Lucid, YA Paranormal Romance (Brightest Kind of Darkness Series, Book #2) Read online

  I lifted my head. “Didn’t his division already do that?”

  “They have, but I still want to look for myself.”

  “Where is it? I can help.”

  My aunt shook her head. “Not today. I’ve already skimmed through the stack once. I need a day away to clear my head before I dig back in. You can help me then if you want to.”

  When I nodded my agreement, she leaned back and gave me an encouraging smile. “Would you like to help me make a few pies? I owe my neighbor a couple for taking care of the boys.”

  “Sounds good.” I stood and forced a smile, welcoming the distraction. I didn’t want to process everything about my dad right now.

  Aunt Sage tugged me toward the kitchen. “While you help me roll out the dough, you can tell me what you’ve been up to while I was gone.”

  My aunt knew about my ability, but she didn’t know about Ethan’s or about Fate, so I wasn’t going to discuss anything related to those subjects with her. If I told her everything that had happened recently, she’d probably lock me in her house until my mom got back. Drystan would be a safe subject and the fact that I got a dog. She’d love Houdini. I really hoped Mom let me keep him.

  As she led me through the kitchen doorway, I asked, “Have you ever heard of parkour?”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  It was late afternoon by the time I slid into my car to head home. My aunt had wanted me to stay, but she understood once I told her about Houdini. I glanced at my phone I’d purposefully left in my car—so I wouldn’t obsess while at my aunt’s—to see if Ethan had called. There was only a text from Drystan.

  Drystan – 4:50 p.m. ~ Save me from this torturous dance decorating committee!

  An amused smile briefly touched my lips as I started my car, but fifteen minutes into the thirty-minute drive home, thoughts about Ethan’s silence began to gnaw deep gashes in my stomach. I shook my head to push away my worry he might’ve found someone else while he was in Michigan. My thoughts only boomeranged to other worries, cracking open the door I’d firmly shut on my dad’s revelation.

  As memories of my dad began flowing into my consciousness, an emotional rollercoaster of pain, sorrow, and regret followed the flood. By the time I pulled into my driveway, my back and shoulders hurt from all the tension building inside me. I parked my car and rolled my head from one shoulder to the other to ease some of the ache, then hurried through the garage to the kitchen door. I’d just passed by the leaf blower when the unfamiliar writing on the note attached to it snagged my attention.

  Nara, your leaf blower is ready to go.

  David.

  Guilt drilled into my gut as if I’d run into the path of a baseball bat in a “homerun” swing. I had introduced Mom to Mr. Dixon. Even though it was perfectly normal for my mother to date, especially after waiting so long to finally meet someone, I couldn’t stop the sick feeling flooding my stomach. Mom had never stopped loving my dad. If she knew he still loved her…

  Oh, God! Too much. It was just too freaking much to deal with. I couldn’t get inside fast enough. When I ran into my room and quickly began to change into workout pants and a sweatshirt, Houdini started jumping all over me, wanting attention.

  I pushed him down and patted his head. While I pulled my hair up into a ponytail, I said, “Don’t worry, boy. After you do your business, we’re going running.”

  Ten minutes later, Houdini and I took off. I headed for the woods at the end of the cul-de-sac. Once I saw Houdini had no plans to leave my side after he kept slipping the leash, I folded the leather length in my tight fist and then we just ran and ran.

  Ten minutes later, I entered Ethan’s neighborhood. As soon as I saw his house, my stomach knotted. I veered off to the right and into another set of woods on the opposite side.

  I ran and ran, crossing around another neighborhood, through a trailer park where I eventually ended up on a quiet tree-lined road that climbed and climbed before it turned into a dirt road.

  My leg muscles strained and my lungs felt as if someone had lit a slow-burning match inside them, but I kept going until I couldn’t run any more.

  Houdini panted hard, his tongue hanging, drool dripping in fat drops on the dirt road under him. My muscles had finally given out, turning my legs to jelly, and I slithered to my butt.

  I scooted to the side of the dirt road and hooked my arm around Houdini’s back so we could stare across the gorgeous horizon and watch the last of the sun fade away. Up here, I didn’t have to think about the things that bothered me. I could just enjoy the mountain view.

  I must’ve zoned out because a sudden blaring horn and bright lights came barreling toward me. “Go, Houdini!” I ordered and pushed him down the steep embankment. All I had time to do was jump the six-foot distance to the parallel paved road below. As I hurled toward the road, everything Drystan had drilled into my head came flooding back. I managed to hit in a perfect roll. Houdini ran to my side as I rolled onto the balls of my feet.

  I took a shaky breath and glanced left and right, thankful a car wasn’t coming on the road I’d landed on. “You crazy idiot,” I yelled, waving my arms at the taillights of the car to let the driver know he’d almost hit me. He didn’t bother putting on his brakes, but instead rolled down his window and gave me the one-finger salute.

  I patted Houdini’s back with a trembling hand and said, “I really don’t want to admit to Drystan that he was right. Let’s keep this between us…okay boy?”

  As my panicked breathing settled, I saw that Houdini’s and my breath came out in frosty plumes. Actually cold weather wasn’t my current problem. I had no idea where I was, or how to backtrack.

  I’d run blindly as if distance could take care of my worries. Exhaustion had dulled the screaming thoughts in my head to hoarse whispers—which I would take for now. At least my stomach didn’t hurt any more. “Thank goodness for GPS, buddy,” I murmured to Houdini and pulled my phone out of the hidden pocket in my sweatpants.

  “No signal” blinked in bold letters on the screen.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me!” I scrambled to a standing position, held the phone up and spun in a circle, hoping to capture a signal.

  Nothing.

  If I couldn’t call, could I at least send a text? I quickly typed one to Lainey.

  Me – 6:00 p.m. ~ Come get me, please! Went running. Need a ride.

  Lainey – 6:05 p.m. ~ Still stuck at school with these stupid decorations. Drystan is jumping for joy to leave. Where are you?

  Me – 6:06 p.m. ~ I don’t know. I went running blindly and now I’m not sure where I am. No signal here, so no GPS. Stupid. I know. At least texting works.

  My phone screen blinked on and off for a second, then a warning came through, Charge your phone. Battery almost dead.

  “Argh!” I ground my teeth at my own stupidity, then sent another text.

  Me – 6:07 p.m. ~ Great! Battery almost dead.

  Drystan – 6:08 p.m. ~ Do you have GPS tracking on your phone in case you lose it?

  Me – 6:09 p.m. ~ Yes!

  Drystan – 6:10 p.m. ~ What’s the website link and password to get to it?

  I quickly sent the info and password.

  Drystan – 6:14 p.m. ~ Okay, I see you. Where the hell’d you go? Put your phone on battery save mode. Don’t want to lose the signal. Be there as soon as possible.

  Me – 6:14 p.m. ~ Thanks, Dryst!

  Drystan – 6:15 p.m. ~ STOP texting. Battery save mode now!

  “Okay!” After I clicked on the battery save feature, I wrapped my arms around myself to stay warm and waited.

  Twenty minutes later Drystan drove up in Matt’s Jeep. Once Houdini climbed in the back seat, I hopped into the front and closed the door, welcoming the warmth inside.

  “What were you thinking?” Drystan grabbed the stick and shifted into Drive.

  “That was the whole point. I wasn’t.” I rubbed my hands together, then moved my cold fingers in front of the vent.

  “Nara�
�” he began, then paused and pushed the heat button up a notch. “What’s going on?”

  “Thanks,” I muttered, then pressed my hands flat against the blast of heat blowing out of the vent.

  Once Drystan turned onto a main road, he shot a look my way.

  “There’s just a lot going on in my life right now.” I rolled my head from one shoulder to the other. “I went running to forget for a while. Exercising always helps.”

  “You should never have gone alone,” he snapped. “You should’ve rang me to go running with you.”

  I was surprised by his admonishment. “You’re not responsible for me, Drystan.” I reached back and patted Houdini’s head. “Plus, I wasn’t alone.”

  He cut his gaze to Houdini in the rearview mirror. “You know what I mean.” Exhaling, he asked in a calmer tone, “Do you want to talk about it?”

  When I shook my head, he scrubbed his fingers through his hair. “You are the most frustrating, confusing person I’ve ever met.” He grabbed the stick shift in a tight hold. “Just when I think I’ve earned your trust, you shut me out.”

  I gripped his hand on the gearshift. “It’s not you, Drystan. Things are just…piling on at home and I’m a bit stressed. That’s all.”

  Drystan turned his hand over and grabbed mine. “Then we need to ‘unstress’ you. You’re going with us to the dance tomorrow. I’m not taking no for an answer.”

  His insistence actually brought a sense of relief. He was right. I needed to get out and have some fun. We’d have a great time. Once the dance was over, I’d think about why I hadn’t heard from Ethan, my worry for my dad, the mystery behind the secret of Freddie’s book, the fact people thought Ethan’s book was worth killing for…all of it.

  I squeezed his hand. “Okay, I’ll go.”

  Drystan’s gaze jerked to mine. “Really?”

  I laughed, nodding. “I’ll be your good luck charm. While you’re star-struck by the girls’ fake eyelashes, spiked heels and slinky gowns, I’ll help you see past their glamour. That way you’ll know who’s worth asking out. First heads-up, steer clear of Sophia and Miranda. They’re vicious.”

  Drystan grinned and released my hand to shift the gear while he turned a corner. “We’re going to have a brilliant time.”

  “Well, there is the problem of a suit. You’ll have to get one, and you can’t wear black since the theme is ‘ice.’ It might be too late to find a tux in the right color.”

  “Matt will help me find something,” he said. “What about you? Do you have a dress?”

  I shrugged. “I won’t be dressed as formal as most of the girls, but I’m sure I can borrow something of Lainey’s. Speaking of Lainey,” I paused and pulled out my phone to send her a text.

  Me – 6:45 p.m. ~ I’m going to the dance with you. Aren’t you happy? Um, can I borrow something to wear?”

  Once I sent the text, I saw my mom had sent me one asking how I was doing. I replied back, letting her know I was fine.

  Lainey – 6:48 p.m. ~ SQUEEEE! I’m so HAPPY you’re going. We’re going to have a fabulous time. I’ll be over in an hour.

  Me – 6:49 p.m. ~ Okay. See you soon.

  I still hadn’t received a call or text from Ethan. Later. I’d deal with it later. I chanted the calming thought in my head over and over. When we were almost to my house, I checked my phone again. Nothing. The chant wasn’t working. Frustrated with myself, I turned my phone off completely.

  Drystan pulled into my driveway and put the Jeep in Park. “Delivering you safe and sound.”

  “Thank you for rescuing me from myself.” I gave a wry smile, then opened the door. Houdini jumped out and immediately ran to the grass. Looked like pooper-scooping duty had been added to my duties in addition to leaf-blowing.

  I noticed that Drystan hadn’t replied with a funny quip or even a teasing dig. When I glanced his way, he appeared to be mulling something over.

  “What’s wrong, Drystan? I can tell you’ve got something on your mind.”

  He looked at me pensively. “Would you be willing to help me with something?”

  I shut the car door and turned to him. “Of course! Anything. You’ve been there for me many times. I’ll be happy to return the favor if I can.”

  He exhaled a relieved breath and reached in his back pocket, then carefully unfolded a white card with black lettering. “I’ve had this invitation from my uncle for weeks. I planned to ignore it.”

  “Why?”

  Drystan shrugged. “Because I don’t know if he’s just going to drill me about my ability.”

  I rubbed my forehead. “Hold on. You were upset with your father for not acknowledging you or your ability, but your uncle wants to, not only acknowledge you as his nephew, but to discuss your ability, and you don’t like that?”

  He lowered his hand to his lap, a grim look on his face. “I’ve pretty much lied to him, telling him my powers had faded as I grew older.”

  The things he’d said to me in the past about his uncle made sense now. “Is that why your uncle says you’re in ‘denial’?”

  He nodded. “I don’t trust his motives. Why’d he only contact me after my father was dead? Why didn’t my father mention he had a brother?”

  “You said your father never married your mother. Is it possible that, just like you didn’t know about your uncle, he didn’t know about you or your mother either?” I glanced at his tight grip on the cardstock paper. Clearly he was torn about going. “How can I help you?”

  “The event is tonight.” Drystan rubbed his finger along the black lettering. “I want to know my uncle’s not going to spend the whole time grilling me about my ability,” he said in a derisive tone, then shrugged. “I guess I want to know he wants to get to know me for me, regardless of what I can do.”

  When he found out about my power, Drystan had commented that if he’d had my power, he’d use the heck out of it. Was he thinking about this invitation when he said that? “Are you asking me to help you see yourself talking with your uncle?”

  As he slowly nodded, I smiled and reached for his fist clasping the half-crushed invitation. I wrapped both of my hands around his and said, “Then have a look.”

  Drystan’s eyes floated closed. It was a whole minute before his gaze snapped open again.

  I released his hand. “Well?”

  “My uncle’s ten years older than my dad—who was forty-nine when he died. He’s stockier, but I can see the resemblance. He talked about school starting up, footba—er, soccer, and asked if I’d made friends here yet.” Drystan smiled, relief reflected in his green eyes.

  I smiled back. “Have a good time with your uncle tonight.”

  * * *

  I came out of the bathroom after my shower to find Lainey sitting on my bed, Houdini snuggled against her leg.

  “Ohmygod!” I sucked in a gulp of air and gripped the towel around my chest. “You scared the crap out of me!” I shot my dog an accusing look. “Some watchdog you are!”

  “He knew I didn’t have evil intentions,” Lainey snickered while she ran a hand down Houdini’s back.

  I narrowed my gaze. “How’d you get in here?”

  She grinned and flicked her hand, her chunky, multicolored bracelets clinking on her arm. “I remembered the code on your garage door. You know, you really should lock the inside door, Nara. My dad drills that into my head all the time,” she said, pursing her lips.

  I rolled my eyes and used the edge of the towel to dry the ends of my hair as I walked over to my dresser to pull out some clean clothes.

  “Just get your underwear for now.” Lainey clapped her hands in a chop-chop manner.

  I scooped up a bra and underwear, then glanced around my room, looking for the dresses Lainey brought for me to try on. Only her oversized purse lay on my desk. “I thought you were going to bring a couple of dresses?”

  Lainey shooed me into the bathroom, her eyes alight with excitement. “Put on your underwear and dry your hair.”

  As soo
n as I walked back out of my bathroom, Lainey grabbed my hand and tugged me over to my bed, where a coat-sized silver box with a gold lid sat at the foot. “Open it, open it. I can’t wait to see your face!” She bounced from one booted foot to the other, her eyes alight.

  I eyed the fancy box. Maybe that gorgeous black coat she got for Christmas came in it. Smiling that she wanted to make me feel special by wrapping one of her dresses in special packaging, I lifted the lid and began, “I love how goofy you are, Lane—ohmygod, Lainey! What—what is this?” I dropped the lid and stared at the white and silver Grecian-style dress she’d insisted that I try on at the formalwear store.

  “You should see your face,” Lainey squeezed my arm and squealed in my ear. “That was SO worth it!”

  I gaped at her. “I can’t afford this dress.”

  She shook her head and pulled the dress from the baby-pink tissue paper, holding it up to my chest. “This is my gift to you, Nara. You were too gorgeous in it. Even if you’re not going with Ethan, you deserve to look your very best at the dance.”

  My hands shook as I clasped the soft fabric. “When did you get it? You didn’t have time to go to the store before you came over.”

  Lainey adopted a smug look. “I bought it while you were changing back into your clothes. You were so oblivious, you didn’t see them zip two dresses into the black plastic garment bag.”

  “But I told you I wasn’t going,” I said, surprised by her sneakiness.

  Lainey nodded. “I bought it just in case you changed your mind. If you didn’t end up going, I would’ve returned it. No big deal.”

  But it was a big deal. My fingers dug into the dress. “This was the most expensive gown in the store, Lainey. It costs more than yours. It’s too much!”

  Lainey gripped my shoulders and hugged me close, whispering in my ear, “You’ve been through a lot and need some fun in your life. I love you like a sister, Nara.” She pulled back and finished in a stern voice, “So shut up and put on the dress.”