Page 28 of Moved
“Did they know what he was?”
“They never got close enough to be sure, but they suspected.”
They suspected and sent me off to a backwoods apartment to keep me safe while they tried to track him down. I sighed and glanced at Chuck. One of my mom’s kind had been that close to me, and I hadn’t known it. Why? Because my dad chose to keep the truth from me. The things I’d guessed at hadn’t been enough to keep me out of trouble.
Racer bent, picked Chuck up, and tossed him over his shoulder.
“I’ll keep him downstairs until your father gets here.”
I nodded. Lovely. What did finally catching Chuck mean? Was I now free to return to school? Would Racer tell Dad that I knew about their kind? Would I be trapped here forever? Would that be a bad thing?
“I’m going to take a shower,” I said. I had a lot to think about.
****
The next morning, while I lay on the couch, listening to music, I heard the motorcycles roar into the yard. With a sigh, I sat up.
All I’d managed to do last night was think myself in circles. If Racer didn’t mention what I knew to Dad, then Dad would tell me it was time to leave. My heart twisted at that thought because I wanted to stay and see what there might be between Racer and me. Yet, if Racer said something to Dad...then what? Would Dad take me away and try hiding me again? I thought of my mother’s letter. What would happen if their kind did pay attention to me? But weren’t they already? I mean my grandfather—I still had a hard time thinking of Larry that way—had stayed close.
I groaned and went to open the door and wait for Dad.
As soon as the outer door opened, he saw me and huffed up the stairs. Larry walked in behind him and went straight to Racer’s apartment. When Dad reached me, he threw his arms around me in a relieved hug.
“Gillybean, I was so worried.”
I smiled and hugged him back. “I’m fine. I promise. You picked the right spot to keep me safe. Racer did a great job.”
He pulled back and gave me a long, piercing look. “What do you mean?”
His sudden suspiciousness worried me. “Huh? Mean about what?”
He shook his head. “Nothing. You ready to come home?”
The moment I dreaded. How to answer? His worried eyes met mine, and I had only one answer to give.
“Sure, Dad.” My words sent lightning bolts into my stomach, but I kept my expression bland.
He smiled at me, kissed my forehead, and let me go. “That bathroom got toilet paper?”
I laughed as he walked away. He stopped just outside the bathroom and glanced back at me. “What the hell happened to this door?”
“Long story. I’ll just go downstairs for a while.” I closed the apartment door behind me.
With an unhappy ache in my chest, I passed Racer’s door and stepped outside. Dad and Larry’s bikes were beside the pole shed. I sighed as the door opened behind me.
“Sure, Dad?” Racer said. “Just like that?”
I turned. He stalked forward until he stood before me.
Facing his thunderous expression, I frowned. “What was I supposed to say?”
“How about, I think I love him, Dad?” He stepped closer to me. I tilted my head back to meet his dark eyes. “Or maybe, I stay awake at night just listening for any sound, anything to indicate he might need me, any excuse to go running up the stairs and see him.” He lifted my face, his gentle fingers tracing my features.
“I think you mean down the stairs,” I whispered with a smile.
“No...I didn’t.” His lips brushed against mine. He kissed the split on my lower lip twice. It twisted my heart. His mouth opened, and I couldn’t deny him. We kissed until we both struggled for breath.
“Well, that complicates things,” Dad said.
