“Are you serious? That’s so great,” I said.
Heather’s face beamed when she heard my approval. “I think I really like him. That first night he stayed until pretty late. Then the next day when we all found out about your accident, he came over to see if I needed someone to talk to. Wasn’t that sweet?” Her eyes lit up. “We’ve seen each other almost every day since then.”
“That’s so cute,” I said. “I’m really happy for you guys.”
“Are you sure you don’t mind?” she asked.
“Not at all,” I said. I suddenly felt the need to whisper. “Actually, there’s sort of someone I think I like too.”
I probably shouldn’t have mentioned anything, but I couldn’t keep secrets from Heather. Plus, I wouldn’t tell her about the really secret parts, just about the gorgeous boy I’d met. He might seem more real if I talked about him out loud instead of just fantasizing about him in my mind.
“Really?” she asked intrigued. “Who is it?”
“I met this guy at the beach last week. I sort of hit my head on a rock and fell in the water. He pulled me out and saved me.”
“He saved you from drowning? Oh my gosh, that’s like, so romantic. Did he give you mouth to mouth?” she teased.
“No, I wish,” I joked. My voice grew solemn. “But I don’t know if he’s interested in me, he’s kind of confusing.”
“How could he not be interested, Sade? Did he ask you for your phone number? Did he say he wanted to see you again?”
“Well, sort of. He did say he was planning to see me again, but—”
She didn’t let me finish. “You know what I just realized,” she said, her face brightening. “This means you can come to Sadie Hawkins with our group this Saturday.” She clapped her hands in celebration. “Now you have no excuse not to come. I mean, as long as they let you out of this place by then. Oh my gosh, you totally need to ask this guy to be your date. I have to meet him.”
Was the Sadies dance this weekend? I couldn’t believe I’d forgotten. Well maybe I could—things had been a little crazy the last couple weeks, part of which I’d spent completely unconscious. Plus there were so many other things more interesting to think about.
In past years it was hard to forget the girl-ask-boy dance since it was practically named after me. Everywhere I went at school I kept hearing people say my name, especially other girls as they made plans and whispered about potential boys to invite. I’d always been happy to make plans right along with them, but not this year.
I recalled the conversation I had with Heather a month earlier. I made it extremely clear to her I wasn’t planning to go this year, there weren’t any boys I wanted to ask, and I didn’t want her to ever bring up the subject again. I must’ve made my point since she never did bring it up again.
Truthfully, she just caught me during one of my emotional episodes and I was feeling so down and anti-social I practically ripped her head off. I would’ve shot down anything she said no matter what it was.
Poor Heather, she’d really suffered the brunt of my recent emotional roller coaster. No wonder she felt like I didn’t want to be her friend anymore. I really wanted to make it up to her now. I couldn’t say no to the dance after all I’d put her through.
School dances were always an important part of our plans together in the past and it wouldn’t be fair to her if I broke the tradition now. Especially during our senior year, the last time we would get to create any of these special memories together.
I mimicked Heather’s enthusiasm and said, “The dance is this weekend? Of course I want to come with you guys.” Heather’s smile widened, pleased with my response.
Then it dawned on me. Rayne didn’t exactly seem like the type of guy who looked forward to a high school dance. He wasn’t even in high school. He’d probably think the whole idea was dumb and immature.
“We’ve already started making plans,” Heather said with animation. “I’m so glad I didn’t ask Trent Freeman last week like I was planning. I’ve already asked Nick and he said yes. Didn’t that work out perfect?”
“Yeah, perfect,” I repeated, a little distracted.
I was still thinking about Rayne. It was him and those sparkling eyes that were perfect. But he was a Keeper, an agent assigned to protect me, not exactly the typical date for a school dance. Not that I would mind an entire evening together with music, dancing, and staring into each other’s eyes, but he didn’t seem fond of being seen in public.
“So what’s this guy’s name?” Heather said, lifting her eyebrows with interest. “Is he hot?”
I sighed against my pillow.
“His name is Rayne,” I said, forgetting again that I was supposed to keep my knowledge of him a secret. “He’s the most beautiful boy I’ve ever met,” I said dreamily. “And a complete mystery…”
I stared aimlessly across the room. At least, he was beautiful to me. I wasn’t sure what anyone else would think and I didn’t care either. Sure, he possessed a certain set of features that were generally considered good looking, but Rayne seemed like more than that to me. He wasn’t just a pretty face or a great set of abs. He was something special.
“Oh…my…gosh,” Heather said. “You are totally in love with this guy.” It was more of an accusation than a statement.
I shook myself out of the dreamy trance. “What? No I’m not. I just—”
Heather folded her arms and gave me a look that clearly said she wasn’t buying it.
“Okay fine,” I said. “I’ve completely fallen for him. I can barely think about anything else.”
I hated to admit it out loud. I threw a pillow over my face. How could it be true? How could I love someone I hardly knew?
“I can’t believe it,” Heather said. “Sadie James, the girl who’s never liked a boy enough in her entire life to even let one kiss her, has totally fallen in love. I knew this day would come.”
I felt my stomach lurch. She was right. I did love him. Not only that, I was pretty sure I was in love with him. This might’ve been a wonderful realization if only I knew he felt the same way about me. It didn’t seem likely. Would I ever be more to him than just an assignment? Was I setting myself up for a broken heart?
“You say that like it’s a good thing, but it feels more like torture,” I said. “I don’t think he’ll want to go to the dance with me. I don’t even know if he likes me that way.”
“Don’t worry; it’ll work out,” she said. “I mean, you guys barely met, right? You just need more time to, like, get to know each other. The dance would be the perfect opportunity to see where things go. Just ask him. I’m sure he’ll say yes.”
She said it like it was so simple, but Heather had no idea how complicated the situation really was.
“I guess it couldn’t hurt to ask,” I said, the exact opposite of how I really felt.
She smiled. “You better call me as soon as you know how it goes so we can do some more planning.”
“You’ll be the first to know,” I said weakly.
Heather didn’t notice my worried, wandering glances. Either that or she was purposely trying to ignore them.
“We should go shopping together,” she said. “Don’t forget that we need to buy shirts for our dates so they can match us. And we’re all getting together for dinner before the dance but we’re still trying to decide where to go. Nicole and Kelly want to go to Beach Pit BBQ since it’s more of a casual dance, and that makes sense I guess, but Beach Pit is always so crowded and they barely have any seating. So Lindsey and I came up with the idea to go to Duke’s in Huntington. I really think that would better, don’t you?”
Heather’s ramblings were too much to take in. “Maybe we should wait until I have a date before we make any solid plans,” I said.
“Oh fine, but promise me you’ll come. It won’t be the same without you.”
I didn’t want to disappoint her. I forced a smile. “Yeah…for sure.”
“Even if this guy Rayne can’t come,
you could always ask someone else. You know, to create a little competition. Guys always want what they can’t have.”
I laughed. “Let’s just call that plan B for now.”
Heather gathered her things and cleaned what was left from dinner. “Just call me as soon as you decide. The dance is only four days away.”
As Heather said her goodbyes I started to worry. Only four days? That didn’t seem like enough time to gather the nerve to ask Rayne to be my date. Perhaps I could play it off as a casual favor, like it wasn’t really a date, just him helping me out on short notice. That seemed believable. At least there would be less pressure, less chance of getting turned down—a fear I’d never experienced before.
Or maybe Heather had a good idea. I could go with someone else while Rayne watched from the sidelines so he could see what he was missing. But playing games was immature. He’d see right through me, and he’d probably be too concerned about his assignment to notice anyway.
When would I ask him? I didn’t have a way to contact him. For all I knew, he might not show up for days, or ever.
He said he would come back. I had to believe him, to keep my sanity. But why couldn’t he just give me his phone number, or at least something?
Despite how much I wanted to please Heather and enjoy a normal night with friends, finding a date to the dance was the least of my worries. I still didn’t know why I needed my own personal Keeper, or protective, healer agent-person, whatever Rayne was. And worse, I didn’t know how long I’d have to wait to see his beautiful face again.
I lay in the lumpy hospital bed for hours, anxious thoughts swirling through my head. Through all the insecurity and speculation, only one thing was perceptively clear—I was in love.
If he disappeared again now, he’d take a part of my heart with him forever. There was no avoiding it. The mysterious, chivalrous, irresistible boy would be the path to my greatest passion or the cause of my deepest heartache.
13. RAYNE GETS A PHONE CALL
Rayne recognized the number on his caller ID and lifted his phone happily to his ear. “Hi, buddy. Long time no talk.”
Ash’s voice seemed even and distant on the other end. “Yeah. Hey, man.”
Rayne recognized his friend’s sullen tone. “Is something wrong? You sound off.”
Ash hesitated. “It’s…my father, Rayne. He broke out of Cayno.”
Rayne peered up and down the hospital hallway and lowered his voice to a whisper. “What? Are you serious?” He could hardly believe his ears. No one had ever escaped that place before.
“I’m dead serious,” Ash said.
Rayne grimaced in disbelief and slid through the doorway leading to the stairwell. “How is that even possible?”
“You know my father…he’s resourceful. If anyone was bound to figure it out, it was him.”
“I guess,” Rayne said, still grasping the concept. “Well, are you okay, buddy? I mean, he hasn’t tried to contact you or anything has he?”
Silence filled the line.
Rayne understood the empty answer. “You can’t communicate with him. You understand he’s a fugitive, right?”
When Ash finally answered, his tone was coarse. “Of course I understand that. He’s also my father, in case you forgot.”
“If you get involved, he’ll just bring you down with him.”
“I have to do this,” Ash said, as if convincing himself. “I don’t expect you to understand.”
“Rayne’s throat tightened. “You have to do what, Ash?”
“I’m calling because my father wants to meet with you tomorrow.”
“A meet? With me? What do I have to do with anything?”
Ash’s voice softened. “Look, man, I’m really sorry. I didn’t want to get you involved. He just wants you to relay a message to Hamlin for him. That’s it.”
“Ash, why are you doing this?”
“All I’m doing is making a simple phone call for my father. Okay? I’m not getting involved with anything else. Believe me; I tried to talk him out of this.”
“I just don’t think we should give in to his games,” Rayne protested.
Ash sounded earnest. “He’s my dad…If this was your father, you would do the same. If anything, at least this way you’ll know what’s going on.”
Rayne didn’t hear the last sentence. “This would never happen with my father. He doesn’t hurt innocent people.”
Ash scoffed in frustration. “Look, I think this could end up involving the girl,” he cautioned. “You should consider taking all the necessary precautions.”
Rayne’s hands clenched into fists. “You told him about her?”
“No…”Ash said. “He figured it out on his own. I swear.”
Rayne sighed and ran his hand over his head, trying to decide what to do. The last thing he wanted was to get involved with a man like Voss, but if there was any chance Sadie could be harmed, he couldn’t stand by and do nothing.
“So will you be there, or not?” Ash challenged.
Rayne’s tone was short. “Fine. Just give me the address.”
Rayne took down the information and hung up in frustration.
He slumped onto a step against the wall, resting his forehead in his hand. This couldn’t be good. What were the chances that anything having to do with Voss would end smoothly?
Sometimes he wondered how his friendship with Ash had lasted so long. Ash was always getting him into trouble; always the little devil on his shoulder coaxing him into bad ideas. But this? This was taking things too far.
How could Voss know about Sadie anyway? Ash was the only person that Rayne ever told. Did Voss really figure it out on his own, or was Ash just too cowardly to admit he had something to do with it? How could his friend even toy with the idea of pulling Sadie into his father’s warped existence?
He thought of her gentle eyes next to such a monster and cringed.
Rayne took quiet steps down the hall to Sadie’s room and slipped inside. Her sleeping face was that of an angel, innocent and unaware. She looked so peaceful. How could he bring all this heartache into her life?
Was he strong enough to be all he needed to be for her?
He had to be. He couldn’t let her down. He would choose his own torture before allowing someone like Voss Hastings to so much as breathe in her direction.
14. SURPRISE
Sound hummed through the depths of my subconscious, causing me to stir. My eyes sprung open. The thick fog of sleep clouded my thoughts as I registered the voice.
“Sadie…Sadie, it’s me,” he whispered, “Rayne.” The shimmering green eyes glistened at my bedside like two moons in a starry sky.
I leapt forward in sudden comprehension, encircling his neck with both my arms. “You came!” I blurted happily. He stepped back to catch his balance and laughed quietly.
“Shhhh…” he gestured in amusement with a finger to his lips, signaling to lower my volume.
I sunk back on the bed. “Sorry,” I whispered.
He came. I knew he would. My body flooded with exhilaration, relieved at the sight of his calm smile.
I glanced at the clock sitting next to the hospital bed. It was almost midnight. I tried to stay up for the end of my mom’s shift, but I must have dozed off.
“My mom—” I said.
“She was just here. They told her you were asleep and she decided not to wake you. She went home.”
“Oh,” I said, a little surprised.
How did he always know everything?
“How are you feeling? Are you doing okay in here?” he asked.
“Yeah, I guess, besides being bored out of my mind.” And hanging on every moment until your return, I thought to myself.
“I had a feeling you might say that. How about a little fresh air?”
“Uh,” I stammered.
It was practically the middle of the night and there was a nurse not far from my door who knew me well. If she saw me leave my room I was sure she’d be concerned.
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“You mean now?” I asked, a little confused, but mostly intrigued.
He controlled a mischievous grin. “What? Don’t you trust me?”
“Yes…” I said, half as a statement half as a question.
He didn’t hesitate. “Good, then hurry and put on some clothes in the bathroom. I’ll wait here.”
I felt strangely exhilarated as I dressed myself. I had no idea what he had in mind or how we were going to escape unnoticed. Did they lock the doors at night here? Did they let people roam in and out of the hospital at all hours of the night even if they weren’t hospital staff? I had no idea. How could I be the daughter of a nurse at this hospital for so long and not know that?
I shuffled back in the room, fully dressed in the long sleeve t-shirt and jeans my mom brought for the day I’d go home.
“Okay, I’m ready,” I said in a quiet voice.
Rayne was standing near the door. He turned to face me. “Do you have a sweater or something? It could be chilly out.”
“Oh yeah, hold on,” I said.
I’d been indoors for so long I hadn’t thought about the weather. I rummaged through the duffle bag and pulled out the white Roxy jacket my mom packed for me.
“Okay,” he whispered, pulling a khaki messenger bag over his shoulder.
He waved a hand in his direction motioning me to join him. I zipped my jacket and tip-toed to his side. I felt like a prisoner trying to escape. I was never a rebellious person but I felt an odd thrill in our spontaneous adventure.
Suddenly Rayne’s strong hand grasped mine, his skin so warm. My knees wobbled. I focused, inhaling a deep breath. The last thing I needed was a sudden muscle failure. Hopefully Rayne wouldn’t have to carry me out of here—not that I would mind.
He planted his back to the wall and cracked the door open. The nurse sat at her station a few yards away.
“Come on,” he whispered.
He pulled me down the hall in the opposite direction. I followed him quickly taking soft steps.
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