Shift (The Neturu Chronicles)

by Sarah Carter

  “Let me get ready. I don’t want you to miss your flight.” He nods and she goes to her room. The first thing she does is reach for her phone to quickly dial her parents.

  Her dad answers. “Hello?”

  “Hey, Dad, sorry it’s so late.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  With a smirk, Kayla answers, “Nothing with me. Damien’s sister was in an accident, and he’s going back to California.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “The thing is he wants me to go to California too, and technically I’m supposed to be with him since he’s supervising my protection,” Kayla mumbles.

  Dead silence claims the other end of the phone for a moment before her dad finally finds words to respond. “Excuse me, what did you just say?”

  “Damien wants me to go to California. Jackson and I are driving there tomorrow morning.”

  More silence. “Kayla…I can’t tell you what to do right now. By our law, you are not under our care, but I have to suggest that you not go.”

  “But I can if I want to.”

  “Yes, by our law, you should be where Damien is. I know you’ll be going away to college soon, and I’ll have to accept that you’re growing up, but San Diego is a long drive. Where are you going to stop?”

  “Las Vegas,” she says. “At a safe house. We’ll be fine, Dad. Jackson has money, and I bet I could get Damien to give me some if I need it.”

  “Kayla, this makes your mom and me nervous.”

  “I’ll call you every two hours. I promise. After every stop, I’ll call you and tell you that I’m okay.”

  Her father groans. “Okay, honey. I can’t argue with you. You’re going to visit Damien’s family and they’re good people, and the safe house is a good place to rest. Just be careful, please, we wouldn’t be able to survive if we lost you.”

  “I promise to be as safe as possible. We’ll come over in the morning, so I can say good-bye, okay?”

  “Of course, honey, we’ll go into work late,” her dad replies. “Try and get some sleep. You have a long drive ahead of you.”

  She sighs. “Yeah, I know. I have to get ready, though. We need to get Damien to the airport.”

  “All right, honey, have a good night.”

  “You too, bye.” Kayla hangs up the phone. She changes quickly and rushes downstairs to meet the boys.

  Damien holds out her jacket. “Here, babe, it’s cool outside.”

  Kayla slides it on. “Thanks.” He bends down and kisses her on the cheek, making her smile. “Are you ready?”

  He nods.

  “Let’s go then,” Jackson says, opening the front door.

  They make their way out to Jackson’s car. Kayla goes to the back door. Damien looks at her and asks, “Can I sit back there with you?”

  Her eyes drift to Jackson. He nods and gets in the car. Kayla looks back at Damien and smiles. “Get in, stud.”

  With a smirk, he opens the door and climbs in. Kayla does the same. When they shut their doors, Damien urges, “Let’s go. I have to be there in an hour.”

  Jackson laughs. “Good reason to actually use the gas pedal. We should’ve taken Kayla’s car.”

  “Yeah, we’re so taking that to California,” Kayla interjects. “I will eat Kiej until I hurl just so I can drive.”

  “Good thing we have a stock load of it in the basement. I’m going to have to stay up and make about a dozen batches of brownies. I’m like a drug lord.”

  Kayla giggles. “But they’re such good brownies. You should put powdered sugar on top this time.”

  Jackson pulls onto the street. “You got it.”

  Kayla focuses her attention on Damien. His fingers fly across the screen of his phone, his concentration on his texts. She puts her hand on his leg. “Is everything okay?”

  “I’m talking to Courtney. Victoria is sleeping, but she keeps asking for me. She’s my world, and I’m not there right now. Courtney told her I’m coming.”

  “You’ll see her soon. She will be so happy to see you.”

  He smiles halfheartedly. Kayla sighs and looks out the window. After fifteen minutes, Jackson turns music on low. Damien spends most of the time texting his sister, trying to figure out what exactly happened. Kayla can feel the tension coming off of him. She reaches over and takes his hand. He squeezes hers back gently.

  When they finally get to the airport, it isn’t horribly busy, due to the late hour. Kayla insists they park the car and walk Damien inside the airport. They reach the security checkpoint, knowing Damien has to go the rest of the way alone. Kayla turns to Jackson. He smiles. “I’ll give you two a minute. I’m going to the bathroom.” With that, he turns and walks away.

  Kayla nervously turns to Damien. He looks at her carefully. “Are you sure about this?”

  “About what? Coming to California?” she asks. Damien nods. Kayla smirks. “It’s like a vacation. It’ll be fun. Are you sure your parents will want me there? I mean, it’s kind of a family matter.”

  “You are what matters to me right now, so you should be there,” Damien whispers, stroking his fingers down her face. “Are you going to be able to survive with Jackson for that long?”

  With a laugh, Kayla says, “I think we’ll be all right. I promise to not get into too much trouble on our way out there.”

  “No kissing.”

  “I think we would crash if we kissed while driving,” Kayla teases.

  This time it’s his turn to smirk. “You are a beautiful girl. I have difficulty controlling myself around you, so it must be hard on him too.”

  “I doubt that,” Kayla nervously whispers.

  “I’m going to miss you terribly.” Damien sighs. He puts his hands on the sides of her face. “Please, stay safe.”

  She puts her hands on his. “I’ll be fine. It’s only two days, and Jackson will be there.”

  “I know. He’ll take very good care of you. I just hope it’s not too good of care.”

  “Don’t worry,” Kayla says. “I’m driving all that way to see you.”

  Nodding, Damien agrees. “You are, aren’t you?” He looks at her and then leans in. His lips meet hers, and she wraps her arms around his neck. They pull each other close. After a few minutes, Damien pulls away. “I’m going to miss you.”

  Kayla takes a deep breath and murmurs, “I’m going to miss you too.”

  “I have to go,” he sighs. “Go home. Get some sleep and start out as early as you can.”

  “Okay.”

  “Dress appropriately, you’re going to be in much warmer weather. Bring skirts, preferably short ones, and dresses.”

  Kayla laughs. “I’ll see what I can do.”

  “See you later,” Damien says, stepping away from her.

  “Call me when you get there, so I know you landed safely.”

  Damien raises his eyebrows. “You want me to call, really?”

  “Yeah, so I know you’re safe. I have to keep you in one piece.”

  He smiles. “Doesn’t that mean I’m your boyfriend now?”

  “Go, Damien. Catch your flight.”

  “You’ll give in one day,” Damien says as he backs up. “It will be soon.”

  “Go!” Kayla giggles. “Your sister is waiting.”

  Bringing his hand up, he kisses his fingers and then waves them in her direction. “See you later.” Then he turns around and walks away. Kayla watches him go through security. When he disappears from sight, she turns around and starts to walk to the bathrooms as a crowd comes through the main entrance.

  Kayla gets caught up in all the people as they ram into her, going the opposite direction. She issues out, “Excuse me,” as she pushes her way through. When one individual brushes past her, her eyes flicker upward. Her heart stops as the passerby meets her gaze. Kayla can only breathe out, “William,” before the guy disappears into the crowd. She swings her arms to try and clear a path for herself, elbowing people out of her way. When she doesn’t make much headway, she scr
eams, “MOVE OUT OF MY WAY!”

  People glance at her but step out of her path anyway. When the crowd clears, she sprints to the bathrooms. Unable to wait for Jackson, she doesn’t stop outside the men’s bathroom. She rushes inside of it and ends up slamming into him. “Um, Kayla, wrong bathroom.”

  “No, no, no, William is here!”

  “What?” Jackson grips her arms and searches her face for more details.

  She points in the direction of the crowd. “I swear, he walked past me and looked me dead in the eyes.”

  “Kayla, how would he know you’re here? I mean, you probably saw someone who looked like him. Calm down and take a deep breath. Really think about it, why would he be in the airport?”

  “To come and take me away,” Kayla answers hotly. “I don’t know!”

  He looks at her tenderly. “It was probably just someone who looked like him. You’re tired and it’s late. It’s probably nothing.”

  “I don’t think it’s nothing,” Kayla mumbles through her frustration.

  Jackson pulls her into his arms and whispers, “I won’t let anything happen to you. Just breathe and relax. We’ll leave right now, okay?”

  Kayla nods against his chest. “Okay.”

  “Come on,” he says, guiding her out of the hallway. He keeps his arm around her, and she leans against him. When they get to the elevator, he pushes the button and they wait as a woman comes up to wait next to them.

  Her eyes look at them and she suddenly gushes, “You guys are such an adorable couple. I’m sorry, but sometimes you see people and you just go awww.”

  They look at each other and Kayla realizes what the lady must be seeing. She quickly pulls out of Jackson’s arm. “Oh, we aren’t a couple.”

  “Mmhmm,” the woman hums. “You guys look like you should be.”

  Kayla blushes. “He’s my friend.”

  “Don’t lie,” Jackson teases. “She has underlying passion for me. She just suppresses it.”

  Kayla laughs. The woman looks at Jackson. “I bet there are a lot of girls who have a hidden crush on you. You’re very attractive.”

  Jackson’s eyes widen, and Kayla has to cover her mouth from laughing so hard. The elevator dings to go up. “Well…we’re going now,” Jackson says, grabbing Kayla’s hand. He yanks her into the elevator. He waves to the woman, and then pulls Kayla against him, kissing her hard. The elevator doors close and Kayla pushes back away from him. They both laugh hysterically.

  She points her finger at him. “Damien is going to get so pissed that you kissed me.”

  “He doesn’t need to know about that! That was clearly to give a show to that crazy woman. It meant nothing…wasn’t even a real kiss.”

  “Fine,” Kayla says, crossing her arms. “Keep your lips to yourself from now on.”

  He pushes her up against the wall of the elevator. Looking down at her, Jackson whispers, “Is that what you really want? I mean, really, really want?”

  Her breath catches in her throat. Against everything she feels, she replies, “Yes.”

  “Then I will never kiss you again,” Jackson states, putting his hand over his heart. “These lips will never meet yours again.”

  Kayla’s chest tightens, but she replies, “Good, Damien will be happy I’m not sharing my lips with someone else.”

  “Mmm,” Jackson hums as he moves away from her. He leans against the other wall without saying anything else.

  They remain quiet the rest of the way to the car. Unable to take his silence any longer, Kayla exclaims, “We can’t do this!”

  Jackson flinches, surprised by her outburst. “Do what?”

  “Be awkward and not talk to each other, we can’t do this. I don’t want to do this.”

  He laughs and shakes his head. “I thought you were the one being awkward. I was just being quiet. You’re the one going on about your boyfriend.”

  “Damien is not my boyfriend! Don’t put a label on it.”

  “Whatever, Kayla.” Jackson chuckles. “You call it what you want. I’m not allowed to kiss you because you’re seeing someone so seriously that you are driving two days to be with him. What does that say about your relationship?”

  She crosses her arms as they approach the car. “I don’t want to put a label on it yet.”

  “Okay, we won’t call him your boyfriend.”

  They climb into the car and Jackson laughs as he shakes his head. “What?” Kayla snaps sharply.

  He looks at her and grins. “You’re so damn cute. No, no, no, he isn’t my boyfriend! I’m just traveling across multiple states to be with him in his hour of need. What’s it going to take to get you to call him your boyfriend?”

  “I don’t know,” Kayla replies, buckling her seat belt. “I need to feel differently before I take that step.”

  “You don’t feel anything for him?” Jackson asks with wide eyes.

  “No, I do. Obviously, I care about him. I just always thought I would have stronger emotions before I put that label on it.”

  With a shocked look, Jackson retorts, “You want to be in love with Damien first?”

  “I don’t know if I want love, but something stronger than what I feel right now. I’ve never had a boyfriend before, and I’ve never been in love. I kind of want that to go hand in hand.”

  “So you want to fall in love with Damien?”

  “I didn’t say that,” Kayla mumbles. “All I know is that I want it all. The powerful kisses, moments that take your breath away, heart pounding desire, the yearning to never be separated. You know, when you don’t see each other for a day, and it makes you miss them terribly.”

  The corner of Jackson’s mouth twitches upward. “That sounds fantastic. You’ll feel that, just give it time.”

  “Especially when I kiss him,” Kayla breathes out.

  Jackson looks at her. “Yeah, especially then.” After a few seconds, he turns the car on and backs up. As they drive, Kayla’s eyelids start to get heavy and her head starts to bob. “Here,” Jackson finally says, shrugging off his jacket. “Lay down on this.” He puts it down on the center console.

  Kayla leans over and puts her head down. The jacket smells like him and she smiles. It doesn’t take her long to fall asleep. Sometime during the drive, she wakes to the feel of his hand running down her hair. She feels his thumb trace across her cheek but doesn’t open her eyes, savoring the touch.

  The finally car stops. She feels it but doesn’t open her eyes. “Hey,” she hears a voice whisper in her ear. “Wake up, beautiful. We’re home.”

  She nestles her face into Jackson’s coat. “I’m fine here,” Kayla mumbles.

  Jackson laughs. “No, you’re not sleeping in my car. You wouldn’t be able to move your neck in the morning.”

  “Mmm,” Kayla mumbles, sitting up. She yawns and then opens her door. It’s cool out, making her wrap her jacket tighter around her. They walk to the house and Jackson opens the door for her. “Thanks,” she sighs. “I’m so tired.”

  “Then let’s get you to bed,” Jackson replies. “You can use my bathroom first.”

  Nodding, she walks to her room. She grabs a nightgown and returns to Jackson’s bedroom. The door is open, so Kayla walks in. The sound of running water guides her to the bathroom, where she finds a shirtless Jackson standing at the counter.

  She stumbles back a step in surprise. “I thought you said I could have the bathroom.”

  “You can.” He shuts off the water. “I was just washing my hands.” He smiles and walks past her. “It’s all yours.”

  Kayla gives him a small grin. “Thanks.” When she walks out of the bathroom a few minutes later, Jackson is in pajama pants. “Hey,” she laughs. “You said you would change in the bathroom so I wouldn’t walk in on you.”

  “The water was running,” he replies with a grin. “I knew you were preoccupied. Besides, we can’t change in the bathroom at the same time.”

  “Who says I want to see you in your pajamas?” she quips, walking up to
him.

  He turns to her. “I know your deepest darkest fantasies involve me taking my clothes off.”

  “No they don’t.”

  “Oh wait, those are just your lustful sex dreams.”

  Kayla reaches out and punches him in the arm. “Shut up and stop picking on me.”

  He bends down and puts his forehead on hers. “You would know if I was really picking on you.”

  “Mmhmm,” Kayla hums. “I’m going to bed.”

  “Okay, see you in the morning.”

  Half asleep, Kayla returns to her room. She crawls into bed and turns off the light. Her head barely hits the pillow before she is asleep. The ring of her cellphone rips her from sleep a few hours later, making her jump. Snagging her phone off the table, she answers it. “Hello?”

  A very tired sounding Damien responds. “Hey, babe. I just wanted you to know I’m home. Everything is all right. Victoria is finally sleeping, and I don’t want to wake her.”

  “I’m glad she’s okay and you made it there safely.” Kayla yawns. “Are you going to sleep?”

  “Yeah, though it won’t be as restful as when I sleep next to you.”

  “Awww, miss you.”

  Damien hesitates before responding. “Are you sleeping with Jackson tonight?”

  “No, I was so tired, I just went to bed.”

  With a somewhat relieved tone, Damien says, “That makes me happy. I only want you safe, but I also don’t want you sleeping with another boy.”

  Kayla laughs. “Well, I’m alone, but I do want to go back to sleep, not to rush you off the phone.”

  “No, I need to get to bed. I want to get up when Victoria is awake in the morning.”

  “All right, I’ll talk to you tomorrow then?”

  Damien chuckles softly. “Yes, I’ll call you in the morning, after I get everything situated with Victoria.”

  “Okay, get some sleep then.”

  “I will, sweetie, you too. You have a long drive ahead of you.”

  She smiles. “But then I get to see you.”

  “That you do. I’m looking forward to you being here. My family will love you. I know I adore you.”

  Kayla’s smile grows. “That’s even nicer than your comment before.”

  “I’m that kind of guy. Okay, go to sleep and I’ll call you in the morning.”