Page 6 of Deception
“She did say that she likes me better than Adrian, so I’m going to take that as a compliment.”
I look and his smile widens. “Don’t let her hear you say that,” I warn. “She’ll knock you back down to second place.” I nudge him playfully.
“I’m not going to forget what she said,” he murmurs close to my ear, his tone turning serious. “We’ll talk about it later. I just want you to know, I’m here for you. I want you to be able to talk to me about these things without any fear.”
I nod at his words, letting myself relax into his touch. I suck in a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever drama may face us when we turn that corner. To my surprise, only Kali and Nelle sit at the table when we reach the bar. Nelle gives me a not-so-subtle wink, telling me that was all her doing. Well, if I could kiss that bitch right now, I would. I mouth a silent thank you, beyond grateful not to have to deal with any more drama today. Well at least no Mexico drama. I’m sure there’s plenty waiting for me back home.
“Are you ladies ready to go back now? Or is there anything else on your agenda today?” He glances at my swimsuit, only just realizing my lack of clothing. His cheeks redden, and his eyes dart back up to meet mine—clearly embarrassed at having been caught checking me out. I bump him with my hip and snuggle in closer to his side. I can’t help but find it endearing.
“Well actually, there’s this club we were hoping to hit up tonight,” Nelle suggests, looking up at Kyros hopefully. A laugh escapes my lips, and her face falls, realizing he wasn’t actually serious.
“Are we going to take the plane back?” Kali asks excitedly. Already hopping up from her chair. Her face falls a moment later at Kyros’ blank expression.
“Plane?” he asks, unaware of how exactly we got here.
“Ya, plane. How else would we get to Mexico?” Nelle scoffs, taking another sip of her drink as though we weren’t just about to leave. “Oh wait,” she mumbles, just remembering the fact that her best friend has powers now.
“Well, that explains why we couldn’t pick up your power signature after the college campus,” Kyros mutters to himself, and I can almost see the gears in his head whirring with the information. My lips quirk to the side as I think over his words. I figured they would have some way to track my powers, but I hadn’t known for sure. My biggest concern was having to use my powers again. In the heat of the moment, it was instinctual to dissipate Kali and me to the mortal realm. But now—fear skitters up my spine at the thought of using them.
“I would like to travel on a plane,” he considers. Kali’s face brightens with joy at that.
“—but that might take too much time.” He grimaces, looking just as disappointed as Kali does now. “No, sadly, we’ll have to save the plane for another time,” he concludes, voicing his thoughts out loud.
“You could have just said that from the beginning,” Kali mutters, her lip lowering into a slight pout.
“I’m assuming you have a room,” he suggests, surveying the surrounding villas.
I nod in response, but before I can get a word out, Nelle blurts, “Ugh, gross. Can’t you keep it in your pants a little longer? I’m not so sure if you’re in first place anymore.”
Kyros’s face reddens again at the words, his mouth opening and closing, searching for the words to respond.
“You have a one-track mind, babes.” I sigh, giving her a disparaging look. “We need someplace to dissipate from. It would look a little suspicious if we all just vanished into thin air.”
“Oh, look at you, little miss logical,” Nelle teases, sticking her tongue out at me. I guide her up from the chair, and she looks back out at the beach longingly. Reaching out for it as though she could grab it and hold on.
“Can’t we stay a little longer?” she pleads, her bottom lip jutting out in an exaggerated pout at Kyros’s back. I pull her along beside me, Kali leading the way to our villa. Kyros looks back over his shoulder at us, grimacing when he looks at Nelle. He rubs the back of his neck—indecision warring in his eyes.
“We have to go,” I tell them both, putting my foot down. I can’t keep running away from my problems. I have to face them head on and deal with the consequences of my actions.
We reach the villa and gather our things. Nelle packing back up the suitcase she brought. Kali and I pack our few belongings that we purchased at the resort into our beach bags while Kyros waits patiently for us to be done.
“I can’t take all of us back at once,” he admits, rubbing his neck nervously. “So, I’ll take Nelle back first and then bring you both back to the ethereal realm after. Unless—”
“No, that sounds fine,” I cut him off. The powers inside me still waiting like a sparkling lake, ready to be used, yet the fear builds inside me, not wanting to risk using them again so soon after—
Nelle wraps her arms around me, pulling me from my thoughts. Her arms tighten until I move to wrap mine around her, resting my chin on her shoulder.
“I’m always here for you, girl. You know that, right?” she asks, her voice pitched low so only I can hear. I nod, my chin dipping against her shoulder, and I tighten my hold on her, wishing I didn’t have to be separated from my best friend, my sister, once more.
“I’m only a phone call away, or a magical poof, whenever one of these assholes pisses you off, and you need some sister time,” she jokes, raising her voice now for Kyros to hear. He chuckles, nervously shifting on his feet.
“Now you,” Nelle untangles herself from my embrace, her smile tight, showing me the emotional toll leaving me is taking on her too. She turns toward Kali, wrapping her into a tight embrace next. She pauses a moment before returning her embrace. “I better hear from you. You’re my sister now too,” I hear Nelle murmur.
“Of course.” Kali nods when they part, wiping a stray tear from her eye.
“Are you sure you don’t want to go with us to that club tonight?” Nelle laughs through her sniffles, batting away the tears that well in her eyes. Kyros glances at me nervously, his eyes flashing from Nelle and back to me again. I giggle under my breath, shaking my head at him, knowing the sweet man definitely would go out with us tonight if I asked him to, despite all the problems that would undoubtedly cause.
“Can’t blame a girl for trying.” She shrugs, grabbing the handle of her suitcase with one hand and clasping Kyros’ outstretched hand with the other. With that, they’re gone, disappearing out of sight.