. “And three-hundred yards of ocean front all to ourselves.”
“Sounds like paradise,” I said as I closed my eyes, picturing the scene Alex was painting for me.
He kissed me softly on the lips, a slow lingering one. I looked up into his gray eyes as he hovered over me.
“I love you,” I said softly, wrapping my arms around his waist. “I wouldn’t still be here if it wasn’t for you. I owe you everything.”
“You’re worth it,” he said with a half-smile. “I don’t regret anything these past few months.”
My phone suddenly vibrated on the nightstand and I reached over to grab it. It was a text from Rita, asking where I was.
“Crap!” I half shouted as I practically pushed Alex off of me and bounded to the closet. “I didn’t realize what time it was! I never sleep in this late!”
“Are you still covering for Austin?” Alex asked from the bed.
“Yeah,” I called as I pulled on the first pair of clean pants I came across. “His sister’s gotten really bad I guess. No one dares leave her side.”
Pulling on a shirt, I raced for the bathroom next, trying in vain to tame my hair. It seemed pretty pointless, the curls were going to do whatever they wanted to do.
Just as I was about to run out the door, I stopped short. “Emily,” I said, steadying us both as I practically ran into her. As she met my eyes, I realized hers were red and swollen, trails the tears had made on her cheeks still evident.
“Can I just… hang out with you today?” she said, her voice quivering as she wiped at another tear that had broken loose.
“Hey,” I said as I pulled her into my arms. “What’s the matter?”
“I just…” she took in a shaking breath. “It all just kind of hit me again today. Cormack being gone, all the work I have to do to reverse what I’ve done.”
I felt my heart sink. I couldn’t even imagine what Emily was going through. It was hard enough when Alex wouldn’t ask me to marry him, but at least I still had him. Cormack was gone. For good.
“Well, I have to work today,” I said as I rubbed circles into her back. “But you can go in with me. If nothing else maybe you can find a good book to read to distract yourself.”
Emily stepped away, nodding as she wiped another tear away. “Thanks,” she said, giving me a half-smile.
We climbed into my GTO and I made my way to the freeway. Emily rested her forehead against the window and closed her eyes.
“I don’t even have a date for your wedding,” she said in a small voice.
“Trust me,” I said as I merged my way into the basically non-existent traffic. “You don’t need one. There’s literally only going to be you, Sal, my parents, maybe Caroline, Rod and Amber, and Rita and Austin. It’s not exactly an extensive guest list.”
“I’m really happy for you, you know,” Emily said. “You and Alex are perfect together.”
“Thanks,” I said as I reached over and gave her hand a quick squeeze.
We got to the bookstore, Emily set to browsing the shelves, and I started helping Rita out with the three customers at the counter. She always panicked when there were more than a few people in the building.
The day died out after the first hour and by eleven, there wasn’t a soul around besides, Rita, Emily, and myself. So I practically jumped when the bell at the front door chimed.
“Austin,” I said as he walked up to the counter. “How is everything?”
He put his elbows on the counter, letting his face settle into his hands. He looked dead tired. “Not so good. She’s declining pretty rapidly.”
Rita came walking out of her office, a white envelope in hand. “Here you go honey,” she said as she handed it to Austin across the counter. “I put a little bonus in there too.”
“You didn’t have to do that, Aunt Rita,” he said as she came around the counter and hugged him.
“I know,” she said as she patted him on the back. “But I know these aren’t easy times for you or your family financially.”
I noticed Emily then, standing quietly at the end of the counter, holding a book in her hands. She watched with concern in her eyes as Austin wiped a stray tear from his eye.
“Is everything okay?” she asked quietly.
Austin practically jumped when he heard her and looked embarrassed to have her see him crying. “Uh,” he stuttered. “It’s Emily, right?”
She just nodded.
“Um, it’s just my sister,” he started to explain, even though he really didn’t have to. “She’s been waiting for a new kidney for a long time now, but she isn’t up high enough on the donor list. She’s not doing so good.”
“I’m so sorry,” she said, her eyes sad looking. “That’s terrible. How old is she?”
“Seven,” his voice cracked as he spoke. He took a deep breath as he wiped his eyes again. “I’d better get back to the hospital. Mom hasn’t slept in a few days. I’m going to see if I can get her to go home for a bit.”
Rita just nodded, a sad look on her face.
“Good luck,” was all I could say, wishing there was something that I could do.
Austin walked back outside. I noticed Emily’s eyes following him when she suddenly said, “I’ll be back in just a minute.” With that, she dashed out the door.
I didn’t mean to spy, but I couldn’t help but be curious while I watched through the glass as Emily caught up with Austin. She talked to him with rapid words I couldn’t make out. Austin’s brow furrowed for a bit, he asked something that looked like “why?” and Emily started talking rapidly again. When she was finished, he just looked at her for a long moment, like he was evaluating what she had said. And then he suddenly hugged her. When he stepped away he pulled a pen out of his pocket. Searching for a scrap of paper, Emily finally offered her hand. Austin started writing something down, hugged her again when he finished, then got in his car and left.
Emily was beaming when she walked back into the bookstore. I hadn’t seen her look that happy since before Cormack was gone.
“What was that all about?” I questioned, making sure Rita was out of earshot.
“I’m just going to go visit Austin’s sister in a little bit,” she said as she sat down at the counter. “Austin is going to go put his check in the bank and then swing back by and pick me up.”
“Why?” I asked, looking at her doubtfully. Somehow I sensed she wasn’t telling me the full story.
“Because she’s a sad little girl who could use all the support she can get,” Emily said innocently.
I looked at her doubtfully for a moment longer.
“Oh yeah,” she suddenly spoke up. Reaching for the book she had been holding earlier, she slid it down the counter. “I wanted to buy this book.”
“Vampires?” I said skeptically as I raised an eyebrow at her.
“Hey,” she said defensively. “At least it’s not angels.”