Chapter 12 #2
My gaze flickered from Caiden to Alex, the unicorn clutched in my arms. After a few moments, I nodded, feeling the tug of hunger. “Sure, sounds tasty.”
Alex led the way towards the booth. “Two sticks of cotton candy, please.” He handed the employee some cash and took the cotton candy.
He handed me one–the pink fluff held a delicious fragrance. The sweetness was a welcome distraction, though the lingering warmth of Caiden's gaze still hummed beneath the surface.
Alex, oblivious, chattered about the upcoming fireworks display, his words a pleasant background noise to the unspoken conversation still playing out between Caiden and me.
The cotton candy melted on my tongue, but the memory of Caiden’s gift, the carefully chosen unicorn, remained a persistent, delightful sweetness.
“You’ve got some cotton candy fluff on your lip.” Alex pointed out, but before I could wipe it off, he took his finger and wiped it for me with a napkin.
The movement was sudden and surprising, but it was sweet. My heart pounded as he stared at me, then my lips, then back to my eyes.
He moved closer, and I leaned in.
Before I could fully register what I was doing, his lips landed on mine. They tasted pleasant, a mixture of mint and candy. The kiss was short, slow, gentle.
He pulled back and smiled.
“That was unexpected,” I whispered, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.
With a sheepish grin, he rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah. I couldn’t resist. You looked so cute standing there.”
As I was about to reply, I noticed Caiden standing close by among the others in the group. His gaze, like the moon's eerie glow in the evening twilight, was fixed on me. He said something to Shane, then stormed off in the other direction.
A wave of guilt washed over me. Caiden’s reaction hung in the air like the lingering scent of cotton candy.
Alex, oblivious to the shift in atmosphere, chuckled, his hand brushing lightly against mine. Suddenly, the sweetness of the stolen kiss felt tainted, the carefree joy replaced by a knot of uncertainty.
I shook my head to clear away the storm of thoughts. I shouldn't feel guilty; Caiden and I were just friends, no longer enemies, but not lovers. We were caught in a whirlwind, teetering between fury and passion, unable to find a stable ground where we could touch down and rest.
But, until we figured it out, I would try to enjoy my time here, even if it meant kissing Alex. But I couldn’t deny the fact that Caiden’s anger hurt me.
Later that night, we lit a bonfire behind the beach house. The stars glimmered overhead like cold diamonds, and the waves rolled in slow and heavy, their silhouettes swallowed by darkness. Lamplights dotted the sand, but it was the fire’s glow that held us in its raw pull.
I crouched by the flames, staring at the sparks that leaped like angry fireflies. My stomach tightened into knots. So hot, so prickly, I could almost feel it burn.
Beside me, Caiden sat on a log, shoulders rigid, eyes fixed on the dancing tongues of flame. The heat hit me, but it did nothing to thaw the chill coiling in my chest.
Shane collapsed onto the sand with a whoop. “Grab a seat, you two! Best night ever.” He patted the spot between us, but I stayed planted where I was. Caiden didn’t budge.
Alex appeared with a stick and a perfect marshmallow. “Amelia, want to roast one?” His smile was easy, light. I forced one back at him. “Sure.” I took the stick and held the marshmallow over the blaze, watching it swell, then blacken at the edges.
Caiden’s voice cracked through the crackle. “Looks fun over there.” His tone was flat, cold.
I snapped the stick down. “Yeah? Maybe you should try enjoying yourself for once.” My words sounded sharper than I meant. Sparks flew up, drifted off into the night.
His gaze snapped to me. Dark, stormy. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
I swallowed. “You could at least pretend to have a good time instead of sulking.” My jaw tightened. Heat prickled at my ears.
“Maybe I don’t feel like pretending,” he shot back, standing so fast that sand kicked up around him. The flames leapt higher, shadows dancing across his face.
I rose too, fists clenching. “Then why the hell did you come? You could’ve stayed home and nursed your misery.”
His lip curled. “You think I’m wallowing?”
“Yeah.” I crossed my arms, chest tight. “That’s exactly what you’re doing.”
“At least I’m not being a bitch.”
Everyone went quiet. The only sound was the fire snapping and the ocean breathing against the shore. I could feel their eyes on us. My cheeks burned.
“Why do you always have to be such an asshole, Caiden?” I snapped. My voice shook.
He pressed his hands into his pockets. “Born this way, sweetheart. Get used to it.”
The words stung, but they weren’t just anger; there was hurt there too. My pulse thundered. I remembered the cage, the darkness, the fear we shared. How he’d been the only other soul fighting beside me. Something fragile had bloomed in that chaos.
I exhaled, voice low. “Let’s drop it. We’re supposed to be having fun.”
He spat out a laugh. “Yeah, sure. Queen of fun-killing.”
Shane stepped between us, arms wide. “Hey! Not here, not now. It’s vacation, remember?”
Caiden ran a hand through his hair. “Right. Vacation with my favorite enemy.”
Alex broke the tension with a cheer. “Marshmallows, anyone? I’ve got plenty!” He thrust a bag toward us.
The group shifted, laughter sparking back to life. I took a skewer, slid a marshmallow on, and held it over the blaze again. The heat pricked my face, but I still felt cold inside. Caiden sank back onto the log, arms crossed, watching me.
My heart twisted. I wanted to hate him, to push him away, but every memory—every terrified heartbeat in that cage—pulled me the other way. I blew on the roasting marshmallow, watching it swell and turn golden.
I forced a smile and whispered into the smoke, “Fine. Let’s have fun.” But my voice wavered; the tension still crackled between us like the fire itself.