I was reluctant to take another step, but I was curious about the house. The entryway floor was of stone, similar to the floor in Wade's office, but the living room and dining room were carpeted. The kitchen was actually a little bigger than the kitchen at the Emerson house, and it was brighter because of the skylights and the lighter tones in the tile, the wallpaper, and counters. Trevor's father had a beautiful office, too, albeit half the size of Wade's. I liked Trevor's father's furnishings better. They looked softer, more comfortable.
This house didn't have the opulence and size of the Emerson house, but it was smartly decorated, with a subtlety that I appreciated. It felt warmer, more like a home. We just glanced in at his parents' bedroom. It was a large room by any standards, but it didn't have the lounge area Ami's and Wade's did.
I was surprised at the neatness of Trevor's room. There were no articles of clothing lying about, no drawers half-opened, nothing on the floor. He studied my face as I perused his room.
"What do you think?"
"It's a beautiful room, Trevor. Are you this neat, or do you have someone picking up after you?"
He laughed.
"My mother is a cleanliness and neatness freak. Dad jokes that if he gets up to go to the bathroom during the night, she'll make the bed."
I remained standing in the doorway. I knew that if I entered his room, I would be in trouble.
"Hey," he said. "You're so uptight. Relax." He reached for my hand, but I didn't step forward. "C'mon, Celeste. You know how I feel about you, and I know you like me. Why not take advantage of an opportunity?" he asked sincerely.
I wanted to stay with him. I wanted to kiss him and make love to him. My heart was beating with anticipation, but those alarm bells wouldn't be stilled. I saw I had no choice. I had to be honest.
"I didn't want to tell you because I didn't want you to think my cousin was weird or I'm weird or anything, but when we left the school, Trevor, Ami was parked across the street."
"What?" He stepped back. "You mean she was spying on you?"
"Yes," I said. "I'm even afraid she followed us here. She might get Basil to take back the car or something." He thought a moment.
"Man, she is nuts," he said.
"Maybe not in her way of thinking or even Wade's. After all, what happened was quite a shock to everyone, and they are responsible for me until I'm eighteen. Let's do this slowly," I said. "I have to live there, and they are my guardians, technically."
He looked about his room and sighed.
"What a waste," he said.
"No, it's not. When you call me later, I'll be able to picture just where you are," I said.
He smiled and then stepped forward to kiss me, holding me with his left hand while his right jetted out in that humongous cast, now splattered with stupid sayings and the signatures of our fellow students. Lester Hodes, a very good art student, had drawn a picture of a monkey riding on the back of a goat, an obvious allusion to Othello.
I couldn't help laughing at the picture of the two of us caught in his dresser mirror.
"We make some romantic sight," I said.
"Yeah, but don't think a little thing like this or even your paranoid cousin is going to stop me from loving you, Celeste," he said, his face turning serious.
"I won't," I promised, kissed him again, and turned to leave.
He followed me to the door, and we kissed once more before I hurried to the car. He stood there watching me drive off, a look of frustration on his
handsome face. As soon as I pulled out of his driveway, I looked again for signs of Ami's car, but I didn't see it anywhere. At least she hadn't gone this far, I thought, but I girded myself to face what would surely be a most severe lecture when I got home.
To my surprise, it wasn't that way at all. She was in another one of her buoyant moods, coming to my room with a bag in hand from one of her favorite boutiques. She wanted to show me a new blouse she said she just had to get for me.
"The moment I saw it, I envisioned it on you," she said, holding it up against me. "It's a color that brings out your eyes. Yes, it does. And you can wear it now. This is a warm material," she added.
"Thank you, Ami."
"Isn't it wonderful having your own car, being able to go and come when you please?"
"Yes," I said, holding my breath in anticipation of what was to come.