Once in a Full Moon Page 0,65

headed out his private drive and out of Riverside. We were stopped at the traffic light by the school when I noticed the car next to us was Nash's. I ducked down.

"What's wrong?" Brandon asked.

"It's Nash. He's in the car next to us. I don't want him to see me."

"I thought you weren't seeing him anymore."

"I'm not."

"Then what's the big deal?"

"I don't know."

The light changed and Nash tore off.

I sat up. Brandon pulled into the lot of a nearby park.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"I'm going to take you back," he said, turning the steering wheel.

"I don't want to go back. I want you to meet Mr. Worthington."

"I can find him on my own," he said.

"I'm sorry. I just reacted without thinking."

But Brandon was hurt.

"I'm sorry," I said. "Everything has been happening so fast, that's all." It was so unfair. I ran the risk of losing my lifelong friends for a guy I'd only known a short time. I wasn't sure what to do. I just knew I wanted all of them in my life.

"I don't blame you, Celeste. I don't want to put you in a position you aren't ready to be in."

Brandon pushing me away only made my need to be with him even greater. Overcome with sadness, I turned away from him and stared out the window. A couple strolled hand in hand in the park. The girl snuggled up to her boyfriend as he gazed back adoringly.

"You must hate me," I said. "I invited you to a party where you didn't have a good time. You saved me from a wolf pack that left your hand maimed. I make you feel like an outsider in your own car. And the worst thing of all - because of that moonlit kiss - you've turned into a - "

Brandon took my chin and drew me to him. "It's okay, Celeste. I think you feel you have the world's problems on your shoulders."

He brushed my hair away from my face. "You don't have to worry so much about what is right for Ivy, Nash, or me. Just what is right for you."

Brandon was the first guy I'd ever met who understood me. If I turned away from him now, I knew I'd regret it for the rest of my life.

"Please, take me with you to see Mr. Worthington."

Brandon parked the Jeep at Pine Tree Village Retirement Community.

When we entered the building we heard a commotion coming from one of the hallways and nurses were running to someone's aid.

Suddenly there was the sound of an ambulance pulling up outside. Paramedics wheeled in a gurney to the assisted living floor. I dashed down the hallway, my own heart almost stopping.

The paramedics parked the gurney next to Mr. Worthington's door.

Tears welled up in my eyes. I turned to Brandon.

The color had washed out of his face. He'd been so close to finding a relative he'd never known and an answer to his condition that perhaps no one else could reveal.

He held on to my shoulder and I melted into his chest.

Just then Mr. Worthington stepped out of his room. I almost fainted.

"You're alive!" I said.

"I hope so," he answered. "This place isn't my idea of heaven." He told us that Mr. Lucas, his ninety-three-year-old next-door neighbor, had fallen and broken his hip.

I was surely unhappy to hear that Mr. Lucas was hurt - but grateful to know Mr. Worthington was all right. I gave the elderly man a hug so hard, I was afraid I might break him.

"I have someone I'd like you to meet," I said, and we walked into his room.

"You have a boyfriend?" he said, trying to make me blush. "I knew there was something different about you... I told you that before."

Now I was blushing.

"This is Brandon Maddox," I said to Mr. Worthington, pleased to introduce the two. "His mother is Claire Worthington. This is your great-grandson."

Mr. Worthington's face went white, as if he'd just seen a werewolf. I was afraid he was going to have a heart attack right there and then.

Brandon extended his wounded hand to shake. Mr. Worthington eyed the scar and gently shook Brandon's hand.

"I haven't seen you since you were a little baby," Mr. Worthington said.

"I'm so glad to meet you - I mean see you... again." Brandon smiled. "My father said my mother's family moved away from Legend's Run."

"We all did," said Mr. Worthington. "But I moved back a short time ago."

Mr. Worthington and