Wraiths of Winter (The Haunting Ruby Series Book 3) (28 page)

That was the solution. I had to tell Lucas everything.
My phone was an arm’s reach away so I grabbed it and dialed
his number before I could change my mind.

“Ru? You
never
call me. Is something wrong?”

The concern in his voice only served as an impetus.
This was the right decision, the only decision. “I have to tell
you something about last night. It has something to do with
your brother.”

Then I let it spill—every last bit of it. I even told him
the one thing I didn’t tell Zach—the fact that Lee’s description
of my one true love could fit either Lucas or Zach.
Lucas
remained quiet as I relayed my story but he didn’t laugh
either so I figured that was a good sign. When I was finished, I
felt like a sinner walking out of the confessional.
“Wow, Ru! I don’t know what to say.”

“Say that you believe me.”

 

“I
do
believe you. What made you decide to tell me?”

That
was the million dollar question. “Because I want
to fall out of love with you” was the trillion dollar answer.
He
couldn’t know that, though. That information had to remain
restricted.
I handed him
a top secret exposé full of
incriminating
information
with
just
the
final
line
still
slathered in Whiteout.
He would have to be satisfied with
what he got because he wasn’t getting any more.

Aside from the truth, what other reason would I have
to tell him about my abilities? It wasn’t something I would
ever dare share under normal circumstances. I had to think of
something good, something he wouldn’t question. Fast.

“You were there when it happened and there’s
a
distinct possibility that you could be there the next time, too.
I thought telling you made sense, you know, in case it happens
again.” Did he buy it?

He did. “Okay, I’m glad you told me. I knew
something horrible happened last night but I had no idea
what it was. Is there anything I can do to help?”

How sweet! I tell him I’m a freak of nature and his
first
instinct is
to
offer
me
assistance.
I knew this
was
supposed to make me fall
out
of love with him but it wasn’t
working. The one time I fly without a backup plan and look
what happens.
Instead of putting a barrier between us, I
succeeded in tearing one down. Why did nothing ever go the
way I planned it to go?

“No, I have everything under control—at least for
now. How about you? Have you made any progress in finding
your birth parents?”

“I haven’t done anything since that day we went to
Pittsburgh. I don’t want to do it alone. I’m afraid of what I’m
going to find. I was waiting for you to come with me again.
That’s if you’re still willing.”

Willing, but not able. Zach made me promise to stay
away from Lucas at least for a while. “Sure,” I said, “But we
can’t go anytime soon. I want to go but I’m not willing to skip
school for it. Maybe over spring break?” Spring break wasn’t
until March. I would have my feelings sorted out by then and
Zach would have absolutely nothing to worry about.

“Sounds good. Hey, I have to go now—my mom needs
me to do some things for her around the house. I’m glad we
talked, Ru.”

“Me too, Lucas, me too.”

Sharing my secret with him was liberating. With that
weight off of my chest, I curled up with my laptop and worked
on my book.

Two hours later, I went to the mini fridge for a can of
diet soda and found nothing but the empty box they came in.
I could pick up more on my way home from work tomorrow
but for now I would have to hit up Shelly’s stash in the
kitchen. As I passed through the entrance hall, a sudden noise
startled me.

Thump, thump, thump! Someone was knocking on the
front door. Who would be out in this storm? The snow was
still falling and the wind was whistling a death march through
the trees. I opened the door to find a package on the porch
and caught a fleeting glimpse of a delivery truck retreating
down the road.

A square box about the size of a toaster sat on the mat
at my feet.
It was wrapped in plain, brown paper but tied
with a red velvet ribbon.
There was a card attached to the
ribbon with my name on it.
Zach.
It had to be from Zach.
That was just like him. Even at the height of a raging blizzard,
he found a way to make me feel special from a distance.

I brought the box inside and sat down on the bottom
step of the grand staircase to open it. He was far too creative
for me to try to guess what it might be so I didn’t even
attempt to. Once the ribbon was free, I tore off the wrappings
to find a plain white box. I lifted the lid and gasped at the
sight of the contents.

A crisp, white card lay on top inscribed with elegant,
calligraphic handwriting. “For my future bride—something to
keep you warm until we can be together.” There wasn’t a
signature but there didn’t need to be. Mr. Perfect strikes
again.

Under the card, I found the most beautiful scarf I’d
ever seen. It was snow white cashmere and sparkled with the
most delicate sequins.
As I lifted it from the box, each one
caught the light from the chandelier overhead and danced
with a pearlescent glow.
I wrapped it around my neck and
stroked the soft fabric with my hand.
You could tell by
touching it that it was expensive. I absolutely loved it but he
shouldn’t have spent so much money on me. He better have
bought himself a spare tire before plunking down the serious
cash this scarf must have required. I wanted to ask him if he
did, but I didn’t want to remind him of the fight we had that
night.
Regardless, I still had to thank him immediately for
such a heartfelt gift.

I ran upstairs and snagged my phone. I dialed Zach’s
number then stood in front of the mirror to admire my new
fashion accessory.
Being white, it would look good with
almost every piece of winter clothing I owned.
When Zach
picked up, I was busy rooting through my closet and trying to
decide what I wanted to wear it with first.

“Hey, Ruby! What’s up, sweetie?”

Sweetie. He hadn’t called me that in a while. My
nightly mwahs had disappeared as well. I noticed he seemed
to stop after Lucas and I started spending more time together.
Was this gift his way of letting me know that he wasn’t
insecure about my feelings for him anymore?

“I just wanted to let you know that you’re the best
boyfriend in the whole world. Or should I now start calling
you my future groom?” I giggled at that last word. Of course
we had discussed our future plans together before but not
quite so blatantly. Whatever spurred this new confidence in
him, I liked it.

“Um…what?”

 

So after sending that note, he wanted to be coy now?
Fine. I can play along.

“Oh Zach, you
know
what I’m talking about! I love it
by the way but I’d rather it was
you
here keeping me warm.”
As a matter of fact, just talking to him was starting to heat me
up.

“I wish I was there too but, honestly, I don’t know
what you’re talking about.”

 

“The scarf, silly! It’s beautiful but you shouldn’t have
spent so much money on me.”

His tone of voice changed from confused to suspicious.
“What scarf, Ruby? And what was that future husband stuff
all about?”

Nice.
He just capsized the Love Boat by taking the
game one step too far. “The scarf
you
sent me and the note
that was with it!”
“I didn’t send you anything, Ruby. But I can probably
guess who did.”

Dammit! He wasn’t just playing—he was serious. If
he
didn’t send it, that left…Lucas. If I’d only known that it
wasn’t from Zach! But it was too late now. He was going to be
so
pissed at Lucas. And he was already pissed at
me
.

“I’m sorry,” I stuttered, “I assumed it was from you.” If
only there was a way to backpedal my way out of this one.
But there wasn’t.

He demanded that I read him the note word for word
so I did. I couldn’t believe that Lucas would call me his future
bride,
though.
Was
this
the
reason
he
ended
our
conversation? After I opened myself up to him, did he take it
as a sign that I wanted there to be more between us? Did he
actually risk life and limb on those snowy roads to go buy me
a gift and then pay some delivery service to bring it out here?
My love life was officially out of control now.

“He seems quite confident, Ruby. Does he have a
reason to be?”

 

“NO!” I shouted back. “Trust me—I’m just as shocked
by this as you are!”

 

“Really? I don’t have anything to worry about here, do
I?”

Did he? No. Well…. No, he didn’t. “Of course not,
Zach! Don’t forget—when I opened that box, I automatically
assumed it was from you.
Lucas never even crossed my
mind.”

“Good. Just remember what that ring stands for, Ruby.
I love you.”

I twisted my promise ring around on my finger until it
caught the light.
Then, I caressed the scarf with my other
hand. “I love you, too—I won’t forget.” But I was afraid that
part of me already had.

21. That’s A Wrap!

The storm passed, the roads cleared, but my heart felt
like it was snowed in until the spring thaw. What was I going
to do? I had two boys madly in love with me and I didn’t
know which way to turn. The worst part was knowing that
someone I cared about was going to get hurt in the end. And I
would be the one doing the hurting. I needed advice fast and
preferably from someone who didn’t have preconceived
notions about either boy.
But who? Zach instantly charmed
everyone he came into contact with.
Damn him for being so
irresistible!

When I arrived at Something Wick-ed, I was surprised
to see that the lights were already on. Great. Was I now going
to have to deal with a burglar who was too stupid to bring
along a flashlight?
On the bright side, there was a good
chance the intruder wouldn’t know Zach. “Excuse me Mr.
Burglar, but before I open this safe for you, would you mind
giving me an objective opinion on my love life? What’s that?
Yes, I
am
Zach Mason’s girlfriend. Never mind.”

But instead of finding a masked robber, I found Rita.
The weather stymied her trip to the haunted hotel in the
Poconos so she decided to come in to work. Even though she
knew Zach, she didn’t know him well. She wouldn’t be
completely objective but she was closest thing I had to it. I
waited until the store was officially open and then I let it rip.

“So, Rita, I need some advice. Can you help me?” I
asked as I helped her drag the valentine display out of the
backroom and onto the sales floor.

“Absolutely, but you already know where I stand on
this issue.” Rita paused as she pondered where she wanted to
place the new rack.

Great.
Mark another ‘W’ on the scoreboard next to
Zach’s name. For real, what
was
it about him? I wasn’t
someday going to find out that he was a vampire running
about town compelling people, now was I?
Because
that
was
where I drew the line! No half-breed blood sucking babies for
me, thanks.

Rita made her decision and pushed the display about a
foot to the left and then nodded with approval. “I’ve already
told you not to go back into that theater. Gerald, my friend
from Texas, is investigating in Guatemala for a few weeks so I
haven’t been able to reach him.”

Oh, right. Of course she assumed that I was asking her
for paranormal advice. It made sense that a vengeful wraith
would take precedence over my silly boy troubles.
Except it
didn’t. Solving my dilemma with Zach and Lucas came first. I
mean, really, a girl has to have her priorities straight.

“No, not about that. I kinda have another problem.
A
boy problem.”

“Oh, sure we can talk! I’m just not used to you having
normal problems, I guess.” Rita tossed her thick mane of red
hair into a ponytail and sat down
behind the counter.
“Business slacks off until the last week in January and the
weather
is
still
fairly
crappy
so
we should
have limited
interruptions.”

When I took a seat next to her, I noticed she’d gotten
highlights in her hair since the last time I saw her.
They
looked great but
what
was
with
her
newfound
beauty
regimen? First nails, now highlights—what was next, a Botox
injection?

So between customers, I told Rita everything. And I
do mean
everything
.
It was the first time I told the story
without feeling the need to censor information of any kind. It
felt good.
All I needed was a mostly unbiased opinion and
that was what I got.

“Well, you know I like Zach. He’s a good boy and he
really seems to love you. But I can understand your attraction
to Lucas. Honestly though, I don’t think it’s really about
Lucas—it’s about Lee. You’re looking at Lucas as though he
was his brother and that’s not good. Two people can look
exactly alike on the outside and be completely different on the
inside. And that scarf, I don’t think it was from Lucas either.”

I wrapped my fingers around it and held it tight. Not
from Lucas? If he wasn’t the one who sent it, then that took
me back to Zach.
Why would he lie? What could he possibly
have to gain from it?

“So you think Zach sent it but wanted me to think that
it was from Lucas? Why would he do that?” Was this another
example of twisted boy logic?
And I thought I was confused
before
.