This time, I went into action. My legs cycled like mad, probably moving so fast they were a blur, but I didnt have time to rethink or adjust my speed until they tumbled into solid ground. Or at least soft sandy loam.
Graceful I was not, so when I did a near cartwheel and a half landing face first into the ground, I was appreciative of the girls having picked a beach to land on. Rock, asphalt, or compacted earth would have stung like a bugger.
Bryn! Oh my holy clumsiness, Cora yel ed, laughing around her words of concern. Are you alright?
Other than just eating a bucketful of sand? I said, spitting away the grit in my mouth. Im just dandy, how about you? I managed a glare at her”more due to the sand in my eyes than anything else”as she walked up beside me, upright, sand-free and smiling.
That was so much fun, Abigail said, her voice high with excitement. Should we see if the pilot can take us up again tomorrow?
No, was my immediate reply, as immediate as Coras, Yes!
Im marrying into a family of dare devils, I said, reaching my hand out for a little help up. Someone upstairs had a good laugh at that one.
I most certainly did, Cora laughed, pul ing me up.
Were clear here, Abigail said, dusting her hands off and packing up the three of our chutes in the time it would take me to fold a pair of socks.
Ready to move onto our next event of the evening?
Just as long as it doesnt involve defying death, confronting death, slapping death in the face . . . anything death related, Im up for anything.
No more Evel Kenevil tonight, Bryn, Abigail said, heading towards the Haywards beach house. We promise.
Thank goodness, I said, heaving a sigh. You both can hold me down and torture me by rounding my fingertips just so and waxing my whatever and I wil happily oblige you. After today, a day in a spa wil look like a picnic.
Oh, Bryn, whatever would we do with ourselves if you werent here to insert a snarky comment every time you talk? Cora said.
I opened my mouth to answer her question with yet another snarky comment, when Abigail shook her head. Dont answer that. Youl just fuel the fire. Besides, she said, lowering her voice. I wanted to ask you what your look of panic was al about last night when you heard Wil iams and your Union was fast approaching.
Oh, yeah, I mumbled, kicking the sand with my sneaker. That.
Yeah, what about that? Cora chimed in, spinning and waiting for us. I got to tel you, Bryn, panicked was, like, the last thing I expected you to be when you found out youd be with Wil iam so soon. So whats the deal? She plopped down into the sand and patted the area beside her. Are you having seconds thoughts now that al your dreams are about to be realized?
No! I exclaimed before her brows could peak from her question. Its not the Union ceremony Im panicked about, I began, guarded. The subject I was dodging was one I was never comfortable discussing, not even having it discussed around me. So uncomfortable, in fact, that during fifth grade birds and the bees lessons, Id been the student who was either scarlet red the entire time or snickering without consent whenever certain anatomical objects were verbalized.
And if it was any one else, Id jump to the next logical conclusion that you were angsting over the ceremony location or the guest list or the menu” But since it is me, I interrupted before she ran away with herself, taking a seat beside her in the sand, you know thats not what Im biting my fingernails over. Im not worried about anything regarding the Unity day or every day after, for that matter.
Abigail nodded, looking down at me. Its the Unity night”and every one after”that youre panicked about, she stated as sure as shed been of anything.
My face screwed to one side when she laid it al out there, but beating around the bush didnt run in the Hayward familys blood. Bingo, I sighed, crashing my back and head into the sand. I was already a sand monster, what were a few more grains? Unity nights are for those women who know what do to with their bodies, not for those who seem to be in a constant battle with their malfunctioning, uncooperative ones.
Oh, Bryn, Cora said, looking back at me. You find anything and everything to worry about.
I do not, I replied, despite knowing she was mostly right, but this is actual y something legitimate to worry about.
Before Cora could reply, Abigail patted my hands laced over my stomach. Trust me, she emphasized, everything wil be just fine.
Is that because of your confidence in Wil iam or in me? I asked, blowing out a breath.
It has to do with my certainty regarding you twos chemistry, she answered. Im so convinced of it, even if you were both incapable of walking and talking at the same time, Id have no concerns that everything would come together without a hitch in the bedroom.
Abigail! Cora scolded, letting out a giggle.
What? she replied. Isnt that what were dancing around? If Wil iam and Bryns chemistry is going to translate behind closed doors?
Of course it is, Cora replied but Im not used to you being the one to spel it out. Thats usual y my job.
Sorry, Abigail said, gazing up at the stars. You werent getting around to it quickly enough.
How did . . . everything, I began, not caring who brought it up, but glad one had, work out for the two of you when you were United? I mean, did you guys even know Nathanial and Joseph or were they like strangers? I couldnt imagine what it would be like to be told you were going to be spending the rest of your eternity with a mere stranger, but given the obvious relationship and chemistry the girls had with their husbands, it was hard to imagine it any other way.
When I was Betrothed to Nathanial, Abigail began, I cried every night leading up to our Union.
You did? I asked, awed. Nathanial and Abigail werent as overt with their affections for one another as Joseph and Cora, but anyone who had a smidgeon of emotional capacity could see what the two shared. It was something special.
She nodded her head. I barely knew him and what I did know of him, I didnt particularly like. Mind you, everything Id heard of him had come from other peoples mouths and not from any actual personal experience with him. Rumors are the most vicious little things, she mused, as she swept her sheet of long black hair forward and started to braid it. Once we were United, I found out Nathanial was none of the things Id heard. He wasnt scary or chauvinistic or boring as a wordless book. He was gentle and kind and adventurous. He was my perfect match, my soul mate, my one true love. I know you arent particularly fond of the Council, Bryn, but they got one thing right when they matched the two of us, she finished, smiling to herself.
So how did things go in the . . .? I hinted, knowing Abigail was capable of picking up on the subtlest hint.
Her smile hitched higher. We took it slow the first few days. Nathanial said hed give me as much time as I needed. But as I got to know him, the true him, I didnt need much time. Her cheeks flushed the tiniest bit at whatever memories were playing in her mind.
What a great story, I said, sighing. But I think I would have felt the same way if I heard I was supposed to spend forever with Nathanial. He stil terrifies me half of the time.
Abigail laughed, sliding her rope of a braid over her shoulder. Dont let him fool you. He might like to act the part of the tough guy, but hes nothing but mush on the inside. Dont let him scare you.
Ive known him for decades and Im stil terrified of him more often than not, Abby, Cora interrupted. I dont think I worked up the courage to look him in the eye for the first year after I was United with Joseph, I was that scared stupid by him.
Abigail covered her mouth as another laugh escaped her.
Were you crying for nights after you were Betrothed to Joseph, too? I asked, having a hard time imagining someone as endlessly sunny as Cora drowning in tears.
Oh, she was crying alright, Abigail said, looking down at Cora. Tears of unrestrained joy. That girl was infatuated with Joseph from the first time he grinned in her direction.
Ahhh, Cora sighed wistful y, her eyes somewhere else. I fel in love with him the first time I saw him, but I wasnt as bold”or as stupid”as you and Wil iam were to chase after that love without the Councils permission. Id fol ow after him like the most pathetic of creatures, made sure to be put on as many missions with him as I could squeeze my way into without looking obvious” Trust me, as a Coordinator, Abigail said, it was obvious.
Cora continued undeterred. I even feigned interest in farming so Id have a reason to talk with him or help him out during harvest. She sighed again, this one intense. And if I thought Id loved him before, it was redefined when I saw him shirtless and drenched in sweat stacking bales of hay.
Okay, so there was chemistry from the start for you, I said, not sure how much more advanced the wistfulness in Coras eyes would grow, but not wanting to find out. But what about for Joseph? How did he feel?
She grinned as wide as her husband could. It turns out he had it as bad for me as I did him, but he was too shy and too much of a gentlemen to spurn the Immortal way and make a move on the woman he loved like his older brother did. She looked over at me in explanation.
And youre tel ing me if he would have spurned the Immortal way and made a move on the woman he loved, you would have turned your nose up at him? I asked, rhetorical y, because from what Id experienced of Joseph and Coras love, there was never a question of if theyd be together, just when.
Her sheepish expression didnt require a verbal answer.
Okay, so needless to say, there was chemistry there from the start that worked its way without a hitch into the bedroom, I said, feeling like none of this was giving me any reassurance that Wil iam and I would experience the same benefit given my lack to be anything remotely sexy.
Cora bobbed her head. The kind of chemistry that makes you never want to leave each others side . . . Her smile curved into a wicked one. Ful y clothed, at least.
Okay, so you two are sex goddesses, good for you, I said, trying not to sound too acidic. How does this help me in my speedy advancement to the bedroom?
Of al the things youve spent your life worrying about, this is the most invalid one, Cora said with exasperation as Abigail put on a face of patience.
Lets take a logical, sequential approach to this since our assurances at your chemistry are fal ing on deaf ears, shal we? Abigail began, settling her hands in her lap.
How was Wil iams and your first kiss?
I got tingles al the way down to my toes just thinking about it. Perfect, I said, remembering that first kiss that was so unlike what I assumed first kisses would be like. It was urgent and consuming and passionate. Drowning in passion.
Abigail nodded her head like she was making a mental note. And how about the first date?
Surfing at Newport Beach. Boardshorts, muscles, and dripping wet hair. I didnt need to remember anything else. Perfect, I answered.
And how about the first time you danced together? I do believe you had quite the audience for your first dance, didnt you? she said, looking at me from the side.
It wasnt just quite the audience; it was quite the flabbergasted, angry mob of Inheritors who wanted to wring our necks before they even knew who or what we were, I said, al but shivering going back in time to my first days of Immortality at Townsend Manor. But given Wil iam was able to lead me across the floor without so much as a stumble from the queen of clumsy, Id have to say that was perfect, too.
Another nod from Abigail, obviously getting at something I wasnt catching on to. And how about every other touch, kiss, embrace, and caress that have come after? If you had to sum the whole of Wil iams and your physical encounters into one word, what would it be?