Rogue Wave (The Water Keepers, Book 2) (18 page)

Maybe it was the fact that I was a little freaked out after being threatened by Ash in the middle of the night, and really, really didn’t want to be alone right now, or maybe being completely sleep deprived had dulled my senses and I was just too tired to say no, but either way, I found myself brushing my hand over Derrick’s elbow and saying, “Sounds good to me.”

As I followed Derrick down the sidewalk, it dawned on me that Rayne might be home right now. And if he was home, there was a good chance he would see me go into my house with another guy, which would possibly upset him. For a minute, I actually wanted to change my mind. Just thinking about Rayne made me miss him, and I didn’t like to hurt him. But then again, I remembered what a big fat
liar
he was. Maybe I wanted Rayne to see me with another guy. Maybe he deserved it.

I hoped the Healing Water would be waiting for me in the mailbox when I got home. If Rayne really wanted to, he could force me into seeing him just by withholding the water from me. I would eventually have to give in and go to him for help. Either that, or I would have to hold out as long as possible until I passed out, giving Rayne the opportunity to swoop in and save me again, rubbing it in my face that I was completely dependent on him for survival. Rayne said our feelings weren’t actually being forced by the bonding effect like he thought, but it still felt like I was being forced into needing him, and it wasn’t fair.

I stopped at the edge of the student parking lot and reached for Derrick’s arm. “Actually, do you think you could give me a few minutes before you come over? I was hoping to take a shower.”

He shrugged. “Sure. I was thinking about grabbing some take-out on the way over anyway. Do you like Thai food?”

“Yeah, that would be great.” I gave Derrick directions to my house and told him to meet me there.

On the drive home, I quickly called my mom, assuming she would be fine with letting me leave school, which, luckily, she was. All I had to do was say I wasn’t feeling well, which was pretty much the truth, and she agreed to call the school for me without any questions. It was kind of nice to have such a good relationship with my mom that she trusted me so easily.

I parked the Honda in our driveway, still on the phone trying to convince my mother she didn’t need to break her date with Dr. Jensen to come home and nurse me back to health. I told her I just needed to sleep it off. Although, it did occur to me, a little too late, that getting my mom to skip out on Dr. Jensen to come take care of me would have been a better plan than secretly bringing home a guy I hardly knew. Especially since I wasn’t too sure I trusted Dr. Jensen with my mom anymore. Too bad my brain was too far gone to come up with these good ideas until after it was already too late.

After I hung up with my mom, I walked across the street to Rayne’s mailbox and grimaced when I realized the Healing Water wasn’t inside. At first it upset me, thinking he had done it on purpose. I glared into the security camera, wondering if Rayne was in there, staring right at me. I was mad at him, and I was hoping it showed on my face. I didn’t want him to know I felt secretly more secure, knowing he was there. My thought processes were slow today, but it finally occurred to me that I had come home early. Rayne wouldn’t just leave the Healing Water sitting in his mailbox all day long. He was probably planning to bring it out right before the time I would normally get home from school.

I pushed the button on the intercom, assuming Rayne could hear me. “I’m not ready to talk to you yet,” I said. “I just came home early from school. I’m going to run in and take a quick shower. Then I’m coming back over. So, I would appreciate it if you could have the water out here waiting for me when I get back.”

I released the button and began to turn away, not waiting for a response. Then another thought crossed my mind. I turned back to the intercom and spoke again. “And I just thought you should know, I have a friend coming over in a few minutes…a guy you haven’t met before. It’s not a big deal. We’re just hanging out. So, I would really appreciate it if you didn’t come over and spy on us or anything.”

A wave of heat suddenly spread up my neck. I could feel the emotions weakening my resolve to the point that I almost wanted to take what I said back. It sucked so bad to be angry with Rayne. But I had to stay strong. He had to understand how much he hurt me.

Before I gave him the satisfaction of knowing I cared, I clamped my lips together and whipped around to the street, conjuring all the strength of my pride to make it inside my door before I broke down.

It was all too much for my weakened state of mind, more than I could handle. I was beyond tired, and a little bit scared—and the one person I wanted to talk to most, I wasn’t sure I could trust anymore. I cranked the shower water as hot as I could stand, letting my tears stream down until they blended with the water and spiraled down the drain. I just needed rest. All I needed was a little sleep and a dose of Healing Water, and I would be ready to figure it all out. I was sure I could handle Ash’s threats and Rayne’s confusing half-truths once I had my strength again, once I felt like myself.

I stepped out of the shower with new determination. I had to make sure I got my dose of Healing Water before Derrick showed up. I realized now just how crucial it would be in helping me get back on track. I pulled on some jeans and a baby tee, throwing my hair up in a wet bun without bothering to comb it. Then I ran out the door and hurried across the street.

Please be there
, I pleaded, as I reached for the latch on Rayne’s mailbox. When I saw the silver bottle sitting alone at the center of the box, I grabbed it excitedly and shook it over my palm. I closed my eyes with a relieved sigh and focused on the warmth as it spread through my veins. I’d taken the Healing Water long enough now to recognize its revitalizing effects immediately.

The sound of a speeding car engine bellowed from the corner of my street. I looked up and dropped the metal vial. Luckily, the spout was designed not to release any contents without being held completely upside down. I flipped the top quickly shut and closed the mailbox, just as a silver Audi, which had to be brand new, zoomed up to my side at the curb.

I could see Derrick’s profile through the passenger window. I looked in and gave a timid wave. He rolled down the glass, lifted his sunglasses to his forehead, and flashed a charming smile. “Hey, pretty lady,” he winked. “Can I give you a lift?”

“Sure,” I laughed. I pulled open the door and hopped inside, the aroma of curry and garlic wafting forward from the back seat. I took a quick glance around the interior. How was it that everyone I met seemed to afford such luxurious cars?

“So, where to?” Derrick teased.

I pointed across the street at my front yard. “You can park in the driveway behind my car. My mom won’t be home until late tonight.”

He turned to me and smirked suggestively. “Good to know.”

 I thought I might accidentally swallow my tongue. “Uh, I just meant…you know…you don’t need to worry about blocking her parking spot.” I looked out my window at the street, trying to hide my embarrassment. Derrick just smiled and pulled his car into the drive.

Inside the house, I grabbed some plates from the kitchen cupboard while Derrick spread the cartons of food out across the countertop. When I swung back around in the cramped space, I realized Derrick was watching me, his back leaning against the counter behind him. I swallowed nervously as he gazed at me with a mischievous look in his eye. I took a cautious step closer, trying to set the plates beside him on the counter, but he moved into me, lifting the plates quickly from my grasp with his left hand and placing his right hand on my waist.

“Here, let me get those for you,” he said.

I froze at his touch. It was foreign to me, different, strange. And it wasn’t Rayne. I pressed my lips together and smiled awkwardly. “Uh, thanks.”

I rolled away from his hand. “I’m so hungry. Thanks for lunch. I can’t wait to try it.”

I piled my plate with food, more food than I would ever be able to eat. I figured, as long as I had something in my mouth, something very garlicky, Derrick wouldn’t be tempted to get anywhere near it, and would hopefully have no desire to try anything…physical. I definitely wasn’t ready for that.

I made my way into the living room and noticed the stack of movies Derrick had placed on the coffee table. My nose wrinkled as I read the first title in the stack. It looked like a sappy chick flick for sure. No doubt he picked it out with hopes of getting me in the mood. I flipped through the rest of the movies and read the names.
Die Hard
,
Die Hard 2
,
Die Hard With a Vengeance
, and
Live Free or Die Hard.

I smiled secretly to myself. Even though I knew a romantic comedy wasn’t enough to make me suddenly throw myself at this new guy, I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of thinking it might work. I took
Die Hard
from the case and pressed play on the player just before Derrick walked in the room.

He glanced down at the open case on the table. “Didn’t you see the girly movie I brought? I picked it out just for you.”

“Yeah, I saw it,” I said casually. “But I just watched that movie last week.”

“Well, if you have something else you’d rather watch…”

“No, that’s okay,” I insisted. “I like action.”

Derrick sat next to me on the couch and lifted his brows. “Good. So do I.”

I laughed once nervously and looked down at my plate, searching for the biggest piece of chicken I could find. Then I shoved it into my mouth as fast as I could, followed by another, and another.

16. DEAR DAD

A loud screeching noise thundered somewhere in the back of my mind. I opened my eyes, trying to remember where I was as a roar of flames tore across the screen in front of me, jolting my body awake. The fire on the TV blew through a large airplane, ripping it to shreds in a massive explosion. The sight of actor Bruce Willis, laughing and covered in blood on the snowy ground below the plane, triggered my mind back to full consciousness. Did I sleep through the entire movie?

I realized my head was leaning sideways, propped up against something warm, and just a little too hard to be comfortable. Lingering from sleepiness, I rubbed the curve of the arm I’d been holding onto and turned my head up to glance past the shoulder I’d been using as a pillow. My eyes popped open and I jerked upright. For some reason, I was expecting to find Rayne’s face smiling down at me, not Derrick’s. I had completely forgotten I was with him.

Derrick glanced over at me with a grin as the movie credits began to roll across the TV. “Well, good morning. A little tired, were we?”

I yawned and immediately shifted a few inches away from Derrick on the couch. “Yeah, I guess you could say that. I can’t believe I slept through the whole movie.”

Derrick chuckled. “Actually, you slept through two movies. That was the end of
Die Hard 2
.”

“Really?” I said, surprised. Out of instinct, I looked over at the clock. It was already after five. I couldn’t believe it. It seemed like only minutes had passed since we sat down to eat lunch.

“You were so tired you almost fell asleep with food in your mouth,” Derrick said, amused. “You would think that would be disgusting, but it was actually quite adorable.” He scooted closer to me again. “Don’t worry; I didn’t take advantage of you while you were sleeping. But don’t think the thought didn’t cross my mind.” He laughed playfully, but even if he was joking, I still felt the desire to run.

I stood from the couch and grabbed the half-eaten plate of food I’d left on the coffee table. “Sorry I slept all afternoon,” I said, as I walked toward the kitchen. “But I actually have a bunch of homework and stuff I need to do.”

Derrick spoke to me from the other room, not bothering to follow behind. “I have to leave to meet up with a friend anyway. He should be getting off work any minute now.”

I took a deep breath of relief and came back to the room, hovering a few feet away as Derrick moved toward the front door. “Well, thanks for keeping me company,” I said, not wanting to give him any reason to linger or change his mind.

“No problem,” he said. “It was actually kind of fun. Turns out, you’re even cuter when you’re asleep. We should do this again sometime.”

I hesitated, not sure what to say.

Derrick smiled and turned the door knob. “You’ll be at the bonfire on Saturday, right?”

His comment took me off guard. I was planning all week to go to the bonfire, but I’d completely forgotten about it today. And I’d definitely forgotten that Nicole had invited her very forward cousin to come as well.

“Um, yeah,” I said, without conviction. “I’ll probably be there.”

I shut the door quickly behind him and peeked through the blinds in the window. It wasn’t so much that I wanted to watch Derrick walk away; I just wanted to make sure he actually left. His tires squealed out to the street, leaving me alone in my house—which felt suddenly, alarmingly empty. I was glad to have Derrick gone, but I didn’t like being alone. After Derrick’s car was completely out of view, I continued to stare through the crack in the blinds at Rayne’s house across the street, longing to see him, wishing I could confide in him, and scolding myself for loving him in the first place.

For once, I actually wanted everything to be Rayne’s fault. He lied to me. For years he stood by, knowing everything about me, and he didn’t tell me anything. In a way, I hated him just because he had all the answers to the questions I’d been longing to figure out my entire life, and subconsciously avoiding for just as long. He forced the truth on me; the unpleasant, confusing, unavoidable truth. It was easier to take the blame out on Rayne, rather than face reality, but deep down, I knew none of this was really Rayne’s fault. It wasn’t him I was mad at. I was just mad.

How could I let myself fall into this trap? If the Healing Water really only amplified true feelings, then that meant I was the one who had let myself down to begin with. I couldn’t use the bonding effect as an excuse anymore. I had basically set myself up to get hurt when I knew better. I knew not to open up to being vulnerable. It was okay to go out with boys and have some fun, maybe even tease them into believing they had a chance, but in the end, I always made it clear there would never be more. We would never be together, or in love, or anything at all…because I wouldn’t let them. I would not let a man’s love ruin me, not like my mother. Falling in love only led to heartache and abandonment, at least in my family it did.