Chapter Thirty-One

The next morning, I help Mar pick out something to wear, brush her hair into a ponytail, and make eggs.

Someone knocks on the door right in the middle of eggs. I open it to a smiling Abbie holding a basket loaded with crackers and cheese, sausage and cookies, and a variety of other things.

She takes one look at me and her smile slides away. “What are you doing here?”

“I think the question is more what are you doing here?” I counter.

She glances past me and into the fifth wheel. “Where’s Riel?”

“Atlanta, interviewing for an internship.”

“Oh…I didn’t—he didn’t tell me,” she stammers out.

Does he normally tell you his whereabouts, I want to snide but nod to the basket instead. “For him?”

“He didn’t come to school yesterday.” Abbie looks down at it. “I thought he was sick.”

I almost feel sorry for her. Almost. “Want me to give it to him?”

“No. I’ll give it to him myself.” She takes a step back. “When does he get back?”

Mar comes up beside me. “He’ll be back tonight.”

Abbie glances between me and Mar. “You babysitting or something?”

I nod. “I am.”

“Oh.” She honestly looks bummed. “Well, I would have babysat if he’d asked.”

“I’m sure he knows that.” I’m trying to make her feel better, though I’m not quite sure why.

“I asked for Viola,” Mar announces, making Abbie look even more bummed.

“Well.” Abbie backs away. “Guess I’ll get to school.”

I nod, and after she drives off, I turn to Mar with a nosy question. “Has she been here before?”

“She stops by every now and then.” Mar shoves a bite of eggs in her mouth. “I don’t think my brother really likes her.”

“Hm,” I mumble, more pleased at that than I should be.

After my last class, I go to Mar’s swim practice. I see Joe, the cute guy from the first meet I went to, and take a seat beside him.

We talk while we watch the kids practice, and as Mar and I get ready to head out, he asks, “Don’t suppose you’ve changed your mind about going on a date?”

Mar giggles, and I smile. “Thanks, but I’m still going to pass.”

He dramatically slams his hand over his heart, and I laugh. I’m sure he has no problems in the dating area.

Mar and I do dinner and both fall asleep on Riel’s bed, watching TV.

The door opening is what wakes me up, and I eye Riel as he tiptoes in. He climbs the two steps up into his room and glances at me and Mar snuggled on his bed. In the shadows he can’t tell I’m awake, and so I lower my lids to watch him.

Quietly he puts his suitcase down and stands for a second looking at us. The more he looks, the more my heart picks up pace. I concentrate on deep breaths, faking the sleep he thinks I’m in.

He shuffles into the bathroom, and as he brushes his teeth, he picks up the stuff I’ve left on his counter—lotion, hair cream, lip gloss. He reads them, smells them, opens the cream and feels it. Were it anyone other than Riel, it’d be weird, but his curiosity is more adorable than anything.

Hell, I did the same thing to his stuff, so who am I to call someone weird?

After rinsing his mouth, he comes back over to the bed and lowers himself to the edge closest to me. My heart kicks in even harder.

Slowly, he leans toward me, and my pulse jumps to hyperdrive as I shift and open my eyes. I think I must startle him, because he sits back.

I blink, my thoughts clogged with the word “what?” What was he about to do? What if I didn’t open my eyes? What if—

“Hi,” he says, smiling.

“Hi.” I smile back.

Then we just look at each other. Smiling. Smiling. Smiling.

He chuckles softly, I’m sure at all the goofy smiling, and glances over to Mar.

I scoot up in the bed, staring at his lingering dimples. “Second round of interviews go okay?”

Riel nods. “I’m worn out, but very hopeful.”

Hopeful, hm. That sounds confident.

Mar stirs. “Riel?”

“Yes, it’s me. Sorry to wake you, hermanita.”

Mar reaches over me and gives her brother a hug. “I missed you.”

And while they visit, I pack to go back to the dorms.

“That stupid girl, Abbie, came by,” Mar says.

“She’s not stupid, Mar, be nice.” Riel glances over to me. “What did she want?”

“She thought you were sick,” Mar answers for me. “Brought you a basket and everything.”

“A basket?” He seems genuinely surprised. “She didn’t have to do that.”

“Looked like a great one, too.” I’ve never given a guy a basket like that. Can’t afford it.

“Oh!” Mar announces. “Joe asked Viola out! He’s so cute.” She sighs.

“Mar,” Riel jokes. “You’re only eleven. Please don’t think boys are cute until you’re at least, I don’t know, twenty or something. No, make that thirty.”

She giggles.

Riel glances over to me. “And?”

I zip up my duffle bag. “And?” I tease.

He gives a shy smile, and it has to be one of his best ones yet. “Guess it’s none of my business,” he admits.

Interesting. I decide to leave him hanging. “Take me home?”

“Sure.”

We all load up in the Jeep, and as we pass through the campground’s gates, I catch sight of a dark SUV sitting in the parking lot. Riel pulls out onto the coastal highway, and I fix my gaze to the side mirror and the vehicle. About a half mile down the road it pulls out behind us.

Swallowing, I tell myself I’m imagining things. I mean, why would someone be following us? Just because it’s an SUV doesn’t mean it’s the same one as before. Lots of people drive SUVs.

Its headlights grow brighter and brighter, drawing closer.

“Just pass me,” Riel mutters.

Through the open windows, the SUV’s engine roars, and my gut clenches. It guns past us, speeding ahead, and seconds later its taillights disappear into the night.

I blow out a relieved breath.

Minutes later we pull into the academy’s parking lot. I say goodbye to Riel and Mar and head inside.

In my dorm room, Gillian is already sleeping, so I quietly put my duffel beside my bed. I flick on my bedside lamp, take my shirt off, glance out my window, and freeze.

In the academy’s parking lot sits a dark SUV.