There was still that nagging memory at the back of my mind that kept escaping me about the night I was attacked, and the cops were no closer to figuring it out than I was.
“What are you thinking about baby?” I looked over at him where he sat not far from me as we both did the mountain of homework we’d been saddled with. Sometimes it felt like I’d fallen down the rabbit hole, especially when I looked at the ring on my finger, or when I counted down the days and weeks since we’d met.
It was almost improbable that we’d only known each other such a short time. So much had happened in that time, that had it not been for my parents’ story as well as his own parents’, I would think we’d lost our minds. But it seems it was in the blood.
“Nothing.” I put my head back down in my book because sometimes he saw too much.
“I told you about lying to me? Come here.” He looked so relaxed lounging back in the swivel chair with a pen in his mouth, as he looked at me under cover of his lids.
My legs weren’t all that steady as I left the window seat where I’d been gazing off across the immaculate grounds in between studying, and it wasn’t because of any lingering difficulty from my attack. He just has this way of making me weak.
His arm came around my waist and he drew me in closer to his chair as he looked up at me. “What is it buttercup?” I couldn’t hold back the smile at his new name for me.
“Nothing, well not really, it’s just…I don’t like the cops sniffing around you the way they did today. It makes me feel like they’ve made up their minds and are only focused on you. Especially that one detective, the way he went after you.”
“Babe, you have nothing to worry about, if I wanted that idiot dead she wouldn’t be here.” He was so serious when he said it that I felt a chill run down my spine.
“Jace…”
“Quit worrying babe.” He patted my butt and sent me back to finish up my homework. He’s so completely different from anything I would’ve ever expected. Like in these last few days, he’s taken such good care of me it was hard to remember that we were only a year apart.
I looked once again at the ring on my finger and had to shake my head at the incongruity that was my life. Right on the heels of that thought was the memory that someone had tried to kill me, and that someone else in our little haven had been attacked. That was a sobering thought, but it led to another.
Just what the hell was that twit up to anyway? Because I didn’t believe for one minute that she had amnesia. I’d like to sneak into that hospital room and yank out her IV, idiot.
SHANE
She’s so skittish still, like a little kitten just getting its bearings. I watched her through my lashes, and my heart actually jumped at her nearness. It was only a little bit scary to realize the magnitude of what I felt for her; we were still so young. But maybe I should take a leaf out of Jace’s book. He didn’t seem to mind about the age thing and being too young.
But could I trust this, whatever this was? Maybe I should have a talk with the guys later, when all this bullshit had calmed down a little.
“How’re you feeling baby?” She jumped a little before picking her head up to look at me. “Who me?”
She made me grin. “I don’t see anyone else around beautiful.” That blush was so different to what I was accustomed to, but it was so endearing. I watched her fuss with her hair and then move on to her nails; two of her tells when she was nervous.
Leaving my seat I walked over to where she sat on my bed reading her chemistry book. The pretense of my needing help with homework was no longer necessary, and we’d pretty much just worked out a routine of being with each other as much as possible when our obligations were over.
I stood over here, studying her face for any sign of discomfort. She hadn’t wanted to tell me, but after I noticed for the third time that she was walking a little gingerly still, I pushed her to tell me what was going on with her.
I wasn’t too jazzed to learn that I’d hurt her when I took her innocence, I don’t know why anyone would be. It made me feel more like a wretch than a macho man. “You need more pills?”
“Shane, you just gave me some like half an hour ago, you trying to make me OD or something?” I’m in love with that grin of hers, it does something strange to my insides. “You’re so gorgeous babe.” At least her eyes told me that she was closer to believing that than she’d been even a day ago.
With a soft touch to her cheek with my palm, and a light kiss on her lips, no sense risking temptation, I turned and walked back to my chair.
???
So she’s alive still, damn. I was really hoping that she’d be gone from here. It was such a good plan too. No one would’ve ever suspected me. I doubt I’d ever get another opportunity. At least he’s no longer acting like a lovesick puppy, and he’s been home a lot more lately, which is good.
There was a lot to think about in the next few days. Now that the dust had settled and the cops were searching, my mind went over every step I had taken that night, to make sure that I hadn’t left any clues behind. It’s funny, but had she died I wouldn’t have given it much thought, but with her survival I was more than a little worried. There’s no way that she could’ve seen me though, but then again, who knows.
I went back to life around me like nothing happened. No one seemed to notice any changes in me, which was good because inside I was a nervous wreck. There were points in the last few days when I thought I might tell on myself. The pressure was so much I was almost afraid of making a compulsive confession. Thank goodness my survival instinct was a lot stronger than that.
JACE
I don’t like her worrying about this shit. That ass is laid up in the hospital, which has nothing to do with us, and yet she’s causing trouble. Both dad and Si seem to be a lot more worried than is warranted, but I guess that’s to be expected when the cops are involved. As to them I could give a fuck, the clowns don’t scare me. Besides, I had nothing to fear, unless they were complete bungling idiots.
I let my mind leave one issue and head to another. I still wasn’t any closer to figuring out who had attacked my girl, and all this nonsense had sidetracked me a little, now it was time to get back on it. If the idiot cops were as dumb as to finger me for the attempt on Mandy, I’m not sure that I could trust them with this. But where should I start?
I watched her to make sure she was okay and not obsessively worrying, before leaning my head back against my chair to let my mind do its thing. I find that sometimes it’s best to let it wander around on its own.
Something or someone got her off that bus. It wasn’t me, so the question was who. Since we’d been away from home, the choices were limited. There were only a few people who could’ve lured her off, her brother or I. It wasn’t either of us so that was a dead end.
But what if someone had pretended to be me? I shook my head as if to clear it. Way too many cop shows, but what if? That was a new angle to investigate if nothing else. I turned my mind to ways that someone could’ve pulled that off and had to admit that with technology being what it was, there were many.
The other fear that I have been careful to keep hidden from everyone was, what if they tried again? That’s the main reason I’d begged to have her here with me. I didn’t trust anyone else to keep her safe. One thing is for sure, if I find who did this before the cops did, there was a good chance they wouldn’t live much longer.
THE END
***
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Eden High Series 2 Book 1 Page 7