We all followed him downstairs and watched as he sat in front of the computer and Googled the power bar. There were no results.
“Interesting,” he muttered.
“Google me,” Billy said as he took my hand.
I smiled and squeezed his hand.
A moment later we were looking at a picture of Billy on the screen, only it said he had died. Dad spun around and looked at us. Mom stared at us too.
“Your story is pretty incredible,” Dad said.
“I know,” I said. “That’s why I didn’t want to tell you.”
“Thank you for telling us anyway,” Dad said.
He said it like he wasn’t sure whether or not to believe it, and my heart dropped. “It’s completely true.” I looked between my parents. “You don’t believe us, do you?”
Dad sighed. “It’s just . . . a parallel world? You have to admit it’s pretty improbable.”
Panic swelled within me. What if they refused to believe it? What would happen then? What would Billy do? Would he go back to his world? I had to get them to believe me. “But what about the power bars, and the scars on my neck and arm?” I lifted my hair to show Dad where the torture device had been cut out.
He stood and looked at my neck. “Huh.” Then he touched the healing wound. “That’s interesting,” he murmured.
I looked at him with pleading in my eyes. “It really happened. It did.”
“I believe you,” Mom said.
We all turned to look at her and hope swept over me. I went to her and my voice came out in a whisper. “You do?”
“It’s a crazy sounding story,” she said. “But all the pieces fit. And even if you and Billy practiced your stories ahead of time—and there were so many matching details between your two stories that it seems pretty impossible for you to have made this up—I really feel like you’re telling the truth, Morgan.”
Relief cascaded over me. She believes us. Then I turned to Dad.
He frowned. “I just don’t know, Morgan.”
“What can I do to prove it to you?” I asked.
He sighed. “I don’t know. I just need some time to digest what you and Billy told me.”
At least he didn’t reject our stories outright. “Okay.” I hesitated. “What about Billy? He doesn’t have anyplace to go.”
Billy’s face flushed. “It’s fine. I’m sure I can figure something out.”
Mom looked concerned and she turned to Dad. “Can we talk?”
He nodded and the two of them went back upstairs.
“It’s okay, Morgan,” Billy said. “Your dad’s having a hard enough time believing our story. I can’t ask him to take me in.”
“But where will you go? It’s cold outside. You can’t just wander the streets.”
He sighed, then smiled at me. “I’m resourceful, remember?”
I just shook my head.
A few minutes later Mom and Dad came back into the living room. I looked at their faces—Dad didn’t look very happy, but Mom look relieved—and I hoped that meant they’d come to a decision I’d like.
“Billy can sleep here tonight,” Dad said, and my heart blossomed with joy. “But tomorrow we’ll make other arrangements.”
My joy faded a bit. “What other arrangements?”
“I called a friend from work and he said he’d be willing to take Billy in.”
“Mr. Campbell, you don’t have to do that,” Billy said. “I can make my own way.”
“I’m sure you can, but you’re not yet eighteen, so that’s what we’re going to do.”
Billy clenched his jaw, like he didn’t like being told what to do, but I grabbed his hand and squeezed it gently. “It’s for the best,” I whispered, and he seemed to relax.
Dad looked at Billy and me, then at our joined hands, then back at us. “You two seem to like each other.”
My face reddened at his observation.
He looked directly at Billy. “Son, I’m going to warn you now. If anything inappropriate happens with my daughter, I’ll kick you to the curb so fast your head will spin.”
“Yes, sir,” Billy said.
“Morgan, please get some blankets for Billy. He can sleep on the couch tonight.”
“Okay.” I hurried upstairs to the linen closet to get a pillow and some blankets, then brought them back downstairs and set them on the couch.
“It’s getting late,” Mom said. “It’s time to settle in for the night.”
“Okay,” I said, then Dad and Mom headed up the stairs. I turned to Billy. “I’m sorry Dad won’t let you stay here.”
“Well, we didn’t think he would, remember? I’m sure it will be fine at his friend’s place.” He slowly grinned. “I’m just glad I decided to follow you to this world.”
His words made me realize that it didn’t matter what house he lived in—as long as he was in my world, everything would be okay. I knew what was most important—being with those I loved. Having Billy here just made everything all the sweeter. When I had been in his world I’d told him how great it was here, and now he would be able to see it for himself. Not only see it, but experience it first-hand. I looked at him, a wide smile on my face.
He smiled back, then pulled me into his arms and pressed his face into my neck. “I’m so glad you weren’t just a crazy girl making up stories, Morgan.”
I pulled away, a look of mock indignation on my face. “Well, shame on you for ever doubting me.”
He laughed softly. “I’ll never doubt you again.”
I put my hands on my hips. “Good.”
He pulled me close, then moved his hands to my neck, tilting my face so that I looked him in the eye. “I can’t believe I almost let you go.”
My hands slid around his waist and I relished the warmth of his closeness. “I can’t believe you’re actually here.”
He smiled, his gaze focused on me. “I’ll always be by your side, Morgan. Always.”
He lowered his face towards mine and our lips pressed together and I felt the same explosion of feelings I’d felt the first time he’d kissed me, and I knew this is what paradise must feel like—being with the ones you love in a place where you feel safe. Home.
I was home.
There are two follow-up novels to the Parallel Trilogy, After and The Other Morgan. You can read them in any order.
To find out what happens next with Billy and Morgan, read After (Parallel Series, Book 4). To purchase, click HERE.
To find out what happens to the other Morgan when she returns to her world and has to deal with the mess our Morgan’s left for her, read The Other Morgan (Parallel Series, Book 5). To purchase, click HERE.
Click HERE to join Christine Kersey’s VIP Readers’ Club and receive 2 free books.
Click HERE to see all of Christine Kersey’s free books.
Click HERE to see the books Christine has enrolled in Kindle Unlimited.
To follow Christine Kersey’s personal FaceBook page, click HERE, then click Follow.
To like Christine Kersey’s FaceBook fan page, click HERE.
Visit Christine Kersey’s website: ChristineKersey.com
Follow Christine Kersey on Twitter @CKerseyWriter
To see all of Christine Kersey’s books, turn the page…
Books by Christine Kersey
Park City Firefighter Romance
Rescue My Heart
Hearts On Fire
Emerald Falls Romance Series
Crushing On You: Travis and Gabriella (An Emerald Falls Romance, Book One)
Dangerous Lies: Sawyer and Amethyst (An Emerald Falls Romance, Book Two)
Searching for Love
Falling for You (Searching for Love, Book One)
Finding Reese (Searching for Love, Book Two)
Surrender My Heart (Searching for Love, Book Three)
Bring Me Home (Searching for Love, Book Four)
Lily’s Story
He Loves Me Not (Lily’s Story, Book 1)
Don’t Look Back
(Lily’s Story, Book 2)
Love At Last (Lily’s Story, Book 3)
Life Imperfect (Lily’s Story, Book 4)
Parallel Trilogy
Gone (Parallel Series, Book 1)
Imprisoned (Parallel Series, Book 2)
Hunted (Parallel Series, Book 3)
After (Parallel Series, Book 4)
The Other Morgan (Parallel Series, Book 5)
Over You Series
Over You
Second Chances (sequel to Over You)
Witness Series
Witness (Witness, Book 1)
Retribution (Witness, Book 2)
Standalone Books
Suspicions
No Way Out
Box Sets
Parallel Trilogy
Lily’s Story
Searching for Love bundle
About the Author
Christine has always loved to read, but enjoys writing suspenseful novels as well. She has her own eReader and is not embarrassed to admit that she is a book hoarder. One of Christine's favorite activities is to go camping with her family and read, read, read while enjoying the beauty of nature.
I love to hear from my readers. You can contact me in any of the following ways:
@CKerseyWriter
ChristineKerseyAuthor
www.christinekersey.com
[email protected]
Hunted (Parallel Series, Book 3) (Parallel Trilogy) Page 32
