The Unholy Trinity II

Chapter Nineteen

Tuesday morning, Lucian honked the horn to announce his arrival. After everything that happened yesterday, Fallon hadn’t been sure what to expect. They hadn’t really fought, but she did run out on him. Even after her talk with Simeon and her promise to accept her place, she hadn’t talked to Lucian. Despite that acceptance, the idea that they could just carry out their usual routine seemed nothing short of ludicrous. How were they all supposed to act like nothing changed when everything changed between them forever? Fallon sighed as she slung her backpack over her shoulder. She tried to seem casual when she kissed her mom goodbye.

“See you tonight,” Gwen said.

“Tonight?” Fallon repeated with a frown.

“It’s my day off so I’d like you home for dinner, and after dinner maybe you can help me hang up the Christmas decorations.”

Fallon flinched at the thought of Christmas. Besides the fact that she’d grown to despise the religious holiday, she had more important things on her mind. Like the fact that her boyfriend was literally two different people.

“Dinner’s at six so be home by then.”           

Fallon tried not to sigh as she headed out the door to meet Lucian. As soon as she hopped into his truck and closed the door behind her, he leaned across the seat and gave her a long kiss. The heat of his lips filled all the corners of her soul.

“I’m so sorry,” he murmured as he rested his forehead against hers. “I wanted to tell you sooner, but I couldn’t. Please tell me you still love me.”

Fallon reached to stroke his cheek. “You know I do, but this whole thing is a little weird.”

“I know. It’s still weird for me, and I’ve had almost seventeen years to deal with it.”

“There are still so many questions I have.”

“Ask me anything, and I promise I’ll tell you.”

“I’ll ask you later. If we don’t go now we’ll be late for school.”

During the drive, Fallon thought about yesterday and wondered how she’d be able to face Griffin. Before she learned the truth about who he really was, he confessed his feelings for her. After reading his note, she spent the day torturing herself with the guilt she felt over the idea that maybe she felt something for him too. Then Lucian dropped his bomb on her and pretty much made that okay. Knowing the truth still didn’t make it easy for her to accept the idea of the two of them together or the three of them together for that matter.

Lucian parked the car in front of the school. As they headed to the north hall, Fallon darted her eyes around for signs of Griffin. Would he expect things to be different for them now? Just before they reached the classroom, Lucian stopped to pull her into his arms.

“Things can be whatever you want them to be. Nothing has to change if you don’t want it to.”

Fallon bore her eyes into his. “What if I do want them to change?”

Lucian’s gaze didn’t waver. “That’s okay too, but we have to be careful.”

“I don’t know what I want,” Fallon admitted with a sigh.

Lucian leaned down to brush his lips against hers. “We don’t have to figure it out now.” 

Fallon smiled up at him. “I guess we do have eternity,” she said and then gave him another kiss before they entered the class.        

The moment she walked through the door, her eyes settled on Griffin’s empty chair. Like everything else about Griffin, she wasn’t sure how she was supposed to feel about him not being there. Fallon shifted her gaze to Lucian, and she couldn’t keep from smiling at him. In return, he winked at her. For just a second, she forgot about this whole mess with him and Griffin. Then Griffin walked in front of her, and against her will her heart skipped a beat. She frowned when he dropped down across from her without saying a word.