“I know,” he said, his voice still harsh. “I’m not mad at you.” He shrugged. “I just don’t want you around.”
He was evil and deserved to die.
And, hopefully, he would.
Her eyes were glossy, on the verge of tears. He could feel pain and heartbreak ricocheting through her. He could feel sadness…anger…he could feel the damage of his words.
She didn’t remember him, but her soul did. Her heart did.
And both were breaking.
Please don’t cry.
Tristan kept his eyes locked on hers, steady, careless, praying she wouldn’t burst into tears.
If she cried….
Well, if she cried, all bets were off.
She could not cry.
“Then….” Scarlet swallowed, controlling her tears. “Then, why…did you come sit by me in the forest? Why were you so nice to me the other day?”
Tristan wanted to kick himself for his lapse in self-control last weekend. If he couldn’t convince Scarlet he didn’t care about her, then she would be her normal, lovely, beautiful self around him.
If that happened, he wouldn’t be able to resist her and she would die.
The thought of her death gave him the strength he needed to end their conversation by saying, “I was doing Gabriel a favor. He thinks he loves you, or something. So, he wants you around. That’s what I was doing in the forest—keeping you around.”
A silent moment passed, Scarlet’s big eyes asking a thousand questions.
“Anyway,” Tristan said coldly, like he hadn’t just crushed her spirit. “I have things to do.”
And with that, he left, leaving Scarlet stung and insulted by his black words.
His insides curled in guilt as he retreated from her.
He was a liar and villain.
He was also in love with the girl on his couch.
And that’s what kept him moving away from Scarlet’s sweet face and toward the only thing he had to live for.
Death.
38
Scarlet sat, stunned and hollow, in the wake of Tristan’s words. She’d never felt so hurt, so personally offended.
Why did she care?
Tristan was no one to her. He was just her boyfriend’s brother.
So why did she care if he hated her? Why did she care if he didn’t want her around?
Scarlet tried to readjust her feelings and put Tristan’s words into perspective.
He means nothing to me.
He’s a stranger.
He’s a mean stranger and I don’t care about him.
Her thoughts echoed back at her, calling her a liar.
Despite his sharp words, Scarlet still felt drawn to him and it broke her heart.
She should hate him right now or, at the very least, feel nothing for him.
But no.
Her heart clenched in her chest until she couldn’t breathe and her eyes went blurry with the threat of tears.
She heard footsteps coming back down the hallway and her silly heart hoped—actually hoped—it was Tristan returning to apologize.
She cleared her eyes and sat up straight and nervous.
But it wasn’t Tristan who returned, it was Gabriel.
Her heart sank.
“Sorry about that,” Gabriel said.
She gave him her best fake smile. “What did Nate say?”
He examined her for a moment. “Are you okay?”
Gabriel had no idea Scarlet’s insides were bleeding from her conversation with Tristan, but she didn’t feel like sharing her hurt with him. “Of course. What did Nate say?”
Gabriel shook his head, “He doesn’t have any new information about the fountain. But he does have something to give to you.”
“What is it?”
“He wouldn’t tell me, but he said he’d send it to you.”
Scarlet tilted her head. “Huh.”
Gabriel shrugged before scooting closer to her and wrapping his strong arm around her. “Anyway, back to you. What other questions do you have?”
Scarlet blinked.
She had more questions, but all she could think about was Nate’s mysterious gift.
And Tristan’s cold words.
“Um…I think I’m good. For now.” Scarlet gave him another fake smile. “I’ll let you know.”
He tilted his head to the side, paused a moment, then smiled. “Are you sure?”
Scarlet nodded.
“Well, in that case, I think we should go on a date. Tonight. Let’s go do something normal. Something that has nothing to do with curses and fountains. Whatdaya say?”
Scarlet breathed out a laugh, “That sounds wonderful.”
And it did.
Or, at least, it sounded better than sitting in a house Tristan didn’t want her in.
A date would be good.
Scarlet needed a little love.
39
The following weekend, Scarlet smiled to herself as she knocked on the cabin door. She had a “secret” date planned for Gabriel and couldn’t wait to surprise him.
She was going to take him back to their picnic spot in the woods and spend the rest of the day talking and laughing and, hopefully, going over possible fountain leads. They’d spent the past weekend researching various legends and Scarlet was feeling hopeful.
She knocked again.
Tristan answered the door.
What was he? The doorman?
Scarlet’s happiness deflated.
“What are you doing here?” he asked.
Scarlet blinked. “Excuse me?”
Rude.
“Why are you here?” Tristan looked around the porch, like he expected someone to be with her.
“Um…my boyfriend lives here. So, I came here for him.”
“Why didn’t you text first?” Tristan looked at her accusingly.
Scarlet raised her eyebrows incredulously. “Oh, I’m sorry. I guess I didn’t know the rules. So, I need to text you before showing up on Gabriel’s doorstep? What else? Do I need to call for your approval before I kiss him?”
Tristan rolled his eyes. “What do you want?”
“Um…I want to see Gabriel. Is that okay? Or are visiting hours over?” Scarlet took a step forward.
Her brain wanted to smack Tristan out of the way and march into the cabin and wait for Gabriel to return.
But her body wanted to permanently adhere itself to Tristan’s chest and run her fingers down his back.
Scarlet took a step back.
“Gabriel’s not here.” Tristan narrowed his eyes.
“Oh, okay. You could have just said that. You didn’t need to bark at me like a disgruntled guard dog.”
Tristan exhaled. “Are we done here?”
Scarlet felt like she’d been kicked in the gut. Did Tristan hate her so much he couldn’t stand her on his front porch?
“Oh, yes,” Scarlet quipped, mustering all the attitude she could. “We’re done.” And with that, she spun on her heel and walked away.
She heard the cabin door slam shut behind her and waited until she was back in the safety of her car before she allowed her hands to shake.
Not because she was angry.
But because she was trying to hold back tears.
Why did he affect her so much?
Just then, her phone beeped. Scarlet looked down to find a text from Gabriel.
I’m at your house. Where are you?
Scarlet sighed. Gabriel probably wanted to surprise her, just like she’d wanted to surprise him.
Because he was sweet.
His twin? Not so sweet.
I’m on my way.
Scarlet sent her text and pulled out of woods, her heart pounding all the way home.