Avenging Cupids

Chapter 10: Flagrante Delicto

“I have for the first time found what I can truly love–I have found you. You are my sympathy–my better self–my good angel–I am bound to you with a strong attachment. I think you good, gifted, lovely: a fervent, a solemn passion is conceived in my heart; it leans to you, draws you to my centre and spring of life, wrap my existence about you–and, kindling in pure, powerful flame, fuses you and me in one.” 

― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

“Rise and shine beauties!” Nicollette pulled back Elle’s black and purple curtains and the bedroom was instantly bathed in midday sunlight. 

Both girls groaned. Elle rolled over until she was on top of Willow who was too sleepy to care. 

“Willow dear, your parents will be arriving soon,” said Nicollette as she tickled the girls’ feet in attempt to get them up.

Willow instantly sat bolt upright, accidentally kicking Elle in her hip.

“Hey! Watch it!” Elle sat up also, rubbing her eyes like an infant. 

“Sorry. What was that Mrs. Blackwood? You mentioned something about my parents?”

“Yes. Don’t you both know what day it is?”

“Doomsday,” muttered Elle crankily.

Willow searched her tired mind. She and Alden didn’t retire until the wee hours of the morning. They pulled an all-nighter on the beach, talking until just before the crack of dawn. 

“It’s Easter Sunday,” Nicollette proclaimed. She clapped her hands twice. “Chop chop! Hurry it up!”

“Oh shoot,” said Willow. She turned to look at Elle who was staring at her Mom with wide eyes.

“What about Alden?” Elle asked. Her voice was a few octaves higher than normal.

“What else can we do? We can’t just throw him aside and eat Easter dinner without him.”

“But—but,” Willow spluttered.

“Mom,” Elle hissed through her teeth, “that’s exactly what we have to do. Willow’s parents can’t know that he’s staying here. I’ll lose my job. They’ll lose trust in me!”

“They’ll understand dear,” said Nicollette soothingly. “It’s not fair to them. It’s about time they become privy to our not-so-dirty little secrets.” 

“No they will not understand!” exclaimed Elle, suddenly yanking the covers off of her and marching towards her bedroom door. “He has to go somewhere. Anywhere but here.” Elle disappeared down the hall. Willow heard a door creak and then thumping sounds.

“Wake up Alden!” Elle shouted. “The Halsteads are coming over for dinner and you’re leaving.”

Nicollette stood up and calmly walked towards Alden’s room, Willow following in her wake. “Now now, sweetheart, let’s not be discourteous. We will not be kicking your brother out.”

“But Mom,” hissed Elle, “how are you going to explain this to the Halsteads?”

Willow peeked around Nicollette into Alden’s room. It had only been a few hours since they parted but withdrawal symptoms had already kicked into full gear. He was sitting up in bed, no shirt, his hair so messy it was sexy. Willow’s heart leapt out of her chest and skipped towards him.

Alden saw her peeking and smiled at her. “We should ask Willow what she thinks we ought to do.”

Willow suddenly became self-conscious. She was still in her sleeping clothes—skimpy shorts and a tank top that didn’t cover her midriff. Her hair had yet to be raked and she probably had eye boogers. “Well—err—” Willow didn’t know what to say. As much as she wanted Alden beside her at the dinner table, she didn’t think she could bear her father’s reaction. Cassius was known to blow things out of proportion. “I think now isn’t the right time to introduce Alden to my parents,” she muttered finally, looking down at her bow-legged feet.