Then there was the mating they were attempting to arrange for me. Yes, it was part of our culture, but why was it so important? There were other traditions we let slide. Then there was the issue of who they were choosing. Another prey animal, of course, because I couldn’t be with a witch, a vampire,or heaven forbid, a predator! There were so few prey/predator pairings in the town. Why was that? Was the town controlling matings?
Why the rush? I was only twenty-two! There was plenty of time for me to date, learn what and who I liked. What was the harm of letting me make my own choice, or waiting for fate’s pick for me to show up?
Then it struck me once more. I kept circling to the same point. What was truly stopping me from venturing out into the world alone to see if it was as hopeless and violent as my parents made out?
Nothing but fear, really. I knew that. A lack of courage kept me stuck in my parents’ house, living the life they chose for me instead of finding something for myself.
I’d been made a mockery of after being attacked, too. My experience invalidated. I should have felt angry at the shifter, but I was out there in a town where predator and prey never came face to face like we had that night. How could I expect the shifter to behave rationally? They were clearly living outside of the town and outside of the rules. I’d probably gone into their territory. The only one at fault there was me.
Funny how a couple of years of life experience could give a person perspective. Far from being scared of the dingo now, I felt bad for him.
Was he still in the woods? Was that why we weren’t supposed to go there? It made me wonder if the sheriff even looked for my assailant and what he’d done if he did find him. I hoped he hadn’t been punished for my mistake.
Maybe it was the start of me claiming back control of my life that had me going to the same spot day after day. I dunno if I was growing a little bravery or shaking off some of the strict control the town had on me. Didn’t matter what it was, I just knew it made me feel powerful for a change.
Something in those woods called to me.
“Sully! Are you ready?” my dad called from the bottom of the stairs.
“Coming!” I yelled back, putting the finishing touches to my outfit and smoothing my hair back.
While on the surface, my outfit looked like I was going along with my mom’s plan for this date, I was rebelling in a quieter way. I didn’t want to humiliate either myself or Orson. A few days to calm down and some introspection, made me see that he might not be the captainsteering this ship. His parents obviously played a part in the matchmaking process.
For my outfit, I’d gone with a button down, open at the neck, no tie, and a blazer. The shirt was blue, the jacket, navy. Both colors suited my light fawn skin and bright blue eyes. I wore navy slacks with the outfit, bringing the look together to be more boardroom than date. This felt more like a casual business meeting, a merger of families, than it did a get to know you for a future mate. Respectable, though, and unlikely to ruffle any feathers.
From some snooping, I’d learned that Orson Blaine was nearing forty and had little to no social media presence. He had websites for his various ventures where there was a basic bio about him, but nothing that told me about his values, or his aspirations outside of his businesses. He had fingers in many pies, yet nothing showing him having fun.
Already he seemed too serious for me. I decided to test that theory with some makeup. This was the rebellion part of the evening.
My mom hated my freckles, so I covered them with a little foundation. I rouged my cheeks lightly with a rose pink, highlighting my killer cheekbones, thank you Dad for the bonestructure. It gave me a healthy glow after the foundation. I brushed a little taupe eyeshadow over my eyelids, making the blue pop that bit more. Then the mascara. I was not gifted with the long dark lashes my mom had. Makeup would have to improve what my parents gave me. I brushed on the dark liquid, my eyes looking doe like after it was applied.
Lastly, a little sheer lipgloss. Perfect. All I had to do was get past Mom. I tiptoed down the stairs to where she was waiting with Dad.
“No. Go wash your face—“ she said as soon as she caught sight of me.
“But my freckles!”
“The eye stuff. Take it off. And the lipgloss.”
“Honey, we really don’t have time for Sully to do all that. We’re cutting it fine as is,” Dad protested.
Something I’d planned.
“Fine.” She stalked off to the car.
Mom bugged me in the car, trying to get me to wipe some of it off. My dad, in a surprisingturn of events, said I looked really good and Orson would either accept me for who I was or not at all.
It shut my mom up. She stewed so hard about it, I thought she was going to bust something. By the time we got there, I knew I had to say sorry to her. I felt guilty because maybe I’d taken it too far. The point was to bug Orson’s parents, not my own.
Ugh, I knew I had to be the bigger person because I’d really provoked her. I knew she wouldn’t like the makeup for this date, not that she minded normally. Mom just wanted to make a good impression on Orson and his parents.
“Mom,” I whispered, in the quiet of the car. Dad was rounding the vehicle to open her door for her. They did sweet things all the time. It reminded me my parents had a life outside of me and my siblings. They were mated and had been for many years before we came along.
She turned in her seat to look at me. Dad’s hand lingered on the door, sensing we needed a moment. “Yes, Sully?”
“I’m sorry about the makeup. I just—“
“No, Your dad has a point. If Orson doesn’t like you when you’re being yourself, you won’t work long term. Besides, I did fuss at you about yourfreckles. What did I expect you to do?” She let out a little sigh. “I’m sorry if I’m pushing this too hard, Sully. I just want to see you settled with someone nice. Us taking control of things isn’t ideal, we hadn’t intended to arrange anything, but I worry about you.”
