by Sandra Cox
“Thanks, Gramps.” I drop into my seat and take a swig of coffee. My world rights the moment I swallow the hot caffeine. I turn my attention to my oatmeal.
Gramps lets me get halfway through before he queries, “Anything happen last night?” He folds the morning paper and sets it aside.
“You don’t miss much do you?” I smile and devour another couple of bites.
His movements stiff, he picks up my bowl, fills it up, and sets it in front of me.
“Thanks, Gramps.” I sip my coffee. “I went back to the boat. They’d caught another dolphin. This time when I freed it a diver came after me.” I don’t mention the shark. No point putting my only relative on sensory overload.
He sits down, folds his hands. “And?” His voice and mannerism are calm but he can’t hide the worry in his eyes.
“The dolphin acted as a buffer and I got away. The diver followed me but he couldn’t keep up,” I mumble around a mouthful of oatmeal. I’m finally losing that hollow feeling in the pit of my stomach. I glance at the clock. “Got to run, or I’ll be late for school. Don’t worry, okay?” I shove back from the table, kiss the top of his head, and bolt.
Beulah and I roar down the hill in a cloud of white exhaust. I pull into the parking lot and slow when I see an open spot next to Fahrenbacher’s muscle car, shrug and drive to the next row where there are several parking spaces. I have enough irons in the fire—such as dolphins—to worry about, without adding a pissed-off Fahrenbacher into the mix.
After getting out of the truck, I trot into school. Tyler’s waiting inside the foyer. He disentangles himself from his entourage and steps forward, a wide smile on his face. He reaches for my hand. I yank it back. “What are you doing?”
He rolls his eyes. “That’s what people do who go together.”
My head swivels in his direction. I can only hope the tinted glasses hide my anxiety. From the look on his face, maybe not. In between saving dolphins and being attacked by divers and sharks, this couple thing is a lot to deal with. Not that I intend to mention any of the many complications in my life to my new boyfriend.
“Not us. No one is supposed to know, remember?” Hadn’t he agreed to that? I frown, trying to remember. You’d think I’m Gramps’ age and having a senior moment instead of a teenager. Actually, Gramps’ memory is twice as good as mine.
“I was hoping we’d gotten past that.” He falls into step beside me as I hurry down the hall, waiting for the sound of the bell.
“Gotten past it? We only became an item last night.” I look around to make sure no one hears.
“Ashamed of me, huh?” he teases.
Ashamed of him? If he only knew. I’d love to hang a banner in the gym that says in big bold letters Tyler Carlisle is Piper’s guy. But given the fact he doesn’t know I’m a mutant, that’s really not an option. “Will you stop?” I rush into the classroom and head for my spot in the back of the classroom, beside his sister.
Sitting with Holly is almost as bad. She’s nearly as popular as her brother. But no one thinks too much about our association, probably because Holly is nice to everyone.
I slide into my seat and plop my book bag onto the chair’s left-handed arm. Tyler sinks into the seat beside me.
“Go away,” I whisper.
He makes a point to look around. “No seats available.”
“What about that one on the front row?”
“Looks like Ted Johnson just snagged it.” He gives me an unrepentant look.
Holly watches us curiously.
Miss Sweeney walks in, putting an end to the bickering.
I stare straight ahead and try to concentrate, but it’s an effort in futility. Tyler’s legs are spread in that classic way males have of taking up their leg space and that of the person next to them. Our knees touch. I inch away, doing my best to ignore how such casual contact overloads my circuits and sends a sharp charge of electricity along my nerve endings.
Out of the corner of my eye, I glance at Tyler. If he’s aware of his impact on me he certainly doesn’t show it.
It doesn’t help that Holly keeps eyeing us with a smug expression on her pretty face. Has he told her or hasn’t he?
The only positive in the entire fifty minutes is Miss Sweeney doesn’t call on me. One has to appreciate blessings no matter how small.
The minute the bell rings, I jump up and make a dash for the hall. Or try to. Holly stands in my way. I nudge her aside with a well-placed elbow.
Tyler looks like he has every intention of following me until one of his admirers steps in and clutches his arm. Should I be jealous? I’m too relieved to worry about it. I bolt with Holly at my heels.
“So,” Holly begins.
“Don’t say a word.”
“But…”
“Not a word.”
She grumbles beside me, arms clasp around her books, as we scurry to our next class. For the rest of the day I only see Tyler at a distance, always surrounded by a bevy of pretty giggling girls. Once when he catches me looking, he winks at me before turning his attention to the redhead at his elbow.
Holly hears me mutter under my breath. “I’m not saying a word,” she responds.
I roll my eyes and bump into my nemesis.
“Carlisle’s not going to be around all the time,” he warns and knocks against my shoulder hard enough to make me wince.
I feel heat behind my eyes and get in his face. “Bring it on, Fahrenbacher. Any time, any place.”
He throws back his head and blinks. He stares at me and I stare back. A slow grin spreads across his face and for the first time I understand his appeal—in an abstract way. “Maybe you’re not such a mouse after all. I like a female with spirit.” He chucks me under the chin. Before I can bat his hand away, he drops it and saunters off.
Open-mouthed, I stare after him, shaking my head, and wondering if the whole world has run mad.
Eyes wide, Holly watches him walk away. A broad smile splits her face. “You go, girl.”
Chapter 18
The rest of the day passes uneventfully. I hate to admit it, but I’m upset Tyler hasn’t made more of an effort to seek me out. When the bell rings, I hurry to my truck. Tyler is leaning against the fender, ear buds in, listening to his iPod.
A smile of pleasure ripples across my face before I manage to get it under control. As if sensing my presence, Tyler looks up and smiles back, removing the ear buds.
“Hey.” He pushes off Beulah.
“Hey yourself.”
“Let’s go get a latte.” His hands run down my arms and cup my fingers.
For a moment, I’m oblivious to the other kids pouring into the parking lot, throwing curious looks our way.
A dark-haired sophomore with acne jostles my elbow. “Excuse me.” No doubt she’d been too busy staring at Tyler to pay attention to where she was going. But it’s enough to bring me back to my surroundings. I withdraw my hands.
“I’m not sure it’s such a good idea.” I begin moving back out of arms reach.
“You’re going to turn down a latte?” He raises his eyebrows in exaggerated disbelief. “Come on, I deserve to be rewarded. I followed your instructions to the letter. I haven’t seen you since first hour.” He leans forward and draws me toward him.
“Yeah, I can tell that’s a hardship.” Regretfully, I shrug off his hands.
“Hmm, if I lifted those glasses, would I find your eyes green?” he teases.
I lean away from him.
“Come on, Piper,” he urges. “Holly will be there, along with half the school. No one will think anything about it. And why should you care if they do?”
There it is again. That thinly-veiled demand for knowledge of my secret. Why can’t he let it be?
His glance goes from good-humored to edgy. Suddenly, I decide to give him this round and hope he’ll forget about my secrets.
“Let’s go.”
He looks startled. In that
instant, I realize he hadn’t thought I’d go. “If you don’t want to…”
His eyes light and he gives me that crooked grin.
My heart ka-thumps.
He grabs my hand and we walk down the block. Since most of the crowd has cleared out, I don’t pull away immediately. It feels too right. I am such a goner.
“Piper,”
“Hmm?” I watch a stray cat skitter across the street out of harm’s way as a car goes barreling by.
“How were you able to save me during the storm?”
“What do you mean?” My muscles tighten and my gait becomes stiff. I’ve been dreading this question. When he didn’t ask in the beginning, I thought I was going to luck out. I should have known better.
“Why didn’t you drown out there?”
I glance at him from behind my glasses before looking quickly away. “Why didn’t you?”
“If you hadn’t rescued me, I’m sure I would have. How did you do it?”
“I’m a strong swimmer.” I trip on a crack in the sidewalk and blush with embarrassment. Outside of the water, grace is not my middle name.
“You’re on Olympian level then.”
I shrug.
“I want to understand,” he presses.
“What do you want me to say, I’ve got super powers?” I snap, pulling my hand away.
“Do you?”
I giggle in spite of myself. I like to pretend I’m a superhero, but there’s a big difference between mutant DNA and superpowers.
Tyler smiles reluctantly.
“Can’t you just say thank you and let it go?”
Tyler sighs. “Thank you. I saw Fahrenbacher talking to you.”
I appreciate the change of subject. I know this isn’t easy for him. Heck, we’re teenagers. While it may not be listed on the teenage manifesto, anyone in our age bracket is curious to the point of being downright nosy. It appears Tyler is no exception. Though I’m afraid it goes deeper than that. He’s mixing up emotion with curiosity, trying to bring it down to a trust level. For both our sakes, I hope he never gives me an ultimatum.
“Yeah, I told him I’d clean his clock if he bothered me again. He decided he likes a female with spirit.” I snort.
Tyler grins and shakes his head. “He better not decide he likes you too much or I’ll be the one doing the clock cleaning.”
“Again. You aren’t the jealous type are you?”
We’ve arrived at the Pink Cat. Before I can reach for the door, Tyler opens it. “I’m mild-mannered but I am the jealous type.”
I frown as I walk through the door, puzzling that one out. “You won’t go all caveman on me will you?”
“No promises, but I’ll do my best.”
“I can see this relationship thing is going to be complicated.” I sigh.
The noise level rises several decibels when we cross the threshold. He leans down close to my ear so I can hear him. “I’ll make it as easy on you as I can.”
His breath sends a flutter through me. I’m so susceptible to this boy. Just think of him like a virus, I tell myself. Eventually, I’ll be immune and able to deal with him with equanimity.
“Piper. Tyler. Over here.” Holly waves her arm from a nearby booth. We’ve taken two steps in that direction when Tyler gets waylaid by a couple of girls in his science class. I keep going. I reach the booth and scoot Holly over with my hip.
“The bench on the other side is empty,” she points out before taking a long sip of what looks to be a caramel frappuccino.
“Stating the obvious,” I mumble.
“What’s going on between you and my brother?” Holly waves at some girls from first hour two tables over.
“What do you mean,” I respond cautiously.
“Come on, Piper. Ever since you rescued him—”
“I didn’t rescue him.”
“Whatever.” She shrugs. “Ever since the rescue, things have been different. And don’t think I’m the only one who’s noticed.”
Crap. I’m strongly tempted to put my head on the table and howl. What am I doing here anyway? This is hardly inconspicuous. Led astray by the lure of lattes. I sigh. And speaking of which, I start to rise. “I’ve got to get my latte.”
“I don’t think that will be necessary.” Holly points. Weaving his way through the crowd, Tyler has nearly reached our table, two lattes in hand.
My world brightens. I sink back down.
Tyler sets a drink in front of me and slides into the opposite booth. He looks at me sitting next to his sister. His left eyebrow shoots up. I ignore him, my attention focused on the latte.
I reach for it and take a long sip. Espresso and mocha tease my senses in an icy wavy of pleasure. I close my eyes and let my muscles go lax. “Thank you.”
When I open them, Tyler is staring at me with a bemused expression. “What?”
“Your voice.”
The cold milk has coated my esophagus and even though I lowered it, the words came out smoother than usual. “What about it?” I add in my normal husky tones.
“It sounds like it’s wrapped in silk.”
“Eww, Tyler, my ears. Is that one of your normal pickup lines?” Holly wrinkles her nose.
Bless Holly. I relax. And ask, curious, “Does my voice have any effect on you?”
“Pa-lease.”
Interesting. It must be a male thing.
Tyler leans forward. “You seriously don’t notice the sensual cadence of each word that ripples from her lips?”
“Stop.” She claps her hands over her ears. “Piper is a friend of mine.”
“Maybe it’s your imagination.”
“Imagination or not, your voice has an effect on me that I don’t dare talk about in front of my sister.”
“You keep this up and I’m going to go sit with friends,” she threatens.
“Don’t let us stop you.” He leans back and stretches his legs, his knees touching mine.
“Stay put, Holly,” I order, shifting my legs.
“Are you two an item?” Her glance shifts back and forth between the two of us.
“No.”
“Yes,” he says at the same time.
He gives me a pained look.
“Yes, but no one is supposed to know about it.” I make circles with my drink on the table, not meeting anyone’s eye.
“Why?”
“I’m trying to keep a low profile. To be perfectly honest spending time with you doesn’t help.”
“Why are you trying to keep a low profile?” She tilts her head, her expression puzzled.
“Good luck getting that one answered.” Tyler picks up his drink and finishes it with one long sip.
“I have my reasons,” I mutter and shift in my seat.
“I’m sure they’re good ones. Tyler, leave her alone. If it’s something she wants you to know she’ll tell you.”
A lump rises in my throat. I blink my eyes to keep the moisture back. Is this what it’s like to have a friend? Someone to show unwavering support whether they understand or not? “Thanks, Holly.”
“What are friends for? I appreciate you spending time with me even though it gets in the way of your low profile.” She gives me a quick hug before whispering to Tyler, “What do you think, homeland security or witness protection?”
In unison, they turn and study me, their expressions so alike it’s scary. It must be a twin thing. I hold up my hand. “Don’t even go there.”
But of course, once she’s opened that can of worms the next forty minutes is spent on endless speculation of my low profile, each suggestion more outrageous than the one before. Though mutant is never mentioned. Thank goodness.
I listen to their nonsense another ten minutes before scooting out of the booth.
Holly and Tyler stand, too. I motion them down. “Stay put, I’ve got to go.” Before long, the sun will be down. I need to check on the dolphins. I have no intention of letting the rese
arch vessel capture one of my friends.
“I need to get home. I’ve got four chapters of history to read.” Holly takes one last noisy sip of her drink.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” I nod at Tyler.
“I’ll walk you back to your truck.” Tyler unfolds his lanky frame and stands up.
“That’s not necessary,” I protest, torn between feeling warm all the way down to my toes because I’ll be spending a few more minutes with him and wondering how to keep some distance between us.
He looks at me and waits patiently.
I shrug. “Fine.”
He reaches for my hand. I notice two girls in my social science class watching us and hastily pull it away.
He scowls and lets his drop to his side. As we walk toward the door, one of the girls gets up and plants herself in front of him. “Hi, Tyler.”
I keep walking.
“Piper,” he calls after me.
I pretend not to hear. I hurry out the door and walk with my head down. This is so awkward. He’s so damn hot. I could resist the hotness if there weren’t so many other qualities about Tyler I like. He’s confident and comfortable with himself. He tries to do right by other people. I’d say he’s nice, but nice is such a bland term. It’s more than that. He genuinely cares about people.
I’m in such a brown study, I’m not even aware he’s caught up with me till he slips his hand around mine. I try to jerk it back, but he doesn’t let go.
“Someone may see us,” I say, but as usual, his slightest touch weakens my resolve.
“And that would be a problem because? Oh yes, witness protection.”
I roll my eyes and he grins, his eyes twinkling with mischief. As he swings my hand, I sigh in defeat. “You aren’t making this easy you know,” I complain.
“Give me a reason to and I’ll be the soul of rectitude.”
I stop and look at him. “How about because I ask you to?”
He drops my hand. “You don’t play fair.” His voice is strained.
I touch his arm lightly. “I’m sorry if this is difficult for you. This is a really big step for me. I’m with you because…”
“You can’t help yourself,” he says almost bitterly. “Your body wants me whether you do or not.”
