“We don’t like to call them that here at Winterhaven,” he said, doing a perfect impression of Mrs. Girard.
“I’m serious,” I said, and I meant it.
“I know you are.” He reached for my hand, but I pulled it away, refusing to be placated.
“Well, then, whatever it is you’re doing, stop it. I mean it, Aidan. I can’t. I won’t hang out with you if you’re going to do that.”
“You’re right,” he said. “I’m sorry. It’s just a. an old habit. I won’t do it again.”
“You promise?” I asked.
“I give you my word,” he said, and I believed him. I wanted to believe him. “Let’s just forget about it for now and enjoy what time we have left till curfew, okay?”
“Okay,” I agreed. Relieved, I reclined back against the blankets.
After a second or two, he lay back down beside me. “It’s really beautiful tonight,” he said. “I’m glad you came.”
And just like that, everything was back to normal between us. Not because he was manipulating me, but because it was. I turned my head toward him; his profile was illuminated by the light of the moon. Just one glance, and my heart started to race. I was crushing on him big-time, I realized.
Recognizing the train of my thoughts, I struggled to erect the wall protecting them, concentrating hard as I tried to remember everything Sandra had taught me.
“Hey,” came Aidan’s voice beside me, sounding surprised. “That’s much better. I think you’re starting to get the hang of it.”
If not for his quiet chuckle, I might have believed him.
I slept right through breakfast the next morning and was forced to make do with a stale Danish and coffee from the vending machine in the dorm lounge. I ate quickly, figuring I didn’t have much time till Cece and her posse showed up, ready to prod me for details about the night before.
When I got up to leave, my gaze drifted over to the mail cubbies beside the bookshelves. I hadn’t checked my mail in days, I realized — not that I was expecting anything. Still, I brushed the pastry crumbs from my jeans and hurried over, surprised to see a small, square package there in my box. I smiled, recognizing Lupe’s handwriting.
Lupe was more of a companion to Gran than a housekeeper these days, but try telling Lupe that. She took pride in doing whatever she could manage with her arthritic hands— drying dishes, ironing. It was impossible to think of Gran without picturing Lupe right there beside her. I tore off the paper, suddenly overwhelmed with homesickness.
Inside I found a lavender silk drawstring bag. Puzzled, I pulled it open and shook the contents out into my hand. I stared down in surprise at a delicate silver crucifix, hanging on a long silver chain. Clearly, the necklace was new. It still had the Neiman Marcus tag attached, which meant it wasn’t cheap, either.
Why would Lupe send me this? She was Catholic, but I wasn’t. Our family was Episcopalian, and not particularly religious.
Stranger still was the note she’d enclosed. All it said, in wobbly script, was, Please indulge a silly old woman and promise me that you will wear this at all times. May the good Lord protect you. And then she’d signed her name. Very, very odd.
I pulled off the tag with shaking fingers and clasped the chain around my neck, tucking the cross under my shirt. It wasn’t exactly my style, but it made me feel closer to Gran and Lupe.
Suddenly there was a steady stream of kids coming through the door, laughing and shouting as they headed for the couches by the TV or down the hall toward the rooms. Breakfast must be over, I realized. Time for me to go.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t quick enough.
“Hey, Violet!” Cece called out. “There she is, the sleepyhead.”
I looked up and saw her there by the door, Sophie, Kate, and Marissa trailing behind, looking almost predatory. Like lionesses on the scent of blood. In seconds they had me surrounded.
“Too bad you slept in,” Marissa said with a sly smile. “Guess who we saw in the dining hall?”
“Really?” I asked, unable to hide the surprise in my voice. Somehow I wanted to imagine him lounging lazily in bed, relishing the memories like I had.
“No,” Kate answered. “She’s just kidding. But the look on your face was priceless. I take it someone had a good time last night.”
“Hopefully not as good a time as you and Jack had,” Marissa muttered half under her breath, and I saw Kate shoot her a deadly glare.
“C’mon, let’s go,” Cece said, tipping her head toward the door. “Give the girl some privacy, will you.”
Everyone nodded, and soon I was following them back down the hall toward our room. The door closed behind us, and they all turned toward me expectantly.
Kate was the first to speak. “Okay, spill it.”
Marissa plopped down on Cece’s bed. “We can’t stand the suspense any longer.”
But what to tell them? I took a deep breath, considering all my options. I finally decided to play it safe. Keep it simple. “Well, we mostly just sat and talked, but it. it was nice.”
“Go on,” Sophie prodded.
“Yeah, what did he want to show you?” Marissa asked.
“Just someplace on campus. A place he likes to hang out. It was quiet and private, and. well, we went there and talked.”
Cece was nearly bouncing on the bed beside me. “And? Come on, dish.”
“And he asked me to meet him tonight after dinner,” I added, hoping that would be enough. What else could I say, really? That it had been the best date I’d ever had? That I was completely and utterly smitten? No, that was way too embarrassing to admit.
“Wow.” Marissa looked impressed. “I still can’t believe it— Aidan Gray, out on a date. With a girl,” she added.
“Oh, give it a rest, Marissa,” Kate said. “Just because he never asked you out doesn’t mean he bats for the other team. Jack says he’s incredibly smart, really intense. He spends way too much time in the lab, though. Pretty much all this free time, from what Jack says.”
Just then my cell phone, still plugged into its charger on my desk, began to ring. I hadn’t given him my number, but I knew by now that that didn’t matter.
“Is that him?” Cece asked when I went over to the phone and looked at the caller ID screen. I didn’t recognize the number, and hope swelled in my chest as I hit the answer button.
“Hello?” I squeaked, hating that I had an audience.
“Hi. Sleep well?”
Just the sound of his voice made my knees weak. “Yep. Right through breakfast, actually.”
“Last night was great,” he said. “Thank you.”
“I had a great time too.” I was facing the wall, but I could feel everyone’s eyes on my back, watching me.
“About tonight, though. ” He cleared his throat, and I could sense that he was uncomfortable. “I’m doing some work in the lab, and it’s gotten really complicated. It’s going to take me a lot longer than I thought, so I don’t think I can—”
“That’s okay,” I interrupted, trying to sound cheerful. “I really should be studying, anyway. I’ve still got so much to catch up on.” He was blowing me off, I realized. Already.