The Edge Of Darkness Page 30

  She was gone.

  Araya

  Thirty-Six

  I hung up and took a shaky breath. My fingers were still tightly clasped around the receiver as I tried not to pick the phone back up and beg Ryland to forget everything I just said and come get me.

  “Hey, lady, I don’t have all day,” the cab driver said impatiently.

  “That meter you still have running says otherwise,” I snapped.

  He grumbled something and got back into the driver seat.

  “Fudge!” I stopped my foot. “Get it together and get in the cab, Araya.”

  I told myself I was doing the right thing. I knew I was.

  Even if my heart didn’t agree.

  The drive to the academy was painfully long and it gave me more time to think than I wanted. I rested my forehead against the cool glass and with each bump on the road, it knocked into the surface.

  I wanted to cry. I wanted to cry until I couldn’t cry anymore, but I couldn’t. It felt too much like mourning a death and Ryland and I were both very much alive.

  I was sad and angry and hurt, and I thought about my mom.

  “Go away!” I screamed when she knocked on the door.

  There was a slight pause before the door creaked open slowly.

  “Really?” she asked.

  Turning my head to the side, I looked at her. Her fingers held the edge of the door and her head peaked in.

  “No,” I sighed, getting up and hugging the pillow to my chest. “You always want me to be a normal teen. Isn’t this how normal teens act?”

  She slipped the rest of the way into the room and sat down on my bed.

  “Why do you think that’s how teens act?”

  “That’s how they act on TV.”

  “Rule of thumb, don’t take your lessons from TV.” She tucked her leg under her. “Are you going to tell me what’s wrong?”

  “Brad, who I thought liked me, asked Carrie to the dance this weekend.”

  “They’re all going to laugh…” she said randomly and I frowned, giving her a look of confusion. “Sorry, forget it. Not the time. Continue.” She held out her hand.

  “Well, he didn’t even bother to tell me he was going to take her. She was so smug as she walked through lunch today. I was so mad I could have fudging punched her!”

  “First off, easy, killer. Violence is never the first answer, especially when brought on by a boy.”

  “Never the first answer?”

  She smiled and wiggled her eyebrows at me. “Is this the same Brad you’ve been crushing on all year?” She sighed. “I knew we would eventually be having this conversation, but all that prep time doesn’t make it easier. I know boys seem like an important part of teen life now. They’re new and exciting and the attention is nothing short of great. But believe me, Araya, there’s plenty of time for boys when you get older, and I’m not talking about ten years from now older. Just give yourself at least another two years. Two years to enjoy being a kid. Two years to focus on dancing and just hanging out. Two years.

  “I thought I loved him,” I said softly, and a tear slipped down my cheek.

  “Oh, baby girl,” she soothed, sweeping me into her arms. She propped her chin on my head. “Boys at this age aren’t worth your attention and they’re definitely not worth your tears.” She used her hands to wipe the tears away. “Spare yourself the unneeded heartache because I tell you now, when you get older, it’s ten times harder. Don’t put yourself through that when you know finding true love at the age of fifteen is unlikely.

  “The good news is heartbreak like this is fast and it’s very rare. You’re young and your feelings are all over the place. What you think is love now, you’ll realize when you’re older it’s nothing compared to the real thing. Put Brad out of your head.”

  I snuggled deeper into her comforting warmth and wrapped my arm around hers. “Mom?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Was it real love with Dad?”

  “Yes, it was. I couldn’t have made you if it wasn’t.”

  “I’m going to try to see past the gross part of what you said and focus on the sentiment.” She laughed and squeezed me. “Mom?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Do you still love him?”

  “I love the old him. The old him gave me you and I’ll always love him for that.”

  “I guess I love the old him for giving me you.”

  She kissed my head. “Araya?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I think it’s time we watch the movie Carrie. It might put a whole new perspective on this whole dance fiasco.”

  And it did. I was no longer upset that I’d missed the dance.

  I smiled against the window of the cab and I thought about everything she said the night of the accident. She was right about so many things. Thinking about what I thought was love with Brad made me realize how wrong I’d been. What I felt with Ryland, what was breaking my heart now, this was love.

  I wish she were here to convince me I was doing the right thing now. I needed her so much. But I had her memories and that meant even in my own darkness, I was home.

  Epilogue

  Three months, six days, fifteen hours, and forty-three minutes. That’s how long it’d been since I saw Araya last.

  Two months, four days, ten hours, and twenty-nine minutes was how long it took for Careless to find out where she was.

  One month, nine days, eight hours, and fifty-nine minutes was the amount of time it had taken me to actually work up the nerve to come see Araya.

  As I walked through the grounds of Madison Academy, my heart pounded against my chest and I was sure everyone could hear the sound echo off the mahogany walls of the upscale prep school.

  The main hall smelled of high society upbringing, greed, and dirty money. It left a bad taste in my mouth and made me wonder how Araya was surviving in a place like this.

  I’d bypassed the administrator’s office because I was sure they would have my pictures and clear instructions to escort me off the premises if spotted trying to see Araya. Working with J.D. for the past three months was teaching me how to stay one step ahead of him. It also left me wandering the halls aimlessly.

  I figured I could stop someone who looked less official and ask them if they knew of Araya and where she might be.

  Just then a girl rounded the corner. She didn’t make eye contact as she got closer to me, and for some reason I lost my nerve to get her attention as she closed in on me.

  She surprised me when she suddenly looked at me and smiled as if just noticing I was there.

  “You lost?” she asked, smiling flirtatiously.

  “Uh…” I hesitated, rubbing the back of my neck.

  “It’s not a trick question.” She teased.

  “I’m looking for someone,” I blurted before I lost my nerve.

  I don’t know why I was so nervous to see her. This is what I wanted, what I’d been waiting for, but that still didn’t stop my stomach from knotting.

  “This someone have a name?”

  “Araya?”

  “Are you asking me?” She smiled, clearly enjoying giving me a hard time. I laughed, instantly feeling stupid.

  “Her name is Araya Noelle.”

  She nodded once, slowly, and turned on her heel, going in the direction she’d just come. Her chestnut hair swirled around her as she took off. I frowned and looked around. Was I supposed to follow her?

  “Yes,” she called out behind her.

  “I’m sorry, what?” I called, sticking my head out to hear her better.

  She looked at me over her shoulder. “Yes, you follow me.”

  I caught up with her, walking fast because she was obviously not going to wait for me. I could see her looking at me and I cocked my head slightly to peek at her through the corner of my eye to make sure I wasn’t just thinking she was looking at me. When it was confirmed, I looked at her too

  “What?”

  She raised her eyebrows at me. “Before I go
through all the effort of sashaying my hips, batting my lashes, and drawing you in with my witty personality, are you and Araya more than just friends?”

  I frowned and then laughed loudly. “Yeah, we are.”

  “I thought so. You look completely smitten,” she said with a pout.

  We turned down another hall and then she stopped so suddenly I had to backtrack a few steps to even out with her.

  “Why’d we stop?”

  She pointed to our left and my gaze immediately fell on Araya through the ceiling-to-floor glass walls. My breath caught. My memory hadn’t been doing her beauty justice.

  “Exactly what I thought…” the brunette said. “Smitten.” I vaguely heard her, and when I went to tell her thanks, she was gone.

  Araya was sitting on the floor, her legs wide as she stretched to touch her toes. She was leaning over her long legs, her attention on the girl next to her, and her long red hair was pulled back. She stood up, stretching from side to side. Her black leotard clung to her shapely curves.

  She lifted up on to the tips of her toes, once and then twice. She was dancing again and she looked happy. I watched her for a few more minutes and the more I watched her, the more I knew I was going to turn around and walk away from her.

  Part of me had secretly, selfishly, hoped she was going to be unhappy and relieved that I’d finally found her. Part of me really wanted to be the Prince Charming she’d labeled me once. That time seemed so long ago.

  She was happy and I wouldn’t destroy that by making her choose. Mostly because I was scared to death it wouldn’t be me that she chose. Backing away from the window, I walked away.

  I would wait. I would give her what she asked for, what she needed, but when she was ready, all bets were off.

  To catch a sneak peek of:

  Brightest Kind of Darkness

  book 2 in

  the darkness trinity

  series,

  Keep reading!

  Araya Noelle

  One

  “Did you see Pierce today? Oh. My. Word!” Makaela growled.

  “You remember this is a school for the blind, right?”

  “Oh, blindness, shmindness, Araya. Stare at Pierce Logan long enough and you will see again. He’s that gorgeous.”

  “You think every guy is that gorgeous.” I mocked her.

  “But I only drop panties for guys like Peirce.”

  “Don’t be slutty. Don’t be that girl.”

  She laughed and smacked her lips at me. “Too late!”

  “I refuse to believe that.”

  I rested my hands back on the bed, waiting for Makaela to finish getting ready so we could go eat.

  “You just refuse to notice anyone!” She complained. Her voice was muffled as she searched through her closet.

  I shifted to resting on one hand and moved my other hand back and forth across my face. “Again, I don’t think you’re grasping the whole blind-girl thing here.”

  I was hit in the face with a piece of clothing.

  “Yeah, that’s never going to get old.”

  Sarcasm had become a forte of mine within the past six months. I blamed Mik’s bad influence.

  Snatching it off my face, I tossed it aside. “Doesn’t it go against some ethical code of yours to throw things at the seeing impaired?”

  “Hmm…” She pretended to think. “No. Besides I think only doctors and lawyers have ethical codes.”

  “Only doctors and lawyers? That’s kind of sad.”

  “Yeah, well, humanity today is sad and a thing of the past. It’s the world we live in.

  “Lawyers, though?” I questioned doubtfully.

  “Hey! Not all lawyers are bad!

  “Isn’t being slimy a requirement to become a lawyer?

  “You bite your tongue, Araya Lynn Noelle. My uncle is a damn good lawyer.

  “Did you just middle-name me? How do you even know my middle name? And is your uncle slimy?”

  “The slimiest, but that doesn’t distract from the fact that he’s still a damn good lawyer. And because you can’t see me, being blind and all, I’m winking at you.”

  I snorted. “Here I thought you didn’t listen to me.”

  “You know I have access to your file. I know all your dark little secrets. You’d be surprised about the things I know about you.”

  I crossed my arms and my eyes lifted in doubt. “Like what?” I challenged.

  She smashed my face between her hands. “I’m looking at you intensely right now.” I rolled my eyes. “I know you have a tramp stamp that says ‘Dirty Girl’ and, be still my beating heart, that’s when I knew you needed me as your best friend.”

  I broke into a fit of uncontrollable laughter, and she kissed my forehead with a loud smack.

  “Now get that dirty-girl ass up and let’s go eat. I’m famished.”

  “Yeah, well, you keep letting that imagination of yours run wild and unsupervised, you pay the price.”

  I walked to the door and took my scarf and jacket from the coat hanger.

  “Hey, nobody puts Baby in the corner. Besides, what do I always say?”

  “Limitations are life’s way of calling you its bitch,” we said in unison.

  “You do me proud, dirty girl,” she mimicked in a soft, sultry voice.

  I groaned and wrapped the scarf around my neck. “Please tell me you’re not really going to call me that.”

  “You wear that tramp stamp proudly,” she said sternly.

  “You realize I don’t really have a tramp stamp, right?”

  “Why do you always have to spoil my fun?” She pouted.

  “Because sometimes I don’t think you remember what you invent and what’s real.”

  “Does that scare you?”

  “Actually, yes. Yes, it does.”

  She grabbed my shoulders, pushing me out the door, and slapped my butt.

  “Good! Oh, by the way…” she said and then nudged me and placed something in my hands. “This came for you. Go ahead, you can read it.”

  I frowned and opened the folded notecard and my fingers moved slowly over the raised words. It took me a few minutes to finally figure out what it said.

  “Araya?” Makalea said, all teasing gone from her voice. She touched my arm. “You’ve gone completely, pale. What’s wrong? What did the note say?”

  I shook my head and shoved it into my pocket. “Nothing. I don’t know what it said.” I pushed her through the door, hoping her resistance would only be minimal.

  As we walked toward the lunch hall, I tried to push the words I always get what I want out of my head.

  Hope you enjoyed the sneak

  peek of book 2 in

  the darkness trinity

  series!

  Acknowledgements

  I’m still having a hard time believing that I have managed to write another book, but here it is! I am so excited about this book and I really love all the characters and their story, and I hope you do too! There are so many people that have helped support me and my journey through this all, for which I am incredibly thankful!

  From the bottom of my heart, I sincerely love you all.

  As always, I want to thank my family for their unyielding love and for always being there. To my beautiful daughters, for loving me unconditionally—even when your laundry was in piles and your routine became less than ideal. I love you more than words can say. And to my husband, Robert, for being my tech hero & being there to help me figure out all the publishing stuff.

  I love you more you guys more than words can say.

  A very special thank you to Cassie McCown for coming in last minute to help with the editing of The Edge of Darkness. You are truly amazing and seriously my hero! To all of my betas for reading TED and giving me their honest feedback and to that very special lady who I knew I could count on for her infamous honesty. And to Sarah Hansen of Okay Creations for creating such a stunning cover!

  I simply adore all you ladies!

  And last,
but definitely not least, Tabatha Vargo!! I couldn’t imagine not having you here. You’re more than my partner in crime, and I love that I get to explore this journey with you! Thank you for everything you’ve done!

  For anyone & everyone who has bought or will buy & read Flutter —I can’t thank you enough for your love and support. I hope you enjoy reading it and fall madly in love with it as much as I have!