“I didn’t find anything. Can I call you tomorrow afternoon?”
“Sure.”
“Take care of yourself, Jen.”
“You too,” I said. Then I clicked end, exhausted from the few moments of conversation, but smiling because he’d called to check on me.
When I finally woke up and was ready to stay awake for more than a minute, it was midnight. I went to the bathroom, grabbed a cold Sprite from the fridge, and curled up on the couch with the remote.
After an hour of channel surfing, I learned that the networks hated insomniacs. There could be no other excuse for the ridiculous lack of decent choices. I wasn’t expecting good, but at least decent.
Throwing down the remote in disgust, I grabbed my drink and climbed back up to my room.
I didn’t even hear my family leave for work and school.
At one in the afternoon, I crawled out of bed, gulped more Sprite, and lurched to the shower.
Thirty minutes later, I felt almost human. I could breathe through my nose and I hadn’t coughed yet. My throat was still sore, so I dashed downstairs for something cold. A carton of chocolate chip ice cream was hiding in the freezer. With a giant serving spoon, I demolished it.
Since I’d gone more than a day without food, I fixed a big sandwich and ate that too while my throat was still soothed from the ice cream.
I went up for my laptop which was heavier than I remembered, both my cells, and my pillow and settled on the couch to check my email. I killed an hour reading them, and then grabbed the remote.
I must have dozed off because the sound of the phone jarred me awake sometime later.
“Hello,” I said into my purple cell before realizing it was the wrong phone.
Picking up the black one, I said, “Hi, Leo.”
“You sound more like yourself.”
“Thanks.”
“Are you out of bed and everything?”
“I’ve made huge progress,” I said. “I’m all the way downstairs, on the couch.”
“I’m glad you’re feeling better.” He paused for a moment. “I know you’re probably not feeling up to it, but I promised Katie I’d ask.”
“What?”
“I’m going over later to show Katie the pictures. She wanted me to invite you for dinner.”
I really wanted to see Leo.
“It’s okay to say no. I’ll explain to Katie.”
“No.” Was I crazy? “Tell her I’ll come.”
“Great!” Leo’s enthusiasm cemented my resolve. “Your mother will let you?”
“Sure.” Not a chance in hell. “Can you pick me up?”
“One street over?”
“Of course.”
“See you at five?”
“Great.”
After rehearsing several times, I called my mother.
“Hey, hon,” she said picking up. “Are you feeling better?”
“Much. I showered, and ate, and I’m going completely stir crazy.” I was still a day away from stir crazy, but she didn’t need to know that.
“I’m so glad, honey. Maybe you can make it back to school tomorrow.”
“Actually,” I said, tugging on the blanket for courage. “I, um, wanted to go to Alex’s for dinner tonight.”
Mom didn’t say anything.
I could picture the look on her face. The you’ve-got-to-be-kidding-me look.
“I know I’ve been sick, Mom. But Alex will pick me up and bring me back home. I’ll take it easy. I swear. We’re just going to watch our show she tivo’d last night. Please.”
“What time?”
“Five.”
“I want you home by seven thirty. No excuses.”
“Thanks, Mom.” I just hoped I was wrong imagining her I’m-not-buying-it tone.
I went upstairs and picked out some jeans and one of my favorite tops. Then I snorted enough Afrin to clear my sinuses out, for now at least. I brushed my hair and applied just enough makeup to make me look alive instead of half dead.
After getting ready, I was exhausted.
I grabbed an apple from the fridge. Then I wandered back to my headquarters on the couch. I ordered pay per view to kill the next two hours and crawled back under the covers, ruining my efforts with my hair.
My purse packed with Kleenexes and cold medicine, I made my way through the back yard to the rendezvous point.
I hadn’t thought about Leo picking me up on his bike until now. No way did I have the energy to ride the motorcycle and talk and smile through dinner.
When the Prius turned the corner, I breathed a sigh of relief. Leo must have thought about how sick I was.
I opened the door and climbed in, glad to sit down on the seat after my short walk.
“Hi,” I said turning to him.
My heart pitter-pattered as he smiled at me. “You look like you’re feeling better.”
He reached out and tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear.
I wanted him to kiss me again, desperately.
As far as I knew Karmic colds weren’t contagious, if I could just keep from grossing him out.
A violent sneeze shook me and I just managed to turn my head and grab the emergency tissue in my sleeve so I wouldn’t spray him with snot.
Oh. God.
Leo reached down behind his seat and pulled out a box of Kleenexes. “Got you covered.”
I couldn’t help laughing as I pulled a Kleenex from the box. “You came prepared.”
“I have years of experience with Dad’s Karmic colds. He used to crawl into bed for a week every time.”
“Every time? Did it happen to him a lot?”
Leo shrugged. “Depending on how badly he irked his superiors, he got sent on a lot of Code Ones.”
“You should have seen this woman yesterday. She was like a poster child for hippies. She made two forbidden wishes.”
“Ouch. What a waste.” He set the tissues between the two front seats and pulled away from the curb.
He didn’t seem totally disgusted by me. Maybe I could make it through the dinner without repulsing him. I snatched a couple more tissues to hold just in case.
I’d finally gotten the attention of a great guy who I kind of liked, and apart from the whole banishment and possible destruction of the U.N.I.V.E.R.S.E. thing, things were looking up. I just had to keep from repulsing him with my cold, keep my mother from busting me, save his dad, and hope the U.N.I.V.E.R.S.E. didn’t notice our violations.
“Katie likes you,” he said as we headed down more side roads to hack our way through rush hour traffic.
“She’s nice. I’m glad you have her. It was sweet of her to invite me.”
“I’m not sure she really understands the Karmic cold thing. She always thought Dad was just being a bit of a baby about being sick.”
It was funny to think of his macho-looking dad as babyish. “One day you’ll see for yourself. They are no joke. Do you want me to hack up a lung or something on Katie’s kitchen table? You know, to vindicate your father?”
“Uh, no.” He glanced at me then back at the road. “She wouldn’t appreciate it very much.”
“That’s right. I forgot she’s a vegetarian. No lung meat for Katie.”
Leo laughed. “Count me in as a vegetarian too. I’ll pass on the lung.”
“Suit yourself,” I said crossing my arms in a fake huff.
As we got closer to the Emory area, I asked, “What’s going on with your dad? Any progress?”
“Not really. I’ve gone over the pictures of the staffers with Katie, but not the Directorate. The private investigator can’t find a thing on any of them.”
“So what’s next?”
“The PI’s supposed to do a background check on my dad. She’s going to put together as many names as she can. So far everyone my dad suggested as a possible enemy has turned out to be a dead end.”
“Whoever is out to get him, it’s somebody he probably doesn’t even know. What about the more militant crusaders on either side of the Techn
o Echo issue?”
“We haven’t been able to find anything to connect them.”
“Somebody is so desperate to get rid of your father that they’re having him banished forever. It seems like he’d know somebody hated him that much.”
We pulled into some newer condos that didn’t seem at all Katie’s style and punched in a key code at the gate.
“She lives here?”
“Not what you expected?”
“Actually, no.”
“She hates it. Her house got broken into three times in one year, so she gave up and moved into a gated community. At some point, you’ll hear her rant about the lack of character, but you know, she’s safe. And there’s a pool.”
I couldn’t picture Katie soaking up the sun.
We parked by one of about twenty large buildings that looked alike. Leo’s cottage had a lot more charm, but I wouldn’t want to think of Katie living alone. Even I could probably manage to break into Leo’s house if I put my mind to it.
“Second floor,” he said after coming around to get the door for me.
“I guess I shouldn’t bring the tissues. I might frighten her off.”
“I warned her. Plus you aren’t contagious, so I don’t see a problem.”
Green snot could drip from my nose at any moment. Then he’d see the problem.
Please God let whatever is in my nose stay in my nose.
I left the tissues in the car. Then I followed him up the stairs to the second floor. He knocked on the door and seconds later, Katie opened it.
“Leo! Jen! I’m so glad you came. Leo said you weren’t feeling well. I made you my special vegetable soup.”
“Great!” Please don’t let there be tofu in it.
“Come on in.” She stepped back and motioned us in.
The room was full of rich color from rugs, wall hangings, and decorations. Much more like what I expected from Katie.
“Sit on the couch, kids. I don’t want to tire Jen.” She turned to Leo. “Where are those pictures?”
Leo groaned. “I left them in the car. I’ll run down and get them.”
Katie held up her hand. “Just wait until after we eat. I invited Serena Sutherland for dinner. She’ll be here any minute. I can see the pictures afterwards.” Turning back to me, Katie said, “Serena teaches philosophy at Emory. She lives across the hall. Joe and I run into Serena and her boyfriend, Mark, both here and at university functions all the time. We’ve become good friends.”
I smiled because Katie seemed so excited, but I really had no desire to meet anybody today. Sitting upright and staying awake was a big improvement over yesterday. I didn’t want to push myself too hard, and after going out tonight, my mother would never let me skip school tomorrow.
“Katie?” a voice called from the door.
“Come in, Serena,” Katie said.
The most beautiful woman I’d ever seen in real life walked into the room. I thought I’d felt pale and sickly before, but this woman had the most beautiful golden tan skin.
“Hi, Leo,” she said with a bright smile. “And you must be Jen.” Her exotic green almond-shaped eyes drifted over me, her curiosity evident.
She was the woman from the University Center that day. That must be why something about her eyes seemed so familiar. “Hi,” I said with a little wave. I probably should have gotten up to shake her hand. I always felt awkward in these situations. Especially when I had cold symptoms. I mean what if she shakes my hand then watches me have a coughing fit. She’ll totally hate me.
“Let me check on dinner,” Katie said. “I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll help,” Serena said, giving us an amused glance.
Leo came around to sit by me as they disappeared around the corner into the kitchen.
“Wow,” I said. “She’s gorgeous.”
“Dad says she’s wicked smart, too.”
“I figured Emory professors were probably not dummies.”
Leo scooted closer to me on the couch. He lifted my hand and placed it in his.
“Are you sure it’s safe?” I didn’t want the couch to combust.
With a mischievous grin, he said, “I think holding hands might be okay. We didn’t blow up the bike, and more than just our hands were touching.”
He was right. A lot of parts had been touching.
“How long is this cold going to last?”
“Ten days maybe. Usually the first few are the worst.”
He stroked my hand with his thumb. “Ten days is way too long.”
I squirmed under the intensity of his gaze. I’d never been in a situation like this before. I didn’t know how to deal with it. Instinct told me to just kiss him.
But I had the cold.
And Katie could come in any minute.
And then there was the itty bitty issue of burning down the place.
“Look at me,” he whispered, his breath caressing my ear.
My eyes met his and the heat seared through me. The glow in his eyes turned into a blue flame.
I broke eye contact again, glancing around desperately for signs of fire. The rapid movement triggered a sneezing attack, which I barely contained by jerking back my hand and covering my nose.
Katie and Serena came back in the room as I jumped up to run for the bathroom. Luckily, the first door down the hall was the room I needed. I shut the door and grabbed a ton of Kleenex. Then I washed my hands and face.
Roasting the sofa would have been less embarrassing! I left the bathroom and forced myself to rejoin the others. I probably would have considered transporting home, but Karmic colds disturbed genie magic. Besides feeling too sick to grant wishes, we really just were not capable of granting wishes.
Two minutes ago, Leo had definitely been really into me. That was good to know. It may be all I ever had. Okay so I got a little gloomy when I was sick.
Chapter Fourteen
I walked back to the family room where Leo and the two women were setting the table.
“You okay?” Leo asked.
I nodded even though I knew my bright red nose told a different story.
He winked at me.
Maybe I hadn’t totally grossed him out after all.
I winked back.
Serena saw me and grinned.
“I made some veggie pasta. There’s enough for everyone. Jen, you can have soup and pasta. I would like you to try the soup. I think the herbs I used will help your cold.”
“Thank you.”
Leo pulled out a chair and seated me.
Katie and Serena shared an aren’t-they-adorable look.
I could feel the heat rise in my cheeks.
Leo sat next to me. Katie brought me a giant bowl of soup. Then she served the others and herself.
I couldn’t smell the soup at all, but steam rose invitingly from the bowl. I took a tentative taste. No matter how bad it was I couldn’t let it show. Luckily, it tasted good.
I looked up to find Katie watching me expectantly.
“It’s delicious,” I said.
She smiled.
Serena may have been smart, but she didn’t seem to be able to talk about much more than her boyfriend Mark.
Serena and Katie carried on most of the conversation, so I got to relax and just concentrate on my soup.
Until Leo finished eating and held my hand under the table again.
I could so get used to this.
When we all finished, Leo started helping clear the table.
“No need, Leo,” Katie said. “Why don’t you run out and get those photos, and I’ll take care of this. We don’t want to keep Jen out too much longer.”
“I’ll come with you,” I said.
Katie gave me one of those stern motherly looks. “You’ll rest on the couch. You’re a little pale.”
Darn that golden-skinned Serena.
“Okay,” I said. The idea of total relaxation held some appeal. “But just for a minute.”
“I need to run, Katie,” Serena sai
d with an apologetic frown. “It was nice to meet you, Jen.”
“You, too.”
“Thanks for dinner, Katie. Mark will be home any minute.”
“Send him over to meet the kids,” Katie said.
Leo followed Serena out.
Katie took care of the dishes in under two minutes. Then she came out of the kitchen and said, “Jen, I’ve got some herbal tablets that might help. I’ll get them for you. Echinacea, garlic, goldenseal, redroot. Oh, and grapefruit seed extract. Just the old standbys.”
My mother would freak if I took anything she hadn’t approved. “Oh, thanks, but—”
“No pressure,” she said as she headed down the hall. “But you’ll have them in case you decide to try them.”
When Leo got back with the pictures, he spread them out on the dining room table. “Where’s Katie?”
“She went to get me some herbs.”
“Oh,” he said with a pitying glance. “She must have a thousand bottles back there. Maybe she won’t find what she’s searching for.”
I peeled myself off the couch and went over to the table.
“It’s hard to believe these eight people have so much power,” Leo said.
“Yeah,” I agreed. I pointed to Maximillian’s picture. “This guy especially. He wasn’t anywhere near this hot when he was alive. And he still snagged a beautiful girlfriend. I don’t know why he went for this extreme when he joined the Directorate.”
Leo snorted and picked it up. “He does have a wanna-be movie star thing going on, doesn’t he?”
“I found most of them,” Katie said, walking back into the room. She came over to the table and set down the nine bottles as best she could. “Now I just need to find some little baggies,” she said.
“Katie, you can’t send her home with bags full of unidentified pills.”
“Of course not. I’m keeping some for me, and I’m sending her home with the bottles.”
Leo set down the picture of Maximillian and started righting the bottles of herbs and vitamins.
Katie glanced down at the photographs. “Why do you have a picture of Mark?”
“Mark, who?” Leo asked.
“Where?” I added.
Katie reached out and picked up the photo that Leo had just set down. “This Mark,” she said. “This is Serena’s boyfriend. The one you are going to meet tonight.”
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