Airel - Aaron Patterson [12]
Chapter VI
We pulled into the mall parking lot, cruising for a parking space. I hated walking half a mile just to get to the doors. Michael and James followed us and I saw his big white Chevy disappear from my rearview mirror. I figured Michael had just pitched it into the first open spot or even took up like four spaces way out in the middle of nowhere just so his baby wouldn’t get dented or whatever. Typical guy.
“I can’t believe you just invited them like that. And you think it’s funny! Sure, laugh it up,” I said through gritted teeth.
“Airel, they are like the hottest guys in school.” She busted out the baby talk: “Come on, lighten up!”
I really, truly, and honestly wanted to harm her right then and there, but I knew I had to drop it or the teasing would only get worse. She’d start in on how short I was soon enough, so I brought up James. Yeah that worked well. She began talking without breathing. James, James, James.
They had built the Boise Towne Square Mall in stages over the last twenty years, with the last renovation finishing up not too long ago. It had a much cooler entryway–new towers, skylights, and all the old-looking wooden handrails had been replaced by sleek metal and glass. It felt like we finally had a mall I didn’t need to be embarrassed by.
By the time we found our space and parked, the guys had walked up to my car. Kim was rattling on and on about James’ massively gorgeous arms. Michael opened my door for me, scaring me nearly half to death. The poor guy was just trying to be a gentleman, but here I was, nearly blasting him with the pepper spray keychain my dad had forced me to carry around with me.
Kim was in full-on flirt mode now, talking at—not with—James.
Michael was making me nervous, walking by my side as we headed toward the front entrance. James and Kim lagged behind a few feet.We went to the new Borders bookstore—my favorite place. I loved to sit there by the window, sipping a coconut latte, reading a good book. I preferred a good thriller, and liked to take a weeknight every once in a while just to be by myself.
“So… how long have you lived here?” Michael looked down at me with his big, beautiful eyes. I kept it together and decided that I should make the best of the situation. What choice did I have anyway? Kim had planned out our day now. Michael, clueless to her wily ways, was all agreeable to it.
So I dove in. “I pretty much grew up here. I guess I like it well enough, but I haven’t really lived anywhere else.” I pulled on a strand of hair as I talked. I was very aware that I was doing it and that I only did it when I was nervous. I hated knowing my own habits while being totally unable to stop them.
“Cool. I moved around a lot. My dad’s job takes him all over the country. I hope we stay here for a while.” Michael spoke smoothly and he didn’t seem uncomfortable or out of his element at all. The thought of him not living here, possibly moving away, sent a shock through me. Why should I care? I only just met the guy and ever since, he has made me sick—literally! Ah, but he was gorgeous.
“What does your dad do?” I couldn’t emotionally afford to get attached to someone who might move in a year. Who am I kidding? The chances are slim that he would even remotely think about me as anything other than a friend. He was angelic, and I was—well, average. One thing I knew was that a guy fell in love with what he saw. This guy could have anyone he wanted, plus he was good looking and kind—the whole package. Yet somewhere below the surface was fire. It kind of scared me, but not in a bad way.
“He’s a private investigator. He handles high-profile cases, so he’s out of town a lot. You remember the kidnapping last year? The Smithson’s? They had a six year old daughter who was taken. He found her after the feds gave up.”
“Wow—that must be a cool and bad job, all in one. I think I remember that story on the news.” I kept making small talk. I found out his mother died of cancer when he was a baby. His dad never remarried and the two of them were close.