Center of the Universe (Twelfth Keeper)

by Malory, Belle

  “He must’ve done it to make you jealous,” Reagan said, pushing her spoon around her bowl. “That has to be it. That’s why he brought her here—to get you back, so to speak.”

  Please don’t let that be true. It was easier to accept that Hunter was moving on, rather than still hurting at her expense. She looked pointedly at Reagan, wishing her sister had never mentioned that. “Why are you so upset?”

  “What, am I not allowed to be angry?”

  “Not this angry.” She studied Reagan, noticing how her cheeks had reddened, and also how she clenched her fingers tightly around her spoon. “Do you have a crush on Hunter or something? Because that would be gross, Rea. You’re almost two years older than him.”

  Reagan scowled. “I think I’ll overlook your gross comment for now.” She set her spoon down, sighing heavily. “I suppose there are some things I should explain.”

  “I’m listening.”

  “You know how I told you Dean and I had mutual friends?”

  Kennedy nodded.

  “Well, after we broke up, they sort of took his side. I guess they figured since I was going to Dartmouth and they were all going to state, they were better off sticking with him. These past few months, I’ve literally had no one.” She looked in the direction of Hunter’s house. “Except for Hunter. It’s humiliating but true. And if it wasn’t for him, it would’ve been worse than awful. He was a friend to me when I had none, Kenn.”

  Kennedy remembered what the first few days on Olympus were like, and how alone she felt. She couldn’t imagine living like that for months on end. She reached out and hugged her sister as tight as she could. “I’m so sorry, Rea. I had no idea it was that bad.”

  “I can’t breathe,” Reagan insisted, pushing out of her arms, but smiling as she pulled away. “I didn’t tell you this to make you feel sorry for me. I just wanted you to understand. Lately, Hunter has been telling me everything. And I listened the whole time, because I wanted to be there for him, too. Because I had no one else.”

  “So you feel betrayed,” Kennedy said.

  Reagan tilted her head to the side, considering that. “More or less, but I’m also pissed off because I know he did this to hurt you. And you’re my sister, therefore, it hurts me as well. That’s not okay.”

  “Because you were a good friend to him,” Kennedy said, filling in the rest. “And you feel betrayed.”

  Reagan lifted a brow at her. “You’re really sticking to this betrayal thing, huh? All right, I guess feel a little betrayed. I had exactly one friend left, Kennedy. One.” She waved her arm towards Hunter’s house, annoyed. “And now I can’t be friends with him. Obviously.”

  Kennedy smiled, warmed by her sister’s loyalty. That meant more to her than she would ever know. “Yes, you can,” she said. “Hunter is only human, and a very intelligent person once told me that humans sometimes make mistakes. I want you to continue being his friend.”

  Her misty-eyed sister stared at her for several seconds without saying anything. “You’re really giving me permission to be nice to him?” she finally said. “Even after what he just did?”

  “Damn straight. You’re the only person I could ever allow to fill my shoes.”

  Reagan let out a long breath. “I don’t know,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m still really angry with him for this.”

  That’s because you have an itty-bitty crush on him. Kennedy smiled, seeing it for what it was. Her sister may not know it yet, but she liked Hunter. It was still gross, but undeniable.

  “So,” Reagan said, stirring rainbow-colored sprinkles around in her bowl. “Are you ready to tell me what mistake Hottie Number Nine made?”

  The achy feeling came back full force at the mention of Phoenix. Every time it happened, she felt squeezed from the inside out, and it hurt—it physically hurt so much.

  She felt bad because Reagan had just spilled her guts, confessing to the hell she’d lived through over the course of her break up. She appreciated that her sister trusted her enough to open up like that, she really did. But…she didn’t think she could talk about Phoenix. About what she saw. Speaking about things gave them life, and she didn’t want to give the image of him kissing Fang a life of its own. All she wanted to do was bury it some place where it could suffocate to death.

  Delusional was her middle name, and right now, she was okay with that. It wasn’t often, but she firmly believed that every once in a while, delusions could serve a purpose. At the moment, that purpose was to keep her sane.

  “Never mind.” Reagan’s hand rested on her arm. “I can see it’s too soon. We can talk about it later.”

  Kennedy swallowed the giant lump in her throat and smiled. “How is it that I’ve never noticed how awesome you are?”

  That produced an infectious grin from Reagan. “I’m taken for granted a lot. Maybe absence made your heart grow fonder.”

  “Maybe.”

  The front door swung open. Ashley came bustling in, hauling a sleeping Lincoln over her shoulder. “What’s this?” she whispered. “Ice cream? And nobody got me any?”

  “You can have the rest of mine,” Reagan said. “I’m done.”

  “Mmm…I’ll take you up on that offer. Let me put him to bed first.” She quickly shuffled out of the room, heading upstairs.

  Kennedy shared an amused look with Reagan. “She was wearing makeup.”

  “And her hair was curled,” Reagan added.

  “Do you think she was out with Jake?”

  “Probably.”

  “Man, this isn’t getting any less weird.”

  A few minutes later, Ashley came back into the room with her face freshly scrubbed and wearing pajamas. “Rainbow sprinkles—my favorite!” She grabbed Reagan’s ice cream bowl and fell into the recliner. “So what are you girls up to?”

  “It’s girl’s night,” Reagan informed her.

  Ashley lifted a brow, licking her spoon. “Girl’s night? Why didn’t anyone invite me?”

  “Because no one knew where you were.”

  Ashley completely ignored that and said, “I know what we can do, let’s watch a chick flick! Standard protocol declares chick flicks a must-have for any successful girl’s night.” She asked the TV to find them a few suitable options. “What do you girls want—a sappy tear jerker or a romantic comedy?”

  “Comedy,” they both answered in unison.

  “Romantic comedy coming up.” Ashley snuggled into the recliner, propping her feet up. “This is nice. We haven’t done this in a long time.”

  The credits started rolling. Kennedy tried to pay attention to the TV, but Ashley kept fidgeting and moving around in her chair. “You okay, Mom?”

  “Yeah, of course,” she said, clearing her throat. “Speaking of romance,” she said tentatively, never taking her eyes off the screen. “I wanted to tell you girls that I’m dating Jake. Nothing serious yet. Just thought I should let you know.”

  Thick silence drowned out everything but the television. Kennedy felt her face grow hot, embarrassed on her mom’s behalf. Ashley had to be dying right now. She was playing it cool, as if it was no big deal, but they all knew Jake was the first man she had dated since their father. She would never, ever tell them in a million years unless it was serious.

  “Well, say something,” Ashley said. “Neither of you have a reaction?”

  They both started talking almost simultaneously, wearing matching expressions of disbelief.

  “No way!” Reagan exclaimed. “I can’t believe it—Jake? Really? That’s great, Mom.”

  “Congratulations,” Kennedy chimed in. “What a totally unexpected surprise.”

  Sixteen

  Two Weeks Later…

  Kennedy adjusted the hood of her jacket over her blonde wig, then tightened her grip around the handle of her suitcase and walked out of the airport. She fought the urge to glance over her shoulder and lost. She paused behind a support beam, feeling her heart rate pick up at the sight of him.

  So Phoenix
had come after all, and there he was, waiting for her. It was easy to pick him out since it was two o’clock in the morning Olympian time, and he was the only one surrounded by a small group of people.

  Kennedy suspected he might come but wasn’t sure. She hadn’t contacted him in weeks. That should’ve served as a big enough hint on its own, but he’d come anyway.

  A regretful sigh escaped her lips as she watched him from the safety of her hidden spot. Why did he have to look so handsome without even trying?

  He stood there with his hands in his pockets, rocking back on his heels, and every now again smiling politely at something someone said. For the most part, his eyes remained focused on the door, unless someone distracted him with a question. It was obvious he was looking for her. She must have slipped past him during one of those distracted moments, because she knew he would see through her disguise in a heartbeat. After all, he was the one who bought it for her.

  Kennedy felt her throat constrict. Watching him, knowing he was waiting for her made her want to run over, push through the crowd, and throw her arms around him. Despite the anger she felt, she hadn’t realized how much she missed him. She didn’t want to miss him, but she did.

  Get of here before you do something stupid.

  She turned around and forced her feet to move. It felt all wrong struggling against the magnetic force that pulled her in the opposite direction. The thought made her want to cry. Even her own body was against her.

  Bright neon signs glowed from all sides. They would lead her away from the airport and back to Section 9. As hard as she tried, she couldn’t focus on any of them.

  She took a moment to breathe, remembering why she was in this position. She remembered the pain she felt, and how her heart literally felt like it was being crushed beneath her chest. She didn’t know that guy over there, not like she thought she had. Between his plans to leave for a year and making out with Fang, Kennedy wondered if she had ever known him.

  Anger steeled her insides, allowing her to take a step, followed by another. Before she knew it, she was walking away from the airport. Away from Phoenix. “I don’t care,” she whispered as she removed her sphere from her purse. “The more I say it, the more I will believe it.” At the press of the button, her sphere inflated. She picked up her suitcase and stepped into it.

  The tunnels were pretty much empty, which should’ve made them all the more frightening, but the dark tubular passageways didn’t scare her as much as they used to. Thanks to a scarce nighttime crowd, she was in and out in less than a minute and back in Section 9.

  When she walked inside her apartment, Kennedy froze in the doorway, a woman’s outline waiting in the shadows.

  “Welcome home!”

  “Matilda?” The light switched on at the sound of her voice. “Is that you?”

  It sure didn’t look like Matilda. The woman’s frame and shape lacked the fluidity of natural movements, but they looked eerily more human than before. The head, in particular, was rounded and had a mat of curly brown hair attached to it.

  “Calm down, kid. Your heart rate is going through the roof. I’ve been given an upgrade. All the same programming, but the body is new. What do you think?”

  Kennedy swallowed, taking it in. It didn’t look bad, but it felt like a crime against nature. “I think I like the old one better.”

  “You’re freaked out.”

  “A little.” Hesitantly, she held her hand out and pressed her fingertips against Matilda’s face. Hard and cold, like metal.

  “Satisfied?”

  “This is going to take me a while to get used to.”

  “You’re telling me. I requested the body of a playmate. Imagine my surprise when I found out they designed me as middle-aged.” Matilda whirled around her, picking up her suitcase. “There’s a treat for you in the kitchen. I’ll put your things away.”

  Kennedy nodded, dazed. Matilda no longer rolled around on wheels anymore. She walked.

  Using her legs.

  This was way too much to process. It was already unsettling enough that Matilda’s programming had the capability to grow and learn like a human. Now they wanted her to look like one too?

  What’s next? Robotic pets?

  She could only imagine.

  In the kitchen, Kennedy found a plate stacked high with assorted cupcakes, decorated with the skill of a practiced pastry chef. She smiled, shaking her head. Despite the new body, Matilda was still the same.

  She hopped up on a barstool and unwrapped a chocolate cupcake, wondering what training was going to be like the next day. Over the last month, she’d fallen out of her normal routines. Totally her fault, too, since she had only worked out a handful of times at home. No doubt by tomorrow, her muscles would hate her for it.

  Staying away from Phoenix was also crucial. She wasn’t going to be the weak girl that melted as soon as he came near. There were no excuses for his actions. She had to remember that, and hopefully, it would get her through the day. And then the following day...and everyday after that for the rest of her life.

  Seventeen

  Phoenix gulped his protein shake and grimaced. He never liked the stuff, but he still drank it on a daily basis per DOE’s regulated dietary requirements. Whatever got the job done.

  While reading through the morning agenda, he prepared to fill in for Professor Mason, who was at yet another World Alliance conference. Fourth one this month. Word had it, the professor was desperately searching for information on the Sae-yers—where they came from, how many worlds they occupied, and what type of technology they possessed. Anything useful. And more importantly, anything that would help Earth survive an attack from them.

  So far they had nothing to go on. Not one bloody thing. Most of the life-bearing worlds Earth was in communication with had never even heard of the Sae-yers. Wherever they came from, it was from somewhere far outside of their reach. Possibly another galaxy. It was frustrating, but more than that, it was beginning to dishearten the entire department, him included.

  Phoenix could only hope today was the day Mason would find something. Otherwise, they wouldn’t know how to plan, how to coordinate, or how to defend themselves at all.

  Several keepers filed into the lobby. A few gathered around the coffee pot, and the rest sat on one of the sofas, waiting for the meeting to begin. Phoenix knew the exact moment when Kennedy arrived, sensing her presence before he saw her.

  He closed the agenda and stood. To his surprise, she breezed right past him and headed towards the coffee pot without looking up.

  Maybe she didn’t see him?

  He somehow doubted that and followed her. Several long moments passed while he watched her pour herself a mug. He knew she knew he was there, but she didn’t once acknowledge his presence. “Why haven’t you returned my calls?”

  Her face remained expressionless as she reached for the carton of soymilk, totally ignoring his question.

  “I put in for a request to transfer out of the Peri-Guard mission. Is that what this is about? Because that trip was planned a year ago, before I ever met you.”

  Her top lip twitched, but she still didn’t say anything. She just set the carton down and stirred her coffee. Lexie walked by them, pausing for a moment to tap Kennedy on the shoulder. “Welcome back. How was your trip?”

  Kennedy smiled, her inactive face coming to life in front of Lexie. “Good. How was yours?”

  “Uh, dreadful. I was stuck with my parents and several flocks of sheep for an entire month. Anyway, we’ll have to catch up over lunch.”

  “Okay. See ya later.”

  Lexie walked away, and as soon as she did, Kennedy’s face morphed back into the expressionless void that it had been before.

  Unbelievable. He’d been a wreck these past few weeks, wondering why she kept her brace powered off and why she wouldn’t contact him, and here she was, pretending like he didn’t exist.

  “I waited for you at the airport,” he said, eyeing her closely. “I checked your sc
hedule, and when you didn’t arrive when you were supposed to, I assumed you’d caught a later flight. I stayed there for hours.”

  He paused, gauging her reaction, but there was none.

  “I waited there until it was nearly morning because I was so bloody excited to see you.” He gripped the edge of the counter and leaned closer to her. “I’m confused, sleep-deprived, and I’ve got a shit-ton of work to do today, so the least you can do is tell me why you’ve suddenly lost your voice.” He practically growled the last part, making her flinch.

  When she picked up her mug and started to leave, Phoenix blocked her path. “Oh, no you don’t. You’re not going anywhere until I get an explanation.”

  For one panicked moment, he wondered if this had something to do with the boy-next-door. Did something happen after he left? Fear surged through him at the thought. Did she change her mind?

  “Why don’t you ask Fang?” she asked lightly, squashing that idea.

  Fang. All of the pieces settled into place. Memories of that day in the hallway replayed in his mind. The whole thing went down two weeks ago, the same time Kennedy turned off her brace. Right then and there, he understood. She hadn’t changed her mind. She was angry. Probably furious. And he could only imagine why.

  Kennedy is supposed to be a fling. Meaningless.

  Behind him, he caught Fang watching their every move. What did you do? he wondered, glaring at her. Acting innocent wasn’t her style. She simply shrugged a shoulder—her way of telling him this was justified retribution.

  He should’ve known. Fang was competitive by nature, and whether it was in the ring or out of it; if she didn’t think everyone was playing fairly, she would even the score herself. He usually respected her for it. This wasn’t one of those moments.

  When he turned back around, Kennedy no longer stood beside him. She sat on the couch, safely wedged between Alanna and Colton.

  “Nix, when you startin’ the meeting, man?” Davaris asked from the opposite couch, looking bored. “Everyone’s here, you know.”