Page 219 of Nobody's Girl

“Alyssa, I’d like you to be in a pleasant mood when you meet my parents. And you are in anything but that. Please talk to me. I’m assuming Kyle said the thing which has you so upset.”

“Yeah.”

He rubs my shoulder. “That’s a start. Keep going,” he says then places a kiss on top of my head.

“Kyle let Laura take his virginity and they’re together now.” The numbness in my soul allows me to say the words with no emotion to them.

Eden squeezes me. “That is hard news. I wonder why he felt you needed to know that. It seems quite petty and not at all like someone who claims to love you.”

“It’s not like him. I’ve turned him into someone he never was. Now Laura will finish the job of turning him into a man he was never supposed to become. She’ll show him sex is nothing but an act and love is not real.”

Eden takes my chin, making me look at him. “Alyssa, you don’t know that. They may find happiness together. She must not be all bad or you wouldn’t have been her friend.”

“What kind of friend does that?”

His finger strokes my cheek as he says, “Perhaps she’s had a crush on Kyle. She’d never have let you know. Once he was set free, she took the chance and he was ready to go for it. If you truly love them, you’ll let this go. You’ve moved on, haven’t you?”

Have I?

I search his eyes to find that thing in him which makes me feel whole. It’s there, but such pain fills me that it’s hard to find the electric sensation I always get with Eden. It’s dampened and I don’t know if it’ll come back. Without Kyle, something is missing.

“I’m an ass,” I admit.

“You are not. Don’t think like that.” Eden strokes my hair.

“I want to have my cake and eat it too. I’m an awful person. I have you, and you are beyond wonderful, yet I want him too,” I say, then turn my head away from him. “Dealing with the knowledge that I can’t have you both, I was content with breaking away from him. Then he goes, finds another, and gives himself to her, and something in me breaks. You deserve better than me, Eden.”

He kneels in front of me, taking my hands in his. “Look at me, princess.”

I do as he asks, but see no use in it. I’m not over Kyle and I cannot marry him until I am, if that ever happens.

“Eden, we have to postpone the wedding until I deal with this.”

“Alyssa, this is all my fault. I’ve kept you in the dark for too long. I can’t cause you any more pain by not telling you the truth about yourself,” he pauses and searches my eyes. “You and he were never meant to be. You and I were born to be together. I allowed you to live the first part of your life as a normal girl, but you are no ordinary girl.”

Did he just say he allowed me to live normally? What in the hell?

“Please explain, Eden. Are you talking metaphorically? Like, we were made for each other, that kind of thing?”

He shakes his head, leaving me very confused. “We are not what we seem to be, and in a matter of days, we will be more. You and I were chosen before birth to become something bigger and better than mere mortals, Alyssa.”

“Eden, you’re scaring me. Talk of mortals and such is kind of serial killer talk. Please tell me I’m not in love with a crazy killer,” I say, then laugh nervously.

“Have you ever heard the legends of the thunderbirds?”

“The American Indian stories about large birds they’d see before storms?” I ask.

“Yes, those birds. Only the truth is a bit more complicated than their stories,” Eden says. “You see, the Phoenixes are a couple who shape shift into the giant birds to help save people who get into situations which could cost them their lives. But it isn’t their time to go yet, so The Creator sends the Phoenixes in to intervene. We’ll be giving them the chance to survive if they follow us or we’re able to get them to safety. There are a number of ways we help.”

“Did you say, ‘we,’ because I can’t shape shift into anything. You may have the wrong girl, Eden. I’m ordinary to the core. Never have shape shifted and it’s pretty doubtful I ever will. Best turn the jet around and take me right back to Cloudcroft,” I say as I pull my hands from his, because as beautiful as he is, he’s certifiable.

CHAPTER 26

EDEN

Alyssa has locked herself in the lavatory. She thinks I’m insane. Now I have the great task of making her believe me.

I knock yet again on the door. “Alyssa, please, precious, come out.”