* * *
Pancake Heaven was crowded, but we managed to get a table beside a window. Unfortunately though, a screaming toddler in a highchair sat across the aisle from us and another one kept whining in the next table over about wanting more chocolate milk.
I threw Nathan an apologetic look from across the table. “I’m sorry. I forgot it gets this busy on a Sunday.”
He bit into his pecan pancakes. “That’s okay. It’s worth it,” he said after swallowing. “This is outstanding.” He stabbed a triangle piece covered in dripping syrup. “Here, you should try it.” He held the fork up, and when I opened my mouth he fed me.
The taste of buttery pecan syrup awakened every taste bud I had with pleasure, and for an added bonus, there were pieces of pecans inside.
“Mmmmm. I’ll have to get that next time.” I glanced at my plate, the classic buttermilk kind covered in whipped cream and strawberries. So boring.
Suddenly, a pacifier whizzed passed my face, making me flinch. It smacked the window and fell into Nathan’s hand.
“You’re quick,” I said, impressed.
He smiled. “I would have been quicker, but I still had the fork in my hand.”
“I’m sorry.” A young woman appeared, looking frazzled with her dark hair poking out of her short ponytail in tiny mountains around her head. She blushed when her eyes fell on Nathan.
“No problem.” He handed her the pacifier, making her blush even deeper.
She went back to her table, and her child wailed. She picked him up and left.
“Do you think you’ll ever want one of those?” Nathan nodded toward the screaming toddler, taking another bite.
I chewed my pancakes and shook my head. “No,” I said, taking a drink of my orange juice. “I love kids, but they’re a huge responsibility, and the only person I want to be responsible for is myself.” I paused to watch his reaction. “I hope that doesn’t seem selfish of me,” I added when I couldn’t read his expression.
“Not at all.” He hesitated, his eyes measuring my face in a way that told me he wasn’t fully convinced. “But are you sure? You might change your mind later.”
“Nathan, I’m sure,” I said. “When I was a little girl, I didn’t play with dolls. Instead, I was outside playing BB gun wars with the boys. In fact, I still have my Red Ryder rifle.” I loved Reddy. We had lots of fun together, and I never shot my eye out.
He stared at me and shook his head. “See. You never cease to amaze me.”
“She does have that affect on people,” a familiar voice said from behind him.
We looked up, and there was Tree, Mohawk and all.
“Hi, Tree,” I said, smiling. He was wearing a Sex Pistols sweatshirt and black jeans. I introduced them, and Tree shook Nathan’s hand. “Hey, Tree, tell Nathan about our BB gun wars.”
He laughed and bent down in front of Nathan. “See this scar right here?” He pointed to the dot-size indentation in the center of his forehead. “Paige did that to me when we were twelve.”
Nathan looked at me in surprise. “You did that?”
Tree and I laughed.
“Guilty as charged,” I said, remembering the day I marked Tree for life.
“You should have seen her,” Tree animatedly told him. “She stuck leaves and branches in her clothes and hair, to camouflage herself. I was directly in her line of sight and didn’t even see she was there. Then, POW!”–he slapped his forehead–“I was done for.”
All three of us laughed.
“Well, nice meeting you, Nathan,” he said still laughing. “My family is here, and I have to get back.”
“Likewise,” Nathan said.
“I’ll see you in class tomorrow,” I told him.
“I’ll be there,” Tree answered over his shoulder.
After we finished our breakfast, I tried to be quick about putting a tip on the table, but Nathan beat me to it. He grinned triumphantly. I made a face and stuck my tongue out.
When we stepped outside, I told Nathan I wanted to show him Carrie’s mom’s store, which was a block away. I’ve always envied Carrie for her tight-knit family. Even when they ragged on her, because it was never about stupid crap, like clean your room. No, her parents were totally cool, and her mom’s antique shop was awesome, and I knew Nathan would love it as much as I did.
He stood in front of me, blocking the breeze. “It’s chilly out here. Maybe we should take my pickup.” He inclined his head toward the parking lot.
“No, it’s not that far. We can walk.” My hand encircled his wrist.
He frowned. “Are you sure?”
I pulled him forward. “I’m not a china doll,” I said.
“That’s right.” He laughed. “You’re my sniper chick. I better watch what I say. Otherwise, you might pop a cap in my ass.”
I playfully punched his arm. “That was a long time ago.”
“Who taught you how to shoot a gun?”
“I taught myself. When I saw the movie ‘A Christmas Story,’ I was bound and determined to get a rifle like that. At first, Mom was like totally against it, but she finally gave in. I then read books about firearm safety and watched movies. When I got my Red Ryder, I practiced in the woods behind my house with pop cans. Mom wasn’t thrilled about it. She wanted me to be like a normal girl and play with dolls, but that’s not who I am.”
“You know, each day with you is like opening a new and better present,” he said. “I know I keep saying this, but you truly amaze me.”
“I don’t know.” I shook my head, deflecting his compliments. “If I were that amazing, my mom would be around more.” I could hear the sadness in my voice and hated it.
Nathan gently squeezed my hand. “She doesn’t know who–”
A red sports car screeched around a corner down the road, speeding toward us, and my ears were ringing in that high-pitched sound again. I released Nathan’s hand and jammed my fingers in my ears. The car slowed as it approached us. I gasped when I saw the guy from the restaurant hang his head out the window. He had a ghastly smile on his face.
Who the hell was this guy and what did he want?
Nathan pushed me behind him, and when I peeked around his side, I saw the guy mouthing my name again. He let out a dark, hollow laugh, and I shrank in back of Nathan.
He turned to me when the car disappeared down the road. “Do you have a pen and a piece of paper in your purse?”
“Uh, yeah.” I handed them to him, and he quickly wrote the license plate number down.
My legs wobbled. I began to crumble to the ground, but he caught me in time, sat me on the sidewalk, and settled next to me. I didn’t realize I was shaking until he embraced me. I rested against his chest, feeling safe in his arms.
“I think I should take you home.” His voice was deep with worry.
I pulled back, yanked the pen from him, and shoved it in my purse. The last place I wanted to be right now was home, and I’d be damned if I was going to allow my fears take control over me.
“No. I need to be around people. Okay?”
“Okay, but I have to ask you something.” He placed his hands on my shoulders. “That guy in the car, have you ever seen him before?”
I nodded, and all the color drained from his face. “Last night, in the restaurant when I was coming back from the restroom, before I ran into you.”
“That’s why you were shaking,” he whispered, putting the pieces together. I didn’t need to reply, he saw something in my face that confirmed it. “What happened?”
“He did the same thing he did now, except …” I trailed off and looked away, not wanting to relive that horrifying moment but could still see it in my mind.
“Except what?” He took my face in his hands. “This is important, Paige. Please tell me.”
I stared at him and one emotion after another flashed across his face: anxiety, anger, determination, and… Love?
“His eyes,” I whispered. “I saw a beam of light swipe across his irises.”
>
Nathan hung his head. “Were your ears ringing a few moments ago?”
“Yeah, but how did you know?”
He looked up, his face still without color. “Because you had your fingers in them, like you did the other–” And then something occurred to him, and his face became whiter.
“What?” I said, getting more nervous now. Why was he acting this way?
“Have you ever seen Matt’s eyes do the same thing?”
I didn’t answer right away, but when my mind caught up to his question, I bristled. I mean, Matt was my friend, and Nathan needed to back off. Never once had I ever felt threatened by Matt, and so what his eyes glowed at The Lion’s Den. The lights in the club were what caused it, unlike with this guy where I couldn’t explain why his eyes had done that. “You know, your dislike for Matt is getting old,” I snapped, fed up with this whole Matt issue.
He sighed heavily, and ran a hand through his hair. “I know what Matt is,” he said, frustrated. “But I need to know if you saw the same thing in Matt’s eyes as you saw in this guy’s.”
“Why? And what do you mean you know what Matt is?” I stood and walked away, but he caught my wrist and turned me around, a pleading expression entered his face.
“Please, Paige. Don’t walk away from me.”
“Then tell me what’s going on,” I demanded, my face hot. I didn’t understand any of this, and he did, but yet he wasn’t confiding in me. He knew my secret about having premonitions. So why couldn’t he trust me enough to tell me why in the hell he was acting this way? I should have never agreed on this second date.
He reached for my face, but I smacked his hand away. When I saw the hurt in his eyes, it crushed me.
“Please, don’t do this,” he whispered.
“If you won’t tell me what’s going on,” I said, “then what’s the point in continuing this relationship?” I knew what I might be giving up, but I also knew I couldn’t be with someone who would hide things from me, even if it was Nathan. Even if we were meant to be together. My stomach ached, and a lump formed in my throat.
“I promise, soon you’ll understand.” He moved forward, but I raised my hand and took a step back. I knew if I allowed him to touch me, I’d give in.
He stopped, his face anguished.
“It’s always later with you, and it’s not fair to me,” I said, pointing at myself. “Me. Nathan. Why can’t you think about me and my feelings?” I couldn’t believe this was happening, and it looked like he couldn’t believe it either. I mean, he looked so sad and upset, but yet he didn’t care enough to clue me in on what was really going on.
“I am. I’m thinking about both of us.”
“No, you’re not. You’re only thinking about yourself.”
“Paige, you’re shaking. Let me …” He moved forward again, his arms open.
I turned away. “No, just go, Nathan.”
“I need to take you home.” His voice cracked.
“That’s not your concern anymore,” I said, and then ran to the antique store, hoping he wouldn’t follow me.
Chapter Five
Heartache