Page 19 of The Interception
“No worries. Let’s get inside so I can stop panicking and calm down. You had me worried to death. Couldn’t find you anywhere, and all the horrible things that could have happened to you freaked me out.”
She presses her hands to her face. “I’m sorry. I need to pay closer attention.”
“It’s really fine. I’m glad you’re okay.”
“I wouldn’t say I’m okay, but certainly better than dead in a ditch somewhere. Sorry I scared you.” She drops her hands to her sides and forces a smile. Her body is droopy and tired.
“Do you think you might be getting sick? You don’t seem as perky as usual. I mean, I guess I don’t know what your usual is and you do have a headache but…you know…are you sick?”
Layne takes a deep breath, assesses herself. “I don’t think so? Probably just exhausted from a busy few days. I might be a little dehydrated. I tend to forget to drink when I’m busy.”
“I can remedy that too. Come on in, and we’ll get you squared away.” I push open the front door and let Layne in first, then close it behind me and try to ignore the stupid giddy feeling I getjust thinking about her being here, with me, safe and sound…and not with Jonas.
Chapter Nine
Layne
When I enter, Ifind a woman sitting on the sofa in a dimly lit living room, watching a romantic comedy. I recognize it immediately, but I don’t recall it being sad enough to make a person cry. She’s got half a box of tissues sprawled over the sofa, and she’s pulling another from the box when Ender shuts the door behind us. She looks over the back of the sofa and smiles, then her eyes land on me.
I hesitate, not knowing who the woman might be, and try not to panic that Imighthave been crushing on a man in a relationship. She’s beautiful, even after crying, and a jealous knot twists in my chest.
“Oh! Ender, I wish you had told me you were bringing someone home. I look awful!” She scrambles to gather the tissues and wipe her face. Judging by the look on Ender’s face, something isn’t quite right. I can’t figure out what it is, exactly, but it borders on possessive and…sad?
“I wasn’t planning on bringing anyone home. I didn’t even know I did until I arrived,” he says, trying to lighten the mood. He points to her and says, “This is my sister, Sarah Beth.”
Holy moly, I can breathe again.
His sister pauses mid clean-up. “What? What do you mean you didn’tmeanto?”
I chuckle softly, trying not to worsen my headache. “Long story short, I got a headache, went to lay in my truck, got in the wrong truck, and here I am.”
“This is Layne,” Ender adds.
His sister narrows her eyes a little and stands. “So it is.” Her smile—a real one this time—spreads wide, showing her beautiful features. Her strawberry-blonde hair is a stark contrast to Ender’s dark hair, but somehow, they still look like brother and sister despite having no discernible familial features. How odd.
“Sorry you walked in on a drama fest. I cry at romcoms.” She shrugs and rounds the sofa. “I’m Sarah Beth, Ender’s older and wiser sister.”
She’s probably right on that second account. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m sorry I interrupted. I think Ender was just about to take me back to get my truck, and you can get back to your evening.”
Her eyebrows go high and she shakes her head. “What? It’s after midnight and you have a headache. We have a guest room. Why not stay here, get some rest, and Ender can take you back in the morning?”
“I have practice in the morning,” Ender says.
“Yeah, super early. So she can hang around with us girls until you get done, then you can take her back.” Sarah Beth has a motherly tone that I assume amounts to her getting her way no matter what. I’m not sure how I can tell that by spending all of four minutes in her presence, but somehow, I know I’m about to end up in a guest room.
Ender’s gaze shifts from his sister to me. “My practice starts at six. If your headache is bad and you’d like to just sleep…I mean…she’s right. We have a guest room, and you’re welcome to stay.”
I raise my hands and shake my head. “Oh, no, I don’t want to put you out like that. Really, if you have practice that early, I’ll just call a car to pick me up and take me to get my truck.” At that, even Ender’s jaw sets firmly.
“Not a chance you’re getting a stranger to drive you to an almost empty parking lot at midnight,” he says. “If you want to go back now, I’ll take you. It’s not a problem.”
“But…you have to beatpractice in less than six hours. You need sleep,” I say.
“Exactly, which is why it makes the most sense for you to stay,” Sarah Beth says. “Besides, his kitchen is big enough to work in so you can get right to testing things when he gets home in the morning.” She seems to have it all figured out, and since I’m the one who accidentally got into the wrong vehicle, it makes sense to be flexible for their sakes. Besides, I can’t deny that I’m interested in getting to know his sister, which might give me a little more insight into the enigma that is Ender.
“You’re probably right. If you’re sure you don’t mind?” I ask, my voice squeaky and high for no reason whatsoever other than the very idea of Ender Langley seeing me in the morning with crazy hair and dirty teeth.
As if reading my mind, Sarah Beth leans in. “I got you covered with the basics. Mom taught us long ago to have an extra one of everything for guests.”
