Tainted Legacy (YA Paranormal Romance) (12 page)

Ava wished Grier would’ve been home. She wanted Gabe to have a chance to meet her. How he treated her sister would go a long way toward what Ava thought of him. But Grier had not been home. She was prone to disappearing while taking long walks. At first this had worried her parents but now they accepted it as part of who she was. He would have to meet her next time, assuming there was a next time. Ava just hoped he treated her sister with enough respect to pass the test. Because most people didn’t.

He pulled into the city park. He’d packed a blanket and a picnic lunch. Ava followed him, letting him pick the spot. He spread out the blanket and then started unpacking the enormous bag from the deli. He’d gotten turkey and cheddar on croissants, pasta salad, fresh fruit, lemonade and peach cobbler for dessert.

“Wow,” Ava said when he finished spreading it all out and she sat down beside him. “You really didn’t need to do all of this.”

“Yes, I did,” Gabe disagreed. “I wanted to thank you for letting me take up so much of your time lately.”

“You don’t have to thank me,” Ava insisted. “I love spending time with you.” She wondered if her choice of words was a little too strong but then decided she really didn’t care. She wasn’t exactly sure what was going on between them. Sometimes he was so fun and flirty and other times if she got too close, he looked nervous and literally backed away. The only thing that was consistent was that she enjoyed being with him.

And that she really, really hoped they would progress to something more than friendship.

She wasn’t sure why that hadn’t happened yet. They’d been spending time together for weeks now. She’d definitely given him the opportunity. It was possible that he wasn’t interested in her that way. She
was
still in high school and she was absolutely certain that he attracted girls that were closer to his age, far more beautiful and certainly more experienced. She had mustered up the courage during one conversation to ask if he had a girlfriend. He had looked at her as if she’d asked him if he was interested in wearing a pink tutu. He’d told her that if he did have a girlfriend, he doubted very much he’d be allowed to spend time with a girl as beautiful as Ava.

When he made comments like that it made her think that maybe, just maybe he wanted the same thing she did.

If only she weren’t such a coward she would just ask.

But she was afraid of the answer so for now, she would take the friendship he offered.

And possibly whatever was in the box he procured from tif cured fhe bottom of the bag.

“What is it?” Ava asked as he held out a long, thin velvet box to her.

“I know you said that nothing can replace the necklace you lost last night but I got you this anyway. I feel bad that you were with me when it happened. And I know it’s not the same as your other one but…” he faded off and set the box in her hand. “Just open it.”

Ava took it from him already thinking whatever it was, she shouldn’t keep it. She pried the small box open. The tiny hinges made a snapping sound when the lid flipped up.

“Oh my gosh, Gabe. It’s absolutely beautiful.”  The gold pendant was shaped like an S with a small white pearl in the crook at the top and a black pearl nestled into the crook at the bottom.

“It’s called an infinity pendant, I guess. That’s what the saleslady told me. Do you like it?” He looked so hopeful.

“Thank you. I love it. But seriously, I can’t keep this. It’s…it’s way too much!” Ava exclaimed, barely able to take her eyes off of it.

“You have to keep it,” Gabe said sounding alarmed. “I bought it for you. It’s your birthstone, isn’t it? I asked.”

“Gabe, I appreciate the gesture so much. I really do, but I can’t keep something this expensive!”

“It wasn’t that expensive,” he argued. She gave him a stern look of disbelief. “Okay, it was. But what does that matter? It’s not like I can’t afford it. I mean, sorry if that sounds conceited but it’s true. So really, it’s not a big deal.”

“Gabe…” Ava began but she couldn’t take her eyes off the beautiful piece of jewelry. She wanted to keep it. She really, really wanted to keep it.

“This isn’t going at all as I’d planned,” Gabe admitted. “The first time I’ve ever given a girl a gift and she won’t even take it. Now what am I supposed to do with it? It’s nonreturnable and it would look seriously stupid on me.”

“Really?” Ava asked tentatively. “You can’t bring it back?” And he’d never gotten a girl a gift before? Or met a girl’s parents before? She wasn’t sure if she should be pleased or alarmed. But the look on his face, the disappointed, agitated look on his face made her want to make him happy and if it meant keeping the necklace… “Are you sure?”

He let out a sigh of relief. “I’m sure. You had me worried.”

***

“So your
non
-boyfriend brought you on a romantic pic Buromantinic and gave you freaking pearls?! And you’ve never even held his hand?” Molly was at a loss. She stuffed a bite of strawberry ice-cream into her mouth while she pondered the outrageousness of the situation.

“I hugged him,” Ava offered up. “I mean, how could I not? And I thanked him over and over which only made him super flustered.”

They were at her cabin, having their first girls’ night of the year. For a few worrisome moments, Ava was afraid her parents weren’t going to allow it, due to the ordeal of the prior evening. When Ava had argued they’d been out there many times before without incident, and when she promised to keep her phone on, they had relented.

Now she and her friends were well stocked with music, movies, junk food and gossip. The air mattress was blown up, ready to go. The only thing missing was Grier. She had not been home yet when Molly and Julia had shown up, anxious to leave and get on with their night. Ava chastised herself for feeling a tiny bit relieved that she wasn’t home so she couldn’t ask to come with. She wanted to be able to talk about Gabe with her friends without having Grier give her a disappointed or completely befuddled look.

“You should have just laid a big, huge, slobbery kiss on him!” Molly scolded. “It would’ve been perfectly justified! In fact, maybe that’s even what he was expecting!”

Ava shook her head, stirring her own ice-cream around. It was little more than a melted mess by now.

“I don’t know. I just get such mixed signals from him. I honestly don’t know what’s going on. Maybe he really only bought it because of what happened last night. Because he felt bad and like he said, he can afford it. So maybe I’m making this into a big deal when it really doesn’t mean anything.”

“It definitely means something when your super hot, own personal hero buys you jewelry. Especially when he takes the time to figure out your birthstone? That, for a guy, takes some serious thought and motivation,” Molly insisted.

Julia looked thoughtful. They’d already discussed the horrible event of the night before at great length. Julia’s face had still not recovered from its paleness. Ava was afraid she may never set foot in Granville again.

“Don’t you think it’s suspicious...” Julia began.

“No!” Molly cut her off. “Whatever it is, the answer is no. You think too much. You worry too much. You read into situations too much.  You aren’t going to ruin this with that troubled little mind of yours. Just…
no
!”

Julia pursed her lips, obviously still fretting.

“What is it Julia?” Ava encouraged.

“I just think it’s odd that Gabe’s been in a situation like that twice since you’ve met. Don’t you? I mean first at yppen firstour house and then last night?” Julia certainly did look troubled.

“Oh come on!” Molly’s exasperation was explosive. “Really? So, how would this go? He lets himself get beaten to a pulp for what reason? So he can woo a girl into a very nonphysical relationship? And then maybe hires someone to hold a knife to her throat so he can come to her rescue and continue to woo her into what is still a nonphysical relationship? When she’s already spending every spare second with him?” Molly looked at Julia with raised eyebrows. “Jump in any time and tell me how this makes sense. Tell me, what dastardly deed could he possibly be hoping to accomplish?”

“Molly,” Ava scolded and then she turned to Julia. “The thought did cross my mind. I admit it does seem strange. But like Molly, I keep going round and round in a circle that just
doesn’t
make sense. I think it just happens to be an odd coincidence. Or,” she said with a shrug, “maybe Gabe attracts bad luck.”

The look on Julia’s face let Ava know that explanation did
not
make her feel better.

“Don’t worry about me, please,” Ava pleaded. “Everything is fine.”

Molly looked doubtful. “I don’t know. There is
something
seriously not right here.” Her doubt turned to a teasing smirk. “And I’m not talking about the events of last night. I’m talking about in general. Maybe he’s gay?” she hesitantly offered.

“He is not gay,” Julia scoffed, causing both of her friends to turn to her with wide, startled eyes. “He’s not,” she insisted as some color started to reappear across her pasty features. “The other night when I stopped by Cheaters to pick up an order I saw the way he was watching you when you were shooting pool. It was like he wanted to drag you home and cover you in whipped cream. Gay boys do not look at girls like that.”

“Why, Julia,” Molly said with a grin. “I think that’s the smuttiest thing I’ve ever heard you say. I’m so proud!”

“I don’t think so, Julia. I think you probably totally misread the situation.” Ava did not add that Julia often tended to misread situations. She wanted her to be right. Every now and then she’d caught glimpses of Gabe looking at her with interest. Those looks faded so quickly she wondered if she’d really seen them or only wanted to see them. “I think he’s just looking for a friend.”

“No,” Molly said decisively. She crossed her arms stubbornly and leaned back in her seat. “Guys can’t be just friends with beautiful girls. It’s against the laws of physics.”

“Physics?” Julia questioned.

“Well, it’s against the laws of something! You are completely missing my point.”&nbsbouoint.p She turned to Ava.  “You’re gorgeous, he’s gorgeous. You’re single, he’s single. You do the math. Something is not adding up in this equation.”

“Maybe it has nothing to do with Ava,” Julia carefully began.

“How can it not have anything to do with me?” Ava asked. “That seems kind of contradictory.”

“What I mean is, maybe it has to do with who your dad is. I’m willing to bet Gabe has never dated a pastor’s daughter before. If I were him, I’d be nervous about that. I’d be nervous about moving too fast. Nervous about saying something offensive. Nervous about making the first move.”

“That’s just…silly,” Ava argued. “Gabe is not the nervous type. And I’m not any dif—”

“No,” Molly said as she held up a hand. “She might be right. I mean, we
are
talking to an expert worrier here. She might actually know what she’s talking about.”

“Well, you don’t have to look so surprised,” Julia huffed.

 
stinbsp;

Chapter 9

“I’m still in shock that you’re interested in something so reckless,” Gabe admitted.

She cocked her head and raised her eyebrows innocently. “Why do you drive one if they’re so reckless?”