Divinity: The Gathering: Book One (56 page)

“Steve who?” She kidded.

I nudged her in the ribs.

I was messing with her, he wasn’t there
, but he could have been and she knew what I was getting at.

“I thought you guys had to go?” I reminded her.

“Go where?” China smiled looking up at Cam.

“I’ll see you tonight, be careful and don’t forget to roll your tongue in off the ground,” I joked gi
ving her a hug.

She giggled, “I want every single detail. You guys are so cute together; you’re like the jolly green giant and sprout. How tall is he anyway?” She whispered with a wide smile.

“Funny. I don’t know, maybe six five, six seven?” I replied.

“Shit, yeah I’m guessing at least six eight because Steve is six two himself
, and he would totally tower over him. Nice.”

She was right though, even in heels
, my face was literally level with Cam’s chest.

Even though I’d love it, I hoped he didn’t have slow dancing in mind
, unless he brought a ladder for me.

“Wait,” I stopped her before she turned to leave
, seeing as Laura and Avery probably weren’t in any hurry to go just yet either. They were both still in conversation with Cam, and he obliged politely while other girls — and some guys passing by gawked, and some even snapped pictures on their cell phones of him. Maybe they thought he played professional basketball too.

“What?” China’s eyes twinkled as she smiled big.

“What do the tattoos on his hands look like to you?” I asked her.

She looked over at Cam’s hands again for a m
oment. Her expression reminded me of Logans’ similar confused look, in searching for something they couldn’t see.

“On his hands where? I don’t see any tattoos.” China replied, perplexed.

I had the confirmation I needed in that regard, “Never mind. I’ll see you tonight but don’t wait up.” I told her.

“A tatted cop? Raw
r…I knew you were a closet freak Star. Hang on let me get a quick picture of you two together,” China laughed, and then offered.

I rolled my eyes and suppressed a smile
, as I shook my head.

Apparently, Cam had tattoos on his hands that no one else but me could see
, and they resembled the demon cops tattoos, which only meant one thing.

I began to feel somewhat apprehensive about g
oing anywhere with him alone, and I wondered where we would be going on our date anyway, wishing we could just stay here —what with so many other people around. At the same time I wanted to ask him some things in private that may not have been ideal here either.

I already knew there was som
ething supernatural about him; I just wasn’t sure which side he was a part of yet. Drake seemed to be the one ‘following me around,’ the way Ms. Hawthorne had described the dark one following me; given the way he would show up in random places and how soundlessly he moved, but he’s been healing me.

A being trying to hurt me wouldn’t bother to do
that.

“Okay, count of three…one, two…” China began
, while holding her cell phone up to take the picture.

I groaned internally as Cam moved in next to me
, willingly obliging with a smile to pose with an arm around my shoulders. I put an arm around his muscularly, tight and firm waist, noting how warm and good he felt against my body.

“Three,” China said as the flash went off.

“Gorgeous, you two look good together!” Avery commented as she and Laura leaned in to look at the picture.

             
I was curious and I wondered if the aura China claimed to be around me would be there. I couldn’t wait to see the picture myself.

“Let me see it.” I asked.

“I just sent it to you.” China smiled with a slightly perplexed expression while looking at the display of her phone, and then tapping it to send it to me.

My curiosity was driving me crazy now especia
lly seeing her face. Why didn’t she seem as enthused as Avery and Laura over how good it turned out?

“Oh, okay.” I said slowly.

“Send it to me too,” Cam then leaned in to tell me.

I looked up at him and smiled before looking at my phone display
, and seeing China’s MMS picture message downloading.

“Hey, you must be Officer Cam. I’m Joel Carson, a close friend of Star’s,” Joel voice cut in from behind us suddenly.

I looked up and turned to glance behind me, surprised to see Joel had sidled up beside me, holding his hand out to shake Cam’s hand, and smelling of barbecue sausage and beer. He eyed Cam with scrutiny up and down as if he were sizing him up or something. I didn’t like the snarkiness in his tone.

Cam turned his attent
ion to Joel and shook his hand. I was taken aback by the look Cam gave him through lowered lids and it wasn’t just because he was looking down at him either. (Joel was only five eight himself)

It was almost like a macho front, like he was co
nveying it through expression alone, that I was going to be with him tonight or something, even though he gave a half smile as he shook Joel’s hand.

“Nice to meet you Joel, just call me Cam.” Cam said.

I decided not the let it linger as I broke in and moved to stand next to Cam, while avoiding Joel’s eyes for a moment.

“Ok. Don’t you think you’re a little too old to be dating a college student…Cam?” Joel then asked.

My mouth fell open and China gasped with wide eyes, looking at Joel in shock and then she nudged him.

“Joel!” I was annoyed, embarrassed and angry by his tone and comment.

“Sorry, I didn’t realize she was a minor.” Cam replied coolly.

“No
, but she’s only nineteen. I’m not saying you’re old, but just how old are you?” Joel asked with a raised brow. His dark almond eyes fixated on Cam with a serious edge.

“Whoa Joel, quit while you’re ahead,” China did a slashing motion in front of her neck
, but Joel ignored her.

“Are you drunk?” I asked him with annoyance.

“Not at all,” Joel replied not taking his eyes off of Cam.

“I’m sorry Cam. You guys have fun
, and be careful out here, good night China.” I told her and her classmates with a wave and a scowl for Joel, as I took a few steps away from the group in order to hurry up and leave before a possible fight and arrest ensued.

I couldn’t believe Joel said that. It was e
ither the beer, jealousy or both, I then thought.

“Night,” Cam dazzled China and the other ogling girls around us with another breath taking smile
, and then shot an almost cocky stare at Joel with a smirk, as he put an arm around my shoulder.

As soon as he touched me; I felt a slight electrical shock of both heat and lust that shot straight towar
ds my groin and I shivered at his touch. I had to suck in a breath just to release the strong pull of passion that instantly overwhelmed me, making my pulse throb and my heart pound wildly. I felt my face flush hotly, not wanting to look up at him, though I somehow I felt as if he knew exactly what effect he was having on me right now.

He guided me through the crowd, protectively leading the way and clearing a path for us t
owards wherever he had parked.

I could still feel everyone’s eyes on us as we walked away
, and my gut wrenched wondering what must have been going through Joel’s mind right now too, but I didn’t care. He ticked me off and I think I knew why but his attitude had been totally uncalled for.

I’d see him tomorrow and we’d talk some more about what I said
, and the almost kiss if I wasn’t still angry with him.

              We passed the makeshift mosh pit, where the rambunctious group was still going strong. I saw Cam glance over at them momentarily as if watching, or looking for someone. I smoothed out my dress repeatedly, the static making it cling to me awkwardly.

“Why would you apologize for him?” He then asked me.

I looked up at him as we walked, “I’m not. I mean it wasn’t like him. He’s not like that at all usually.” I then told him.

“Drunk already huh?” Cam commented.

“No, he wasn’t…we just got here, and I can tell. He’s not a typical drinker either,” I defended Joel.

“How old is he anyway?” Cam then asked loo
king down at me.

             
I stopped, and my eyes widened as I looked up at him. I had forgotten Cam was a cop. Joel was twenty.

He chuckled, “Don’t worry, I’m off duty and truthfully I could care less. How have you been?” He then asked to change the subject first
, with his full attention and gorgeous eyes looking down at me.

I was shocked at his answer
, but I didn’t question it. I thankfully blew out a relieved breath, “Okay I guess.” I said as we began to walk and make our way through the crowd again.

“You guess? That doesn’t sound very convin
cing.” He commented.

“Yeah, I should work on that I suppose,” I joked and he laughed a little.

“Thank you for the flowers, they were beautiful, and they happened to be my favorites. It’s crazy that you would know that.” I told him with a smile.

He coughed a little and smirked, “You’re we
lcome. I’m pretty good at reading people too.” He then said with a single raised brow.

“Pretty damned good
, actually,” I commented, flattered that he remembered parts of our conversation from the diner.

He smiled.

“So where are we going?” I asked as we continued to make our way through the now thinning crowd, the closer we got to the entrance.

“I have a place in mind that I think you’ll like. If you want, we can come back later on tonight. I see that most of your close friends are here
, and it seems like they really wanted you to stay, especially your friend Joel.” He then said.

So that was a macho
stare he gave Joel. How in the world did he think that he needed to be jealous, looking the way he looked? God, I hoped he wasn’t that possessive, crazy kind of cop that you always see in the movies…if he even was a cop —or human for that matter.

I eyed him out of my periphery. Though I didn’t want to come back tonight, I thought it was nice of him to ask and offer.

“Maybe. But uh, Joel and I are just good friends.” I then said looking up at him.

He looked down at me with a smirk, “Nothing
wrong with that, I wasn’t insinuating anything.” he then said.

I waved it off, “No, I know
, I was just clarifying it if he came across as rude that’s all.”

Cam laughed a bit, “He came across as a very caring and protective friend.” He replied.

“He is.” I told him, smiling at his understanding of Joel’s behavior.

“You really look beautiful tonight.” Cam then said.

My mouth fell open slightly as the butterflies began to flap around wildly again, and I couldn’t help but smile up at him.

             
He had driven the black sports car, and I admit that I couldn’t wait to ride in it, as he held the passenger side door open for me.

I got in and buckled myself up
, admiring the high tech sound system and all the other unique gadgets in the dashboard, as he went around and got into the driver’s side.

He paused at the door with his hand on the ha
ndle, and I wondered why.

He was looking off somewhere for a moment
, and then he opened the door.

“Sit tight and stay in the car, I’ll be right back.” He said
, and he appeared serious, almost angry. His jaw was working as if something or someone had just ticked him off.

“Uh…okay,” I was about to ask what was wrong
, but he had already closed the door.

What was that all about? I wondered.

I leaned over to look out of the driver’s side window, but Cam was gone…out of sight as if he had completely vanished.

There was no way he could have moved that
quickly for one, and he would have been easy to spot given his height.

Where the hell had he gone so fast
, and what was wrong?
              Okay, here was possibly more proof. Maybe I’d be able to catch him in the act of something with my own eyes this time —if I knew where to look for him.

I unbuckled my seatbelt and got out anyway
, against his request, and scanned the parking area for him, or any sign of something unusual or supernatural.

It was getting colder now
, as if the already chilly temperature had dropped ten degrees in the last twenty minutes, or maybe it was just me.

I rubbed the sides of my arms
, feeling chilled to the bone even in my coat.

             
In the distance, I could see one of the bands take the stage, and heard them begin to address the crowd with an echo from the sound system, and people instantly began cheering and applauding.