Fate's Demand (Twisted Fate, Book 3)

Chapter Seventeen

After what felt like forever but was over too quickly, the wait was over.

With the way that Mike was looking at me, I knew he wanted me to kiss him again but wouldn't cross that line himself. I stepped closer, bringing us chest-to-chest, satisfied when he inhaled sharply. Standing on the tips of my toes, I pecked his lips with my own as I kept my eyes open, holding for a second before planting my feet once more.

Mike's lids drooped, and I smiled.

This time, when he inclined his head toward me, I didn't hesitate. Wrapping my arms around his neck once again, I fisted his hair in my fingers and closed my eyes as our lips met. The heat that had pooled in my stomach flared into my chest, curling my toes. His tongue darted out to meet mine in a symphony of apology for not making this kiss our first. I pushed back with forgiveness.

It was as perfect as God had created him to be.

Suddenly, Mike pulled away, dropping his hands to my waist to keep me from swaying. I sucked in a deep breath, feeling cold, and my forehead dropped to rest against his chest. What the? Drawing another breath in and then out, I stepped back.

"I, uh." I took another step back and narrowed my eyes. A thousand thoughts flew through my mind. I didn't know if I was still drunk or too sober after what just happened, but nothing was making sense. Did he not like me? Was I a bad kisser? Clearing my throat, I licked my lips, and asked, "What's wrong?"

Mike lifted his lips in a half-smile. "The light."

I blinked. "Huh?"

"Your light, Aly," he said, and pointed to me. "You have to make it stop shining before our seven minutes are up."

"I—" Looking down, I saw the familiar silver-white light tinged with blue that was supposed to be hiding inside my heart. I looked to Mike, my mouth hanging in wonder. "I-I don't know how." Stepping back, I started patting myself down, straightening my clothes as though trying to smack the life out of a dying fire.

"Try thinking unhappy thoughts," he said, casting glances at the closed door.

I stopped rubbing my clothes. "What?" My forehead wrinkled as I narrowed my eyes, but somehow I managed to snap my mouth closed. "Why would I try to make myself sad?"

"Think, Aly," he said, raising his hands, and then gestured to my skin around my exposed collar. "Where does your light shine from?"

"Oh." I nodded, lowering my arms. "Oh!" My mouth dropped and I looked up again as his implication sunk in, and Mike smiled.

Ugh. Whatever happened to the mystery of a relationship?

Now I couldn't even share a kiss without my inner light flaring my emotions onto display? Even nice guys would run to the hills if they saw it. What could I possibly say to excuse something like that? Oh, don't worry. That's just the light in my heart shining because of how you make me feel? Yeah. Right. It was all I needed to wind up being stuck with some sort of first-date curse—maybe two, if I had to warm up to the guy.

"It's working."

"Shut up and turn away," I said, keeping my gaze cast down, and fought the urge to run back to him.

"Why?"

"Because I can't figure out if I want to hit you or kiss you for doing this to me," I said, though I knew what I'd do if there was no chance of getting caught. It was just as clear as knowing what I was supposed to avoid. "Both options screw with my head. So. Turn. Around."

Mike shifted so his back was facing me, a soft chuckle sounding as he moved.

I clenched my teeth. "Stop glowing."

The room dimmed, but only marginally. My light was bright. If I didn't hurry up, someone was going to notice that it was shining through the crack at the bottom of the closet door. That would be just before it was opened, and they discovered how impossible that was without the lightbulb being lit up.

Come on, Aly. You fight Darkness! You have unhappy thoughts!

I had two minutes with enough gloom in my head to fill twenty, and that was only focusing on what had just happened between us. If I thought about the rest of my life—David, Heaven, Darkness, light, angels, my mom—I could stay dark forever. Why couldn't it have been a heartbreak followed by a happy ending like in movies? My boy died, I discovered that he was an angel, and then we were together. What kind of story did I have? There were no rules! Why did it go from starting bad to getting worse?

When would it end?

"Aly—"

The door opened and we both jerked our heads up, and my mouth opened.

Carly poked her head in, disappointment on her face for not having caught us in a misdeed. She looked from me to Mike and then back, clearly trying to figure out what we'd done for us both to be facing the door with me staring at Mike's back.

"So," she said, forcing a smile as her gaze began to dart between us again. "How was it?"

I looked past her shoulder, realizing the music had dulled while everyone stopped to stare. Well, almost everyone. Trey was in the corner, leaning against the wall as he braced his hand beside another girl's head so he could lean in to whisper in her ear. They both laughed. Good riddance.

"It was very..." I glanced at Mike's back, but he still hadn't moved, like standing in my way would protect me from being seen when in fact, it just meant that he was in my way. I rolled my eyes and stepped past him. "It was very informative, actually."

Ignoring everyone on my right, I glanced to my left and noticed that Raffy had moved to stand with Suzie. They whispered, keeping their eyes on me, and I raised my chin. Taking one step, I paused and caught Gabe's gaze. He didn't blink or look away, holding my gaze with I didn't know what. Disappointment? Understanding? Even if I'd taken the time to get to know him better, it had all been an act, and there'd be no way of knowing if what I thought I saw was real.

"Aly."

Suzie stepped away from the doorway, breaking my bubble with Gabe. He looked down. Raffy shoved his hands into the front pockets of his jeans, remaining watchful and disapproving. As the entire room fixated on me, nobody else spoke a word.

A lump as big as a tennis ball blocked my airways and kept me from breathing.

The walls felt like they were closing in on all sides and it took a moment to realize it was because I was surrounded by Suzie, Mike, Raffy, and all the graduating class. No matter what I did, no matter where I went, there would be no night off. When karma dealt you a crap hand, it was all you had to play with, no matter how close you kept your cards to your chest. Whatever I'd overcome in this life wasn't enough to make up for whatever I'd done in the past.

Would it ever be enough?

Taking a step, I ignored Suzie and Mike calling my name, and started forward. It was the only clear path left. As everyone watched filled with surprise, disapproval, and even amusement, I stuck my chin up and kept my mouth shut until I was alone in Teigan's backyard. The light was limited, appearing even smaller in such a large space. For once, the night didn't scare me. My relief overshadowed my fear, and I let the new silence calm me.