Page 30 of The Heir

Goosebumps ran down my arms, and I cleared my throat, breaking the trance that entrapped us.My imagination is really running wild, isn’t it?

Shad’s face was blank, and I was not about to ask any questions, because not only did I have a million of them, I did not know which to ask first.

What is this between us?

Something was there, and I was sure he had to have felt it, too. That—or again, it was only me losing my mind, because we had just confirmed he wasnota vampire. Perhaps, he was a Fey, they had magic and were beautiful—glamor, that’s what they had. Was Shadglamoringhimself?Is that a word?

Shad tugged me from the room, making my thoughts fade away till I was alone and could unhealthily obsess over them. He carefully led me down the stairs.

Keil was making sandwiches in the bright, clean, and all white kitchen when we entered. Shad and I both sat at the small, wooden table near the back patio sliding glass door. His backyard appeared to be the same size as my own, with the same kind of trees, cement slab patio, and small grass area, although he did not have a pool. We were both silent as Keil set the plates down in front of us. I missed Shad’s hand in mine as I watched him begin to eat. I remained hopeful, however, because maybe since he had held it once, he would hold it again—and soon. I thanked Keil and ate the turkey and cheese sandwich. My head was still aching from crashing into Shad, and my hand was still tingling from his touch. What could I say? I was smitten. No warning flags turned on in my head. He seemed wonderful, kind, smart, thoughtful, and a bit nerdy—maybe, with his collection and all, but it was also sweet and beautiful. He was polite, probably the most polite person I had ever met. It was almost as if he were from a different time when people actually had manners. While his wardrobe was a little formal for my liking, he lookedsmokin’as Ash would say in his prep school look. Still, I could not help but wonder if his rolled up sleeves, unbuttoned collar, and lack of tie that day were because of me. Did he do thatbecause of what I said by the pool? I didn’t want to change him. I just felt that while he was this amazingly, almost perfect human, he could learn to let loose a bit.

Maybe, let loose, at least with me? Let me in, and tell me everything?

I really liked him, and I just hoped, beyond all my faults and ramblings and clumsiness, that he could like me, too.

I want you to like me,I thought as I took another bite of my sandwich, which was delicious.

I watched him stare out the window for a moment.

I want to know everything about you.I hope you like me,I thought as I put my sandwich down and stared out the window to see what he was looking at. As I did, I imagined hearing a song playing inside of me with words that answered my questions:

I like you, Emma; I want to know everything about you, too.

That night, after Shad walked me home across the street, I lay on my bed, and I smiled. My heart was happy, my soul was singing, and I was content. It had been eight months since my parents’ deaths. I knew they would love Shad because Shad was the kind of guy my father always talked about me finding. He reminded me of a heroic prince from my mother’s book. He was kind and thoughtful. He was everything I wanted, and when I was with him, all was right in the world, or as right as it could be in my situation. I turned over on my bed and felt a crunch. I sat up and looked where I had lain and saw there, the dried, now smashed and ruined, lavender rose—whichIhad not placed there.

Something weird was going on. I knew I was not moving that rose about my room, and Mary was not moving it either, sowhat is happening?I wondered. But, I was too happy from having just been with Shad to worry over the placement of his gift. I lifted it off of the bed with a smile and placed it on my nightstand. I fell asleep while looking at it—thinking about his book of roses.

I raced home on Monday after school, just in time to snag the car keys from Mary and head to the flower shop. I stopped by my room to brush my teeth in my bathroom, looking into the mirror, when I spotted it again, the lavender rose on my bed. It was barely recognizable, as most of the petals had crumbled and fallen off. I put my toothbrush back in the holder and turned around to face my bed. I walked to my bedspread, and I touched the rose with my fingertips.Why is it moving?Have I fully lost my mind?I knew things with me were strange, and even stranger with Shad, but he made me happy, and being happy wasn’t bad, right? I grabbed a piece of tape from my nightstand drawer, and taped the rose to the wall above my bathroom counter.

“There, now try and move,” I said to the rose; then I washed my hands and left the house.

I walked outside to the car, and as I drove away, I could not help but feel like someone had been in my room. Someone was moving that flower around, and I had an odd feeling that whoever it was, was not a friend. I shook my head.That is stupid. Who would do that?I was only misplacing it, and taping it to the wall would give me proof that it wasn’t actually moving around. Then, the thought came to me that maybe I was sleepwalking, which felt to me like a very possible and comforting explanation. I nodded to myself:sleepwalking—that is all it is.

I took over the shift for the evening, telling Mary’s new college hire that she was free to go, and she split in a hurry. I stoodbehind the counter, looking over the order list for the morning and checked to see if there were any orders that I could make or prep and put in the fridge—when I heard a ding from the front door and looked up.

“Good afternoon,” I sang out in a high pitched voice, which I had never heard come out of me before. I cleared my throat as Shad approached me, and I tried to look like I didn't care if he was there, that he didn't send my pulse and heart into hyperdrive. But I’d be lying if I said that his presence there didn’t make me happy.

“Hello, Emma.” Shad placed his hands on the counter and peered into my eyes. “How are you?”

I tried to speak, but taking in his appearance was making it difficult. He had no tie, not even one draped around his neck. His shirt’s top two buttons were unbuttoned, and it was partly untucked from his pants in an alluring way I’d never seen before from him. His hair looked as if he had combed his fingers through it just a moment ago, which was a habit of his, so it was safe to say he had. Seeing him like that, so relaxed, made my insides wobble.

“Oh, I am okay; let me know if you need help with anything.”

“Sounds good,” he agreed as one of his hands touched mine on the counter. The jolt I felt from him calmed my worries about the rose in my room, the rose I had taped to the wall. I looked at him. “Is there something you want to say? You can tell me,” he said.

Maybe I would have confided in him if I wasn’t afraid it would make me look stupid.

“Yes, I mean—no, I am fine. You look different,” I said, and then quickly shut my mouth.

“I find it difficult to stay put together when I know I am going to be around you, Emma.”

“Why is that? I mean, what I said by the pool—it doesn’t mean you have to stop wearing what you want. I was just trying tounderstand you. Most people don’t dress as formally as you, but since you went to a private school with uniforms and all , it makes sense, and also you work at an office afterschool and have to dress up, so I get it. I think I like the prep school look.” I closed my mouth and inwardly groaned because, again, I had rambled and told him way too much.

“You could never offend me, Emma; do not worry about that, and Keil for some time has told me that I should blend in more. At my last school, I did that by wearing a uniform, and I guess I got used to it.”

“Blend in more?” I asked.

“Yes, I think I stand out a bit here, and it makes me uncomfortable.”

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