“Not the top. I like sequins.”
“Hang on,” I ran up the stairs. “I’ll just slip on some dark jeans. You know, I think these guys are all ex-Marines. They’re not going to be impressed.”
Julian followed me into my room and flopped across my bed. “How about a quickie to get us in the mood?”
I froze mid-change, thinking of what I’d told Rachel. I wasn’t planning to tell him no, but I wasn’t prepared for my yes to happen now. “A quickie? But…” He started to laugh, and I realized he was teasing. “Julian! Get out of here.”
He rolled onto his back. “I’ll close my eyes.”
“I’m going to the bathroom.” I grabbed my jeans and ran across the hall. “Where’s your mom?” I shouted. “I thought for sure she’d be at this.”
“She’s meeting us there,” he yelled back. “I think she has a boyfriend now.”
“What?” Jumping to open the door, I slammed my head against the cabinet. I was still fastening my pants when I ran back into my room. “Your mom has a boyfriend?”
The corner of his mouth rose as he watched me return half-dressed. “Changed your mind?”
I glanced down, continuing to fasten my jeans. “You just said your mom has a boyfriend? Who?”
“Whoa, slow down.” He sat up. “I don’t know anything for sure, but she’s been getting mysterious calls that make her blush and act…
not
like my mom.”
I chewed my lip. “That’s pretty thin. It could be a million other things.”
He bounced forward on the bed, catching my waist and pulling me to him. “And I saw her slip out one night after she thought I was asleep.” He lifted my sequined top and kissed my bare stomach. Electricity flashed to my toes.
“Julian,” I gasped, catching his cheeks.
“I think it’s a boyfriend,” he said, kissing me again.
My knees had turned to Jell-O, and a tingly sensation had settled low in my stomach. “We’ll be late,” I managed to say.
He sighed, sliding off the bed. While I tried to refocus my brain, I couldn’t help wondering if it were possible… were Julian’s parents hooking up? I studied his face, thinking. “Would you mind?”
“What? If Mom had a guy?” He shrugged. “I guess not. I mean, if he’s nice to her and all. What difference does it make to me? I’m leaving in a year.”
I nodded. “How’s this?” I was now wearing dark jeans with my short-sleeved sequined top and black ballet flats.
“Perfect.”
But I wasn’t done. I stepped over to my dresser and pulled out the small box. I flipped the top off and unwrapped the tissue I kept it in, putting the sparkling dragonfly ring on my finger. “Now it’s perfect.”
He stood and held my finger, turning it to make the light reflect off the crystals. I watched the corners of his blue eyes crease as he smiled.
“What are you thinking?” I said.
“Huh?”
“You look like you know something I don’t. Is there a bug in it now?” I teased, sliding the ring around on my finger. “Or a tiny camera?”
“That would be awesome,” he laughed. “A bugged bug. Why didn’t I think of that?”
“Seriously.” I said, holding his hand, my thumb sliding back and forth over his little matching dragonfly tat.
“I don’t know,” he shrugged. “It just feels right, I guess. I’m trying to be cool here, okay?”
“Okay.” I said because it did feel right.
He bent down to kiss me, and I slid my arms around his neck. The familiar rush of excitement flooded my body, and images of us at the hay maze last fall in Springdale filled my thoughts, our mouths moving faster, hands everywhere.
“We probably have a few extra minutes,” he said sitting down on the bed.
“We do not!” I laughed, pulling him back up. “You’re going to be late, and you’re the star. Let’s go.”
“Rockers are always late,” he said, leaning down again.
I ducked and ran out of the room and down the stairs, grabbing my purse off the bar.
We arrived in Darplane with plenty of time to spare before the reception. As we drove in, I noticed the blooming crepe myrtles planted down the median of the highway. They were beautiful, and the fading light of the setting sun cast everything in a pinkish hue.
“Hey, let me show you something,” Julian said, turning the car north toward Fort Spain.
“Where are we going?” I checked the time.
“Hang on. I want you to see this.”
He drove the car over the Interstate and up a steep hill into the small town. Fort Spain was high on the bluffs of Sterling Bay. At the top, Julian made a U-turn and started driving back down the same way toward Darplane.
I looked around, over my shoulder. “Did I miss it? What are we doing?”
As we made our way back toward the Interstate, Julian dropped his speed. “Look at the bay,” he said.
The sun was hidden behind long, thin clouds that were glowing neon pink, and the sky was alternating shades of blue, purple, pink, orange, and yellow. The water was a shimmering electric rose, and dotted throughout, all the way to the horizon, were little white sailboats. Occasionally a brown pelican or a group of seagulls would swoop down.
My breath caught. “Oh, Julian!” I whispered. “It’s so beautiful. Is it always like this?”
He smiled, touching my shoulder. “Only when the sun sets that way. I thought about it when we were driving in, and I wanted to see how it looked. Mom could capture that perfectly on canvas.”
I couldn’t tear my eyes away. “Has she ever painted the bay?”
His eyes were back on the road. “I don’t know, but it’s her style.”
I took a picture with the camera I’d thrown in my bag, and I remembered my other job for the night. “Hey, Nancy asked if I would get some shots of you for the paper, so be cooperative, okay?”
His brow creased. “You’re not working on our date, are you?”
I slid across the bench seat and kissed his cheek. “Just a tiny bit,” I said. “And it’s going to give me clips, so this is a big deal for me, too.”
We were at the center, and his lips tightened. “I think we’re going to have to walk.” The parking lot was completely filled, and cars were even lining the road. “You’d think they’d save me a spot.”
I squeezed his arm. “You build to that, I guess.”
We parked on the side of a hill near a little strip mall hidden in the trees and slowly picked out a walking path to our destination. It was also hidden in the trees, I wondered if most people driving by even realized it was here. My thoughts were distracted when I realized Julian had stopped.
“Hey,” I went back, catching his arm. “What’s wrong? You’re not nervous are you?”
He stood straight, looking up at the huge building. “What do you think they’ll expect me to do?”
“Feats of welding, I’m sure. Did you pack your blowtorch?”
He blinked to me. “No.”
“I was only joking,” I snorted, looping my arm through his and pulling him to the door. “I’m sure you’ll just stand around being charming. Easy!” Then I poked his side gently. “Into the lion’s den?” It was the same thing he’d said the night we drove together to Jack and Lucy’s birthday party.
He leaned over and kissed my cheek. “I’m glad you’re with me.”
“Me, too.”
Inside the massive, open lobby, photographs of Julian’s pieces were on easels and tables filled with hors d’oeuvres, cheese platters, and small desserts were arranged around them. Male and female waiters circled the room carrying trays of hot appetizers and champagne flutes. We wound our way through the crowd, and I saw Lucy Kyser standing beside one of the easels. She wore a light blue silk dress, and her blonde hair streamed down her back in shimmering waves. As always, she looked like a model, and I couldn’t help thinking of what I’d read about her mother. I imagined they looked just alike.
“I’ll grab us something to drink,” Julian said, squeezing my hand. I nodded, and as he left, I went over to her.
“Anna!” Lucy shrieked when she saw me, grabbing me in a hug. “I didn’t know you’d be here. You look fantastic!”
“I was just about to say the same to you!” I hugged my friend, and when she smiled, I felt a twinge. Twins, she and Jack had the exact same clear blue eyes. Just like their dad’s—and her secret half-brother’s.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, hooking our arms.
“Oh, I rode over with Dad,” she said as we walked through the display. “B.J.’s coming to drive me home.”
My brows pulled together. “Why all the musical cars?”
She shrugged. “Dad has to meet someone after, but B.J.’s working on a project with Sterling Bay Watch. So I asked if I could tag along. Can you believe how amazing this stuff is? Julian’s so great.”
“I know,” I smiled trying not to look smug. I reminded myself that it was only a matter of time before Julian would’ve been discovered. My first little news feature on his art didn’t really give me bragging rights.
“So I talked to Jack last night,” she said, pulling my arm. “He’s not dating anyone. You know what that means…”
I was so stunned by her words, I could only shake my head as she continued.
“He is
so
waiting for you,” she giggled. “I’m going down there next weekend. Want to tag along and drop in?”
“No!” I almost shouted, then I cleared my throat. “I told you at Christmas. We broke up—”
“And it was completely ridiculous!” she cried. “You could so easily be together still and save all this pointless moping. Seriously. Two months and not a single date? He just goes out with Will or alone. It’s pitiful.”
Her words gave me heartburn. Why would Jack be moping? He’d broken up with me! Lucy liked exaggeration, so I decided to believe this was more of the same. Jack could very well be dating someone and she just didn’t know. After all, she didn’t know he and I had broken up. Just then Julian returned.
He paused for a beat in front of Lucy, and I couldn’t breathe seeing the two of them together, knowing their connection. They actually looked more alike to me now—more like the siblings they didn’t know they were.
“Julian. Hi,” Lucy said, looking down.
“Hi, Lucy.” He leaned forward and gave her a quick hug. “It’s been a while.”
“Right.” Her cheeks flushed. “Not since the accident—”
“You know what?” he interrupted. “Let’s just forget about that. It’s all good, right?”
He smiled, and I wanted to kiss him again. Instead, I put my hand in the crook of his arm and gave him a squeeze. He stepped aside to grab an appetizer and Lucy quickly leaned in to me.
“Are you two dating now?” Her eyes narrowed.
“Oh… uhh…” I panicked imagining her telling Jack. Then I shook myself. Who cared if she told Jack? “Yes! We kind of just started over the break.”
“That explains why you don’t want to go to New Orleans with me,” she said louder.
Julian was back, and I felt him glance at me. Then Lucy saw the ring on my finger.
“Oh! It’s just like mine,” she said. “Let me see it!”
Julian’s first attempt at jewelry-making was a delicate band composed of a series of tiny silver shells. It had been a birthday present for Lucy, and when I’d said I loved it, he’d made mine.
“I should’ve worn it,” she continued. “I completely forgot, and it would be the perfect thing.”
“Did I miss the party?” A tall, dark, and super-friendly fellow walked up and slid his hand around Lucy’s waist, kissing her cheek.
“B.J.,” she hugged her boyfriend. “This is our star, Julian LaSalle, and my dear friend Anna Sanders.”
He shook Julian’s hand, but studied me. “Have we met before?”
“Not really,” I said, thinking of that day last summer. “I mean, I talked to you at the beach one day when you were life guarding.”
Just then one of the officials came up to our group. “Julian LaSalle?” the man asked.
“Present,” Julian said.
The man assessed our casual attire with a small frown. “We need you over here to work out the unveiling.”
“I’ll be back.” Julian squeezed my arm before disappearing.
Lucy sidled up to me. “I guess Jack might be waiting, but you’re not.”
“We didn’t say we’d wait,” I said feeling guilty, which was stupid.
She smiled at me. “Look, you don’t have to sell Julian on me. I know.”
I wondered what she’d say if she also knew he was her half-brother. “Lucy, please don’t say anything to Jack.”
“Like what?” she played innocent. I watched her stroll away with B.J. leaving me with the question. I didn’t know what I didn’t want her to tell Jack. I didn’t know why I cared. She could tell him whatever she wanted. I hoped she
did
tell him Julian and I were together. Then maybe the stupid pain that tried to creep into my chest at her saying he was alone and waiting for me would be gone for good.
“Anna?” A familiar voice snapped me to attention.
“Oh!” I jumped. “Mr. Kyser!”
He looked around, brows drawn together. “I told you I’d be here.”
“Right,” I nodded, remembering our conversation at his house the night I returned the three journals. “You came for Julian.”