Push and Shove: The Ghost Bird Series: #6 (The Academy) Read online

  I breathed out slowly, trying to relax. This was just his way of getting me to take it easy, like we’d been told. I settled in, determined to let the movie distract me.

  It was thirty minutes into the movie when the heroine managed an awkward first kiss with the guy she’d been crushing on since the beginning. When the hero returned the kiss, though, his hands moved all over her body, caressing her breasts, cupping her butt.

  My cheeks radiated and suddenly I was fully aware of Nathan behind me again. I’d felt him before, but now it took a lot of will power to focus on the movie again. The screen kiss made me think of Kota getting so close and not kissing me, and then of Nathan behind me, and wondering how he felt about me.

  I stirred, stretching my legs, and ended up tracing my toes along the top of his foot. I withdrew my feet a little to give him space.

  Nathan leaned in on me. His nose found my ear and he nuzzled it. “Peanut,” he whispered.

  “Honey?” I said in a small voice. The pit of my stomach trembled. I stiffened, unsure how to respond.

  The hand around my side squeezed tenderly, pulling my back into his hard chest and stomach. He tucked closer into me. “I’m never able to finish a movie with you around,” he said. “You wiggle.”

  “Sorry.”

  His lips traced my ear. “You’re not sorry. What’s going to happen when I take you to the movies sometime?”

  “I can sit away from you if you want,” I said, trying to be funny.

  The hand at my side clutched tighter. His other arm drew around until he was hugging me around my shoulders. I sucked in a breath, getting a lung full of his Cypress.

  His lips glided along the side of my ear. “You’re not going anywhere.”

  The way he held me, I was trapped. I wriggled my arms under his embrace. “Nathan,” I breathed out.

  “I want you here with me,” he said, pulling me tighter to him. His lips met my lobe, and his warm breath fell against my skin.

  A desire to twist around and face him swept over me, but I couldn’t muster the courage. I stared hard at the screen, not seeing anything. It was flashes of color to me now. I was lost and wasn’t even sure if I wanted to return to the movie at all, but too terrified to do anything else.

  Nathan picked himself up, shoving the pillow away until it tumbled across the floor. He turned me until I was on my back. He propped himself up on his elbow on his side so he could look down at me. His other hand settled onto my stomach, his fingers splayed out across my abdomen.

  This was worse! Now I had nothing to look at but the ceiling or directly at him. I had no idea what to do now. I folded my arms just under my breasts, unsure of what to do with them. Heat blasted over my cheeks and I knew they must have been pink.

  His blue eyes bore into me, sweeping across my face. Studying. Keeping eye contact was difficult because it made the shaking sensation in my stomach increase until I didn’t know how to contain it. The only relief I got was when I looked elsewhere, his cheeks, his ears, his hair.

  I’d felt the guys looking at me this way before. Instinct told me they wanted to kiss me. I’d been wrong. North had once told me to trust them, to let them worry about things like this. I believed him. I wanted to let them figure out what they wanted to do with me and not just assume. If Nathan wanted, he would. I’d wait and let them figure it out. I had no idea about kissing and relationships.

  Nathan’s eyes locked on mine once more, swept down to my cheeks and settled on my lips.

  I stilled, and couldn’t help but lower my gaze until I was staring at his mouth.

  His fingers twitched across my stomach, swiping my side in a gentle motion. It forced a smile out of me.

  “What?” he asked, his own grin catching in the corner of his mouth.

  “Nothing,” I said, fighting to not ruin what’d been an intense moment.

  “Hm?” He lowered his head closer. “Something funny?” His fingers curled across my side.

  My lips split and I ducked my head toward his chest. I started giggling. I swatted at his hand and then gripped it to get him to stop.

  “Ha. See,” he said. “You shouldn’t ever let anyone know where you’re ticklish. You’re done for now.” He wrestled his hand away from my grasp and started sliding his fingertips across my side.

  “You knew I was!” I squirmed against him, trying to turn over so I could push his arm away easier. In a way, it was a relief. The nervous rattle in my stomach was easing away.

  Nathan tucked his other arm around me tighter, holding on to me around the hips. “Nu-uh, stay here, Peanut,” he said.

  His fingers continued to tickle. I couldn’t stop squirming. I tried smacking at his arm, but he was unrelenting. He had more power over me and could use it when he wanted.

  I poked at his stomach, trying to tickle back.

  “That doesn’t work with me, sweetie,” he said through a chuckle.

  Was this like when Gabriel told me pouting didn’t work? I curled my fingers, trying to run them against his side.

  He tucked his arm tight up against his ribs. “Nope,” Nathan said, but his lips twisted into a rigid grin.

  Thought so. I was getting the hang of the guys. I curled my fingers more, weaving around his arm and trying to rub at his side. Since his shirt was a little tighter, it was a bit easier to tickle and not just grip a bunch of cloth.

  Nathan harrumphed and caught both of my wrists in one hand, drawing them together. He used his free hand against my side, tickling.

  I managed to wriggle a wrist free. He tried to reclaim it, but I darted. I caught on the hem of his shirt in an effort to tickle quickly and escape capture. My fingers brushed against his bare skin.

  Nathan’s lips nearly exploded as he jerked his body back against the couch, laughing. “Shit, Sang. Your hands are too soft.” He caught up both of my wrists, pinning them against each other easily in one hand. When they were secured and over my head, he wriggled his fingers toward my stomach.

  “No,” I squealed, laughing. I wriggled, trying to squirm away from him.

  He hooked a couple of fingers to the hem of my shirt, tugging it up to expose my stomach. My eyes widened and I panicked. Tickling my sides was one thing, the last time Silas touched my stomach, any spot below my belly button, something happened to me, and it wasn’t ticklish. I could either squirm into the tickling, or risk his touch on something I wasn’t sure I was ready to explore yet.

  “Say mercy,” he said, his lips twisted into a wicked smile.

  I couldn’t give in to that. Stupid pride. “No,” I squealed again, giggling in a fit and trying to wrench my wrists free.

  “How’d I know you wouldn’t?” His fingertips traced gently over the top of my stomach, close to my ribs. “I’m going to find your best spot now.”

  I bent my body away, trying to shove myself against him to cover my stomach. “Please?” I squealed louder. “Honey...”

  He moved his hand out toward my side, sliding it further around my back, until he simply held me by the waist, pushing me into his body. “Give up, Peanut?”

  I pursed my lips, not wanting to give an answer.

  He lowered his face, his eyes catching mine before he slid his gaze down, locking onto my mouth. His lips parted as if he wanted to say something.

  “What the hell is this shit?” a voice boomed through the room, startling me so bad I sunk into Nathan, as if trying to disappear between him and the couch.

  Nathan shot up, releasing me and nearly knocking me to the floor. “Dad! You didn’t tell me you were coming home.” He gathered himself so he could stand up.

  I sat up, scooting out of the way and positioning myself behind Nathan. My cheeks were on fire at having been caught in such an awkward position by Nathan’s father.

  My knees locked together, rooting me and I wrapped my arms around my body. His father? He’d told me before his dad was mean. I peeked over Nathan’s shoulder, afraid to face Mr. Griffin head on.

  He was a wiry man, wi
th thinning dark brown hair. His dark eyes were rimmed with redness and there were blood vessels broken around his nose. There was some resemblance in the face between him and his son. Nathan was taller and bigger, though. “What the fuck? Are you turning this place into a whorehouse?” He pointed at me, his eyes flaring. “Who’s this?”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Nathan said. He shifted, placing himself as a shield between me and his father. “She’s going home.”

  “Are you fucking kidding me? I want to know who my son has pinned to the couch,” he boomed. Mr. Griffin shoved a finger in my direction. “Who the hell are you?”

  “Sang,” Nathan said to me, his hands going up in a stopping motion toward his father. “Go home.”

  “Sang?” Mr. Griffin said. He sniffed loud and his head tilted from side to side. I wondered if he was dizzy. “What kind of hippy-dippy name is that? And look at this fucking house. It’s a trash heap.”

  I swallowed and glanced around but didn’t see any trash.

  “Leave, Sang,” Nathan said.

  I wanted to listen to him, but I was petrified. I didn’t want him to be alone if his father was mean. I froze in my panicked state.

  “Fucking right she should leave. You’re in a hell of a lot of trouble. Go home,” he snapped at me. “I’m not letting my son get the neighborhood whore pregnant.”

  “Don’t talk about her like that,” Nathan snapped. “Sang, go. Now.”

  My body moved instantly at his command. My shoes were by the front door. I didn’t want to walk around Nathan’s dad to get them. I ran for the sliding glass door, shoving one aside so I could flee.

  “Where the hell is she going? You’ve got her going through the back? What the fucking hell, Nathan?” His hand shot out, slapping Nathan in the side of the head with a loud smack. “I thought you had things together down here and I walk in and you’re fucking some girl on my fucking couch.”

  I froze just outside the glass. Had his father just hit him?

  Nathan had his hands up protectively again, taking a step back. “Back off, Dad. I’ll clean the house.”

  “Fuck you,” Mr. Griffin reached around Nathan’s hands, popping him on the side of the head again. “Don’t backtalk me. I’ll tell you what you’re going to do.”

  Nathan half turned, his arms still up defensively. He caught me staring through the glass. “Go, Sang.”

  Nathan’s urging had my legs moving. I dashed around the pool, and made it as far as the shed before I stopped, realizing I was probably making a mistake. I was abandoning Nathan when his dad was hitting him. I couldn’t leave him now.

  I dropped my hand into my bra, finding my phone. I found Kota’s app and hit the red button. As the emergency text was sending, Nathan backed his way out of the house. His father was following.

  “Back off, Dad,” Nathan bellowed, stepping out into the porch on the back side of the house. He waved his arms in front of himself. “Don’t touch me again.”

  I clutched at the side of the shed, squeezing myself back and crouching. There were some lights on inside the pool, and the ceiling light on the overhang. I was pretty sure I was in shadow behind the shed. I’d gone this far, but I couldn’t leave him any further.

  Mr. Griffin shoved a finger toward Nathan’s face. “Are you threatening me? You might have gotten all those fancy belts, but I’m still your father, and I’ll kick your sorry ass. You’re a spoiled little shit.”

  Nathan dodged the finger, smacking it with the back of his hand to push it away. “Stop,” he said, his shoulders rounding out. I didn’t think I’d ever seen Nathan pull himself together like that, to where he looked so massive.

  Nathan’s dad snatched up Nathan’s wrist. His other hand shot out, smacking Nathan in the ear. “You think you can have some fucking whore on my couch. Haven’t you listened to a thing I’ve told you? When you’re under my roof, you keep your pants on. Do you want a baby at fifteen?”

  “I’m sixteen,” Nathan said, half sarcastic. “I’ve had a birthday.”

  “Well happy fucking birthday.” Mr. Griffin smacked him on the ear again.

  “Don’t.”

  “Don’t tell me what to do. And don’t talk back to me.” Mr. Griffin stepped forward, but the move was shaky. His head kept wobbling back and forth. The finger that he was pointing at Nathan swayed, as if he wasn’t sure where to point. “Keep the skank bitch out of my house.”

  “Don’t talk about her like that,” Nathan growled.

  I swallowed hard, pressing myself against the side of the shed. I wanted Nathan to run. Why wasn’t he running? Why didn’t he just walk away?

  “What, Nathan?” Mr. Griffin bellowed, his open palm closed into a fist and he shoved it toward his son, who dodged it. “You telling me how to talk now? You think you can do that? This is my house.” He swung outward, his fist striking Nathan in the ear.

  Nathan dodged out of the way of the next one, backing up a few more steps, holding his hands up, but his feet moved apart in the way he did during self-defense training. “I’m not telling you how to talk, but don’t talk about Sang like that.”

  I opened my mouth, ready to call out to Nathan to run instead of fighting. I didn’t care what his dad was saying about me or him. I wanted Nathan to be safe.

  Fingers cupped around my lips and an arm stretched over my waist, pulling me back. I sucked in a breath, but caught myself before I could cry out, catching the scent of sweet spice.

  Kota pulled me to him, pressing me up against the wall of the shed. He turned me enough that he could lock eyes with me. His green eyes darkened, narrowing on my face for a moment before lifting his hand away from my mouth. He touched lightly at his lips, indicating to be quiet.

  I pleaded with my eyes at him. Don’t let Nathan get hurt.

  Kota’s arm around my waist tightened. He picked me up and carried me back toward the fence gate behind the shed.

  That’s not what I wanted. I started struggling. I didn’t want to leave Nathan alone. I shook my head at him. Didn’t he understand?

  Kota was merciless. He seized me around the waist, picking me up off the ground again. When he had a good grip, he started toward the gate. If I wasn’t going willingly, he’d drag me out.

  “Kota,” I breathed. “We can’t...”

  “Not now.” He shoved me back against the fence outside of Nathan’s property, pinning me against the wood, ducking his head around the open gateway, scouting for Mr. Griffin before focusing on me. “Go to the diner,” he said. “Go there and stay there until I come to get you.”

  “But...”

  “Sang, I can’t help him until you go,” he said. His hands found mine and he shoved one toward his mouth, kissing my knuckles. “Trust me, okay? I can help, but I can’t do it with you here. We can handle this.”

  There was more shouting. I started to turn. It felt wrong. I didn’t want to run off.

  Kota captured my chin between his fingers. “Look at me, Sang. I’ve got Nathan. He’ll be fine. I’m going to go in and talk his father down. I can’t do it if I’m worried about you.” He pulled me away from the fencing and nudged me toward the wood plank bridge. “Go to the diner and find Luke. Stay with him.”

  I started to nod, moving toward the bridge and walking down the path. I glanced back just as Kota disappeared beyond the fence. I stopped where I was, afraid to leave them. Family first. I wanted to help. I wanted to trust Kota, but this wasn’t the time to run away, was it?

  There were more shouts. I tiptoed quietly to the fence. I peeked between two slats.

  Nathan was holding up his hands again in front of his father. Kota approached behind Mr. Griffin, his hands were up. Mr. Griffin cursed, but due to the distance and his slurring, I wasn’t exactly sure what he was saying. Kota replied. Nathan looked a little less stressed.

  Mr. Griffin leapt at Kota. I was about to call out to him when Nathan lunged at his father. He made a side sweep at his feet until his dad tumbled forward, knocked to the ground.
/>   Mr. Griffin got up, lunged back after Nathan. Nathan was ready with a fist, and he struck out at his father, hitting him in the stomach. Mr. Griffin fell back. Kota caught him, holding his arms down to restrain him. Mr. Griffin struggled, but Nathan claimed his legs. Together, they shoved Mr. Griffin, sending him flying into the pool.

  Time slowed for me. The scene captivated my attention, and I was unsure of what I’d just witnessed. Kota and Nathan attacked Mr. Griffin. Mr. Griffin would surely call the police on them, wouldn’t he?

  I backed away from the fence, stumbled across the wood plank bridge and dashed through the woods, heading toward the diner. They needed help. I wanted to find someone who could do something about it.

  DISTRACTIONS AND TIPS

  My bare feet crunched over leaves, my heart in my throat the whole way. Conflicted feelings had me wanting to run in different directions; I wanted to check on Kota and Nathan, to slow my pace and hope they caught up, but I also wanted to hurry and get to Luke so someone could go after them and help.

  I made it to the end of the path through the woods at the end of Sunnyvale Court. The old church, now renovated into Bob’s Diner, had the lights on in welcome.

  I stood just short of the gravel drive, shifting from one foot to the other in the cool grass, my mind whirling as I tried to figure out what to do. I reached up and clutched at my cell phone that was tucked away in my bra. I was tempted to call North or Silas. I thought they could help. I thought of Mr. Blackbourne, who would surely drive out here and stop the chaos. I wasn’t sure who could help best, but I would have settled for anyone. Kota was already there, but for some reason I couldn’t seem to shake the need to do something more.

  Luke and Gabriel were somewhere within the diner. They were the closest and they would know what to do. I padded carefully across the gravel, trying to hurry.

  The front entryway was empty. The parking lot wasn’t full, so I guessed it wasn’t busy. At the dining room doors, I stopped just inside the opening.