The Guardian Trilogy: The Complete Collection - Guardian, Allegiant & Reborn

by Sara Mack

  James snaps, “Persistent, isn’t he?”

  I have to fight to keep a straight face. Why is he acting like this? I take two steps toward the door and wave at Katie. “See you next week.”

  She subtly nods in Dane’s direction and mouths, “He’s hot!”

  I roll my eyes at her as I walk out the door.

  When we get outside the pro shop, I don’t immediately see Matt or Shel. Dane follows me as I turn and head in the direction of the parking lot.

  “Any idea where they might be?” I ask him. I really want to get home.

  Dane looks around. “Nope. I figured they’d be right here,” he frowns.

  I continue around the pro shop to where they park the golf carts. The area is pretty empty this time of the day. There’s no sign of them. “Maybe they’re already by the cars?” I ask hopefully.

  Dane shrugs. “Lead the way.”

  We pass the clubhouse on our way to the parking lot. I can see Shel’s car amongst the others but no Shel or Matt. My heart sinks. Where are they?

  I stop walking and cross my arms, looking around. “Where could they be?” I whine. “I really need to get home!”

  “If you need to get going right now, I’ll take you,” Dane volunteers.

  “I bet you will,” James seethes.

  “Ah, no. That’s okay,” I look around. I wish James would knock it off. He’s distracting me.

  “Hey, look at it this way,” Dane says. “Their talk must be going well. Maybe good enough for them to disappear, if you know what I mean.” He winks.

  A loud “Ew!” escapes me before I can stop it. Dane laughs and I can’t help but laugh along with him.

  Suddenly, we hear a loud scream and our laughter is cut short. I look at Dane panicked because I’ve heard that scream before.

  Outside Louie’s Roadhouse.

  It’s Shel.

  In a split second Dane and I are running in the direction of the clubhouse. We hear Shel scream again and halt.

  “This way!” Dane points to the right and takes off running.

  I try to keep up with him as he runs along the side of the building, but I fall behind a few feet. He makes it to the corner before me, turns, and disappears. I kick it into high gear to catch up with him and when I speed around the corner, I slam right into his back.

  “OOOF!” I lose my footing and fall to the ground.

  “Emma!” Dane turns around. “Are you okay?”

  How embarrassing! I blink up at him and instantly try to stand. “Yeah, yeah, I’m fine.”

  “Here, let me help you,” he reaches for my hand.

  “No, I’ve got it.”

  As I’m standing, Dane grabs my elbow and steadies me anyway.

  “So help me…” I hear James in my ear.

  I yank my arm out of Dane’s grasp. “Thanks, I’ve got it,” I say sharper than I intended.

  He looks at me concerned. “You sure you’re okay?”

  I nod and start to wipe my shorts. “Yes, I’m fine. Thanks,” I say softer. The sound of laughter and splashing registers in my brain. I look past Dane.

  “Oh yeah, I found Matt and Shel,” he says and gestures over his shoulder.

  Behind the clubhouse sits a large decorative pond with a waterfall and Matt and Shel appear to be wrestling each other in it. Shel lets out another shriek as Matt throws a lily pad in her face.

  I march over to the edge of the pond and give them both a scathing look. “Do you have any idea what time it is?” I snap.

  They hesitate mid-splash as they look up at me. “Sorry,” Shel says, trying to stifle her laughter.

  I sigh, crossing my arms. “Can we go?”

  “Sure, you can go,” Matt says, smiling sweetly as he walks toward me. “For a swim!” He reaches out, grabs my ankles, and tries to pull me into the pond.

  “No! Don’t!” I shout as I try to back away, losing my balance.

  “Gotcha!” Dane grabs me from behind, underneath my arms, to keep me from the water. I am now the rope in a tug-of-war.

  “Let go!” I protest and try to twist out their hold. The last thing I want to do is end up in pond water! I see a mental image of how ridiculous we must look to everyone at the clubhouse. As I start to laugh I yell, “No! Put me down!”

  Matt laughs as he reaches farther up my legs to get a better hold. Since his is hands are wet, his grip slips, and I manage to free one leg. I let out a victorious “Ha!” I go to work on trying to kick my other leg free, which he is now pulling on with both hands.

  Thankfully, Dane has better leverage standing outside the pond and he yanks me free of Matt’s hold. I end up on the grass on my butt – again – and Dane falls beside me. I lie back on the grass and hold my stomach as we convulse with laughter.

  “Having fun?” James asks sadly in my ear.

  I immediately feel guilty and try to compose myself. As I sit up I catch Kris, our manager, out of the corner of my eye. She’s accompanied by the clubhouse director and they don’t look happy.

  “Um, guys?” I try to get everyone’s attention. “Guys!”

  Matt is helping Shel out of the pond by the time they make it to us. “Just what exactly is going on here?” the clubhouse director, Jeff, asks sternly. “The guests are complaining!”

  “Sorry,” Shel says, dripping. “I…I fell in.”

  It’s a lame explanation and Jeff doesn’t buy it. “Both of you work here, right?” he asks, pointing to Shel and me. We nod. He looks expectantly at Kris.

  “Shel, Emma, you know this isn’t professional. You have to know that playing in the water feature is not allowed,” she scolds us. “People are trying to have a nice dinner over there,” she nods towards the clubhouse patio.

  We look down at the ground. Matt starts to defend us, “Listen, it’s my…”

  Jeff holds up a hand to silence him.

  Kris continues. “Guys, I don’t like this, but I’m going to have to take you off the schedule for a couple of days. I can’t have the other staff thinking this is an okay thing to do with their friends.”

  Even though this is so totally not my fault, I nod and say, “I understand.”

  “Wait!” Dane speaks up, coming around to the front of the group. “Wait until I speak with my dad first; no one needs to be suspended.”

  “And just who are you?” Jeff asks sarcastically.

  Dane offers a hand to Jeff. “We haven’t had a chance to meet. I’m Dane Walker,” he says confidently.

  Jeff loses the sarcastic expression and shakes Dane’s hand slowly. “Mr. Walker’s son?”

  “The same,” Dane smiles at him casually.

  Shel and I look at each other, surprised. Mr. Walker’s son? The same Mr. Walker who owns Bay Woods?

  “Dane,” Kris sighs. “I’m sorry the girls are your friends, but this is protocol.”

  “Just let me talk with my dad tonight. I’ll have him call you,” he promises.

  Kris thinks it over. “Okay,” she concedes and looks pointedly at us. “I’ll call you after I talk to Mr. Walker.”

  We nod in understanding. Shel mutters “Thanks” as I mutter “Sorry.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Jeff grumbles to Dane and turns to follow Kris.

  When the managers disappear inside the clubhouse, Matt lets out a low whistle of relief. We all look at each other and, as giggles threaten, I walk over to pick up our things. “Let’s go Shel, before you cause more trouble.”

  “Me cause trouble?” she says indigently. “I was pushed into the water!” She gives Matt a dirty look.

  “It was a tap,” Matt defends himself. “You’re the one who lost her balance and pulled me in with you!”

  They rehash the incident as we head back to the parking lot. “See you later,” she punches Matt good-naturedly as I hold out her purse.

  “Yeah, see you,” he smiles at her. “Bye Em.”

  I wave. “Thanks for the save back there,” I smile at Dane as I round Shel’s car.

  Once inside,
I ask, “So I take it everything is okay between you and Matt now?”

  Shel pushes her wet bangs out of her eyes. “Yes! We can lay that monster to rest.”

  “Explanation please.”

  “He felt bad and I felt guilty. I guess we needed some extra reassurance from each other that it was just a mistake.” She laughs. “I also promised to never drink anything made by his uncle again.”

  “Good,” I tell her as she backs out of the parking space. “By the way, you owe me. I had to do the cash out and restock by myself.”

  “Sorry. At least you had Dane to talk to,” she smiles.

  I give her my “oh please” look. “What’s up with his dad owning the course? Did you know about that?”

  “Nope.”

  I glance out the window as we head down the golf course drive. “No wonder he was comfortable hanging out at the counter all afternoon.”

  “Maybe it was the company,” she suggests.

  I give her an annoyed look as I hear James in my ear. “We have to talk.”

  Chapter 15

  Upstairs, I wait impatiently for James. I haven’t heard him since his last comment, and it has me on edge. I faked a headache after dinner, so I could come up to my room and pretend to lie down. I wanted to be alone in case he decided to come early.

  I pace back and forth at the foot of my bed. Why is he acting so jealous? Is he angry with me? If he’s been watching me like he says, he has to know I’ve done nothing to provoke today’s interaction with Dane.

  I sigh as I flop down on the bed. I peek at the clock. It’s almost ten. Where is he?

  My cell phone rings and I get up to answer it. It’s Bay Woods.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi, Emma. It’s Kris. Sorry to call so late.”

  “That’s okay. What’s up?”

  “I’ve just talked to Mr. Walker. You and Shel are not on for tomorrow, but you will be allowed to work what we had scheduled for the rest of the week. Sound okay?”

  I sigh in relief. “Thank you, I really appreciate it. And I’m sorry.”

  “I’m sorry too, kid. Honestly, none of this would have happened if it wasn’t for that uppity Jeff. I would have just told you to quit it and not do it again. Seriously, I think he’s trying to prove something because he’s new.”

  I laugh.

  “Anyway, would you save me another call and let Shel know?”

  “Yes. I’ll go tell her right now.”

  “Okay. Thanks, Emma. See you Tuesday.”

  “Yep, see you then.”

  I hang up and leave to find Shel. Turns out she’s in the shower, so I shout the information to her through the cracked bathroom door. When I return to my room, I close the door behind me and sigh.

  “Hi.”

  I jump and turn around. James is sitting on my bed.

  “Hi!” I’m so excited to see him, I forget my earlier brooding. I skip over to stand in front of him. “Where have you been?”

  He smiles. “Sorry to keep you waiting.” He reaches for me and I place my hands in his gently. The cool feeling spreads through my hands and up my arms. I smile then sit down next to him, still holding his hands.

  “How was your day?” I whisper to him. The last thing I need is for my parents or Shel to hear me. They’ll think I’m talking to myself.

  He frowns. “Disturbing.”

  “How so?”

  He cocks an eyebrow at me. “Who’s your new friend?”

  My face twists. “Who? Dane? He’s Matt’s friend, not mine.”

  He looks at me skeptically.

  “What? You’re seriously not jealous, are you?”

  No answer.

  “Listen, if you’ve been watching me you know I did nothing –”

  James cuts me off. “I know.” He releases one of my hands and rubs his eyes. “I know.”

  “Then what’s the problem?”

  “I don’t like him...touching you. Or Matt. Either one of them touching you makes me crazy.” He looks at me and sighs.

  “Why? You know I don’t like it.”

  “Because I can’t,” he says softly. “I don’t like it because I can’t touch you.”

  His admission breaks my heart. To make him feel better, I place both of my hands on either side of his face. He closes his eyes as a small smile appears on his lips. “You really are warm.”

  “See, we can touch each other,” I say quietly.

  As he opens his eyes he reaches up and circles my wrists. “It’s not the same.”

  “Given our situation, I’ll take it,” I reassure him. I move my hands through his and place them against his chest. “I’ll take whatever you’re able to give.”

  His eyes soften, and he leans forward to kiss me. I feel the cool concentration on my lips and I kiss him back; focusing on moving my mouth with the cold air. Chills course through my body.

  When the feeling disappears, I open my eyes to see him smirking at me.

  “What? You kissed me!”

  “I’m just imagining what that would look like if someone walked in on us,” he grins.

  I laugh quietly. “Yeah, explaining that would be….hard.”

  After a moment, his expression turns serious. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too. Don’t be jealous.”

  “Easier said than done,” he says.

  “Well, try not to be. I don’t plan on spending any alone time with anyone other than you.”

  He looks at me longingly and reaches up to try and push a stray piece of hair from my face. It doesn’t move. He frowns in frustration.

  “Can you do that?” I ask. “Move things?”

  “Not yet, apparently,” he says. “Physical manipulation takes the longest to learn.”

  “Haven’t you been practicing?”

  “Not so much. Speaking and manifestation come first.”

  “Oh. Well, you’re doing a really good job. I heard every comment you made today.”

  “No, you didn’t.” His eyes harden. “If you did, I doubt you’d be speaking to me right now.”

  My mouth falls open. “What did you say?”

  “I just called your friend some choice words is all,” he mutters.

  “James!” I hiss. “Be careful! It’s hard for me to control my reaction when I hear you as it is!”

  His eyes light up. “I know. It’s fun.”

  I playfully smack his arm and my hand passes right through.

  “You’ll get used to it,” he reassures me. “So,” he looks into my eyes, “what do you want to do tonight?”

  I tilt my head in curiosity. “What are my options?”

  “Well, I already planned on staying with you, if that’s okay.”

  “And we could practice the kissing thing,” I suggest enthusiastically.

  James shakes his head and smiles.

  “What?”

  “I didn’t think you would take this so well. Most people would be scared to death.”

  “I’m not most people,” I pause as my throat thickens. “We’re soul mates.”

  James nods, but his smile falls as his eyes cloud over.

  “What is it?” I ask.

  “There are some things you need to know about being a Guardian.” His tone is somber.

  A million possibilities start to bloom in my mind. “Like what?” I ask, worried.

  James looks pensive, like he regrets what he said. He moves away from me and stands. “You should get ready for bed.”

  “What? You’re not changing the subject,” I object and stand to face him. “Tell me.”

  “Don’t you have to work tomorrow?”

  “No. I have the day off courtesy of Matt and Shel turning the pond into a water park.”

  He shakes his head. “Get in the bed.”

  “And then you’ll tell me?” I’m not dropping this.

  “Yes.”

  Within seconds I’ve changed my clothes. I turn off the light, jump into bed, and just like last night, James assumes the
same position behind me, pressing his chest against my back. I wrap my comforter around us.

  “Wow. When I said ‘jump’ you never said ‘how high’ before.”

  “Start talking.”

  I feel him kiss my cheek. “Pushy much?” he asks quietly.

  Turning my head, I look at the darkness over my shoulder, where I know his face is. I softly ask him “Please” and hear a resigned sigh.

  “What did you mean? Are we not soul mates?” I whisper, my voice breaking.

  “We are,” he holds me tighter. “Don’t worry; we are.”

  “So what’s with all the drama?” I ask, quoting him from this morning.

  James is silent for a moment. “Em, this is all I can give you.”

  My response is immediate. “Like I said, I’ll take whatever you can offer.”

  “How can you be sure this is what you want?”

  I shift my body to lie on my back. “I’ll always want you.”

  He counters. “I can’t touch you.”

  “Yes, you can.”

  “I can’t marry you.”

  “I don’t care.”

  “We can’t have kids.”

  “I’ll adopt.”

  He lets out a heavy sigh. “I can’t give you things.”

  “I’ve never been materialistic.”

  “We can’t grow old together.”

  “Who’s getting old?” I scowl.

  I feel James pull away, and I imagine him propped on his elbow, looking down at me skeptically. “So you’re telling me, at the age of 21, you know without a doubt that you want to spend the rest of your life unmarried, celibate, and without children of your own? You want to be the crazy old cat lady who sits on her front porch talking to herself until I can be with you again?”

  “I wouldn’t be talking to myself,” I dispute him. “I’d be talking to you and…” Something he said stops me. “Wait. What do you mean ‘until I can be with you again’”?

  James says nothing.

  “It’s when I die, isn’t it?” I whisper, the finality of the thought sinking in. “We can be together when I’m dead.”

  James inhales sharply. “It’s not that easy.”

  “Tell me how it works then.”

  Silence. Not being able to see his face to read his reactions is frustrating. I can’t take it anymore and I lean through him, a cold chill passing through to my bones. I shiver and turn on the bedside lamp.