Unbound (Unbound, Book 1) ~Formerly Casting Power~

Chapter 50

After school, I deliberately tried to avoid hurrying in case Calin was trying to find me. As much as I felt it was wrong, I couldn't help but feel excited. It was illogical. He was becoming more prominent in my thoughts than finding who was framing me for the pranks being pulled, and that said way too much about what I was truly feeling for him.

Duvessa would have a conniption if she knew.

"Hey, there, Nora." Calin smiled, straightening himself from where he lounged against my car. "Are you going to meet me halfway here or do I have to revert to being classified as a stalker?"

I laughed and rolled my eyes, and then pulled my phone out of my pocket to take a picture. As I captured Calin's image, I said, "Stay still, that's a good shot. This can be my proof. I kind of enjoy being able to tell my friends back home that I have my very own stalker, you know."

Or, if I could send the photograph, I could ask Nancy if he was good-looking enough to risk the wrath of Duvessa.

"Okay, that's embarrassing!"

"For someone who loves attention? I doubt it." I put the phone away and pushed the button to unlock the doors of my car and threw my books in the back seat. He didn't move, crowding me just enough to make me acutely aware of how good he smelled. My face was against his chest when I turned, and my breath faltered. I inched away to clear my head, hoping for my sense of logic to return.

"And here I thought you didn't know me?"

Pulling open the driver's door, I laughed again. From a distance—far enough that there was no contact or scent—it was easy to enjoy his company.

"So, my place or yours?"

"Seriously?" I rolled my eyes. "Get rid of the sexual innuendo."

"Done."

"You are persistent." I motioned to his car with a nod and sweep of my hand. "Fine, we can hang out, but I have to drop homework off to Maible first. You'll have to follow me."

"No problem." He grinned. "What do you want to do tonight?"

"After Maible's, you can follow me to the Manor. I'm still not willing to change my plans, but if you're on good behavior, you may join me."

"Can I pick a movie?"

"Nope. My movie night, remember? Tag-alongs don't get any input. And you know what?" I asked, cocking my head to the side with a smile. "It's chick flick night."

"Do I have a choice?" He winced.

"Nope. You are crashing my party. If you really don't want me hanging out alone, you have to do what I want."

"Then we better get a move on," he said, nodding. "What movie?"

"I'm thinking Meet Joe Black."

"Okay, I like that movie."

He laughed at my shock. It wasn't something that any guy I'd met would admit. Well, maybe Julian, but only to me. He'd snap if he heard it repeated, especially to Nancy.

"My mom and I watched it," he said. "It's the only movie she couldn't predict the ending to."

* * * * *

"Hey, Mrs. Renaldi," I called as Calin and I entered the kitchen forty-five minutes later. How could she withstand Miss Rose's company all day, every day, and still greet me with a smile? It would be too exhausting for me.

"Hey. How was school?"

"Maible was sick."

"Poor girl. Do you want me to whip up some soup to take over to her?"

"Uh, no, thank you. She said that she'd be back tomorrow." I shrugged, though after seeing Maible when I dropped off her school books, I doubted her optimism. "She should be fine with another good night of sleep in her."

"Well, that's good."

"Um, this is Calin Malloy. Calin, this is Mrs. Renaldi, the cook and the only source of sanity for me here at Dwyer Manor." I waved my hands between them and stared at the floor.

"She's exaggerating." Mrs. Renaldi chuckled.

"Nope, you totally rock." I stepped up and kissed her cheek.

"So how do I get her to sing my praises like that?" Calin asked in a mock whisper while he kept his gaze on me. "She loves to hate me, I think."

I elbowed him in the ribs before the thought formed to do so, and then chuckled self-consciously when he smiled. "Don't tease me."

"Honey, it looks like you don't need my help," Mrs. Renaldi said as she wrapped a colorful flower-print apron around her waist. "By the looks of it, you hold each other in pretty high regards already."

"Okay, then!" I said. A sidelong look at Calin found that his face was also burning with embarrassment, though it didn't stop him from staring at me in return. I darted my eyes away. "So, Calin is going to stay for supper tonight, if that's okay?"

"Of course," she said, still smiling and watching us.

"Is Devland home?" Since we'd never gone over the basic guidelines of parental expectations other than that which pertained to the Craft, I figured it would be wise to let him know Calin was here.

"He's in his office."

"I'll be right back," I said, and left Calin with her while I sought out Devland.

"Hey, Devland?" I asked from the open doorway of his office.

"Noreena." He nodded, closed the book he was reading, and clasped his hands on the top of its cover. "What can I do for you?"

"Uh, well, we never really talked about rules, and I have a friend over." I rolled my eyes. "What are the rules for boys—just a friend—hanging out with me upstairs?"

"What boy?" He took off his glasses and watched me, his lips pursed.

"Calin Malloy."

"Islene's little guy?" he asked.

I had to laugh at the implication of anyone thinking of Calin as little. "I don't know. I think so?" I shrugged. "If she has visions, then yep, that's her."

He turned pensive. I shifted my weight from foot to foot with anticipation. It wouldn't be bad in the I-can't-ever-look-at-him-again way if Devland said having a boy over wasn't allowed. Instead, he said, "I don't mind Calin and you hanging out upstairs. Just stay in your sitting room rather than your bedroom, okay? Miss Rose would probably have a heart attack if she saw you in your room with a boy."

Heart attack? Really? It was almost worth it. "He's staying for supper."

"That's fine."

He picked up his glasses and lowered his gaze back to the book he'd been going through. I ran back to the kitchen to find Calin and Mrs. Renaldi laughing together. He seemed at ease sitting at the bar stool along the island as she diced and mixed ingredients for whatever dish she'd started prepping for supper.

"Hey, let's go start a movie," I said from the doorway.

Mrs. Renaldi smiled and wiggled her eyebrows at me behind Calin's back as he stood to follow me up the stairs. He looked over his shoulder to see the source of my blush and she feigned innocence, staring up at the ceiling and whistling off tune through a smile. He wasn't fooled. Calin laughed and shook his head, placing his hand at the small of my back to guide me out of the kitchen and towards the stairway.

The tingles that had electrified me from his touch earlier returned, less intense and pleasant, almost intimate. There's no way that this was a normal response. If so, I'm amazed that people didn't self-combust. Nancy never told me it felt this way, which caused me to embrace how rare this moment must really be.