Chapter 9 - Nora
I stared at my apartment, taking in the emptiness.
It was crazy seeing it like I hadn’t lived there for years, putting my life together.
I glanced at the huge bay window that coated the small living room in light.
Plants used to hang there with my suncatchers.
The living room used to be a bomb of colors, and now everything was white.
There was no sign I had even been there.
I took in my small kitchen, where I spent hours teaching myself to cook.
I remembered the hours Jade and I had spent together, taking care of Ilsa.
The baby food bombs, the number of times we sat and drank wine while Ilsa napped.
Ilsa had taken her first steps in my kitchen, Jade screaming in the living room when she saw it.
The apartment was filled with memories, and in the span of a week, I was saying goodbye.
I had thought about maybe keeping it, but we didn’t want anyone finding out.
Especially Kaleb’s father. He would think something was wrong.
Why would I keep my apartment if I were moving in with Kaleb in his new house?
Kaleb and I had talked a little about how this was going to work, but it was different when you put the talk into action.
“That should be everything,” the mover said, stopping at the doorway. “You want us to head over and start unpacking it all into the house?”
I nodded, taking another look around the space before I set my keys on the kitchen counter like I told my landlord I would. I shut the door and felt uneasy as I headed to my car. I had been living on my own since I was seventeen, and now I was going to be sharing a space with someone again.
I drove over to the house and found Kaleb was helping unpack the moving van. I stared at him, wondering how this was all going to work. I looked at the house, feeling nervous.
Kaleb spotted me and waved. I offered him a tight smile and opened my car door. I walked up the sidewalk as he pulled a box up. “I have them putting everything into the living room. I figured we could divide it up from there.”
I nodded as I looked inside. The house was rather bare, and it surprised me. I figured Kaleb would have furnished it a little more. Kaleb must have noticed my shock because he raised an eyebrow. “What?”
“I just…you don’t have a lot of stuff. I figured mine would get in the way. But you…you hardly have anything.”
He shook his head. “Never had a need. I was living in my father’s house, so I didn’t see the need to buy stuff.”
We both stepped into the house, taking in my boxes. My small couch sat across from the front door. My bed was leaning against the hallway, and my plants were scattered around the space.
“That should be everything,” the mover said, stopping in the doorway.
I walked further in, taking in the house. Kaleb had a small couch facing a TV. The space felt bare, with no photos or artwork hanging. The kitchen was empty, minus a coffee maker and a juicer on the counter.
There was space for a dining room table with nothing but a pair of boots that sat by the back door. The house was empty and cold.
I heard the front door shut and realized it was just Kaleb and me now. I swallowed as I looked around my boxes.
He pointed toward the stairs. “I have a bedroom upstairs, and we can get everything moved into it. It’s across for mine.”
“I guess it’s a good thing I moved in because it will furnish this place.”
Kaleb chuckled as he walked closer. “I was going to buy more stuff. I haven’t exactly had time.”
I offered half a smile and rubbed my hands together. “Can we talk about this? I know we’ve discussed it, but…” I looked around the house, no longer able to just tell myself to calm down.
Kaleb could see my discomfort. “We can. What’s bothering you?”
I blew out air. “I haven’t exactly lived with someone. Sharing a space is different from being alone.”
Kaleb nodded his head, glancing down at the hardwood floors. “Yeah, it will take time to adjust. And again, I’m sorry about just throwing this out there. I know this wasn’t in the agreement.”
I wasn’t even mad about this. I felt bad for Kaleb. I knew he and his father had an unsettling relationship, and I got why he said that we were living together. But what I didn’t understand was why he was trying so hard to prove his dad wrong? Why did he let his father get under his skin like that?
“Hey, I agreed to this, and it’s probably better this way anyway. Us living together looks like we are serious to everyone. Maybe this will get Ryan to leave me alone.”
“And in here?” he asked, tilting his head. “How is it going to be in here? I can already tell you’re uncomfortable, Nora.”
“It’s not fake in here,” I offered. For this to work, I had to let my anger go.
I was willing to go along with this, but I wasn’t going to put my heart on the line.
I needed to remember that at the end of all this, we were both single.
We were both trying to get rid of a problem and were using each other to accomplish it.
If we acted like we were together in here, it would only make things confusing.
“And what are we exactly in here?” he asked, “Enemies? Friends?”
“I wouldn’t say we are friends, but I wouldn’t say we are enemies either.”
“We aren’t friends?” he asked.
I shook my head. “This relationship can’t be the same as it was before, Kaleb. You know that,” I swallowed. “I might have agreed to this, but that doesn’t mean I am over things. I’m still hurt about what happened.”
Kaleb frowned. “Nora, I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“I know that,” I said, because deep down I did.
I let my anger get the better of me, and I shouldn’t have.
It wasn’t his fault that he didn’t feel the same.
“Which is why in here things have to have boundaries. Can we agree on that? I understand outside anything can happen, but in here, in this space, I need it to be real. I can’t fake it twenty-four seven. ”
Kaleb nodded. “We can.”
“Good,” I said with a nod as I looked at my boxes. “Now, can we move all my shit upstairs?”
Kaleb nodded, giving me a genuine smile. We spent the next couple of hours putting my stuff where I wanted it. I unboxed all my clothes while Kaleb unboxed my kitchen items. I made my bed and tried to organize my bedroom. I started dragging the boxes down the stairs and found Kaleb in the kitchen.
“I think that’s everything.”
“And to celebrate, how about we go out?”
I raised an eyebrow at him and paused by the kitchen counter. “Out?”
He nodded. “Yeah, go out for a date. We can spend time together like we used to.”
I suddenly was nervous. “Like a date date?”
He nodded. “Well, we did agree that we need to keep up appearances. We can go somewhere that’s quiet if you want.”
I shook my head. We couldn’t have dates like that. Not if we wanted people to believe it. We needed to go somewhere public, and I knew the perfect spot.
“The hog bar. We can go there.”
His eyebrows went up. “Really? You want to go there?”
I nodded. “Yeah, it’s always busy, and everyone goes there. They have pool tables and karaoke. We’ve gone before.”
A small smile pulled at his lips. “Yeah, and I remember us all leaving drunk off our asses by the end of it. Pretty sure Westley threw up behind the garbage.”
That’s exactly what I needed. A hard drink to turn my brain off.
I went to the shower and tried to find something to wear. I wanted to look nice, but I couldn’t remember the last time I dressed up.
I glanced at my phone that sat on my bed and gave in. I grabbed it and called Jade. It rang a few times before a young voice picked up. “Aunt Nora!”
I smiled as Ilsa spoke up, all eager. “Hi, Ilsa. Is your mother around?”
“She’s in the kitchen. I’ll get her.”
I heard Ilsa yell for her mother, and the sound of walking. The line was quiet for a moment before I heard Jade speak up. “Hey, Nora. Sorry, I was cooking.”
“It’s fine.” I looked across the room, staring into the closet. “I have a question. I’m staring in my closet, and it would seem I have no clothes. So, how does a shopping spree sound?”
“Oh my god, yes! It’s been forever.”
I smiled. “Want to meet me on Main Street?” I glanced at my clock sitting on my desk. “Like half an hour? Or does that cut into your lunch? Maybe you need more time.”
“Screw the food. Brandon! You’re in charge of lunch! I’m dipping.”
I laughed as I heard Brandon yell back with questions. I ended the line and threw on something.
Half an hour later, I watched as Jade walked toward me with Ilsa walking eagerly alongside her. I smiled as I pulled myself out of my car. “Hey.”
“Shopping spree!” Ilsa screamed with glee. Ilsa ran at me, and I hugged her as Jade chucked. “Someone refused to stay at home with her father after she heard ‘shopping.’”
“Of course she did. Who doesn’t want new clothes?”
“Not that I really need a reason to shop, but why are you looking for new clothes anyway?” Jade asked as she pulled the door open to the Beauty Boutique.
I chewed on my cheek for a moment as we walked inside, taking in the clothes. The boutique was a frequent place we shopped at because it had a nice kids’ section for clothes. It was exactly like the name, beautiful. The place was decorated like a princess’s castle with a large crystal chandelier.
“I need to buy something to wear on a date.”
Jade looked at me with wide eyes, stopping in her tracks. “Wait, you’re going on a date with Kaleb?”
“That is what you do when you’re dating someone.”
I looked away from her and toward a sweater dress hanging near me. “I want to look nice, and all my clothes are a little old.”
Jade tilted her head as she stared at me with amusement. “Why do you want to look so nice for this? Is it because you maybe want to get my brother’s attention?”
I rolled my eyes, trying to suppress the blush. A part of me did want to dress up for him. A part wanted me to win his attention. But I also knew that was childish.
“It’s a date, and unless I appear like I care, others won’t believe it.” I turned with the dress. “Does this look nice?”
Jade looked at the dress and then looked back up at me. “You guys are really doing this? This dating thing.”
I nodded. “Your father doesn’t believe us, so yes.”
She groaned as she turned, looking around the clothes. “I just want to make sure you guys are thinking about this. I don’t want either of you to get hurt.”
“We are both adults, Jade. We are going to be fine.”
She turned, holding a dark dress in her hands. “I know, but still. You’re like a sister to me, and he’s my brother. I’m just making sure you both are thinking about everything.”
I grabbed the dress. “We are. Now, is this my size?” I pulled the dress up. “Because this is cute.”
“I thought you might like it.” She pointed toward the dressing room. “Go try it on while I hunt down my child.”
I chuckled and headed toward the dressing rooms. I grabbed another dress as I walked, thinking it looked nice. I slid into the dressing room and tried to first dress on. It was a dark gray sweater dress that clung to me. But it was scratchy, and I pulled at the neck, hating how tight it was.
“How is the dress coming?” Jade asked, and I could hear her voice near me. I slid the curtain back, and Jade stared at me. She cringed. “You look miserable.”
“I think this was made with wool mixed with a thousand little needles.”
Jade held back a laugh. “Then take it off. It hurts to look at you.”
I closed the curtain, stripping the dress off. “Did Ilsa find anything?”
“No, but she’s looking at the shoes in the back. Which we will need to look at next.”
I tried on the other dresses, but I didn’t like them. I pushed the curtain back and sighed. “I’m not going to find anything.” Jade stood holding a dress with a smile on her face. “What about this?”
I stared at the dress. It was a deep maroon colored dress with a deep V-neck. I could tell it was thick material, but also short.
“I don’t think that would look good on me. I don’t have the boobs for it. That’s a little more slutty than I wear.”
Jade rolled her eyes. “Try it on, I think it’s going to surprise you.”
I sighed and grabbed the dress. I shut the curtain, stripped back down, and pulled the dress on.
I liked how warm I felt in it, even though it was cut short.
I turned to myself in the mirror, a little surprised.
My boobs looked good in the dress. It hugged my curves, making me feel sexy.
My mouth just dropped as I stared at myself, shocked.
“Well?” Jade pulled the curtain back, and her eyes widened. “Damn! Look at you.”
I turned, looking at my back. The dress had a criss-cross in the back, showing part of it. My ass even looked good. “This is really nice. I look really good.”
“Screw good. You look hot as shit, Nora. You’re going to need shoes to go with it.”
I spent the rest of the afternoon with Jade and Ilsa. We stopped for ice cream and joked around. We stopped at the park to let Ilsa play at the playground. I leaned back, enjoying the sun on me.
“So, how has the move-in gone?”
I glanced at Jade. “It’s going fine. It’s day one.”
She gave me a worried expression before rubbing her hands together nervously. “You’re really okay with all this?”
I nodded. “I’m really okay with it.”
Jade looked over at Ilsa, and I watched as her body seemed to tense up. I’d seen this look on her face before and sat up a little straighter. “What?”
Jade looked toward the tree line. “I feel a darkness getting close.”
I looked to the treeline, praying that a hybrid didn’t jump out at us. I heard enough about it to know Ilsa didn’t need to be around for that.
“Do you know where?”
Jade shook her head. “No, I just feel it.”
I stiffened as a cold feeling dripped over me.
I felt all the hairs on my body stand up like another sense was hitting me.
I shivered, trying to shake the feeling, but it stuck.
It only grew colder, like I was being shoved into a freezer.
It was like needles were trailing down my spine, and ice was pumping through my veins.
I felt like the air was being kicked out of my lungs, and I tightened my grip on the bench. The feeling only grew. I stiffened, feeling my heart beating in my ear. Jade looked at me. “Nora, are you okay?”
I shook my head; surely I was having a medical problem. Something was wrong. “No…I…I feel so cold.”
Jade’s eyes widened. “Your hair is standing up.” Jade then looked amazed. “Oh my god, you feel it too.”
“Feel what?”
Jade gave me a wicked grin, and her eyes sparkled. “That’s your magic. I could hardly breathe the first time. It was like someone hit me with a baseball bat.”
I stared at her with wide eyes. She had to be wrong. I might be a witch, but I didn’t have any magic. This had to be something else, panic or anxiety.
“No, I don’t have magic, Jade.”
Jade continued to smile at me, though. “No, Nora. You do. It’s just been dormant like me.”