27 Dates_The Lantern Date Read online

  27 Dates

  Volume 13: The Lantern Date

  By B. N. Hale

  Text Copyright © 2018 B.N. Hale

  All Rights Reserved

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Author Bio

  Chapter 1

  Kate stared at her phone, trying to remember what Brittney had asked. Then she realized she’d asked for the date and she mumbled the answer. Was it really August 2nd? Four weeks since she’d ended things with Reed.

  The passage of time had merged classes and work into an endless blur of faces. She vaguely recalled studying the night before for an upcoming exam, but the words were meaningless. She’d thought Reed would call but he hadn’t, the lack of communication deepening the wound left by the Fourth of July. How had she been so wrong? But then, she could never have imagined Reed’s past, and what he’d endured by losing Aura.

  “Kate.”

  She looked up, and her eyes focusing on Brittney. The girl’s expression betrayed a trace of annoyance, and Kate realized she’d called her name several times. Then Kate looked down and saw the cookies on the plate. She accepted one with a nod of gratitude.

  “Kate,” Brittney said, “did you hear me?”

  “Didn’t you ask if I wanted a cookie?” Kate asked.

  “No,” Brittney said.

  “Oh.”

  Kate turned her attention back to the kitchen counter where she was preparing her lunch. Brittney groaned and put the plate down. Then she grabbed Kate’s shoulders, forcing her to meet her gaze. She gave a long, searching look before frowning.

  “Kate,” she said. “You need to get past this. You’re like a zombie.”

  “I’m fine,” Kate said mechanically.

  Ember stepped into the room and took a cookie. “For someone who never dated the guy, you’re certainly broken up that you’re not dating him.”

  “He didn’t want to date me,” Kate said.

  Ember waved the cookie like a sword, her eyes flashing. “Are you stupid?”

  The insult needled past the fog and Kate frowned. “Of course not.”

  “Reed was falling in love with you,” Ember said. “Don’t you see that? Because everyone saw it. But you’ve spent four weeks wallowing like he abandoned you. He just had some things to work out. That’s why he went to Florida.”

  Brittney threw her a warning look but Kate zeroed in on her roommate. “He what?”

  “He went to see Aura’s grave,” Brittney said, her expression apologetic.

  “When?” Kate demanded.

  “Two weeks ago,” Ember said. “He was in the same funk you were so Jackson kidnapped him.”

  Kate struggled to deal with the whirlwind of emotions. Had he really gone to Aura’s grave? How long before he got back? Would he reaffirm his promise? Or say goodbye? The questions bombarded her, leaving her confused and hollow.

  “We weren’t supposed to tell you,” Brittney said when she didn’t respond.

  “If something had changed,” Kate finally said. “He would have called.”

  “Maybe he’s still there,” Brittney said.

  Kate stuffed her hand into her pocket and yanked her phone out. Shoving it in Ember’s face, she yelled, “He hasn’t called or texted in a month. I feel terrible for what he went through, but if he wanted to be with me he would have done something. This is Reed we’re talking about.”

  “Maybe he’s trying to,” Brittney said.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Kate demanded.

  “Maybe he thinks this is what’s best for you,” she replied, glancing to Ember for support. “It’s what happens in all the movies. ‘I love you so much I have to leave’ and all that.”

  “You don’t leave the one you love unless they ask you to,” Kate snapped.

  Ember stared at her, her expression sad. “Leaving only benefits the person who leaves.”

  Kate folded her arms but couldn’t stay still. The anger had burned away Kate’s barrier of despair and she could not bring it back. Everything incited her to anger, even the cookie in her hand, which she realized she’d ground into minute particles.

  “Reed is obviously still dealing with what happened to Aura and I want to help,” Kate said. “Why won’t he let me help?”

  “You did say you couldn’t wait for him,” Brittney pointed out.

  “I’m not the one with an issue,” she snapped.

  “But you were at one time,” Ember said. “You hadn’t gotten over Jason, remember? And Reed was there when you needed him. He didn’t walk out when Jason appeared. He showed up the moment you called—without judgment.”

  Kate stabbed her finger at Ember. “Reed set up this whole date to kiss me and then he flinched like I had a disease. What was I supposed to do? Pretend like I didn’t care? Because I did.”

  “Because you do,” Ember said.

  “Of course I do!” Kate shouted. “Could I have responded better? Maybe. But you try waiting five months for a guy to make a move only to have him flinch. Maybe I should have heard him out, showed him that I cared . . . maybe I should have told him I would wait . . .” All at once her anger dissipated and she crumpled. “Please tell me I didn’t push him away.”

  “You did,” Ember said. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t get him back.”

  “Call him,” Brittney said.

  “I can’t just call him,” Kate said, wiping the tears from her eyes.

  “Yes, you can,” Ember said. “Or you can take my approach and show him how angry you are. But since he doesn’t really deserve that, I’d suggest you go with a nicer option.”

  “You really think I can just call him?”

  “Yes,” they said in unison.

  Brittney nodded. “If you don’t, you’ll regret it forever.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Because it took you a year to get over Jason—and you didn’t like him nearly this much.”

  “Not even close,” Ember agreed.

  The door opened and Marta came in. She’d picked up a morning shift for a sick cousin and was dressed in her uniform. Catching sight of the three of them in the kitchen, she walked over to join them.

  “What’s going on?”

  “It’s an intervention for Kate,” Ember said.

  “It’s about time,” Marta said fervently. “Is it working?”

  “Hey!” Kate exclaimed.

  “I love you,” Marta said. “But you’ve been really messed up the last few weeks.”

  Kate grunted sourly, some of the last month flooding back, especially the night she was supposed to go on a date with Reed. Instead, she’d eaten Rocky Road until she’d passed out on the living room floor.

  “I’m sorry I’ve been so depressed,” Kate said. “Especially the night of my date with Reed.”

  “You needed to wallow,” Brittney said. “But ice cream melted all over the couch.”

  Kate groaned and wiped a hand down her face. Then she realized her other hand still held the remains of Brittney’s cookie and she stepped to the sink. As she washed the crumbs off her hands she watched the water flow into the drain.

  “You didn’t have to clean up after me,” she said.

  “At least it got us to clean the couch,” Marta said. “It was getting disgusting.”

  “Amen,” Brittney said.

  Kate clenched her eyes shut and shook her head. “What am I supposed to do?” she asked, grateful for the sudden clarity of her thoughts and afraid it would not last. “Do you really think I should call him?”

  “Yes,” they all chorused.

  Kat
e couldn’t stop the smile. “Really? You don’t think it’s too late?”

  Marta picked up a cookie and took a seat. “If he shoots you down, you’ll know it’s truly over. If he doesn’t you’ll get back together and be happy again.”

  “And if he shoots me down?” Kate asked, her stomach lurching at the prospect.

  “Then Ember can break his fingers,” Brittney said.

  “You know I’ll do it,” she said.

  “I don’t think that’s necessary,” Kate said, allowing a small smile.

  Kate took a seat at the table and picked up a cookie. The flavor helped steel her nerves, and abruptly she pulled out her phone. She fumbled to press the home button but her hands were shaking and she nearly dropped it.

  “Put it on speaker,” Marta urged.

  They all crowded around the table as Kate complied, but her finger hovered over his name. He was still at the top of her favorites list. But her courage failed her and she looked to her roommates helplessly.

  “I can’t do it,” she said.

  “I can,” Ember said. She stabbed the phone, her hand striking like a snake.

  Kate tried to pick up the phone, but Brittney blocked her way. “It’s already ringing,” she said. “You can’t hang up now, he’ll know you called.”

  The phone rang three times, the sound reverberating off the walls of the silent kitchen. Kate closed her eyes after the second ring, shrinking at the prospect of him not picking up. Just as her heart crumpled there was a click.

  “Kate,” Reed said.

  There was softness to his voice, as if he’d waited for her call for decades and the moment had finally come. She licked her suddenly dry lips, her thoughts tumbling through her head in a cacophony of voices. Should she be angry? Grateful? Worried? Her roommates frantically motioned for her to speak.

  “Reed,” she said, her voice a mixture of relief and tentative hope.

  “I’m glad you called,” Reed said, and she heard his easy smile in his voice.

  “Really?” Kate asked. “It’s been a while.” A trace of anger tinged her words.

  “I’m sorry about that,” Reed said. “I really am. But I hope this will help you forgive me.”

  “What do you mean, this?”

  The phone clicked off and all four of them stared at it. “Did he just hang up?” Brittney asked in shock.

  “I’ll kill him,” Ember said. “Then I’ll beat—”

  The doorbell rang, and they all jumped. Then understanding washed over them and they scrambled for the door, Kate protesting loudly that she should be first. But Ember reached the door and pulled Brittney back so she could swing the door open. Reed wasn’t there.

  But his invitation was.

  Chapter 2

  A red balloon floated above a small bag. The breeze fluttered the balloon, making it bob and swing, the string tugging on the bag. Kate scanned the yard, but no one was in sight. Whoever had placed the pouch was already gone.

  “I just talked to him,” Kate said. “But he must have been already on his way here.”

  “You’re asking that now?” Ember asked. “Open it.”

  Kate stooped and picked up the pouch. Glancing at the sunlit yard, she retreated indoors. Setting it on the table, she opened it with trembling fingers. Inside, a small card lay nestled in silk. Kate picked it up and read the note.

  Kate,

  Please forgive the marks, of a past now gone from sight.

  Our last date ended with sparks, our next will end in light.

  If you’ll have me.

  Kate stared at the words, her heart inflating like the balloon that hovered above her head. Questions and emotions flooded her in bursts of hope, doubt, and curiosity. How had he picked that exact moment to leave the invite? How had he made his decision? When?

  Brittney cried out in excitement, causing them all to jump. “Sorry,” she said. “I’m just excited.”

  Marta laughed. “Did you have to scare us?”

  Ember folded her arms. “I don’t like it. Why now? Why this moment?”

  “I was wondering the same thing,” Marta said.

  “He always had excellent timing,” Kate said, her smile turning soft.

  “But aren’t you curious?” Ember asked. “If he decided to ask you on another date, surely he knew before this moment.”

  “Perhaps,” Kate said. “But I don’t care. I’m just glad he’s here.”

  “You think he wants to date for real?”

  “This certainly sounds like he does,” Kate said, holding the letter up to emphasize her point. “But I was certain last time too, and it didn’t work out.”

  She frowned, her elation fading into worry. Abruptly she picked up her phone and pressed his name. Her roommates fell silent as she stood in their midst. She wasn’t surprised when he picked up on the first ring.

  “However did you manage the timing?” she asked.

  “I’ve planned to invite you for a couple of days,” he said. “You called as I was walking to your door. Nearly gave me a heart attack, by the way.”

  “What took you so long?” she dared to ask.

  He paused, and she held her breath. “You were right,” he said. “And I needed to figure out some things.”

  “And have you?”

  “I have.”

  Her heart clattered against her ribs. “And the date?”

  “You’ll find out tomorrow night. I hope you can make it.”

  “I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”

  “See you at 4:00,” he said.

  Kate hung up and stared at her phone. Then she turned to find her roommates on the verge of exploding. They’d huddled around her so all could hear the conversation. Then Ember shook her head.

  “And just like that, you’ve forgiven him?”

  Kate considered her response and then shrugged. “I have. He listened to Aura die, remember?”

  “So, what do you expect out of this date?” Brittney asked.

  “A kiss,” Kate said, and then grinned. “And a boyfriend.”

  The previous elation burst across her and she grinned stupidly as her roommates celebrated. Marta snatched her phone and called Jackson, while Ember called Shelby. Brittney called Reed’s mother, who Ember had called two months ago on Kate’s behalf. In an hour the blondes had gathered all the information possible and the full story came out.

  “Jackson and Reed got back two nights ago,” Marta was saying. “Reed spent the entire drive planning this date, but Jackson refused to say what you’re doing.”

  “Shelby concurs,” Ember said. “But whatever it is, it’s going to be outside. Jackson kept it to himself despite her best efforts to get him to talk.”

  “What about Reed’s mom?” Kate asked.

  Brittney stared at her phone like it was a foreign device, her silence quieting them all. Kate nudged her, and Brittney looked at them, her gaze focusing on Kate. Then she blinked and shook her head.

  “Aura’s not dead.”

  “What?” they asked in unison.

  “She’s in a coma,” Brittney said. “I guess the doctors think she’ll never wake up and want to take her off life support. Aura’s parents have refused.”

  “She’s alive?” Kate asked, stunned.

  “Sort of,” Brittney said uncertainly, and shared the events of Reed’s visit to Miami.

  “If she’s breathing, she’s alive,” Ember said, folding her arms.

  Brittney shook her head. “Machines breathe for her.”

  Ember scowled and looked away, and Marta gestured to the bag and balloon. “So Reed went to say goodbye to her and a week later he’s on your doorstep?”

  “I guess,” Kate said uncertainly.

  Suddenly overcome with the vacillating emotions, she sank into a seat, trying to come to terms with the volume of information. Remembering she still had the note, she lifted and read it to herself. Then she shook her head.

  “He spent the last month trying to resolve his past,” she said. “He
wouldn’t have left this note if hadn’t done that.”

  “So, you’re going to trust him?” Marta asked.

  “I think so,” Kate said slowly. “I know I want to be with him.”

  “Then you need to get ready,” Brittney said.

  “No,” Kate said. “Last time we spent hours figuring out the perfect outfit. This time I get to wear what I want.”

  “Not even shopping?” Ember asked.

  Kate’s lips twitched. “Perhaps a little shopping.”

  Her roommates whisked her out of the house and into Ember’s jeep, and less than an hour after the invitation they were in the mall, looking for tops. Most of their conversation was speculative, with even Kate wondering what Reed had in store for her. Several times she wondered about Aura, but the timing was not a coincidence.

  The cold knot that had settled in her stomach when she’d first heard Aura’s name had disappeared. Like an anchor had been cut, she felt as if she were floating on air. And her heart soared.

  The whirlwind of shopping culminated in new clothes for all of them, and they returned to the house flush with excitement. Unable to sleep, they stayed up late, talking and eating a variety of desserts that Brittney concocted.

  Brittney eventually fell asleep on the couch, as did Marta. With The Notebook playing on the TV, Kate sat curled up under a blanket while Ember sat beside her. They sipped on root beer floats and continued to talk.

  “Do you think he’s really resolved everything?” Kate finally asked.

  “I think you’re right,” Ember said. “He wouldn’t have asked you out if he hadn’t.”

  “You think so?” Kate asked.

  “Is it wrong that I’m jealous?” Ember asked.

  “No,” Kate said.

  Ember gestured to the screen. “We’re taught to hope for a fairytale guy that will show up and sweep us off our feet. I never thought I’d see it happen for real, and I guess I’m afraid it will never happen to me.”

  “At least we know decent guys exist,” Kate said.

  Ember shook her head. “I just wonder if there’s a guy I won’t drive away.”

  Her voice was uncharacteristically vulnerable, causing Kate to lean over and put her arm around the girl’s shoulders. Ember didn’t pull away, and instead released a mournful sigh before draining her drink.