Soon.
Would Tristan’s plan work?
Probably not.
But was Gabriel going to stand in Tristan’s way?
No.
Because, deep down, Gabriel was grateful for Tristan’s lack of humanity. If killing someone in Scarlet’s place really could undo the curse, then Gabriel was glad Tristan had no qualms about taking an innocent life.
Gabriel, however, did have qualms.
So, no killing sprees for him.
He watched Scarlet bite her lip as she looked about the park. She was amazing.
Flawed and soulful and…lovely.
Everything about her was fragile and perfect.
He stepped into Scarlet’s line of sight and waited for her to see him. When her eyes found his, she smiled.
She was beautiful.
He smiled as he approached her. “Hey.”
“Hey.” Her blue eyes sparkled. “I’m glad you came.”
“Me, too.”
He looked over to where Heather was arguing with a Kiss Walk judge. “What’s going on over there?”
“They won’t let Heather play because the game already started. She’s trying to sweet-talk her way in.”
“Huh.”
Heather trotted back over to where they stood. “Well!” she said, huffing and puffing. “That was pointless. No free kisses for me, I guess.”
“What are you talking about?” Scarlet raised an eyebrow. “People are handing out free kisses everywhere. Just go kiss some stranger.”
“I’m over kissing strangers. I want to kiss the hot guys at the kissing booths.” Heather looked at Gabriel and put on a brilliant smile. “Hello Gabriel. So nice to see you again.” She went up on her tiptoes and kissed both his cheeks.
Gabriel reciprocated the kisses, smelling her vanilla perfume.
“Ooh!” Heather’s eyes lit up. “Kiss Cakes!”
Gabriel followed her gaze and spied a white tent with red stars hanging from the top.
“Kiss Cakes?” he repeated, looking at Scarlet.
“Yeah, they’re like cupcakes, but shaped like lips.”
“And waaaay better,” Heather said. “Let’s get some.”
Gabriel followed the girls to the tent and snuck a glance at Scarlet. She was so small and delicate. He wanted to wrap her in his arms.
If only she remembered him. If only she would instantly remember everything. Maybe then she would smile and laugh and they could live happily ever after or whatever.
Maybe if he told her the truth….
Gabriel thought about explaining Scarlet’s history to her. Giving her all the bloody details and trying to put a positive spin on the whole curse thing.
No.
He would rather let her live a day longer without being under the umbrella of impending death. The curse was cruel and unfair, and Gabriel wanted to protect her from her fate for as long as possible.
They reached the tent and he snagged each of them a Kiss Cake.
“So, Gabriel,” Heather began as he passed out the cakes. “Scarlet says you’re from New York. Which part?”
He took a bite of his Kiss Cake and examined the blond Barbie lookalike as he swallowed his bite. “The city.”
“What’s the city like?” Scarlet asked.
Gabriel smiled. “It’s loud. Nonstop craziness and noise. But it’s full of opportunities and interesting people. There’s always something going on, never a dull moment.”
Heather sighed. “That sounds heavenly.”
Scarlet scrunched her adorable nose. “That sounds like a headache.”
Gabriel laughed. Scarlet had never liked big cities. She’d always preferred quiet places where time moved slowly.
Places like Avalon.
“Yeah,” he said, smiling at Scarlet. “New York isn’t for everyone.”
“So, why did you move here?” Heather took a bite of her cake.
Gabriel took a moment to think. He needed a plausible excuse to be in Avalon, something to hold him over until the curse was broken and he could tell Scarlet the truth.
“Family business.” It was a good answer. A safe answer.
“Really? What kind of business is your family in?” Scarlet watched him over the frosting of her Kiss Cake.
“History.” He nodded, hoping his answer was sufficient.
“What kind of history?”
Not sufficient enough.
“Just, you know, general history.” He really should have thought through his back-story before coming tonight. He didn’t want to sound like an idiot.
Heather raised her brows. “Your family is in the business of general history? Wow. That’s…vague.” She pursed her lips and looked at him sharply. “Care to elaborate?”
Gabriel had a feeling the Barbie was going to be a problem.
“Ignore Heather. She’s nosey.” Scarlet rolled her eyes before turning them to Gabriel. “Was it hard to leave New York?”
“A little. I love the city and the lights and the craziness. But I was excited to move here. It’s getting better.”
“So, you’re not gonna elaborate on the family business?” Heather narrowed her eyes. “Is it, like, import and export stuff? Are you guys drug dealers? Are you part of the mob?”
Yep, Barbie was definitely going to be an issue.
“Heatherrrrr.” Scarlet shot a warning look at her friend. “Rude.”
“Uh, no,” Gabriel said. “To all of that. We don’t do anything illegal, if that’s what you’re asking.”
At least not yet.
Tristan was planning on murdering someone, though, so the crime-free family name would soon be tarnished.
Stupid, evil Tristan and his “plan.”
“Huh.” Heather stared at him, as if trying to gauge how trustworthy he was. “Well, I certainly hope not. For your sake.”
Gabriel smiled.
Heather was a little annoying, but he liked her.
Her questions were obnoxious and she was probably going to make it difficult for him to get to know Scarlet, but he appreciated her skepticism.
She was quick. And protective of Scarlet.
Good.
“Okay, I think we’re done interrogating the new guy,” Scarlet said, tossing a dirty look at Heather and an apologetic smile at Gabriel.
Heather smiled. “Right. Totally. Sorry about that.” She laughed lightly. “One last question, though….” Her smiled deepened. “Do you have any brothers?”
“Why?” Immediately, Gabriel regretted responding so fast.
He should have waited a beat.
He should have just said no.
Scarlet’s eyes widened as she kicked Heather’s shoe. “Seriously?”
Heather ignored Scarlet and answered Gabriel. “Uh…because I’m in the market for a gorgeous boy to be my cereal toy. So...do you?”
Cereal toy?
Gabriel blinked a few times. “No,” he said. “No brothers.”
Heather studied him a moment before saying, “That’s too bad.”
“Ye-ah.” Scarlet said, finishing her Kiss Cake and saving Gabriel from Heather’s scrutiny. “Let’s go do something else. Like, anything else. We can watch the Spin-The-Bottle tournament, for all I care. Let’s just go.” She yanked on Heather’s arm. “It’ll be fun. You too, Gabriel.” She smiled at him.
He loved her smile. “Lead the way.”
Gabriel followed Scarlet and Heather across the park to an open area as he thought.
He needed to gain Scarlet’s confidence. The sooner she trusted him, the easier everything would be.
Glancing down at their feet as they walked, Gabriel caught sight of Scarlet’s shoes. Or rather, the sketches she’d penned atop her shoes.
Sketches of a symbol that looked exactly like….
Gabriel blinked.
It couldn’t be.
Why? Of all the things in her past, why would she remember that?
Unless….
Gabriel swallowed back his thudding heart and took a deep breath.