I shift in my seat. “Did you say hell?”
She shrugs. “Maybe.”
My wrist stings like fire, but I laugh anyway. “What do you know? I made you cuss.”
“Hell isn’t a curse word. Not really.”
I nod. “Sure, okay. Whatever you say.”
* * *
Mo hasn’t said three words since I called her on cursing. I’d swear she’s embarrassed. Over the word hell. Ten minutes and we’ll be home.
“So, doc says I need to not use the hand for a couple of days. Think you can come up and help me out tomorrow evening and Saturday? Laney will be at the house in the morning, but when she leaves…”
She sighs. “Fine. Text me tomorrow when Laney heads out, I’ll come up. But don’t expect me to chat or keep you company. I’ll help you if you need something, but that’s it. Got it?”
“Yeah, of course. I’m disgusting. You wouldn’t want to talk to me or anything; one of my cooties may jump over on you and dirty you up.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Danny. I just—it’s best if we stay away from each other as much as possible.”
I slide my good hand over her leg.
She jerks her knees together. “Stop. I told you—”
My fingers trail to the top of her thigh. “I know what you said. But I’m betting you don’t mean it. I’m thinking, given the chance…”
She pushes my hand off. “Don’t. Don’t bet on anything. You’ll lose, Danny Jennings. You aren’t the guy I need. I’m not going down this road.”
Not the guy she needs.
What about the guy she wants?
* * *
I have to call my sister. There’s no way around it. I can’t go on like this. Something has to give. Lord, please, let Rachel not be off on the savannah, somewhere there’s no reception. I swipe the screen on my phone.
It rings three times, just as I pull the phone away from my ear, her voice comes through. “Danny!”
“Hey, Rach. How’re you doing over there in the wilds of Africa?”
“It’s hot. And there are a ton of bugs. And there was a lion in camp yesterday, but luckily no one got hurt. And, oh my gosh, Danny, you’d love it here.”
“Yeah? Think so? Miss us yet?”
She gets quiet, but only for a second. “Of course, I miss you. Have you seen Mo? I haven’t talked to her.”
“Yeah, she’s kind of why I’m calling.”
“Really? What is it?”
I take a deep breath and let it out nice and slow. “I want your blessing, sis. There’s something I have to do—it’s bad.”
FIVE
The vibration beats into my brain. What? Ugh. Too early for text messages.
I grab my phone off the night table. Pushing my hair out of my face, I read the screen.
-COME SAVE ME. Laney’s making me eat oatmeal. Seems to think my wrist being hurt means my stomach is sick.-
I roll back over. No class on Fridays, I get to sleep-in. I’m amazed Danny’s even awake at eight in the morning.
* * *
An hour later my phone vibrates again.
-BORED. Can’t play video games. Nothing on TV. COME SEE ME.-
I prop up on one elbow and answer the text.
-Go back to bed. Too early. Trying to sleep.-
I flip to my stomach and slide the phone under the pillow next to me. Maybe that’ll muffle the vibration.
* * *
Danny holds his arms out. I have to jump, but I don’t know if I can. Will he catch me? Will he drop me? Will he step away and let my skull burst and splatter on the pavement?
He smiles and nods, assuring me I’ll be fine if I trust him.
Trust Danny? Can I?
I want to so bad. His body calls out to mine. His heart beats, so strong and steady, I can hear it from here. So trustworthy.
I step off the rooftop.
As I fall the world vibrates around me.
Will he catch me?
* * *
I jerk awake. My phone sends vibrations through the entire bed. Crap.
Pulling it from under the pillow, I swipe the screen. Twenty-two whole minutes. The boy is a five year old. He has no patience.
-Please. Come. Now.-
Another text comes in while I’m reading the first.
-I want you to come.-
I’d like to type I want to come too, Danny. I want to come too.
Ugh. He makes me think the worst things. Damn it, Danny.
I tap out the right words, trying to be angry that he won’t let me sleep and that he makes me want things I shouldn’t, but I’m smiling.
-I want a lot of things I don’t get. Like sleep. /c:-
I drag out of bed and brush my teeth. I’m not even going to comb my hair. The last thing I want is for Danny to get any ideas that I want to look nice for him. So, I leave my giant sleep shirt on and pull on some shorts. He’ll have to deal with me looking like I just woke up. All wild haired and unkempt.