Page 6 of A Sanctuary from Shadow
I expected laughter in response. What I got, instead, were three pairs of dancing owl eyes.
“Hey, ladies,” a male voice jarred me to my core—a crisp, friendly voice I placed immediately. Briar Hawthorne, my longtime family acquaintance—the epitome of those handsome romance heroes Zahra had just described—stood behind me. I strangled my fork. “How’s it going?” Briar asked.
Mortified that he might’ve heard me saydripping honeypots, I cursed my big mouth. And my apathy at not putting on makeup that morning. At least I’d pinned my bangs back and changed out of my nightclothes. My snow boots scraped the salty gray carpet as I faced Briar.
He stood before us in a black button-down shirt over a heathered gray tee. A pair of gray suede sneakers peeked out from under his fitted dark-washed jeans. The guy knew how to dress, but I liked him in much less. In high school, he was on the swim team. He’d worn nothing but a Speedo at meets. Which I’d gone to religiously, just to watch him—this dreamboat of a boy I could never have.
Today, his short auburn hair was gelled, his chiseled face clean shaven. His lime-green eyes creased at the corners as he smiled at me under a dignified Greek nose.
We shared many traits—arched ears, sharp cheekbones, and slightly slanted eyes—because we were Danann, a surviving tribe of the ancient Celts. Briar’s Danann features lent him an air of exoticism. Not so with mine.
“Sorry to interrupt, Amy.” His smile crooked, I decided he hadn’t missed my untimely promise to Olivia.
Damnit.
“That’s fine,” I almost squeaked. “Did you need something?”
“Not really. Was just hoping we could talk.”
“Oh—uh—sure.” I nodded him on. “What’s up?”
Briar glanced over my head.
“Oh.” I remembered my friends, who weren’t even trying to hide their interest in this exchange. “You mean talk privately.”
“If that’s okay.”
I just blinked at him.
Briar waited several awkward beats before saying, “So—?”
Zahra elbowed me. “Go on, girl,” she whispered in my ear. “Whatare you waiting for? Go talk to the pretty man.”
Gulping, I rose from my chair.
Briar led me to a secluded section of the cafeteria—an additional seating room yet to be used that day. The solitude unnerved me as much as the full weight of his gaze. I turtled my hands into my sleeves, knowing I’d fidget.
“So, when’s your last class today, so we can get on the road?” Briar asked.
I blinked, wondering if this was code for something. “Huh?”
“When will you be ready to leave today?” He blinked back when I didn’t speak. “So I can drive you home?”
I wracked my brain for an answer, only coming up with, “I never asked you to drive me home.”
“Your uncle did. He called and asked if I’d bring you home for the weekend—said you wanted to see your dad, since you were away all spring break and haven’t been home for three weeks.”
I bristled, my neck burning. “Sorry, Briar,” I sniped as politely as my tightening mouth allowed. “I wasn’t planning on going home until after finals. I’d love to see my dad, but I need time to study.”And to exist outside my family, I thought, having told Uncle Neel this the last time he’d called to hound me. “Please tell my uncle to do his guilt-tripping on his own.” I spun on my heels and started back to my friends.
A strong hand grabbed my arm. “Amy, wait.”
I stopped, jarred. Briar Hawthorne had just touched me!
“I’m sorry.” Briar patted his heart. “I didn’t know. I assumed youwantedto go home when your uncle called and asked me to drive you. I didn’t think he was manipulating you. I wouldn’t have been cool with that.”
I frowned, having been manipulated similarly too many times before to trust him. “Didn’t you wonder why I didn’t ask you, myself?”
Briar bit his lip, contemplating me.
