Spellbound - Cara Lynn Shultz [63]
“How so?”
“Well,” I said after I had swallowed, “you said, ‘After you’ve had fun, and after I’ve had fun.’ You’re so sure I’m having fun and that I’ll agree to see you tomorrow,” I replied, trying to spear a piece of broccoli with my left hand, since my right was otherwise occupied. Brendan grinned at me and knocked my fork out of the way, stabbing the piece with his fork. I gave him a dirty look and he laughed.
“You’re having fun right now,” Brendan declared. “So, we’re not going to talk about your alma mater, Imagination High. And we’re definitely not going to talk about my behavior the past two weeks, so tell me this, at least. Yes or no question time. Are you really sixteen?”
I smiled at that one. “Yes.”
“Okay, now we’re getting somewhere,” he said, grinning. “I’m seventeen. I started late.
“Is your name really Emma Connor?”
“Yep.”
“Do you have any pets?” Brendan asked. I was aware that he was still holding my hand.
“I had a cat when I was little, but no pets now,” I said, leaving out the part where Henry wouldn’t allow pets.
“Ah, I had a dog,” Brendan said, shaking his head. “I’m a dog person, you’re a cat person. What am I doing with you?” I matched his smile, while my internal monologue screamed that Brendan just said he was “with me.”
Brendan then let go of my hand, reaching out to my charm.
Oh, right. That. Where did you get this?” he asked, his voice low as he turned it over in his hands.
“My brother gave it to me.” I felt like I could tell him this truth, at least.
“Where did he get it?” Brendan’s eyes were still glued to the medallion.
“At a garage sale. He said he hoped it would bring me good luck.” I started to suspect that Brendan knew what the crest signified, but lost my train of thought as he dropped the charm and slowly slid his hand over my collarbone, up along my throat, and finally rested on the side of my jaw, where his thumb stroked my cheek.
“Emma,” he said, his voice barely a whisper, still cradling my face in his hand. “I hope your brother’s right.” Brendan’s face was as close as it had been the night of the Met, when I’d thought he’d kiss me. He searched my face with eyes that looked as deep and green as the pond shining below us.
Brendan dropped his hand into his lap, and seemed lost in his own thoughts for a moment. Then he cracked open a can of soda with a pop-and-fizz. Brendan broke the mood—again, I might add—so I took a swig of my iced tea, trying to not pick myself apart wondering what it was about me that made him so averse to kissing me.
“Is your brother back home in—” Brendan paused, cocking an eyebrow at me “—Philly?”
I shook my head, hoping Brendan would be satisfied with a minimum of information. I really didn’t want to go there at this moment.
“I lost my brother a couple of years ago,” I murmured, not meeting his eyes.
“Oh, Emma. I had no idea,” Brendan said softly, reaching out to tenderly touch my cheek. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to—”
“It’s—um, it’s fine. So, basketball,” I interrupted awkwardly. “Has there been any fallout from the Anthony situation? At practice or anything?”
Brendan paused for a second, tilting his head as if he understood that I needed a change of subject—immediately. “Not really. I’m already suspended from the team—one more fight and I’m off—so he takes it out on me at practice, trying to trip me and get me to throw the first punch or whatever, but—” Brendan smirked at me “—I don’t really care. It gave me the opportunity to knock him into some folding chairs. Accidentally, of course.” He smiled smugly.
“But of course,” I agreed, glad for the new direction of the conversation. “Thanks again, for the whole stopping-me-from-being-a-stain-on-the-concrete thing,” I said, looking back at that oh-so-fascinating crack in the rock.
“Stop thanking me. Besides, I doubt you’d go down without a fight,” Brendan said.
“Still, I’m sorry if I broke up your friendship.” To my surprise, Brendan laughed.
“He’s not my friend. I just have to deal with him because we’re on the same team and our parents travel in the same ridiculous social circles.