Ana touched a finger to the silver brooch she wore and a thought struck her.
A risky thought.
Making a decision, Ana gathered her cloak and walked out the door of her hut.
If Scarlet knew what Ana was doing, she would never allow it.
Neither would Tristan.
Ana swallowed back the ill feeling in her gut.
Scarlet and Tristan may have believed that they had everything they needed, but Ana knew better. Love wasn’t always enough.
Sometimes, true love needed a little incentive.
28
A week after Scarlet’s eyes had flashed and Tristan had fled, Heather’s voice cut through Scarlet’s thoughts. “You’re doing it again.”
Outside the coffee shop windows, snow was quietly falling on the town. January was almost over and people were bundled up against the winter weather and buzzing about the fair next month. Scarlet watched Marge, a homeless woman who lived off of Main Street, shuffle through the cold and her heart squeezed in sympathy.
“What?” Scarlet pulled her eyes away from Marge and looked at Heather, seated across from her at The Millhouse coffee shop. “What am I doing?”
“Staring off into space while I’m talking to you.”
“Oh.” Scarlet looked directly into Heather’s brown eyes. “Sorry.”
A pretty woman with dark hair approached their table, wearing a Millhouse apron and carrying two mugs in her hands.
“Hi, Heather,” the woman said with a warm smile, setting down a tall white mug in front of Heather and a red mug in front of Scarlet. “Can’t get enough of our coffee, huh? Coming in on your days off?”
Heather worked at The Millhouse four nights a week to support her shopping habit. And her coffee habit.
Heather smiled. “Well, you know me. Can’t go a day without coffee. Clare, this is my friend Scarlet,” Heather gestured to Scarlet, “Scarlet, this is my boss, Clare. She owns The Millhouse.”
“Nice to meet you,” Scarlet said, shaking hands with Clare. “Your coffee is delicious.”
Clare smiled. “Well, you know what they say; whoever controls the caffeine controls the happiness.” Clare winked. “You girls enjoy your drinks. Nice to meet you, Scarlet.” Clare shuffled away to serve more customers.
Heather looked at Scarlet. “So…anyway, back to you staring at the stars. Again.”
Scarlet shook her head, feeling guilty for not paying attention earlier. “I’m listening now. What were you saying?”
“I was talking about the fair and whether or not the mayor will wind up in the dunk tank again, but I think we should probably talk about what’s on your mind instead.”
“Nothing’s on my mind.”
Heather glared at her.
“What?” Scarlet took a sip of hot chocolate from the red mug and burned her tongue.
Stupid hot beverages.
Heather jutted her chin. “Don’t act like you’re fine, Scarlet. I know you. You’re upset. And you’ve been all mopey ever since your eyes flashed and….” Heather paused and her eyes widened. “It’s Tristan, isn’t it?”
Scarlet opened her mouth to respond.
“O-M-G,” Heather interrupted. “You’re crushing on Gabriel’s twin brother, aren’t you? You’re all sad that he’s gone!”
“I’m not sad that he left. I’m just….surprised.”
“You’re surprised that a guy who cares about you doesn’t want you to die?” Heather took a sip of her coffee, somehow managing to avoid any tongue burns.
“No, I’m surprised he didn’t say goodbye.”
“Well, of course he didn’t say goodbye.” Heather put down her mug. “You would have convinced him to stay.”
“That’s not true.”
“Oh, please.” Heather rolled her eyes. “You would have been like Oh, Tristan, please don’t go. Stay with me so I can crush on you and giggle at everything you say.” Heather nodded. “That’s what it would have been like. In that high-pitched voice and everything.”
“First of all, I don’t giggle,” Scarlet said. “Second, I am not crushing on Tristan.”
Heather waved a hand. “You think he’s attractive. Admit it.”
Scarlet squinted at her. “Of course I think he’s attractive. He’s Gabriel’s twin brother.”
“Yeah.” Heather took another drink. “That’s what makes this whole…” Heather waved her hand in a big circle in front of Scarlet, “…thing…sick. And hot. It’s a sick, hot mess.” Heather took another drink. “You have a thing for your boyfriend’s twin brother.”
Scarlet leaned forward. “There’s no thing.”
“Oh, there’s a thing.”
Scarlet shook her head.
“Really?” Heather leaned back in her seat. “Then why do you miss him so much? And why do you blush when you talk about him? And why, on earth, are you wearing those boots with that skirt?” Heather’s eyes darted to Scarlet’s shoes. “I know you’re from, like, biblical times or whatever, but really? This isn’t 1996, Scarlet. And even if it was…that skirt? Seriously.”
Scarlet ignored Heather’s criticism. “I miss Tristan because….” Scarlet searched for a reason that had nothing to do with her attraction to him. “It’s a…it’s a curse thing.”
Yeah. That sounded good.
Heather set her elbow on the table and placed her chin in her hand. “I’m listening.”
“Tristan and I are connected.”
“Yes, I know. He can ‘feel’ you. Which sounds both sexy and creepy.”
Scarlet nodded. “And I can feel him.”
Heather’s eyebrows shot up. “Come again?”
“I can feel when he’s near and when he’s anxious.” Scarlet swallowed. “I know when he’s sad and when he’s jealous. I can feel him. I feel everything.”
Heather ran her fingers across her lips thoughtfully. “And how does that explain your crush?”
“I don’t have a cru—” Scarlet closed her eyes, took a breath, and looked back at her friend. “I’m drawn to him, that’s all.”
“Because of the curse?” Heather looked at Scarlet skeptically.
“Yes.”
Liar.
Scarlet looked down at her mug and felt for Tristan. She felt the pain his body bore and she could feel his heart softly beating behind hers. Constant. Steady.
Odd how she never seemed to notice it before her mini-death. But there it was, silently hovering alongside her heart, whispering a heartbeat that felt familiar and faded.
Was he far away? Was he close?
Did it matter?
Scarlet sighed. “I just don’t think it’s fair for Tristan to put himself through physical pain because my stupid eyes flashed one time. Wherever he is right now, he’s hurting. I can feel it.” Scarlet pointed to her chest, where Tristan’s heart rocked against her own. “I’m hurting him.”
Heather slowly nodded. Placing her hands flat on the table between them, she leaned forward until Scarlet met her eyes. “It might not be fair, but it’s safe. And if you want to live long enough to find the fountain, safe is the way to go. Forget Tristan.”