His jaw clenched so tight that it bulged. I studied his posture, his physique. He was so goddamn hot it almost hurt to look at him for too long. And he was never hotter than when he was defending me.
"Hey," I said, laying a light hand on his shoulder. He immediately jerked away from my touch, and I remembered that he liked to be warned before being touched. "Sorry..."
He licked his lips. "I need to go for a walk and calm down. I'm very angry right now. If he comes back here, text me."
I bit my bottom lip. "He's not going to come back. But if he does, I will. I promise."
He frowned and looked at me intently--everywhere but my eyes, of course--as if inspecting me to make sure I was okay. Then he nodded, turned and left.
"Holy shit," Caitlyn huffed before swiveling on her stool. "A whole lot of testosterone flowing around here. What is up Doug's butt?"
Ann was staring straight at me, her head tilted. "Doug is jealous. I watched him while you were doing your reading for William, and he never took his eyes off the two of you."
Caitlyn frowned. "Is it true, then? Are you seeing William now?" She didn't seem entirely happy, and I remembered her comment from a few weeks ago.
Save some of them for us homely girls.
I'd suspected that she might have a thing for William. It wasn't out of the realm of possibility. He did have his own fangirl section, after all.
"I'm only working with him to help with his crowd issues. So he'll have a better shot at beating that twerp at the next duel."
Her shoulders relaxed a bit. Uh-oh. She might as well have just said, "Thank God."
Ann sat down in the seat William had vacated. I carefully scooped up my Rider-Waite deck and slid it inside its satin pouch. We passed the next few hours talking of other things, mostly work and Ann's new double major, African Studies and European Studies, at Cal State Fullerton.
I read for a few more people--clan members, visiting courtiers from other clans of the RMRA and "mundanes," modern park visiters who did not participate in reenactment. I made some decent cash by the time all was said and done.
And fortunately, William returned from his walk unscathed, as I saw him visiting booths again and talking with other clansmen as if nothing had happened. Ann caught me watching him right before it was time to close up shop.
"I don't think it would be a bad thing for you to date William," Ann murmured.
I didn't answer, throwing a surreptitious gaze at Caitlyn, who busied herself with tidying activities at her side of the booth. She laughed to herself after a tense stretch of minutes.
Ann's head swiveled in Caitlyn's direction. "What?"
"Just that I bet Jenna could date William and he wouldn't even know they were dating."
I stiffened. "He's not dumb."
"Oh no. Not even close. I just mean that he's...adorably clueless. For example, one time he brushed me off, and I don't think he even realized he did it."
I stacked my cards in the satchel along with the other decks and tucked my earnings from the day into my leather belt pouch. Though I normally might have asked Caitlyn to elaborate on her story, given the subject matter, I refrained.
Ann was still staring at me while I fiddled with the cloth covering on my table. "Why do those two hate each other so much?"
Caitlyn and I both brought our heads up to stare at her.
"Who? Doug and William?" Caitlyn asked.
I'd been curious about that, too. Ann nodded and we both stared at Caitlyn, waiting for the answer. Caitlyn had been a member of the clan for several years and knew all the gossip. She cleared her throat. "William has been one of the clan pillars since nearly the beginning. He's always supporting clansmen. Practically every member has mad respect for him. But things changed when Doug showed up. He knew how to schmooze and get into people's good graces quickly."
Including mine, I thought. Although Doug was a lot more charming and intriguing from a distance than he was up close. He'd been appreciative and extremely flattering, and I had been in a bit of a dark place so I welcomed the attention.
"So did he hate William from the start?" Ann asked.
Caitlyn shook her head. "No...not at all. He actually tried to kiss up to William, if you can believe it. But William doesn't respond well to schmoozing, and Doug ended up being particularly offended by William's blunt personality."
She tucked her art supplies into a cloth bag and stood up, gently tipping the folding table on its side so that it was ready to load onto the truck.
"I've always liked William. He's a great guy." She was silent for a moment before shrugging and continuing. "I have to admit that I kind of used that clash with Doug to get closer to him, you know? Talk to him, give him some advice. And one night, after one of our meetings, I offered to help him pack up his stuff in exchange for a ride home, which he took me up on. But when we got to my house, he was focused on getting home and not the least bit interested in coming up for a 'cup of coffee or a beer.' He said it was too late to drink either and thanked me. Then he drove off."
Ann snickered. "He really had no idea you were coming on to him?"
Caitlyn smiled ruefully. "I was offended for about five minutes, then I laughed and resolved to be more obvious. That didn't work either," she said with a neutral glance in my direction. "He was interested in someone else."
Ann followed her gaze to look at me, and I busied myself by grabbing a couple of stools. "We should get these out to the truck."
"Have you ever considered that that's the reason Doug asked you out?" Ann asked when Caitlyn was out of earshot.
"What?" I asked. She carried the third stool and we headed to the truck.
"A lot of people knew that William had a thing for you. I'm just wondering if Doug wasn't trying to get back at William by asking you out."
I raised my brows. "So what am I, chopped liver? He couldn't like me for me?"
Ann rolled her eyes. "No, that's not what I meant. Sorry. Of course he's attracted to you, but...you know how men get."
I sighed. "Men suffer from testosterone poisoning and it makes them do stupid shit all the time." Like challenging their arch nemesis to fight a duel when they have a phobia of crowds. Like going into beast protector mode whenever any type of threat to the meeker sex existed in the nearby vicinity. Like turning down perfectly sensible propositions to go to bed with a woman. Okay, maybe not that last one...
Chapter 14
William
During the ride back to her house, Jenna doesn't say a word. Perhaps she's still upset about the confrontation with Doug. He said some really mean things, and I wish there was a way she could unhear them.
But it could also be the things I said to her before the market. I wasn't mean, just truthful. It's unfortunate, because I have no idea how to read the subtleties in her mood.
"So...we need to talk about Doug's tendency to provoke you," she says, finally breaking the silence.
"What do we need to say?"
"Just that you shouldn't let him push your buttons like that." Suddenly, pictures are running through my mind--a control panel with glowing buttons, an elevator with lit numbers to denote the floors-- "Oh sorry, that probably wasn't the best way to state that. What I mean is...it's obvious Doug is deliberately trying to get to you. You need to shake it off."
I blink. "I don't want to shake it off. If he offends someone I care about, I'm going to make him pay for it. Once someone is on my bad side, they are there forever."
"Forever? Really? You don't forgive?"
I think about that for a moment. "I see no reason to give a bad person a second chance to hurt me--or someone else I care about."
"Hmm. That makes you sound kind of stubborn."
"I am stubborn. And I'm proud of that fact."
She blows out a breath, muttering as she shakes her head. "Men."
I frown. "Women say that a lot."
"It's because men tend to annoy us quite often."
I signal and exit the off-ramp on the freewa
y. "Mia says that same thing."
"She's an ally, even though she's defected to the other side." She folds her arms across her chest.
"What other side? The man side?" I ask.
Jenna is looking out the window, but I steal a glance at her face. I can see she's smiling. "The relationship side. When people get into a relationship, they change."
I think about this for a moment. "Do you think it's because of the other person? That being with that person changes them?"
She frowns for a minute and her head turns toward me. My eyes are on the road, but I can tell she's watching my profile. My hands tighten on the wheel, and I'm so distracted that I almost take too long to hit the brakes at the red light.
"I think it changes attitudes and perceptions. I don't think it can change the people themselves. I guess it's different when you're with your soulmate, though. And no one can say that Adam and Mia aren't fated for each other."
"Souls can't mate. Only bodies..." I'm hit with the image of Jenna and I together on her bed, her body against mine. I wonder what her skin feels like. Is it as soft as it looks? I want to know.
"People can be fated for each other. They have their one true love," she replies.
I shake my head. "That sounds ridiculous. What if your soulmate was born on another continent? Or fifty years after you?"
She shrugs and then relaxes her shoulders. "That's just what I believe."
"And you? Do you think you would know if you met your soulmate?" I'm suddenly hoping--even though I don't believe in this--that she thinks I'm her soulmate. That would make things so much easier. That would give her the reason to stay.
"I already did...a long time ago."
A weight drops in my stomach. She loves someone else? Then why isn't she with him? Maybe he doesn't want her. No, that can't be right. I can't think of any idiot who wouldn't want Jenna.
But my throat's closed up. I can't ask. I want to change the subject, so I do.
"My dad and stepmother are having a family dinner tonight. It's a regular thing on Sundays, and I usually go alone. Will you come with me? Adam and Mia will be there. And you could meet my sister and brother-in-law and my two nephews."
She's quiet for a few moments. "We haven't gotten very far in our work, though. I'd like to try some yoga next."
"I know some yoga. My martial arts trainer uses it to warm up."
"Okay. I'll come to dinner on the condition that afterward we go to your house to try working on some new exercises."
"It's a deal. I'll pick you up at five-thirty?"
"That sounds good." I drop her off minutes later and drive home, trying not to think of Jenna and her soulmate. The impossible seems to be slipping out of reach, and if I let it, I will lose hope. I can't allow that to happen.
Chapter 15
Jenna
William picked me up right on time--of course he did. He was wearing a knit shirt and jeans, looking even more stunning than in his medieval garb.
We pulled into the driveway of a large home in the hills of North Tustin. I noted with surprise the butterflies in my stomach when I got out of the car and reminded myself that I was just meeting the family of a friend. Usually, I was pretty chill about meeting the parents. I'd been in enough short-term relationships that I knew it happened around the tenth date or so--maybe a month or two into the relationship. It was easy to measure a guy's enthusiasm by how quickly he dragged you out to meet them. First date? Hell no. The guy was potential stalker material, which meant cut and run quickly. If the guy waited too long or made vague excuses when the subject came up, then he had something to hide.
Fortunately, I had the perfect excuse--albeit a shitty one--to never return the favor. But at least I never had to disappoint my parents by taking a soon-to-be ex to meet them.
But this was...I didn't know what this was. William and I weren't dating. We were hanging out. Working toward a common goal. Okay, and kissing. There had definitely been kissing.
William led me into the house without a word, and I was greeted at the door by Mia's mom--William's new stepmom--Kim. I'd met her before and she gave me a warm hug.
"Jenna, so glad to see you."
"Great to see you, too. You look fantastic!" And she did. Marriage agreed with her.
Mia's mom met Adam's uncle, who was also William's dad, not long after Adam and Mia had begun dating. They'd fallen in love and married, beating Adam and Mia to the altar. Some of our friends--especially Jordan--liked to tease Mia and Adam about being "kissing cousins." But I thought the whole thing was wonderful. Seemed you could meet your soulmate at any stage of your life.
I wished my mom would be open to finding love again, but Papa had been her soulmate, and so for her, it was over. Why look for someone else? In that, I agreed with her.
Mia appeared beside her mother. They strongly resembled each other, both dark hair, brown eyes, tall and slender. But Mia didn't have a smile on her face--it was more like a frozen grimace.
"Jenna! What a surprise to see you here." Her eyes darted to William. She leaned over, and he stooped to bring his cheek to her level for a kiss. "William, you didn't tell us Jenna was coming. I'll go set another place at the table." Then without even looking at me, Mia spun around and left.
"So let's get you introduced to the people you haven't met. Peter's in the kitchen." Kim took my arm. "Liam, Adam wanted to talk to you, but he's on the phone right now. Something about work."
My eyes darted nervously around the room. All at once, I realized that it had been a mistake for me to come with William. Everyone here was going to get the wrong idea, and naturally, William could not have predicted that, with his myopia toward social situations. He was just imitating the rest of his family members, who'd likely brought their dates from time to time. Suddenly, the butterflies were buzzing wasps.
I entered the crowded kitchen, instantly assailed by the scent of cheesy, meaty, garlicky goodness hanging in the air. Mia had her back to me, pulling out utensils from a drawer. A tall gentleman in his early fifties was easily recognizable as a Drake, and there was another woman who looked to be about thirty years old.
Kim began making introductions. "Peter, this is Mia's friend, Jenna. She came with Liam."
Peter struck me as a quiet, stoic type, not unlike his son, though he did manage eye contact. Nevertheless, they were unmistakably father and son. "Great to meet you, Jenna. I've heard about you from Mia. All good things. Welcome, and I hope you like lasagna."
"Love it, thanks."
"Here's Britt, Liam's big sister," Kim continued.
"Please don't use 'big' to describe me. Good God," she said, placing her hands on her hips. "I'm already feeling self-conscious about these love handles. Still haven't made any progress on the new springtime diet!"
Unlike Peter and William, Britt was short. She had dark blonde hair and blue eyes, and I assumed she looked like her mother. She also talked fast and laughed loudly. A mirror opposite of her younger brother. "You're going to see two little hooligans around here somewhere, probably trouncing each other on the Xbox. They're mine."
"It's great to meet you all," I said to the room with false cheer.
Britt was wiping her hands on her apron. She smiled, but her eyes narrowed a fraction. "So you're the reason Liam's doubling down on the sword dueling?"
I blinked and my mouth opened, at a loss for how to answer that. "Uh..."
She waved me off. "It's okay. I'm glad. The fighting has been good for him, actually. All that training has pulled him away from his obsessions. I mean, he's so damn talented, but other than work, I don't think he ever has an excuse to leave the house. He's got his whole studio set up there and his blacksmith forge. Sometimes I go weeks and wonder if I still even have a brother."
"Well...I'm...glad to help. And that's all I'm doing, you know. Just helping." My face started to burn. Oh, goddess.
Three pairs of eyes were now staring at me. Oh shit. Now they were going to think I had no interest in William and get
defensive or--oh crap.
This awkward family meet-and-greet seemed to have higher stakes than previous ones. I actually cared about what people thought of me at this one.
"I'm moving soon. Traveling with the Renaissance Faire starting at the end of June. We're moving up the coast to Northern California for most of the summer then up through the Northwest. The Faire travels all over the western states. I'm really excited about it." By now, I was getting radiation burns from my blushing.
Britt was nodding her head. "That's great... So, you don't go to college?"
Peter darted a sharp look at his daughter, but she ignored him.
"Uh, I did. I studied physics."
"Ah, so are you going on to grad school?" Britt asked.
"Um, I need to borrow Jenna for a minute," Mia said with a tug on my elbow.
Awash with relief, I followed her out of the kitchen and down the hall toward one of the bedrooms. "Thank you," I murmured quietly.
"You needed saving. Britt is awesome, but she can get brutal when she's in third-degree mode. She works for the Department of Justice."
"Cripes. It was like being grilled by the CIA."
"William doesn't bring a woman here every day. Or any day, for that matter."
I shook my head. "I don't get that. There's half a dozen girls in the clan who are in love with him."
"A couple in his department at work, too. But he doesn't date."
"Ah."
"Or...does he?" She turned to me with raised eyebrows.
Oh dear, talk about CIA interrogators. Mia was about to turn into one herself.
Not if I could help it. "So what's all this?" I asked, taking in an art table, paints and shelves. We were in a bedroom with no bed.
"This was William's bedroom. The three of them, William, Adam and Britt, all grew up in this house. When he's over here--especially for the bigger family gatherings--he sometimes dips into his old room and tinkers away at stuff to avoid the crowd."
"I see." I moved around the table to take a look at what was on it. A massive sketchpad and some watercolor paints. There were doodles and small renderings, but nothing major. What I did see showed the incredible talent that I'd heard so much about and the tiny glimpses that I'd seen for myself.
"Britt said something about William having an art studio?"
"Yeah, at his house. But I don't suppose you'll be seeing that anytime soon," Mia said meaningfully. She was not going to drop the subject about how the world would implode if William and I started dating each other.