Brightest Kind of Darkness (6 page)

“Be careful,” I whispered as he broke off to skirt around to the back. So many things could go wrong: the dog could refuse to budge, Ethan could break a leg, we could get caught. Taking a deep breath, I chanted the mantra once more as I peeked around the edge of the house to check on Ethan.

He was trying to climb up the mulch pile, but it kept spreading under his feet. My stomach tensed when he stepped off the mulch, then turned and ran full speed up the incline. Just as the pile seemed to collapse under him, he somehow caught air and vaulted to the roof. I blinked. Did I just imagine that? That leap wasn’t possible. Was it?

When the dog turned and let out a surprised bark at his rooftop landing, my heart jerked. Grabbing the coupon booklet from my backpack, I bolted to the front door, then jammed my finger on the doorbell.

My pulse whooshed in my ears as the dog’s bark switched to an “intruder alert” level.

The door jerked open and a huge man filled the doorway. “What do you want?” he said in a gruff voice. His buzz cut shifted forward as he planted his feet and folded his massive arms over a wide chest.

Skimming my gaze from his holey-toed socks to his ragged flannel shirt, I gulped to moisten my suddenly dry throat and held up the coupon booklet. “Hi, how’d you like to save three hundred dollars?” I said, then launched in a friendly, upbeat sales pitch.

Twenty-five pages later, I was in the process of pointing out several great stores and restaurants that were listed in the booklet, when I saw movement in my peripheral vision. Someone was chasing something near the neighbor’s garage.

I couldn’t let the man see the movement, so I hurried my wrap-up along. “Well, I guess that’s about it. Sorry you’re not interested. Have a great night.”

Hiking my backpack up my shoulder, I casually walked away. When the man called after me, “Hey, wait!” I was thankful his sidewalk pointed in the opposite direction I’d seen Ethan.

After the dog’s owner had closed his front door, tension eased from my neck and shoulders. I waited until I reached the end of the street before I doubled back, squinting for signs of Ethan in the darkness.

When I rounded the corner and saw Ethan sitting in my car, I exhaled my pent-up breath. But where was the dog? Opening my door, I started to ask what happened, then saw the dog curled into a tight ball on top of the blanket in my backseat.

“Is he okay?”

Ethan reached back and patted the dog’s head. “Yeah, he’s tired. Once he tasted freedom, I uh, had to chase him for a bit before he’d let me put the leash on him.” His dark gaze snapped to me as I climbed in. “If you hadn’t shown in the next two seconds, I was coming to get you.”

“Mission accomplished.” I grinned and waved a twenty-dollar bill. “This should help pay for his food.”

His lips tilted briefly in amusement. “You actually sold him the booklet?”

“A worthy cause, combined with self-preservation, apparently made me a powerful salesperson,” I said with a half laugh as I started the car.

“You’re amazing. Thanks, Nara.”

Ethan’s softly spoken compliment made me feel special. “Where to now?”

“CVAS.”

“Um, it’s closed.”

“I know where they hide a spare key and the alarm codes.”

Shaking my head, I said, “All kinds of illegal, huh?”

He cut a sheepish gaze my way. “Yeah. You still in?”

I turned down the street that led to the shelter.

While Ethan bathed the dog, I made a couple of phone calls. One to my mom to let her know I was at Lainey’s and would be home late. The second call was to Aunt Sage.

According to Ethan, the dog’s collar he’d left behind said the pooch wouldn’t need another rabies shot for two years. It took Ethan and me two hours to clean and dress the wounds the collar had inflicted. The poor dog’s neck was scarred horribly, but with lots of love and attention, I was pretty sure his black/brown coat would return to its full luster and even cover up the damage on his neck.

As we pulled out of CVAS’s lot in the direction of school, I ached all over from our busy night, but I felt good. “We did it.”

Ethan looked as tired as I felt. “Yeah, we did.” He patted the dog’s snout that rested on the console between us. “I couldn’t have done this without you.”

My aunt’s car was parked beside Ethan’s Mustang when I turned into the school parking lot. As I rolled to a stop next to her car, Aunt Sage got out, her bohemian-style dress blowing around her legs underneath her long coat.

Ethan sat up straight. “Who’s that?”

“Don’t worry. It’s just my aunt. I hope you’re not upset, but since you could only keep the dog for a few days, I called her and told her his situation. She’s willing to give him a permanent home.”

Relief flitted across his tense features. “Really? She’s got space for him?”

I waved to my aunt through the windshield. “Yeah. She lives a half hour away and has other dogs who’ll make great companions.”

Ethan cupped his hand over the dog’s head. “Did you hear that, boy? You’ve got a home!”

Grabbing the dog’s leash, Ethan helped our rescuee out of the car and walked him over to my aunt. Sage rubbed the dog’s ears and gently patted his head. “Hi there, Duke. I see you’ve had a rough time of it. That’s about to change.”

In response, he instantly sat on his haunches and leaned against my aunt’s thigh.

“Are you really going to name him Duke?” I said with a laugh of disbelief.

My aunt pushed her curly red hair away from her eyes, a Cheshire smile lighting her face. “But of course.”

When she put her hand out to Ethan, saying, “Hi, I’m Sage Collins,” I instantly tensed.
Please, please don’t hug him, Aunt Sage
.

Ethan shook her hand. “Ethan Harris, and thank you for taking…Duke.”

Releasing his hand, my aunt’s smile remained, but her gaze took on a parental edge. “I hope you don’t plan to involve my niece in any more illegal activities.”

“Aunt Sage!”

Stern eyes met mine. “No more, Inara.”

Ethan looked apologetic. “I promise.”

Clasping Duke’s leash tight, my aunt waved us on. “It’s getting late. Go home, you two. Don’t worry about Duke. I have salve at home. He’ll fit right in with the boys.”

“Thank you for taking him in, Aunt Sage. Oh, and…” I handed her the twenty. “Here’s some money for food.”

“Thank you, Inara.” Aunt Sage took the bill and stood there with Duke, staring at us expectantly.

Ethan and I exchanged “see-you-tomorrow” glances, but so much more was silently communicated. We’d bonded over tonight’s adventure. Our mission had held loads of potential mishaps and danger, yet we’d accomplished it. Together. Smiling, I waved goodbye and climbed into my car.

* * *

The next day, when I didn’t see Ethan at his locker before Homeroom, I was disappointed. I told myself he was probably running late, but when he didn’t show up in Trig and I didn’t see him in the halls, I knew he hadn’t come to school. Maybe last night had totally worn him out.
How many times had I hit my own alarm this morning?
I thought as I headed out to soccer practice.

“Nara!” Lainey ran over the moment I set my bag on the bench.

“What’s up?” Lainey had been spending all her time with Jared or hanging out watching the football team after practice was over.

Just as I pulled my hair up into a rubber band, Lainey sat down on the bench. “I want to talk to you.”

She looked so serious, I instantly sat down beside her. “What’s wrong? Is everything okay with you and Jared?”

Her ponytail bobbed up and down. “We’re fine. I wanted to talk to you about Ethan.”

I stilled. “What about him?”

“I had my dad check on him—”

“Lainey!” My hands balled into fists.

She put her hand on my arm. “That’s just between you and me. Never repeat that. My dad could get in a lot of trouble for checking on him, but he was trying to help. Just listen, okay?”

Setting my jaw, I mumbled, “Fine.”

She blew out a breath, her eyes sympathetic. “He has a juvie record, Nara. The charges were violence and destruction of property.”

I curled my fingers around the bench’s metal seat. “When were these charges?”

“When he was fourteen.”

“Nothing recent then?”

Her grip tightened on my arm. “You mean other than beating that guy up at his last school?”

I stared her down. “Did that student file charges?”

Her hand fell away from my arm. “No, the only thing on Ethan’s record was when he was fourteen.”

“Like I said, there are two sides to every story. Why didn’t that guy he ‘beat up for no reason’ file charges? If he was totally innocent, he had every right to.”

“Nara, you’re being so blind. I had my dad check on Ethan because you’re my friend and well, I’m worried for you.”

“Thanks for worrying, but I’m good.”

She furrowed her brow. “Are you? You mentioned going through some stuff the other day and then ran off. You never did say…”

When she trailed off, I let go of the bench and casually brushed away the metal’s indentions from my palms. “No worries. Really.” Jerking my thumb toward the field, I stood. “We’d better head over.”

Lainey stood beside me, then leaned close, slyness curving her lips. “I told you that you were a better goalie than Sophia or anyone else on the team. There’s no way Miranda can convince Coach to keep you on the bench tomorrow.”

Since I’d been practicing with Ethan, I’d taken back the goalie reins, leaving Sophia in the dust. I was pretty sure I’d be starting at the next game.

“Oh, she’ll try. You should’ve seen how she and some of the girls ganged up on me at practice yesterday.”

Lainey rolled her eyes. “She can be such a bitch sometimes. Honestly though, when it comes to the team, Miranda just wants to win, no matter what. She won’t sacrifice a ‘win’ just so she can rub her hands in glee that you sat out of a game.”

Smiling, I wrapped my arm around her neck. “Come on, let’s get warmed up.”

* * *

Toward the end of an extended practice—Coach wanted to be extra prepared for our next game—I found myself getting excited, my stomach all aflutter. It was silly to expect Ethan to show, since he hadn’t been at school, but I couldn’t stop myself from glancing toward the parking lot. It was growing dark and the field lights had popped on, making it impossible to see the lot from the field.

Once practice was over, I took my time getting my gear together. Moving slowly, I still held out hope Ethan might surprise me.

“You coming, Nara?” Lainey tugged her bag onto her shoulder. The hot pink fringe on the strap fluttered with her every movement. I’d bought the flamboyant strap cover for her as a surprise birthday present this past summer. Between my work at CVAS, the Pet Food Warehouse, and hanging with Lainey, I’d stayed busy all summer, which made it easier not to dwell on how much time I spent at home alone. I missed our girl chats. I was glad the tension between us had eased.

“I’m going to kick a few more shots, then head home,” I said, waving her on.

After everyone drove off, I frowned at the bright lights. I didn’t like how they obscured my view of the parking lot. Pulling a ball from my bag, I walked over to the goal and I told myself I’d only give Ethan five more minutes and then I was leaving.

I’d just kicked the second ball into the net when I heard a rumbling car pull into the parking lot. I didn’t turn around right away, because I didn’t want Ethan to see the huge smile on my face. Composing my expression, I retrieved the ball and turned, surprised to see the two guys who’d offered me a ride home the day my car battery died, standing next to the bench. Dressed in faded jeans, t-shirts and zip up sweat jackets, they looked pretty harmless, but Ethan’s words keep pounding into my brain.
They’re dangerous…I’ve seen them in action
.

The blond guy flashed a smile. “You’ve been hard to catch up with, Nara.”

His tone was light, but something in his eyes, a kind of wild excitedness, looked off. My fingers tensed around the ball. “Why where you looking for me?”

“I can’t believe you picked that new guy over us when we offered you help,” he said.

“It wasn’t a big deal.” I shrugged, trying not to show them how uncomfortable they were making me. “I saved you guys some gas that day.”

He rubbed his jaw. “See, that’s where I get all bent.” His thoughtful look faded as he crossed beefy arms. “We rarely offer to help, but then you went and dissed us.”

They thought I’d rejected
them
? “It wasn’t like that—”

“Are you saying we misunderstood?” the dark-headed guy interrupted.

“Nah, it looked pretty obvious to me,” the blond cut in. His tone was completely different. Now it held a harsh, unforgiving grate.

“That’s not it at all,” I said, hoping they didn’t hear the hitch of apprehension in my voice. Somehow I needed to soothe their seriously whacked egos. Just how many times
had
these guys been rejected in their lives? “Listen, I’m really sorry. It wasn’t meant to be a diss. Ethan just happened to be going my way. I didn’t mean to insult either of you, I promise.”

The blond guy glanced at his buddy, then back to me. “Since you ‘didn’t mean it’ and all, why don’t you come hang with us for a while tonight.”

This was seriously getting out of hand. I shook my head in fast jerks. “I can’t. I have to get home. I’m already late.”

“Big surprise.” The blond guy threw up his hands and rolled his eyes.

His sarcasm set me even more on edge. “Really, I need to get home.”

“Yeah, right.” He looked at his friend then back to me, his gaze narrowed. “I’m
so
fucking tired of people’s lies.”

People?
“I’m not ly—I cut myself off when I saw a vein bulging along his temple and his fist clenched at his side. Everything inside me went cold and internal warning bells screamed,
Run! Get as far away as you can!
Yet my feet seemed to be rooted to the ground.

“Kurt,” the dark-headed guy paused and glanced nervously toward the parking lot. “Maybe we should—”

The blond glared at his friend. “Man up, Jay,” he said, then started toward me, his stride determined. “We’ll get the truth out of her.”