Brightest Kind of Darkness by P. T. Michelle, Patrice Michelle Page B
Authors: P. T. Michelle, Patrice Michelle
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paused, tensing. “I freaked.”
“You got to me just in time.” I tried to smile but my lips trembled. “Who knew knights wore flannel shirts and Led Zeppelin tees?” I knew I sounded like a goof, but I didn’t care. I wanted him to know how much his rescue meant to me.
Ethan leaned close and I closed my eyes as he lightly kissed my cheekbone, then my forehead. He had no idea that his gentle kiss had melted something inside me, how much I craved the physical connection. His warm lips lingered against my skin for a second before he took a step back and shoved his hands in his jean pockets.
“I’m no hero, Nara.” His gaze narrowed briefly toward the woods. “Go home. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
* * *
I headed toward Barboursville instead. I didn’t want to go home to an empty house. By the time I turned onto my aunt’s long, winding driveway that led way back into the woods, I’d finally quit trembling. Stopping my car at the end of the driveway, I frowned at my sunglasses scattered on the dash.
As soon as I finished rearranging them in a straight line from the biggest frame size to smallest, I shook my head. “Why are you sorting shades? Sheesh!”
Glancing at my aunt’s ranch-style house, warm lights glowing from within, I started to relax. With Aunt Sage, I could vent and discuss my worries. I could totally be myself, well…mostly. The thought she might think I was insane if I told her about my dreams—and we’d lose our closeness over it, or even worse, she’d ask me about it every time we saw each other—made me anxious (with Gran, the subject of my ability rarely came up). I just wanted to be a regular person with my aunt.
From the front, Aunt Sage’s home looked tiny, but she’d built a studio off the back for her custom design jewelry business. Her house was an eclectic mix of bohemian and down-to-earth, and it always smelled like an intriguing combination of incense and pastries. She made such wonderful pies that I’d become a snob, refusing to eat deserts anywhere but at my aunt’s house. My friends thought I was nuts passing up ice cream (I’m the only person I knew who didn’t like ice cream. No, I’m not lactose intolerant) and other good desserts, but they hadn’t tasted Sage’s pies!
Barking preceded Bo’s white snout poking behind the curtains. More barking ensued and two seconds later his small muscular frame dashed out the dog door. Thunderous barks followed, and then Luke’s massive black body settled next to Bo’s on the porch as I approached. A Jack Russell and a Rottweiler. What a pair.
“Thanks for the welcome, boys.” I scratched behind their ears. “How’s Duke doing?” Movement caught my eye and Duke was slowly pushing his head and body through the dog door. As he tentatively approached, I reached out my hand. “Hey buddy.” He sat and I patted his head. “You look great.”
As soon as I stepped onto the porch, Bo leapt into my arms. When Luke panted and raised his ears, his expression hopeful, I shifted Bo to my hip and put my other hand up in warning. “Don’t even think about it, big guy!”
Aunt Sage opened the door. “Inara, sweetheart. I’ve been hoping you’d come by,” she said and immediately yanked me into a hug. I hugged her quickly, then stepped back. Living with my mom, I always felt a little unsure how to handle my aunt’s demonstrative affection, yet every time Sage gathered me close, a hole inside me widened and I found myself wishing, Why can’t Mom hug me like this?
Taking in my zip-up jacket, athletic shorts and flops, Aunt Sage said, “Practice huh?”
When I nodded, Bo, who didn’t like being ignored, began to shove his head back and forth, looking for more pats. I set him on the floor and followed Aunt Sage inside. Bo had already scrambled up the cushioned chair to balance on the back and stare through the curtain. Most likely looking for squirrels to hunt. “I swear that dog acts like a cat.”
Aunt Sage
“You got to me just in time.” I tried to smile but my lips trembled. “Who knew knights wore flannel shirts and Led Zeppelin tees?” I knew I sounded like a goof, but I didn’t care. I wanted him to know how much his rescue meant to me.
Ethan leaned close and I closed my eyes as he lightly kissed my cheekbone, then my forehead. He had no idea that his gentle kiss had melted something inside me, how much I craved the physical connection. His warm lips lingered against my skin for a second before he took a step back and shoved his hands in his jean pockets.
“I’m no hero, Nara.” His gaze narrowed briefly toward the woods. “Go home. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
* * *
I headed toward Barboursville instead. I didn’t want to go home to an empty house. By the time I turned onto my aunt’s long, winding driveway that led way back into the woods, I’d finally quit trembling. Stopping my car at the end of the driveway, I frowned at my sunglasses scattered on the dash.
As soon as I finished rearranging them in a straight line from the biggest frame size to smallest, I shook my head. “Why are you sorting shades? Sheesh!”
Glancing at my aunt’s ranch-style house, warm lights glowing from within, I started to relax. With Aunt Sage, I could vent and discuss my worries. I could totally be myself, well…mostly. The thought she might think I was insane if I told her about my dreams—and we’d lose our closeness over it, or even worse, she’d ask me about it every time we saw each other—made me anxious (with Gran, the subject of my ability rarely came up). I just wanted to be a regular person with my aunt.
From the front, Aunt Sage’s home looked tiny, but she’d built a studio off the back for her custom design jewelry business. Her house was an eclectic mix of bohemian and down-to-earth, and it always smelled like an intriguing combination of incense and pastries. She made such wonderful pies that I’d become a snob, refusing to eat deserts anywhere but at my aunt’s house. My friends thought I was nuts passing up ice cream (I’m the only person I knew who didn’t like ice cream. No, I’m not lactose intolerant) and other good desserts, but they hadn’t tasted Sage’s pies!
Barking preceded Bo’s white snout poking behind the curtains. More barking ensued and two seconds later his small muscular frame dashed out the dog door. Thunderous barks followed, and then Luke’s massive black body settled next to Bo’s on the porch as I approached. A Jack Russell and a Rottweiler. What a pair.
“Thanks for the welcome, boys.” I scratched behind their ears. “How’s Duke doing?” Movement caught my eye and Duke was slowly pushing his head and body through the dog door. As he tentatively approached, I reached out my hand. “Hey buddy.” He sat and I patted his head. “You look great.”
As soon as I stepped onto the porch, Bo leapt into my arms. When Luke panted and raised his ears, his expression hopeful, I shifted Bo to my hip and put my other hand up in warning. “Don’t even think about it, big guy!”
Aunt Sage opened the door. “Inara, sweetheart. I’ve been hoping you’d come by,” she said and immediately yanked me into a hug. I hugged her quickly, then stepped back. Living with my mom, I always felt a little unsure how to handle my aunt’s demonstrative affection, yet every time Sage gathered me close, a hole inside me widened and I found myself wishing, Why can’t Mom hug me like this?
Taking in my zip-up jacket, athletic shorts and flops, Aunt Sage said, “Practice huh?”
When I nodded, Bo, who didn’t like being ignored, began to shove his head back and forth, looking for more pats. I set him on the floor and followed Aunt Sage inside. Bo had already scrambled up the cushioned chair to balance on the back and stare through the curtain. Most likely looking for squirrels to hunt. “I swear that dog acts like a cat.”
Aunt Sage
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