“Not yet,” he hollered back. “I told them you were napping.” A mischievous smile grew on his lips. “Course, I didn’t tell them you were off swimming with some wild cowboy.”
“I didn’t see you!” I gasped, letting my hand fly to my chest.
“I keep my distance.” He chuckled, showing the small chip in his eyetooth. The one he got when he accidentally slapped his face against a fence while running after a rogue frisbee I’d thrown at him when we were young. Our lives were so entwined, it was impossible for me to remember one stage of my life without him. Even now, I was not embarrassed he saw me with Reeves. If anything, I couldn’t wait to tell him all about it. “You know I always protect you.” His lips rolled in casually. “It looked like you were having fun.”
Sighing, as his words dared me to speak my truth, I never held back with Weston. “I did,” I said wistfully. “I’m not even sure what happened, because I thought he was like this grumpy cowboy. Something about him switched … Now he’s . . .” I nodded as if moving my head would help me get the words out, “fun,” I almost whispered, but instead said, “I feel as if I’m living a normal life when I’m with him.”
“I’m glad. He seems like he’d be a good guy for you. You have a lot in common.” He pushed a small bundle toward me. “I messaged Ruenella when I saw you jump over the edge. She ran and met me with dry clothes. If your father sees you like this, he’ll have an aneurysm.”
“Right.” My gaze shifted to the bundle. We were in the middle of the forest, and I couldn’t even see the road. Weston turned his back. I didn’t waste time peeling out of my soaked dress. Then I rushed to unfold the silk fabric from the bundle and slipped into one of my finest dinner dresses. “Done,” I announced while stepping back onto the path. “How much time do you think we have?”
“Put it this way,” Weston’s voice budded with urgency. “Run!”
Weston and I ran as if our lives depended on it, laughing like kids the whole way. Something about this day didn’t feel real. Starting with the most awkward drive this morning, and then a complete one-eighty event of cliff diving with a man I had a growing attraction for. Now, I was running home . . . back to my destiny of dread.
As we tore through the front door, I forced myself to slow my steps into a more lady-like pattern, in case Father was nearby. Weston cased the foyer and whispered, “It’s clear.” He stood tall and astute as a royal guard should, and waved me in. “Hurry.”
“I’m going upstairs to powder quickly. If Father comes looking, tell him I’ll be right down.” I hurdled the stairs two at a time, not stopping until I was in the bathroom. I threw powderon my face and outlined my eyes in mascara. I wasn’t trying to impress anyone, just avoiding trouble. My hair was still braided and tied back as Ruenella had fixed it this morning. I didn’t have time to mess with it. If I took it down, I’d need to shower to fix it. Thankfully the top layer had air dried from running in the wind. I prayed nobody would question the dampness underneath as I grabbed a wrap and covered the goosebumps on my shoulders.
In the dining room, I found Mother and Ruenella.
No Father.
No King Aswell.
The table was made up with places set for both, but their plates were still clean.
Instead of the festive spread of food I had expected, they were sipping root vegetable soup with half-hooded eyes. The only beverage set on the table was a pitcher of water. There wasn’t even ice or lemon to garnish it. I slowed my steps and took my usual spot next to Mother. “Good evening,” I said, not feeling chatty, but doing my best to have manners.
Mother hardly glanced at me, but that wasn’t completely unusual for her. I shifted my gaze to my sister. “What’s going on? Where’s Father?”
She covered her mouth while she finished chewing. In a hushed voice, she stated matter-of-factly, “Eastbury Pines has been taken under siege. They had to call a meeting.”
Alarm seeped into my chest while I did the math. That was the closest major city to us. “That’s only a hundred miles away,” I whispered, suddenly feeling ill. “Do we have troops on the ground yet? Are we going to stop it?”
“There aren’t any troops left to move.” Ruenella took a sip of her drink, and then tacked on, “Father is calling in air support. It’ll have to do for now.”
“Shh,” Mother said sternly as if noticing our conversation for the first time. She’d clearly been in her own headspace. “Let’snot talk about war at the dinner table.” She motioned to the soup crock in the center of the table. “Erralee, please help yourself. I’ve given the wait staff the night off to spend with family.”
I wasn’t the least bit hungry despite the fact I’d hadn’t eaten since brunch with King Aswell. “I suppose you think this is my fault,” I whispered. I didn’t need to be blamed because the guilt had already encased my heart. This war could have been over if I hadn’t been so stubborn.
“It is what it is,” Mother’s voice rolled out, lacking empathy.
I stared forward at my empty soup bowl, feeling as if it were a visual crossroads. I hadn’t planned on the stakes getting higher, or the war this close to home. A bulge crept into my throat as I slid my chair back, the legs loudly rubbing, attracting Mother’s stern gaze. Before she could ask, I said, “I’ll talk to King Aswell tomorrow.”
nine
Reeves
Back in the truck on another trip to town for a new stupid pipe fitting. I was beginning to sound like my old man, but they didn’t make stuff like they used to. Stupid plastic junk was already cracked. I didn’t even get it out of the package, and I could tell it wasn’t right. On top of that, I couldn’t stop yawning, but it wasn’t because of my lack of coffee. I was up all night, tossing with my thoughts all garbled up. Mostly I kept picturing Erralee in the water. It was an absurdity to even consider, but I’d seen that look before, and she’d clearly wanted me to kiss her.
I couldn’t do it.
I wanted to kiss her.
My insides froze.
My brain froze.
