Cursed In Love (The Adams' Witch Book 2) (8 page)

But I’d seen him around her. And he said he’d loved me. I didn’t know all the answers, but I believed what Drake told me regardless of what Travis said.

Despite my certainty, his words nagged at me. Maybe I shouldn’t have trusted Drake as much as I had.

CHAPTER SEVEN

After pre-Calc, I wrestled through the Adams High crowd and walked out into the cool fall air. Once outside, I stood at the end of the brick building and waited. I’d received a text from Travis—I was assuming Jennie gave him my number because it wasn’t me—to wait for him after school. I kept a lookout for Jennie, too, but as the last of the dawdlers walked out of the front entrance, she wasn’t among them.

Sliding to the ground, I pulled my knees to my chest. I hadn’t brought a bag with textbooks. Figured there was no use in trying to keep up appearances. I was going through the motions at school. Cici had never cared how well I did in class anyway. I had, but not right now. Now there were bigger and more important things to tend to.

A couple minutes later, the roar of a loud engine filled the air around the school like a hungry lion. A black motorcycle weaved in and out of the boring, mid-sized teacher’s cars. “Stupid death wagons,” I muttered. I’d never been a fan of motorcycles. I liked my body parts all in one place.

The motorcycle’s engine revved and then pulled to a stop next to the curb in front of me. Oh no…

Yep. Travis took off his helmet, his hair somehow still perfect, and turned toward me with a devilish grin. He beckoned me over and I shook my head. When he turned the ignition off, I shook my head again.

“C’mon, Perkins. We’ve got important witch things to attend to.”

I made a show out of looking around for another vehicle. “And how do you think we’re going to arrive at these important witch things?”

He grinned. “Don’t tell me you’re scared?”

“Pfft.” I waved him away. “I’m not scared. I just don’t ride on death traps.”

“But you loved my Jeep so much, I thought you’d like to take a ride on the wild side. Haven’t you ever been on one?”

No way. “Of course. I’m from Miami, you know. Who hasn’t ridden a motorcycle?”

“I’m a great driver. And how much more safe could you get than with a Natural?”

Oh my God. This was really going to happen, wasn’t it? I stood slowly and brushed off the back of my jeans. The machine was even more intimidating up close. It was so strong, yet so small. There was a lot of power going on in one small piece of equipment.

“Here,” Travis said. He took out another helmet, and I stayed put as he placed it over my head. He stepped back, looking at his handiwork. “That’s hot. Tell me again why I’m helping you unbind your ex-boyfriend from his new girlfriend?”

“Because you’re the witch police.”

His shoulders shook with laughter. “You’re right. I’m just an all-around awesome guy. Hop on.”

Hopping? Was that how it was supposed to happen because I was pretty sure my legs, motorcycle, and hop did not belong together in the same sentence. “Um…”

He pulled my arm and somehow we finagled it so I was on the bike and my legs were where they needed to be. “There,” he said. “Perfect. You can hang on here, but you’ll probably want to put your arms around me instead.”

I looked at his flat stomach through his open leather jacket and swallowed. Not that I hadn’t thought about that lately, but there was no way I was telling him. “And why do you think I would do that?”

“I just know.” He winked.

I rolled my eyes and promised myself there was no freaking way I was going to hold on to him in this little bike ride. “Whatever.”

He smirked. “Suit yourself.”

The engine roared to life, and I jumped. Travis’s shoulders shook again. I had visions of popping him upside the head if I thought it would hurt. But the helmet would save him from any real damage. “Just drive,” I yelled.

It was possible he’d heard me over the tremendous sound of the engine because he righted the beast of a machine and pulled away. I wobbled on the back and we’d gone all of about two feet before I lost all pride and threw my arms around Travis. This shit was scary.

He didn’t laugh like I thought he would. I would’ve known because I could feel everything. Every breath Travis took, I felt in my chest and hands as his torso expanded. Having my eyes closed helped with the scariness of the ride. With no vision, I focused on touch and sound.

I wasn’t sure how far we’d gone when I decided to open my eyes. We were on a back road. Trees flew by on my right side. Wisps of my hair blew away from my face. It was…kind of nice, actually. I pulled far enough away from Travis so I could turn my head and look both ways if I wanted. He stiffened, and I went back to plastering the side of my helmet against his back.

This time I felt it when he laughed. “It’s okay, Sarah. You can look around.”

I pulled away again, so I could look around like before. The road was dark here—eerie, yet beautiful. I wondered where we were, where we were going. In my nervousness about the bike, I’d forgotten to ask him what the hell we were doing today and why Jennie wasn’t with us. I’d have to wait to get answers though. That was one downside to bikes, long conversations couldn’t happen like in cars.

We drove for a while longer and then Travis pulled over near a grove of trees and quit the engine. He got off the bike and helped me down, too. When I finally freed my head from the helmet, he smiled.

I ran my hands through my hair. “Helmet head?”

“It’s not so bad.”

“Easy for you to say, Mr. Perfect Hair.” He stared at me for a long moment. Long enough for me to get frazzled about what to say or do. “Why did we stop? Are we at some important witch place? Is there a pentagram nearby? A fountain of life?”

“A fountain of life?” He shook his head. “No. Nothing like that. I forgot the rest of the directions.” He pulled out his cell phone and scrolled down the screen.

Way to go, Sarah. Woo him with magical knowledge. “Where are we going, anyway?”

“We’re heading to Trish Abernathy’s house. The other missing Natural? I’m hoping to talk to someone who might have leads as to where she could’ve gone since we’ve got nothing to go on as far as Courtney is concerned.

“Wow. That’s a great idea.”

He quirked an eyebrow. “You sound surprised. I’m the witch police, remember? I’ve got skills.”

“Fine. I’ll try not to compliment you again.”

“You can try, but you’ll fail.”

“Haha. You’re sooo funny.”

He turned his cell phone screen off and put it back in his pocket. “Ready?”

“Where’s Jennie?”

“She didn’t text you?” When I shook my head, he muttered under his breath. “She’s not feeling well. Mom and Dad said they’d look after her while we headed to Lovelace.”

“Is she okay?”

“Personal opinion? She’s fine. I think she’s just getting sick of having me around all the time.”

His expression darkened. There was real hurt there and for the thousandth time, I wished I knew what happened to make them barely get along in each other’s presence. If I had a brother, I’d be ecstatic to see him.

“I kind of figured out you guys haven’t always gotten along…”

“We get along. Or, we used to anyway.” He handed me back my helmet and helped me back onto the bike. “It’s not too much further.”

I put my hands on his seat so he couldn’t sit. “Please tell me what happened between you two.”

His face turned sad. The lines around his eyes deepened, and the green wasn’t as vibrant. “It’s not my story to tell.”

Travis swung his leg over the bike and pulled his helmet on. I resumed my position of holding on for dear life and he took off again.

His expression as he told me it wasn’t his story to tell churned my stomach. Whatever it was, Travis seemed sad about it and Jennie seemed pissed off.

We pulled up to a gray house with burgundy shudders and beautiful flower gardens in the front yard. You’d never know Naturals lived there. It was simply amazing how otherworldly people stayed hidden so well. They didn’t have pentagram flags or witches riding on broomsticks carved into the trees in their front yard or creepy iron gates leading up to their house. It just looked like any other house in the neighboring small town that could’ve been Adams, but a little more modern.

Small one-stories sprouted from the city streets unlike the old brick and stone two-stories that decorated Addams. Lovelace looked as if it was a couple hundred years newer than the witch town.

Lettered stickers on the mailbox spelled out Abernathy. Travis tapped it. “We’re at the right place.”

“I never doubted your direction skills.”

He rang the doorbell, and I panicked. I tugged on the back of his shirt. “Do we have a plan?”

Before he could answer, the front door opened and a middle-aged lady with a rooster apron stood in the entryway.

“I know you,” she said, eyeing Travis. “Are you here for your business?”

“A little of both.”

I could tell from Travis’s voice he was smirking. He always had that smug sound to him when he wanted people to stand up and pay attention.

After what happened with Mrs. James yesterday, I didn’t have high hopes for this encounter. Would Travis have to freeze this lady like he had Courtney’s mom? How did that work anyway?

The lady’s lips softened into a smile. “It’s about time this was taken seriously. I want whoever did this found.”

Briefly-very briefly—Travis stood up straighter. So, he was surprised at her comment as well? She was happy to see him? Weird.

“With my daughter gone and the other Natural from Adams, this must be the product of a negative entity. They must be dealt with.”

Travis nodded. “I couldn’t agree more.”

He couldn’t?

“That’s why I wanted to ask you a few questions about her disappearance.”

“Good, good.” The woman moved her behemoth body out of the way and pointed to a small living room. “I’ll bring in some drinks and some warm cookies I just pulled from the oven.”

I followed Travis into the living room as the lady went the other way. There was a hint of chocolate in the air and I hoped there was semi-sweet chocolate morsels involved in those cookies. My mouth watered just thinking about the taste. I hadn’t had a good cookie since…since Aunt Rose was still alive.

Travis sat on the couch and I sat next to him. He glanced toward the kitchen and then back at me. “She’s glad I’m here.”

I chuckled. “Don’t sound so shocked. You’ll bring your ego down.”

“No. What I’m saying is, I believe this woman more than I ever believed Courtney’s mother. This woman seems truly oblivious to all the happenings going around. Courtney’s mother is shifty. Don’t like her.”

“Me either.”

“Well, we finally agree on something. Look at that.”

“Don’t—“

The woman padded into the room and Travis elbowed me in the arm to shut me up. “Thank you so much, Mrs. Abernathy. I’m glad you were so receptive to meeting with us. This is Sarah Perkins, by the way. She was a friend of Courtney’s, the other missing Natural.”

Friend in the very loose definition of the word. Acquaintance would’ve been more like it.

“I’m sorry to hear that, honey. It’s a terrible business that’s happening here, just terrible.”

I looked down at the plate of cookies on the small table in front of us. Score. Chocolate chips galore. I snatched one up and the warm cookie melted in my mouth. “Mmm. These are fantastic.”

Travis shot me a look, but chuckled as Mrs. Abernathy’s body heaved in laughter. “That’s one thing I’m known for, child. I can make some pretty amazing cookies.”

I licked my finger. “I’ll have to agree with you. And I’m also very sorry to hear about Trish’s disappearance. I’m hoping we can get to the bottom of this as soon as possible.”

Mrs. Abernathy cocked her head toward Travis. “Well, now that he’s here I’m sure we will.”

Scarlet crept up Travis’s cheeks and neck. He was blushing? I didn’t even know that was possible.

“Thank you,” he said, and he said it like he really, truly meant it.

I was out of the loop again on something important. I needed a Natural / Wicca handbook to figure out all this stuff.

“What can you tell me about how she disappeared? Where was she last? Was anything out of place? Tell me everything because sometimes it’s the littlest things that mean the most.”

Mrs. Abernathy talked for forty-five minutes on the day her daughter went missing. She told Travis everything, right down to the cereal she’d eaten for breakfast that morning. It wasn’t all that fascinating and I found myself looking around the room at the many knick-knacks the Abernathy household held, trying to play spot the Wiccan proof.

There were little figurines of frogs. Books that I couldn’t quite read the titles on the spines. Dishes with birds painted on them over the big picture window in the front. The furniture was something I’d find in my own house. Well, not with my mom decorating. It reminded me of the furniture at my friends’ houses growing up. This place was just normal.

What happened to my normal?

Travis elbowed me in the arm again and my gaze swung around toward him. His eyes were a deep green, almost emerald, and his face was tense and worried. “You okay?” he asked.

I nodded, and he relaxed.

“Mrs. Abernathy was asking you if you want another cookie before she puts them away.”

I glanced at the woman in front of us and smiled. “Thank you.” I picked up a cookie and took another big bite. “These are so yummy.”

She took the plate, stood, and walked back toward the kitchen.

A hand dropped on my shoulder and I turned toward Travis. “Are you sure you’re okay? You looked like you were about to cry there for a second.”

I chewed the rest of my cookie, swallowed, and then smiled. “I’m fine. Really. I was just thinking about how much my life has changed in such a short amount of time. I mean, the only reason I even came to Adams was to find out more about my dad and maybe get close with the only living family member he had left.” My words got caught in my throat and I swallowed them down. “Who knew all of this other stuff would happen? I mean, now I know that real magic is actually a thing. That there are people like you who are saving the world, and there are people who can make things happen with their minds as some sort of power. I actually haven’t grasped that part yet, but I’m just overwhelmed right now.”