Part 12 (1/2)

”Hey,” I muttered, dropping my gaze to my plate.

He moved to the chair right next to mine and plucked a grape from my plate. His warm, clean scent swirled around me, turning my insides to mush. Screw Olivia, what did she know about anything? His hair was damp, as if he'd just taken a shower. He looked and smelled so good I had to curl my hands on in my lap to keep from reaching out to him.

”About...last night.”

Surprised, I stiffened. Was he really going to bring up the kiss? I held my breath and waited, part of me anxious the other half terrified.

”I...We...” His cheeks flushed and his thick, dark lashes lowered as he stared at the tabletop.

Please don't say it was a mistake, please don't say it!

”Will you go out with me?” He looked up, sincerity in his gaze. ”I mean, on an actual date.” He smiled and my heart did an odd flip. ”We can't really leave the island, but there's a nice restaurant-”

”Yes,” I blurted out.

His smile widened and he grabbed another grape. ”Good. Tonight then?”

I nodded, too giddy to talk. Olivia had been wrong, the little witch.

We didn't speak, merely sat there, staring shyly at each other. I wasn't sure how long, but it seemed like it hadn't been nearly long enough when Aaron suddenly appeared, totally ruining the mood. He was smiling like always, but when he saw us sitting so close, his smile wavered. I scooted back from Lewis, embarra.s.sed, although why I wasn't sure. It's not like we'd been doing it on the table.

”Lewis, can you leave us for a moment?” Aaron asked.

My heart plummeted. This couldn't be good. Lewis slid me an unreadable glance then stood and left the room. I gritted my teeth, resisting the urge to call out and beg him to stay.

Aaron took Lewis' vacated seat, his face fatherly serious. ”Listen, I know you and Lewis have something going on.”

Heat shot straight to my cheeks. ”Did Olivia tell you?” I demanded a little shrilly.

He brushed his hand through the air, dismissing my comment. ”No, I...I read it, you don't keep your thoughts to yourself very well.”

Not the first time I'd heard that. I frowned, dragging my fork through my eggs. Oh G.o.d, what else had he read? I guess I'd known all along that he could hear my thoughts, but I hadn't really figured he would. I sure as h.e.l.l hadn't liked it when Grandma read my mind and I didn't want Aaron to either.

He rested his hand atop mine, stilling my movements. ”I know you like Lewis, but I think you need to take things slow.”

My gaze jumped to him. Was he seriously having a father daughter moment with me? I had the sudden urge to glance back to make sure he wasn't talking to someone else. It was an odd feeling, like I was watching a play. It was certainly something I'd never experienced before. My annoyance and embarra.s.sment gave way to curiosity. I was like some anthropologist, trying to decipher how monkeys lived in the wild.

He released his hold and leaned back in his chair. ”I just think you're young. There are other things you need to focus on, like school and...” He stood and paced, obviously nervous. I smiled, having the sudden urge to laugh. This is what girls at school complained about? I found it rather...endearing. ”And your abilities. And...”

”Okay,” I readily agreed. After all, it's not like Lewis had asked me to be his girlfriend or anything. We hadn't even been on a date...yet. I smiled at the thought of going out with him tonight. What would I wear?

Aaron arched a brow. ”A date?”

I flushed and looked at my plate, trying to dampen down my annoyance. Aaron cared about me, I should be flattered. But I wasn't. ”Just one.”

He sighed. ”All right. Fine.”

I grinned, hiding it by taking a drink of my water.

He rested his hands on his hips and looked at me, all stern-like. ”But be back by ten.”

”Okay.” I picked up a slice of red apple, unsure how to continue. I'd never had a curfew. Grandma pretty much let me go wherever I wanted whenever. As long as she knew about it.

”Well then.” He started toward the door.

”Aaron?”

He turned and looked at me. Was that nerves that made his face all tight? Or was something else worrying him? ”Yeah?”

I looked at the tabletop, wondering how to say what I wanted to say without offending him. ”I don't...I mean...is there a way for you not to read my thoughts?”

He frowned, silent for a moment. The grandfather clock in the corner of the room ticked the seconds by. ”You don't like the invasion?”

”Would you?” I asked bluntly. When he didn't respond, I quickly continued, afraid I'd p.i.s.sed him off. ”It's just that my Grandmother read my thoughts and it drove me nuts.”

He leaned against the door jamb and stroked his chin thoughtfully as if the thought that I might be offended over his intrusion had never crossed his mind. ”I understand.” A smile spread across his mouth. ”Sure, I can do that. But actually, before I forget, I'm here for another reason too. You have a lesson today.”

My embarra.s.sment gave way to excitement. I pushed away from the table, standing. ”Oh, okay.” I was eager to learn more, whatever it was he had to share. ”What about?”

”Ironically, how to block your thoughts.”

”Are you serious?”

He winked. ”The most important thing you'll learn.” He took a step back. ”Now, eat up. It's going to be a long day.”

”We call it lockdown,” Aaron explained.

”Lockdown?” I was settled on the floor again, sitting cross-legged. Aaron sat across from me, and Lewis was sitting a few feet back. It was hard to concentrate with him in the room, at the same time, he was the one who could make me focus like no other.

”Whereas before to block others' thoughts you projected out, pus.h.i.+ng their thoughts away, this time you'll project in, pulling your thoughts toward you. So the wall won't be pushed out, but pulled in, close to you. A steel wall.”

I tried to concentrate on Aaron's words, but felt off today. Was I excited about tonight's date, or was it Olivia's warning ringing through my head? It was an odd jumbled mixture of highs and lows and now that I had time to sit and think, I found her annoying comments were pus.h.i.+ng to the forefront.

”Cameron,” Aaron's deep voice shook me from my thoughts.

I blinked up at him. ”Yeah?”

He leaned forward, his blue eyes twinkling with laughter. ”Are you listening?”

I flushed. c.r.a.p, he was reading my mind. He'd warned me he would for this lesson only. ”Yes, yes of course.”

He smiled, knowing very well I hadn't been but being too polite to call me out. ”Good. Now then, close your eyes.”

I did, but the moment I closed my eyes, I thought of Lewis. The other night flashed to mind. Lewis grinning at me. Lewis pulling me toward him. Lewis pressing his lips to mine...