Out of Time (Out of Line #2)(21)
Author: Jen McLaughlin

“Not in those words. Text me…the sun is finally shining.”

“The sun is finally shining?”

“Yeah. It’s the first thing I thought of when I met you—that the sun was brighter and shiny and good.”

My heart melted. How the heck was I supposed to walk away after that? “I don’t want to go.”

“I know.” He kissed me one last time. “But you have to.”

I stopped at the bike, but he tugged me past it. “Wait, where are you taking me?”

“You’re taking a cab. I quietly called one while you were on the phone. We can’t risk being seen together,” he said matter-of-factly. When I opened my mouth to tell him no, he shook his head. “I know. It sucks, but it’s how it has to be for now.”

I blinked back tears. “Will you stay here?”

“No, I’m getting rid of your helmet and watching from the shadows, like I’m supposed to. And when your dad confronts me and asks where I was, I can tell him that I was watching you the whole time.” He slapped my ass. “Now off you go, Ginger.”

I walked to the cab, each step I took away from him becoming harder and harder. By the time I slipped into the seat, I was ready to turn around and bolt toward him. It was like something inside me thought this might be the last time I saw him. I didn’t know what caused my racing heart and my fear, but it was tangible and undeniable.

And I somehow knew as the cab pulled away from the curb and Finn got rid of my helmet and climbed onto his bike…

Something was going to go terribly wrong.

Chapter Eleven

After I stashed Carrie’s helmet inside my apartment in record speed, I hopped on my bike and followed the cab back to the dorms. I knew Carrie’s parents were rich and a flight out didn’t exactly break the bank or anything, but why had they come out all of a sudden? Had they just missed her, or was it something more?

Something like suspicion?

Maybe the senator had caught on to some weird vibe coming from across the f**king country and just instinctively known something was going on with his baby girl. But he couldn’t. It’s not like he was a psychic or some shit like that. He couldn’t possibly know that I’d gotten a little bit too close in guarding his precious cargo.

…Could he?

Oh, f**k me. What if he’d sent over some extra security and I didn’t even know about it? What if, right now even, he had a man watching me?

If he did, I was so screwed.

Carrie had thought she heard someone earlier. I had brushed it off, but maybe I’d been wrong. Maybe someone had been there, watching us and reporting back to her father from the shadows?

Son of a bitch…

I revved my engine, gripping the handlebars so tight it hurt, cursing myself ten times over for not considering this angle earlier. The cab pulled over and Carrie climbed out, her eyes seeking me out immediately. I parked my bike and tilted my head, telling her silently to look away and act like I didn’t exist. Something told me she’d fail miserably. She wasn’t a good liar, my Carrie, and it’s one of the things I loved most about her—her honesty.

But it just might be our downfall.

She walked up to her parents, her steps quickening as she grew closer. After one last look over her shoulder at me, she ran into her mom’s open arms. Her mom hugged her tight, burying her face in her hair and inhaling deeply. As if she missed Carrie’s scent and needed to get as much of it as she could while she could.

Fuck, I got that. I got that all too well.

Next, her dad—the man I’ve never even seen crack a smile—grinned and hauled her into his arms, spinning her in a wide circle and saying something I couldn’t make out. Carrie laughed in reply, the sound breaking through the night, and I closed my eyes.

Ah, that sound…

It had the power to save me from anything.

I watched from the shadows, my heart as heavy as a bowling ball in my chest. They looked so happy and normal right now. I had a hard time placing the man who was paranoid enough to send me to watch his daughter in secrecy with the man who stood here now, laughing and bussing Carrie’s nose with a huge smile on his face.

And watching her in the arms of her parents just made our whole situation real. Would they ever welcome me into their family with open arms like that? All smiles and kisses and hugs? Doubtful. But I’d do my damned best to make it happen.

I’d make him accept me if it was the last thing I did, damn it.

The next morning, after an hour of watching Carrie bond with her parents and a mostly sleepless night, I woke up hung over and yet way too sober. I’d spent all night plotting and trying to come up with every possible scenario that could occur with her father’s visit. I also tried to figure out why he was here.

And I failed.

I checked my text messages. One was from the senator. I’m in town.

It was a test. He knew I knew, but wanted to see what I said. I saw you last night while I stood post. Welcome to California, sir.

Thank you. Consider yourself off duty until I leave. I’ll be in contact ASAP.

I clenched the phone. In other words? Stay away. Looking forward to it, sir.

I also had a text from Carrie. It was ridiculous how happy that made me. The sun is finally shining today, Susan.

I grinned. She’d saved me in her phone under a woman’s name. How smart and devious. I liked it. Indeed it is. You ready for chemistry class?

I flopped back on my bed, resting my phone on my bare stomach as I waited for a reply. I didn’t have to wait long. My phone vibrated, and I picked it up. I prefer anatomy.

Ha! Of course she did. That was our code for exploring each other’s bodies, after all. I grinned. Oh, me too. Believe me.

As I waited for her to reply, I checked the time and realized she might not reply at all. She’d be walking into class right now, so she’d be silent for a while. Maybe I’d go to the beach. Ride a wave or two and try to figure out what was going on with my boss. Between the unusually quiet days leading up to this visit and the visit itself, I knew he knew something.

The question was what?

A knock sounded on the door, and I rolled out of bed wearing nothing but a pair of boxers. If someone wanted to knock on my door at this ungodly hour in the morning, then I reserved the right to open it half naked.

But when I opened the door, I wished I’d put some clothes on.

Senator Wallington, Carrie’s father in the flesh, stood on my porch staring at me with what I could only describe as speculation in his eyes. Fucking sneaky bastard. I stepped in the doorway, not letting him inside. “Sir? I didn’t realize you were texting me from my porch.”