Blink: 1 (Rebel Minds) (2 page)

I
lift
a brow at the odd name, but refrain from comment. I study the planes of his face. They
are
as defined as I’d thought, his strong jawline emphasized by a shading of dark brown stubble tinged with hints gold that glint in the flashes of poor lighting. His eyes capture mine, never leaving my face. They look to be a light blue, but it’s hard to tell. Could even be a silver-gray. My breath gets caught in my throat for a nanosecond, but I recover quickly.

“I’m Aria. Wanna buy me a drink?” Blurting the words out, I shock myself. Chagrined, I sigh inwardly. Looks like tonight I
am
that girl.

His eyes crinkle at the corners, and I think I see a faint dimple peek at me from his right cheek.
Dimples. Of course he’d have dimples. You’re such a sucker, Aria.
“Most definitely.”

He pulls out the stool for me and I sit, the brush of my knee against his sending a shiver through me, curling my toes. Hard to do, incased as snugly as they are in canary yellow wedges. I think briefly of my worn, black combat boots, and long for them, shifting restlessly. It’s that spark of electricity again. I can’t help but feel like I know this man. As if I’ve seen him somewhere before. I realize I’m staring, and give myself a mental shake.

No, I must be mistaken. I would remember those eyes, that jawline… my gaze drifts lower… the way his shirt pulls tight across his broad chest beneath that leather jacket. I squirm on the bar stool again, resisting an urge to fan myself. Is it just me, or is it getting warmer in this place? I feel the blood rushing to my cheeks, but can only pray it’s too dark in here for him to tell. I jerk my eyes back up to his. Safer territory.
Kinda.

“So tell me about yourself, Aria. Where do you get inspiration for your songs?” He glances to my left, signaling the bartender to bring us two drinks, then turns his attention back to me.

Laughter bubbles up, escaping my lips before I can stop it. Is he playing me? Asking about my songs just to get me into bed? My brow furrows, a twinge of disappointment eating at me. It wouldn’t be the first time. Leaning closer, I peer into his eyes, looking for an angle. I can’t find one though. All I see honesty mixed with curiosity.

All right then, buddy, you asked for it.

T
he bartender places
two drinks down in front of us, and I gratefully pick mine up, raise it in a quick toast of thanks, and gulp. The liquid burns on its way down, making my eyes water. I blink.
Good old liquid courage.
He lifts his own glass, the corner of his mouth tilting up, that dimple making the tiniest of appearances once more.
Oh, brother.

Thankfully I manage not to roll my eyes. I take a deep breath, and launch into a grand explanation of my past, present, and somewhat hopeful future. At first it starts off as me feeding him the same lines I always use when someone seems interested and I can’t quite figure them out. But it quickly turns into something else.
The truth.
I’m spilling my guts to this mysterious stranger named Wisdom, telling him all about my hopes and dreams, and I can’t seem to help myself. It’s like an episode of way-too-personal word vomit.

“I—I don’t know that I’ve told many people much of that.”

He leans forward, intent. The faint lights flash in his eyes, and I blink again, dazzled. “What do you mean?” His tone is quiet, husky. Intimate.

“The truth.” I drop my gaze from his, embarrassed for some reason.
Geez, Aria… overshare much?

His hand, warm and firm, drops on top of mine. His fingers wrap around it gently. “Well, to be fair, I do tend to have that affect on women,” he deadpans.

“I bet you do.” And just like that, I’m laughing, looking back into eyes that remind me of moonlight. Or maybe the ocean on a clear summer day. It’s like they keep changing color or something. My laughter fades and I clear my throat. “So, what’s
your
story, Wisdom?”

For a moment, I think he isn’t going to answer me. Then he looks around the bar and leans in, his warm breath fanning over my bare shoulders, raising more goosebumps across my skin. “Wanna get out of here?”

I’m caught off guard. My forehead crinkles, my lips turning down in a slight frown. Was I wrong about him? Was the freedom and ease I felt talking to him mere infatuation?

“Hey,” he pulls back. He tilts my face up toward his with a gentle hand, “I won’t hurt you.”

The words seem strange, yet somewhere in the back of my mind they are so very right. They resonate inside me and spread warmth throughout my limbs.

I swallow hard and nod. “Let’s go.”

M
y second set is forgotten
, and we rush out of the dive bar hand in hand. Which somehow, doesn’t feel weird to me at all. It’s like my hand is made just for his. The night is colder than I expected for late summer and when Wisdom notices me shiver, he takes off his jacket, draping it across my shoulders. I offer a smile of thanks, and promptly trip thanks to my stupid wedges. Wisdom catches me, keeping me from falling.

I gasp, tumbling against him, and he draws me closer. I stare up into his eyes, caught by his gaze. He feels warm and hard against me, his spicy, clean, somewhat smoky, scent filling my nose. Before I can think twice, under the surveillance of the stars in the dark night sky, his head dips and his lips find mine. My breath hitches at the unexpected contact, but I don’t pull away. Instinctively, I know it’s right.
So
right. Even though I can’t explain it. Don’t
want
to explain it.

Instead, I press closer, wanting to fill the same space as him. I’d crawl inside of him if I could. He hugs me tighter, as if wanting the very same thing. The kiss deepens, and my stomach flip-flops. I’ve never connected like this with anyone before.
Ever.
It’s surreal.

After what feels like an eternity and a second, we part, both of us breathing a little faster than before. We stare at each for a few seconds. His lips curve and his teeth flash as he brushes a strand of hair from my face.

“Wanna get something to eat?”

I bust out laughing at the abrupt change in direction. How very… guy-like. “Sure, why not.” I grin. I know it’s crazy, but I think I’d agree to anything he says at this point.

We start to walk down the street. My hand in his left one and my shoes dangling from his right. It’s the perfect night. Our hips bump as we walk, and we crack jokes about how irresponsible this is. I’ve just walked out on a paying gig—something I never do—and he’s supposed to be somewhere. None of that matters though.

We stop for Chinese takeout and wander through the park, eating out of the cartons, and talking up a storm. We stop once to toss bits of our stale fortune cookies to the ducks. I smile at the way they snap up the unexpected bounty. Wisdom watches me, a smile tugging at his lips. He pulls me close and kisses the top of my head.

“What’s one thing you wish, Aria?”

My stomach does a little flip-flop. I like how he says my name. It rolls off his tongue like he’s always known it. Then his question registers.

“I wish I could go to the mountains.” It pops out of my mouth before I can filter this stupid statement with something more dreamy and romantic. I wince inside.
Nice one, Aria.

“Really?” He glances down at me, a curious look on his face.

I flush and chew my lip, lifting a shoulder in a tiny shrug. “Really.”

He stares at me for a few seconds. His thumb brushes over my chin, gently easing my lip free. My skin tingles with warmth everywhere he touches. “Then we’ll go to the mountains.” His intense expression changes to one of humor, his eyes dancing.

My own widen. “You mean now?”

He grins, those white teeth flashing. “Sure, why not?”

I’m not usually so impulsive, but tonight seems to be a record of new behaviors. And something about the way he says it convinces me it’s not crazy. Not even a little. Okay, perhaps a little. But I’m strangely okay with it.

L
ike a whirlwind
we are back at my place packing for the weekend. It’s Thursday, so I have to call to cancel the gig I have, but I don’t care. I
need
this. Need to be with him.

We drive all night and stop at the top of a mountain, pulling off to the side of the road. He takes a blanket from the back seat and pulls me along a path through the dense trees. He’s sure-footed, like he knows exactly where he’s going. I follow, trusting him completely. It feels like I’ve known him all my life, how can I not trust him?

When we reach the opening, I gasp, stopping abruptly. It’s breath taking. The view spans the entire valley of our small city. The sun is burning just behind the mountains and I feel like I’m in some type of strange dream, at once surreal and yet
so
real
I want to cry. My eyes well up, and he turns to me, his expression puzzled, wiping away the tears on my cheeks with a gentle finger.

“What’s wrong, Aria? Aren’t you happy? I want you to be happy.” His voice is husky, his gaze soft as he studies my face.

How do I tell him that me being happy is the problem? I’m so happy I think this must be dream. I’m so happy I want to stop living
my
life and live
this
life instead? I stop thinking it and just say it, like his very presence convinces me to be honest no matter what.

“I am. I’m
so
happy with you. Is it possible to fall in love this fast?” I laugh, knowing how ridiculous it sounds. The words hang between us, and I stare up at him, my emotions suddenly raw and exposed.

His face grows serious. “It is.” I see him swallow, like he’s keeping back tears of his own. His jaw clenches and unclenches, and I stare at the tiny muscle that flexes there, the moment heavy between us with things unspoken.

He tugs me closer and kisses me again, and my mind goes blank. Everything in me is wrapped up in that kiss. Body, mind, soul. I’m his in that moment, and all else in the world is forgotten.

We break away, and we both stare at each other, breathing hard. He turns to spread the blanket he brought out on the ground. We sink down onto it together, and my heart speeds up. His hands pull me close, his lips tracing warm, tingling paths along my neck. I exhale and all I thought I knew feels like a distant memory.

After awhile, we stop before going too far, too soon, and he tucks me against him. We lie there together, cuddled close and staring out into rising sun. Birds chirp and sing in the trees around us, and the entire experience feels like some kind of fairy tale.

Sometimes we talk, sometimes we kiss, other times we are just silent, enjoying the closeness of each other’s company.

W
e stay there
for a long time. I’m not sure how long, but I know that the sun is high in the sky when he finally sits up, pulling me back against him, fingers in my hair.

“Aria, you are so beautiful.” He whispers it, his lips moving against my hair in light kisses.

I grin, even though he can’t see it. “You’re kind of beautiful yourself.”

His chest rumbles with laughter. We both fall silent for a few minutes, content. Then his voice rumbles against me again. “Wanna get married?”

I sit up abruptly, turning to face him, my dark hair falling around my shoulders in a wild mess. I don’t even care how I must look. I search his eyes to see if he’s serious.

“Really?”

“Really.” He reaches out, cupping my face with his hands. They are warm, and strong, slightly rough against my tender skin. He grins at me, the twinkle in his eyes broadcasting his joy. “Nothing could make this day more amazing.”

I still. Something in his words hits me like a slap to the face. I frown. A day. It’s been
one
day. Am I insane? I feel like I’m waking abruptly from a fantastical dream—the most
perfect,
fantastical dream. I glance around at the amazing view, the rumpled blanket, the trees around us, and confusion grows. How did we even get here?

“Hey, babe, what’s wrong?” His brows dip down, creating wrinkles I want to smooth away with a kiss, but I don’t. I resist the urge with every fiber of my being.

“I—” What can I say? I
want
to say yes. I
should
say yes, but something isn’t right.
What isn’t right, Aria? Figure this out, you know something is wrong.
I give a hard shake of my head, trying to jostle my brain into working properly.

Suddenly ground rumbles and I reach out, clutching his arms in a vice-like grip.

“What was that?” My voice is strained.

“I don’t know.” His own voice sounds tense, and that makes me feel even worse. He pulls me up to stand with him, wrapping a protective arm around me, and runs his gaze along the tree-line behind us, frowning.

The ground shakes again and I gasp, my legs feeling wobbly. I look to the cliff in front of us, my heart rate kicking up a notch. We’re not that near to the edge, but suddenly even the ten foot distance is too close. In the pit of my stomach I know we’re in danger.

Another ominous rumble shakes the ground beneath our feet, spurring me into action. “We’ve got to get out of here. Come on!” I shout.

He doesn’t move as I tug on his arm.

“Hold on, Aria.” He looks left and right, his gaze perplexed. “This isn’t right.”

“I
know!
” I’m so sure we’re not safe here, I don’t hold any doubt. How, I have no idea. My tone becomes urgent. “Wisdom, we have to go. Trust me, please.” I tug on his arm again, and he finally moves, though still hesitant.

The earth moves again, and this time the rumble is louder. The shaking is so violent we’re torn apart and thrown to the ground. I cringe when I land on my knees, small rocks biting into my hands. Scrambling to my feet, I turn around frantically, and see Wisdom climbing to his feet, closer to the edge of the cliff than before. The quake must have thrown him off balance and backward. The space between us seems to stretch on endlessly, and adrenaline, coupled with fear, pumps through my veins.

“Wisdom!” I scream out to him, the tears from earlier stinging again, though I don’t know why.
What is going on?
I put my hands up, squeezing my temples. My head hurts, pounding and sending blinding shards of light into my eyes, and I bend over in agony, trying to regain my vision.

The next earthquake starts slow, like the growling of a hungry dog, then turns into a lionlike roar that’s nearly deafening. My vision clears, and I look up and see Wisdom once again scramble to his feet. A look of realization whitens his face, just as a fisher splits the ground between the two of us.

“No!” Though it feels like a shout in my mind, my voice is small and hollow in my ears. Time slows and all I see are his eyes, those beautiful silvery-blue eyes, drawing me to him and yet clearly warning me to stay put, to not come any closer. My hands cover my mouth, tears streaking down my face as I stand, frozen. I shake my head in mute denial, but heed his warning look and stay where I am, my entire body vibrating with horror. This can’t be happening.
This is a nightmare.
It’s not right.

Then… he’s gone.

“No!” I scream, the sound piercing the air like a bullet. The ground he was standing on fallen from my sight like it never was. Faster than the blink of an eye. And with it, with
him
, my heart.