chapter Six
Electric
Kamara
It has been a month since that party Kwäzē dragged me home from. Gwen hasn’t spoken to me since. I don’t much care, I never really cared for her.
One thing I have noticed, I have had a lot more invitations for dates. College is proving to be a different experience from high school. I have a few friends that I enjoy spending time with.
I’ve had offers for dates in the past, but my brother did not approval of any of my suitors. Besides, I’ve been enjoying my studies too much to get involved in dating seriously.
My goal has been to catch up to Kwäzē. I would like to graduate with my brother. It has taken some time and I’ve had to double my efforts, by taking the maximum class load, but I’m making it happen.
My mother and father are very proud. I did not think my father was going to let me attend university, at first. At least not as a resident student. I thought he was going to force me to commute.
Once I chose to follow Kwäzē and Toby to the same school, my father was more than willing to allow me to live on campus close to Kwäzē and Toby. Kwäzē wanted me to move into his apartment. It was my choice to live in the dorms.
My brother and I are very different. He is still way more social than I am. I will admit, for the first year, I was gun shy, after my high school encounters.
I’m much more confident in myself and my ability to make friends. I just didn’t think living with Kwäzē would be a match for me. I like the dorms, despite Gwen and her sense of entitlement.
My freshman year roommate was much nicer. Cathy just decided to transfer this year. I was a little disappointed with that. She was the first friend I made.
“I want to thank you for cooking,” Kwäzē says, sticking his face into the pot, bringing me from my thoughts.
I’m making a stew for him and some of his friends. Like I said, I know we wouldn’t have been a good fit. Normally, I would be studying on a night like this. I am just as smart as my brother. I just believe in studying, he does not.
Instead, Kwäzē likes to socialize. Tonight, he is having a few friends over to his apartment. I offered to cook to get an invitation. Not that my brother wouldn’t invite me.
He just hasn’t pressured me into any of his events, since that party. I know the way to my brother’s heart. The moment I mentioned cooking stew, he was too focused on the stew to wonder about my sudden interest in coming to his dinner.
“It is nothing,” I say, feigning nonchalance.
Kwäzē moves to the oven to peek at the bread I have baking. I look up through my lashes to find the eyes I’ve felt on me all night. Toby is in the living room sipping on a beer, while talking to some of the others.
He maybe in the conversation, but his attention is completely on me. It’s been this way since the party. Whenever I’m around, Toby’s focus is on me and mine on him. It’s like we’ve become magnets.
“She’s here,” Kwäzē breathes, breaking my attention from Toby. I turn to see the excitement in my brother’s eyes, as he looks down at his phone. “How do I look?”
I smile at my twin. He looks as handsome as ever. Kwäzē is a little over six-four, a whole five inches taller than me and more. We have the same dark brown complexion, Kwäzē’s thick black brows highlight his smooth skin and draw attention to his slanted brown eyes.
His dark hair tapers into a clean cut that complements his handsome face and features. His lips are just as full as mine. This Celeste girl does not know how lucky she is to have my brother’s attention. In our country, to have the eye of Kwäzē is an honor.
“You look very handsome,” I say with a smile. My brows wrinkle, as a thought comes to me. “Are you sure you want to do this? You seem to be attached.”
Kwäzē looks away from me. “It is just a date,” he says briskly, walking off before I can probe any further.
I watch, as my brother makes his way to the door. When he opens it, the pretty girl he has been pursuing, in the last month, is on the other side. She is a little one.
Her skin is the color of chestnut and her shoulder length hair is a medium brown. Her brown eyes sparkle, as she looks up at Kwäzē. I know that look. I get a pit in my stomach, as I see it. This will not end well.
“You don’t like her?”
I turn to see Toby standing on the other side of the counter, watching me closely. His golden eyes are looking into me. I don’t try to shy away. I don’t want to hide from Toby. If I have to hide from the rest of the world, so be it, but not from him.
I shrug my shoulders. “It is not her. I think she is very nice. I…I just don’t think it is wise for Kwäzē to lead her on,” I say low enough for only Toby to hear.
Toby wrinkles his brows. His eyes search mine and the wheels turn in his head. “I don’t think he’s leading her on. I think he likes her. A lot,” Toby says cautiously.
I know he knows my brother almost as well as I do. He is right, I believe Kwäzē has real feelings for Celeste. That is the problem. As much as I would like to explain, this is not my secret to share.
I plan to share things with Toby, but they will only be my things. Although, lately, I get the feeling that I’m less aware of my own secrets than I think. My father has been acting a little strangely.
“What?” Toby asks, still watching me.
I look up at him, just taking notice of the fact that I’ve been frowning. When I lock eyes with him this time, it is like a pulse has formed between us. I can feel the thread that has somehow formed to tie us together. It has its own heartbeat.
I blink, but the connection remains. I shake my head slightly, trying to remember what I planned to say. Toby leans into me, only frazzling me further.
I clear my throat. “It’s nothing,” I say and shake my head.
Toby presses his lips and rounds the counter. He crowds my space, never breaking eye contact with me. He reaches for my fingers, holding them in his large hand. My belly drops, from his simple touch.
Toby only increases the growing fire within, as his thumb begins to caress the back of my hand. He is weaving a powerful spell, I don’t believe I have the strength to fight, not that I want to. He dips his head to my ear.
“I remember a long time ago, we agreed you wouldn’t keep things from me,” Toby murmurs next to my ear.
“Yes, we did, but some secrets you have to earn. They cannot just be given,” I retort.
Toby closes his eyes. I watch his jaw work beneath his skin. I can feel the tension coiling with in him. As if he is warring with himself.
“You aren’t going to make this easy,” he breathes, without opening his eyes.
“Make what easy?”
Hearing the confusion in my voice, he opens his eyes. He gives me a disbelieving look. My brows knit further.
“Nothing,” he shakes his head, releasing my hand and backing away.
~B~
Toby
She doesn’t know. Kamara doesn’t have a clue how I feel about her. I can see it in her eyes. I’m much older and wiser now.
I won’t make the same mistake I made years ago. I need to treat Kamara as the delicate flower she is. I’m afraid if I push the way I’m used to, I’ll destroy any chance I may have with her.
Something has changed between us over the past month. I’m drawn to her more and more, with each passing day. I don’t think I can ignore my feelings for her any longer. Seeing the way guys have been following after her, it drives me crazy to even think of her dating one of them.
I know all the reasons why I shouldn’t date Kamara. I just have so many reasons why I just don’t care. Although, this, her not knowing how I feel, is enough to pause my intentions.
As I back away, I force a smile on my face. “Don’t worry about your brother. He’s a grown man. He will figure things out,” I change the subject.
Kamara blinks in confusion. I reach over her to snatch a cracker from one of the platters laid out. I’m starving. I’ve been looking forward to Kamara’s stew, since Kwäzē told me she would be cooking.
Kamara smiles. “You are going to ruin your appetite.”
My knee jerk reaction is to say something dirty to her, but I refrain. I turn my eyes towards the rest of the group in the living room. I groan internally as the girl, our friend Janice brought along watches me, from her perch on the sofa.
I can’t even remember her name. I just know she has moved closer to me, every time I move further away from her. I’ve been trying to give settle hints that I’m not interested.
“Looks like you have an admirer,” Kamara comments to my silence. “She is pretty.”
“Not my type,” I snort.
There is a pause that causes me to turn to Kamara. She is looking up at me, with questions in her eyes. I grin, turning to lean my back against the countertop. I cross my legs and fold my arms over my chest.
“What?” I ask.
“She looks like your type,” Kamara says slowly, looking back out into the living area.
I tilt my head. “Why? Because she’s blonde?”
Kamara lowers her lashes and dips her head, but not before I notice that glow to her cheeks. I lean into bump her with my shoulder, causing her head to lift once again. She’s biting her lip and it’s so sexy. I want to dip my head and bite it for her.
“What,” I say, smiling at her.
“I didn’t mean to offend you,” she whispers.
“You will know when I take offense to something,” I shrug. “I can see where you would think that. In high school, I dated a lot of the same type of girls.”
“So, you have a preference,” she asks, curiosity lighting up her eyes.
“I didn’t say that. Back then, I dated the complete opposite of what I wanted,” I admit.
“Really,” Kamara asks skeptically.
“Absolutely,” I grin.
“So, what is your type,” she asks, and I promise you I can literally see her holding her breath.
“Kamara, can we start dinner now?” Kwäzē appears, breaking into our conversation.
I frown. If this was any other girl Kwäzē would’ve read the situation and wouldn’t have interrupted. I rub the back of my neck. Maybe that’s it. He did read the situation and decided to put an end to it.
I sigh and push off the counter. “I’ll set the table or something,” I grumble and go to make myself useful.
~B~
Kamara
Toby nearly pulled me into the seat beside him. I giggled when I looked up to see Regan, Janice’s plus one. She had been heading for the empty seat next to Toby.
She is a very pretty girl. She reminds me a lot of Kerry. Despite the fact that I think Regan’s hair color comes from a box. Toby’s words about his type, ring in my head repeatedly. I wanted to stomp on Kwäzē’s foot for interrupting, before I received my answer.
Not that I would change who I am for Toby, but I would like to know if I have a chance. Sometimes, I think he is flirting. Other times, I just don’t know.
I sigh into my bowl. My thoughts have been all over the place, while everyone else engages in conversation around me. I try to focus on at least one of the conversations. I just can’t seem to focus, while sitting next to Toby.
His arm is draped on the back of my chair, as it has been several times throughout the night. He seems to place it there every time Kwäzē’s friend, Thornton, tries to pull me into the conversation. I thought it a coincidence, until the fourth time it was done.
I’m not sure what to think of the gesture. I am trying like crazy not to give into the pull between Toby and I. I want nothing more than to lean into him and soak up his scent and the strength I feel oozing off of him.
“Thanks for saving me,” his deep voice fills my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.
Toby’s voice has only gotten deeper over the years. It is one of the things I find insanely sexy about him. I lift my eyes from my plate to follow the direction of the voice that has such a pull on me.
Toby has a crooked smile on his lips, as he looks back at me. I wrinkle my brows in confusion, as his words register in my brain. I don’t know what I have saved him from.
“I have done nothing,” I say back.
He leans into my ear once again, sending my heart racing. “You saved my ass. Just look at how she’s looking at me. If you didn’t sit here, I’m sure she would have tried to touch my virtue,” he replies.
I can’t help the giggle that bubbles up on my lips. I look across the table at a watchful Regan and have to cover my mouth, as more laughter peals from my lips. Toby’s own laughter rumbles from his chest, as he bumps me with his shoulder.
I feel warmth spread through me. When I meet his eyes and see the mirth there, I am only drawn into him a little more. I tear my eyes away and chance another look Regan’s way.
She has a mixed look of puzzlement and displeasure on her face. I bite my lip and turn the other way, towards my brother, away from both Regan and Toby. I don’t want to get caught in his eyes again.
I swipe at the tear that comes from my laughter. Kwäzē looks over and gives me a warm smile. He hasn’t stopped smiling, since Celeste arrived. He sends me a questioning smile, I guess I’m not hiding my cheerfulness at all.
I only shake my head at my brother and his questioning gaze. He shrugs it off, thankfully. The presence of his special guest has afforded me a pass. His attention has been more on Celeste than anything else.
“How will you allow me to repay you?” Toby says beside me.
I turn back to face him. I feel my cheeks heat and become tight with my smile. I tilt my head in thought. The last time I tried to flirt with Toby, it didn’t go so well. I’m not so sure I’m up to the task this time either.
“I don’t think you need to repay me,” I whisper back.
“Are you kidding me? Just look at her. I’ve never felt so violated. She’s eye fucking me, from across the table,” he says with mock horror. I burst into a fit of more giggles. He then leans to whisper in my ear. “If I didn’t think your brother would kill me, I would kiss you to make it stop.”
My breath hitches in my throat. I feel my chest heave so hard, I’m sure my heart will break through. Toby sits back in his seat. His eyes dropping to my lips and he licks his own.
His beautiful eyes bounce back to mine and it is as if he is searching for something. I’m not sure what, but I take notice, when his eyes fill with a look my brain dares to place as…desire. I want to fan my face, but I catch myself and reframe from doing so. All at once, I remember we are not alone and there are eyes on us.
My thoughts are confirmed by the next words that greet my ears. “You two make a cute couple,” Regan calls across the table, drawing everyone’s attention.
Kwäzē’s own laughter fills the room. I look at him to see him shaking his head. “Oh, no, Kamara and Toby are like brother and sister,” he chuckles.
“They look like more than brother and sister to me,” Regan mutters.
Kwäzē snorts, “That would never happen.”
“And why not?” Toby says defensively, seemingly, before he can catch himself. I see the moment he realizes he has said the words out loud. He quickly says more jokingly. “I mean, I’m not that bad a catch, am I?”
Kwäzē presses his lips. I know my twin, he is thinking over his next words carefully. I, too, would like to know his answer. It is as if the whole table has fallen into silence, waiting for my brother’s reply. I’m not sure if anyone is breathing, as I take a glance around the table.
“It would be an honor to call you my brother. That is not the problem,” what happens next surprises me. Kwäzē looks around at everyone, then he finishes the rest of his explanation in my mother’s native tongue. “One day, I will explain to you, my friend. This is for family.”
“Then, I will wait,” Toby replies perfectly in the same dialect. “No worries, my friend. You are right. Kamara is family.”
My head snaps in Toby’s direction. I had no idea he could speak the language. I never wondered why Kwäzē speaks our father’s mother tongue around Toby. It is what I am most comfortable with and I tend to use it first, although, I can speak both.
I’ve always thought that Kwäzē was doing it out of respect for my preference. Or, even to hide who we are. I never thought it was because Toby would understand us.
I ignore the sting of his words. It is clear that I have misinterpreted his kindness for flirting. My heart sinks inside. I am family.
Toby winks at me, as I stare wide eyed at him. There is so much I still don’t know about this man. I’ve spent so much time around him, over the last six years and yet, I still don’t feel I truly know him.
“I guess we both are keeping secrets,” I say softly.
Toby narrows his eyes at me. “That we are,” he finally says.