by C. C. Bolick
He nodded. “Your brother was here when your heart stopped.”
I struggled to sit up on the bed.
“Easy,” Travis said as he reached for my arm.
“Technically you died,” the doctor said. “For twenty-two minutes. I’m going to ask a selfish question I ask all patients who have regained consciousness after dying. What did you see on the other side?”
“Other side?” I laughed nervously. “I don’t remember another side. All I saw was darkness.”
His eyes widened. “Darkness? Most people speak of a white light or floating high above their bodies. Some see family members that are long deceased.”
“I only saw darkness. It felt like I walked for hours until I heard Travis’s voice. I followed the sound back.”
The doctor considered for a long moment before standing. “I’ve never heard any of my patients describe death as darkness.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry,” Travis said. “I’m just glad you heard my voice.”
I smiled at him. “Thanks for leading me back here.”
Satisfied, the doctor shook my hand and told me how my case was one in a million. I was lucky to be alive.
When he left, Travis leaned in and brushed a quick kiss against my hair. “I don’t think I’ve ever been as scared as I was when they told me your heart stopped. If you’d felt my fear, this whole base would probably have exploded.”
“I’m back and that’s all that matters.” I thought of the dire message about an explosion. “Has anyone been able to figure out if Louis is plotting another bomb? We only have two days now.”
“Sylvia has a team working on the bomb threat. She’s not going to let this city be destroyed. If there’s anyone who I’d bet on, it’s Sylvia.”
“But don’t we need to—”
“Today you will relax and recuperate.” His voice left no room for argument. “If you could do anything today, other than worry about a bomb, what would it be?”
It didn’t take long for me to decide. “I’d like for us to spend a normal day together.”
Travis didn’t seem surprised at my words. “That can be arranged. Your dad and brother are on their way here as we speak.”
“How do you know?”
He stood and released my hand. “While you talk, I’ll make arrangements for our day.” At the door, he stepped back and allowed Dad and Alfie to enter. With a smile, Travis winked at me and closed the door behind him.
Dad stopped at the side of my bed and Alfie jumped on top of me.
“Alfred,” Dad yelled. “You could hurt her.”
“I’m okay.” I hugged my brother despite the tube in my arm.
“You scared me,” Alfie cried. “When the beeping stopped, I thought you were gone forever like Mama.”
I wiped the tears from his face. “I’m not leaving you.”
“Promise?” he asked.
“I promise.”
“It was cool how Angel saved you,” Alfie said.
“Yes.” Dad put a hand on his shoulder. “We owe her.”
“Big time.” Alfie wiped away what was left of his tears and laughed. “Isn’t it great to have family?”
* * * * *
Travis returned to my room as the nurses prepped me for release. The doctors wanted to hold me for observation, but Travis insisted if I slept anymore I’d be lazy and useless. Not the most impressive words he could have used.
He did bring me a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, both black, which made it hard to keep up the mock anger. I couldn’t wait to change out of the white hospital gown. When I was ready to leave, Dad made another visit before Travis walked me to the elevator.
The only thing he had to say to me? Have fun. To Travis, he spoke in a low voice, but I caught the last few words. “Take care of my daughter.” Dad kissed my cheek and left with a nod to Travis.
Instead of taking me back to my room, Travis hit six buttons on the elevator. “Do you see which buttons I’m hitting? 1,G,5,7,P,T—the buttons have to be hit in that order.”
“I see.”
“Can you repeat the sequence?”
“I just died twenty-four hours ago. My head was cracked open.”
“Rena, this is important. Repeat the sequence.” As the elevator rose, he insisted until I repeated the sequence twice.
“What’s so important about this…?” The doors opened and my words caught in my throat. People rushed by the elevator in both directions, most carrying luggage.
“You might need this emergency exit one day.” Travis pulled me out of the elevator and past an escalator that rose several stories into the air. Above were signs with gate numbers. On the other side of the escalator was the entrance to a train.
“We’re in the airport?” I asked.
“That’s right. Stay close but act casual if that’s possible. We’re only passing through. No one will know who we are.”
I turned to Travis who was dressed in his agent suit. He didn’t wear the sunglasses today and I breathed a sigh of relief. Hopefully that meant no one from the agency was watching every move we made.
The voice of an automated countdown came over the speakers above us. The train was coming to a stop in three, two, one… The doors opened and we made our way into the train, which flashed a map of future stops on the display above our heads.
“Our stop is baggage claim.” Travis guided me to a seat as the train jerked into motion.
“Ouch.” I grabbed my head. “Everything is spinning.”
He took one of my hands. “The nausea will pass.”
“I can’t believe Dad was okay with you taking me out of the hospital this soon. And out of the base.”
“We had a long talk,” Travis said. “He only wants what’s best for you.”
“And he thinks you’re it?” I laughed. “I must have hit my head hard.”
When the train stopped, Travis led me through people crowding around the baggage claim areas. No one bothered to look at us or wonder why we weren’t collecting luggage. At the entrance to the parking deck, I realized where Travis was leading me.
He walked to his Ferrari, parked in the same spot as the last time I rode in his silver sports car. “Can you remember which floor we’re on?”
“Why does it matter?”
Travis clicked his remote and the car beeped. “Can you find this car again?”
“Yes,” I said. “If I ever decide to steal your car, it won’t be a problem.”
He opened the passenger door for me. When I was inside, he took his place in the driver’s seat.
“Where are we going?”
“Be patient,” he said.
“Easy for you to say.”
Travis said something I couldn’t understand as he fired the engine. He drove out of the parking deck and into bright sunshine. The clock on the radio showed ten-thirty. He followed arrows on the signs above and took an entrance ramp onto the highway.
“What’s with all the secrets?” I asked.
“The only time we stayed in a hotel, you kept the door locked all night. I want to take you somewhere you won’t want to lock me out. I want this to be the most perfectly normal day you could possibly imagine.”
The way he said perfectly normal made me smile.
We merged into light traffic. What a relief since every other time I’d been on this highway there was an accident or roadwork or something to slow us down. Travis found an empty lane and set his cruise control to the speed limit. The few other cars on the road raced by us. He turned up the radio and leaned back in the seat.
“You still drive slow,” I said.
“Haven’t you had enough excitement from going fast? I thought this might be a welcome change.”
After twenty minutes, Travis took an exit and drove until we reached the parking lot of an eight-story hotel. It was nicer than the hotel with the golf course where we’d stayed our first night together. He pulled up at the valet podium near a set of gold-trimmed glass
doors and tossed the man in uniform his keys. Travis opened my door and helped me out of the car.
“Another hotel?” I stared up at windows that rose to the sky. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”
“This day is about you relaxing. I’ve got all of the details planned, including three hours at the spa.”
Spa? I swung my head around. “I thought you never stayed in fancy places like this. That’s what you said when we were on the run from Max.”
He grinned. “For you I’d stay anywhere. Now about that spa time…”
* * * * *
Travis didn’t disappoint when it came to the spa day he’d planned. If he wanted to get me relaxed, this fancy hotel was definitely the place. After my three hours in the spa, which included a ninety-minute massage, I found him in the waiting area with a magazine in his hand.
I dropped into the chair beside him. “What are you reading?”
He closed the magazine. “I wasn’t actually reading; I just didn’t want anyone here to think I was staring at them. How do you feel about lunch?”
“I’m starving.”
“You haven’t eaten in more than a day. The staff said the restaurant here makes great salads.”
I scrunched my nose. “You want a salad?”
“I was thinking of you.”
“I was thinking more like a steak and baked potato.”
Travis grinned. “The things I have to put up with. If you insist, there’s a steakhouse next door.”
“That sounds great.”
“How was the massage?” he asked.
“I’ve never had a massage. I hurt all over.”
“Massages are great for blood circulation and removing toxins from your body. One of the doctors suggested it, especially after all of your injuries. I’m sure the pain won’t last.”
Travis walked me to the restaurant next door, a steakhouse like he’d promised. I ordered an eighteen-ounce steak with a loaded baked potato. His eyebrows rose at my order, but he asked the waitress to bring him the same.
“I can’t believe you finished that entire steak,” he said when our meal was over.
I laughed. “A day and a half with no food, remember?”
“I remember.” He took a sip of his tea. “Are you feeling relaxed?”
“As long as I can avoid thinking about Louis building more bombs.”
“Could you lower your voice?” Travis glanced around. “You’re not going to think about him tonight. I’m going to make sure of it.”
“Tonight?”
“Didn’t I mention we’re here for the night?”
“No, you didn’t.” My stomach churned and I wished I hadn’t eaten the whole steak. “We’re staying in the hotel? Together?”
“It won’t be the first time.”
“Does my dad—”
“He knows. I cleared this trip with him first. He thought you could use some time away from the base to relax and get over whatever is keeping you from controlling your powers.”
“Hannah was right. When I flew, I felt total control for the first time. I controlled the neutrons and asked them to help me.”
“You asked the neutrons? I should have suggested that weeks ago.”
I slapped his arm. “Be serious. Are you sure about spending the night with me? I’m sure you’ve got important agent duties.”
He leaned over the table. “There’s nothing more important than you.”
* * * * *
After our early dinner, we walked back to the hotel and Travis stopped at the desk. The woman in a blue suit handed him two cards. She smiled but didn’t ask any questions about me.
“Enjoy your stay,” she said. “Do you need someone to help with your bags?”
“We have no bags,” Travis said.
If she felt surprise, her face didn’t show it. “Call us for anything you might need.”
“Thanks.” Travis took the keys and flashed her a smile. With his other hand, he gripped mine and didn’t let go until we reached the room. Inside, he pulled off his jacket and draped it over a plush chair near the king-sized bed.
“Only one bed this time?”
Travis grinned. “Only one room. I thought we would spend this night together.” He removed both of his gloves and tossed them on the chair.
My eyes widened. “What are you doing?”
He reached for my cheek, but I didn’t shy away from him. Expecting a searing pain, I jumped when his fingers caressed my skin. The warmth of his skin felt like sunshine on a cold day.
I closed my eyes and prayed this wasn’t a dream. “You drank the serum?”
“Before I left the base.” His hands slid from my cheek down to my neck so slowly that chills crept along my skin. The touch faded and he gathered both of my hands in his.
Groaning, I opened my eyes. “How did you not touch me before now?”
“Patience. You don’t know how hard it’s been not to rip these gloves off and take you in my arms, Rena.”
I watched his lips as he said my name over and over in a tone that made my stomach flutter. Travis was really here holding my hands. I leaned closer, silently begging him to close the distance and kiss me.
Why wouldn’t he kiss me?
After more than two months, what could he be waiting for?
I circled his neck with my arms. Travis didn’t fight as I drew him closer to me. Beads of sweat formed on my head; I couldn’t breathe from the heat. I wanted to turn down the air, but I couldn’t break eye contact.
Closer, at the pace of a snail, Travis finished closing the gap between us. He touched his lips to mine. Warm. Tingly. My heart raced and I thought I might pass out. He wrapped his arms around my waist, holding the weight of my body against him.
I let him hold me. Cherish me. His lips moved with mine until no thoughts other than Travis Payne entered my head. My hands slid down the front of his shirt. Did I have the nerve to reach under his shirt and touch the bare skin of his chest? I moved my hands down his arms, marveling at the fact we were finally touching.
Still, his lips held mine. It was if he couldn’t take a deep enough breath of me. When he took the kiss beyond what I knew from experience, I welcomed the new sensation. Our tongues touched, and I wondered why I never wanted a boy to kiss me like this before.
I’d watched people kiss in movies, but the sounds of his moan and the tingling of my lips went beyond what even a big screen could show. I felt him in the way my stomach flipped and wanted him to snuggle even closer with the warmth of his body.
Travis pulled away, either to catch his breath or see if I was okay.
My voice sounded hoarse. “Did you tell anyone you took the serum?”
“Only your dad. I didn’t want him to worry.”
I smiled because the great Travis Payne had no more control of his voice than I did. “Knowing Dad, he’ll be twice as worried now. You can touch me, which means his mind must be running wild.”
“His mind isn’t the only one.”
“I don’t know if I should blush or feel grossed out.”
“I’m fine with both as long as you shut up and kiss me.”
Again, we kissed. This time he loosened his shirt so I could slide my hands up his chest. Before I realized what was happening, he’d moved us to the bed and pulled me down beside him.
“Wait,” he said, out of breath.
“I’ve waited long enough to kiss you,” I said, pulling his head closer to mine.
He reached for my hands and managed to put distance between us. Too much distance. “I always thought for our first kiss I’d teleport you to the most romantic place I could think of. Now that I have no powers, we’re stuck here.”
“Together,” I said, breathless. “We’re stuck here together.”
“Yes.” He kissed my lips slowly and pulled back, but stayed close enough I felt his breath on my cheek. “We’re stuck here together.”
The longer we kissed, the more he touched my arms and face. Never any lower, but it
seemed Travis couldn’t get enough of the feel of my skin. When his hand finally ventured lower along the neckline of my shirt, I pulled away. Instantly, I felt embarrassment. Even worse, blue sparkles began to trail along my palms.
“Is there a problem?” he asked.
“No,” I mumbled. “I’m just not sure what to do next. I mean I’ve never… I’m not sure how far we should… I guess it’s kind of a problem. Part of me wants to stop long enough to think about what’s happening here. The other part doesn’t want to stop. Ever.”
He gave me a genuine smile that warmed me from head to toe. “It’s a problem I’ve wished for longer than you realize. I’m loving every second.”
We kissed for a few more minutes. Travis seemed more in control than he had earlier. The longer he held me, the more I wished to take back those words. I didn’t fear Travis. I felt sure I didn’t fear what could happen between us.
As the afternoon sun glowed along the horizon, Travis kissed my forehead and nudged me to the center of the bed. He pulled the thick white comforter over us and knocked half of the pillows off the bed.
I closed my eyes, knowing I’d never go to sleep after making out with Travis.
In the safety of his arms, with our bodies sunk into the pillow-top mattress, the room around me faded.
* * * * *
I opened my eyes to darkness. The dream of feeding the ducks had come again and left my pillow drenched with sweat. For a brief moment of terror, I had no idea where I was and sat straight up in the bed. Travis reached for the lamp next to the bed and flooded the room with light.
“Nightmare?” he asked.
“I keep seeing Mama on a bench feeding the ducks.”
With his raised eyebrows, I shook my head. “It’s something we used to do together. I’ve been having this nightmare…” I put a hand over my mouth. “Mama’s on the bench on this bright sunny day. When I look back, it’s Bethany on the bench. The sky turns dark and the ducks fly away.”
“Maybe your dreams are trying to tell you something.”
I lowered the hand. “Mama’s alive and she’s really Bethany.”
“I’m not sure if I believe that yet, but the one who matters is you. Do you believe she’s come back?”
