Chapter 39 Trouble Brewing
869words
"I missed you on the trip back from school. Did you leave early?" she asked.
"Mrs. Feltch let us go ten minutes before the bell rang."
"Oh," Ember frowned. "I thought you'd…Are you angry with me?"
I lifted a hand to shield my eyes from the sun to look up at her. "Sorry, I kind of wanted to get back home. I was sweating bricks and didn't think of waiting."
It wasn't a lie. I felt like I wanted to faint after school, and that was minus my jacket.
"I don't blame you if you are. I invited you to sit at that table and I should have known Belinda would be acting out."
"It's okay, Ember. It isn't your fault. I know you meant well," I insisted. "There's nothing wrong with trying to hang out with friends."
She released a heavy sigh, sinking down beside me. "I feel bad, you know."
"You shouldn't."
"Belinda isn't dating Kayn, by the way," she glanced at me. "She wants to but he doesn't like her in that way."
"Could have fooled me."
"I know it looks like it, but he can't stand her."
"If he doesn't like her, then why is he allowing her to climb all over him?" I couldn't hide the bitterness in my voice.
"It's complicated." Ember picked up a small stick and poked at the cluster of mushrooms. "Years ago. Many, many years ago, there was a family agreement that he would marry her when the time was right."
"You mean an arranged marriage?" I sat up.
"Pretty much," she nodded. "They dated for a short while, but Kayn discovered he couldn't stand her and ended it. Made it clear to our parents that he was not going to be their little puppet."
"I can't picture your mom forcing him to marry someone he doesn't like."
"It wasn't my mom's idea, or even my family's," Ember said and then sighed. "I can't go into detail about how it ended up being, but Kayn refusing the marriage plans has caused serious complications. That's beside the fact that you—" Ember cleared her throat. "I meant that's beside the other things he now has to deal with."
I stared at her. "About him dealing with me?"
Her eyes widened. "I promise you that was not what I was trying to say."
"Okay." Could have fooled me.
"So Belinda's not taking it too well," Ember continued. "That and she's jealous of you."
I sputtered a laugh. "For whatever reason?"
"You've been hanging out with my brother. She got the wind of it and now she's more determined than ever to convince Kayn she's the best thing he'll ever have."
"Wait—hold up," I snorted a laugh. "You expect me to believe that? Kayn's been doing nothing but trying to persuade me to leave this place. And he's the one that's been hanging out with me, not the other way around. He saved my life and maybe he felt guilty for a split second and did something nice for my birthday. That's it."
"I know, but she doesn't see it that way," Ember said. "You forgot he tried to kiss you?"
I busied myself with my phone, trying to hide the blush blooming on my cheeks. "Look, I'm not even sure what that was. I'm sure he was trying to intimidate me. You've got it all wrong."
"I know what I saw," Ember breathed. "But forget that. Are we okay?"
I looked at her. "Of course we are. You're like my new bestie."
Ember beamed. "That's the best thing I've heard all year. And for the record, you're my new bestie as well."
"Glad we got that all cleared up," I smiled. "And thanks for sticking up for me in gym class."
"One of the most satisfying moments of my life," she grinned. "But Kayn outdid me during lunch. I'm envious. Wish I thought of dumping out the broth on her head."
"You and me both." I fiddled with my phone between my fingers. "Why did Belinda accuse you of it when Kayn was obviously the one who did it?"
Ember hesitated before her face lit up and she waved me off. "She's got issues. Don't think anything of it."
Like typical Ember, she turned to look away, leaving me with another assumption that she was withholding things from me again.
I sighed. "So, what are you — "
"Emberlinya!"
We both jumped at the sound of a deep, husky voice barking out Ember's name.
We both got up from where we were sitting to find Hector standing a few feet from us, carrying a bucket and a fishing pole. He was glaring at me, his lips set in a thin line. "Are you coming or not?"
"Yes, Grandpa," she glanced at me. "I'm sorry I've got to go. See you at school?"
I nodded. "Sure."
As they headed toward the beach Hector kept glancing over his shoulder at me with an odd expression on his face.
It wasn't malice or hate.
If I knew any better, he looked concerned.
