“Good,” he said, releasing me from his arms. “Let’s get out of here. I think it’s fair to say tonight didn’t exactly go as planned.”
“Really?” I didn’t hide my sarcasm as he led me out of the water. My thumbed hooked under the leather bracelet I’d made him. “You know, you don’t have to wear this thing until the leather disintegrates.”
He glanced at his wrist, smiling. “How about this? I’ll take it off when you replace it with a band on the ring finger of my left hand.”
“Let’s hope that bracelet’s as eternal as we are,” I said dryly. “Because that’s how long it will be before I’m allowed to put a ring on your finger.”
“We’ll see about that,” he said under his breath and whenever his expression was lined as it was now, I’d learned he was talking more to himself than anyone else.
“I’d say a change of venue is in order?” He retrieved his shirt from the tree bough it was hanging from and slid it on. Seemed like a waste since I’d be taking it off in a few minutes anyways, but maybe that’s where all the fun was; the taking off.
But as a flash of William’s bare upper body came to mind, I knew the taking off had nothing on the exploration that followed. Not that the exploration got much past his top half, much to his very apparent disappointment and to my secret disappointment. Not in a million years would I risk William’s life again and whenever we’d neared the point of no return (as I’d sadistically referred to it), it was either time for sleep, separation—or when things got really heated—a cold shower. I had a feeling tonight would require a three tiered approach.
“How does my room sound for a change of venue, Mr. Hayward?” I hoisted my pants into place and cinched the belt tight around my vest, looking longingly at the blanket that, inanimate as it was, was beckoning to me. “What is this?” I asked, the book catching my eye. I plopped down and began thumbing through the book with its brittle pages and musty smell. Shuffling through the ancient pages I understood why the phrase older than dirt was created. I skipped to the page Charles had marked with a scarlet ribbon. Before my eyes could latch onto the first word, William’s hands pried it away. “Let’s not ruin the night.”
I reached for the book, but he shoved it behind his back. “I’d say your father showing up in the middle of us rounding second base to announce you’d be leaving tomorrow until the end of time already ruined the night.”
He leaned forward, his eyes hungry. “Let’s see if you’re still calling tonight ruined by sunrise.”
I imagined a brigade of fire extinguishers attacking the flames burning inside me. It didn’t help. “Nice try with the whole diverting my attention with your seduction,” I said, careful not to look him in the eyes. “But you’ve only managed to heighten my interest in whatever is written on the pages of that thing.”
“Nothing of any importance,” he countered, outmaneuvering me again, but somehow managing to position me into his lap. Such an opportunist. “Now can we please forget about the wretched book and pick up where we left off?” His eyes were floating in their anticipation, but it was his voice that gave him away.
“That’s it, isn’t it?” I asked, my eyes bulging. “Whatever’s in there is why everyone thinks you’re the chosen one.”
He sighed and this time when I reached my arm around him for the book, he released it like he’d resigned himself to whatever detour this night was taking. “What is this thing?” I asked, turning it over, searching for a title or a copyright or an author name . . . or something that would give it a place in history. “Is this some sort of Immortal Bible?”
One corner of his mouth pulled up. “It’s more of a guidebook.”
“Isn’t that what a Bible is?”
He shrugged, fluttering his hand dismissively. “Tomayto, tomahtoe.”
“So is your name in here or something?” I asked, shuffling through the pages, charging towards my scarlet ribbon target.
“No.” His voice was guarded, as was his face. He was editing . . . again.
“So why do they think it’s you?” I tilted his chin towards me, knowing it was impossible for him to divulge anything but the truth when his face was trained on mine.
“Exactly,” he said, turning his palms up like I’d said something prophetic. “For no other reason than a vague description thousands of years old.”
At my destination, I moved the scarlet ribbon aside, my eyes falling on a paragraph underlined in black ink. I felt William suck in a breath as my eyes scurried over the first line
Balance is the fragile state of being we seek to keep,
Balance is the equilibrium we will one day lose,
Balance is what the chosen one must restore.
Mortality will be lost at a young age, by violent means,
A trio of brothers will make the journey to Immortality with him, aiding him in his quest.
A leader at heart, men will flock to him both in life and after
A solider, a healer, an intellectual, but above all, reluctant to
fulfill all that is required of his calling.
An arsenal of gifts will be at his disposal,
Foretelling to know death, to have an incentive to overcome it.
Strength, speed, and courage to combat his enemies,
Compassion to deal out mercy.
And when his need is greatest, when circumstance presents him with