“Hey,” she said, her gaze half-lidded and glassy, like I’d made her drunk. “Take it easy.”
I stepped back, releasing the vice-like grip I had on her hips. “Sorry.”
“You okay?”
I sank onto her mattress and laughed down at my shaking hands. “Not even a little bit.”
I told her about the masked murderer, the Smiths, Uncle Victor and Vanessa’s conversation. Something about her touch had opened the floodgates. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d talked so much. I admitted everything I was afraid of, everything that could potentially change the way she saw me. But I couldn’t help it. I hadn’t realized how much I needed to talk until then.
Esmer didn’t say anything, just lowered herself onto the bed beside me and stared at my face.
“It’s just not fair,” I finished lamely. “I want things to be better for my uncle and Jasmine. And me. I’d do just about anything to break the curse. The Smiths…” I squeezed the bill of my hat between both hands. I could see Angela’s hopeful expression, like we were the answer to her prayers. “The Smiths and Jasmine think there’s a way, but if there isn’t…It could break me, Esmer. It could break me so easily. I wish we’d never met them. I wish this damn case was over already.”
“Death sucks,” Esmer said by way of summary, “but life isn’t much better.”
I nodded.
“I’m sorry.”
“What can you do?” I said with a shrug. But she’d already listened to my pathetic whining without passing judgment. That alone had done a world of good. I didn’t feel tight anymore, like my clothes were strangling me, like I might snap at any second. It was pretty amazing.
She sidled up close enough to whisper in my ear, “I can kiss you again.”
A shiver rippled its way down my body. How could I say no? All I had to do was turn my head, and I was tasting spearmint and lip balm again. I cupped her cheek, pressed harder against her, hoping to communicate what I could never say out loud.
Thank you, Esmeralda Barnes.
Before I could get carried away again, footsteps approached the door. I dropped to the ground, seeking shelter behind her mattress.
“Esmeralda, your—” Dinah stopped short. “What was that?”
“What was what?” Esmer asked.
The way she widened her eyes and batted her lashes…even while lying flat on my stomach on her carpet, I was getting goose bumps. But then my attention was captivated by her legs. I swallowed hard, wrestling with the urge to run my hands all over them.
“I thought I heard something fall over,” the old woman said slowly, as if she was looking around the room.
“I didn’t hear anything.”
“Why is there a box on your bed?”
My heart was thumping pretty hard by now and it had nothing to do with the cluster of freckles I’d just spotted on Esmer’s ankle—which was somehow the sexiest thing I’d ever seen.
“I’m just looking through some old stuff I brought from home.” Esmer tugged on one of the box’s flaps and drew it closer to her. “Feeling nostalgic, I guess.”
“I see…Well, your mother called. She said you weren’t answering your cell phone. She was concerned.”
“Oh, it died.” Esmer pointed at the phone, sitting over her bedside table. “I’m charging it.”
“Very well. I’ll tell her you’ll call her back once it’s charged.” She must’ve stepped back because the door started to creak closed.
“Thanks, Aunt Dinah.”
“You’re welcome. Goodnight now.”
“Night.”
The door finally closed. I exhaled into the carpet.
Esmer tapped the top of my backwards ball cap. “Still alive, Charlie boy?”
“Give me a second to recover from my near-death experience,” I lifted my head to mutter.
She leaned her elbows against her knees and grinned down at me. After a second or two, I found myself grinning back.
“You’re adorable.”
Very slowly, I pushed myself up until our faces were level. “And you’re beautiful.”
“Ain’t I though?” She gave me a quick peck on the lips before gesturing to the box beside her. “Quit stalling and tell me what you made.”
“All right.” I popped up onto my feet, only to wrestle my shoes off. Then I peeled my windbreaker off and piled it neatly on the floor.
Esmer leaned back on the palms of her hands and watched me. There was a sultry, calculating sort of look on her face. It communicated she would be happy to continue watching me remove articles of clothing.
I frowned. “Quit undressing me with your eyes. I’m not a piece of meat.”
“Of course you’re not. Sorry.” She ruined the apology by winking conspiratorially.
I gave up trying to scowl. My heart wasn’t in it. Truth was, my confidence was soaring. She could look at me however she wanted.
After fishing the ceiling hook out of my pocket, I climbed onto her bed. Working it through the ceiling took a minute or two. She watched me the whole time; I could practically feel her gaze. It didn’t bother me though. I could get used to being desirable to someone.
Once the hook was in all the way, I crouched down to open the box. “Close your eyes,” I said before I could pull out my creation.
Esmer faced the window and dutifully covered her eyes with her hands. I got lost in the way her hair grew across the nape of her neck. Like flames licking up a chunk of alabaster. I shook my head. Forced myself to concentrate on the great reveal.
Once I’d hung it up, I stepped down to the floor to examine it from a distance. I climbed up again to tug on the curtain so it fell at a different angle. I pulled on the threads of music notes and stars. Satisfied, I stepped down again.
“There. Go ahead and open your eyes.”
Esmer lowered her hands before twisting around to look at her new bed canopy. I watched her face light up and her mouth form a little O as she drank it all in. The music sheet
