Runes (Paranormal Romance, YA,) (27 page)

“You should ask Raine to help. She’s good with parties.”

I glared at Mom. “I can’t. We have Kate’s funeral in the morning and shopping for a Homecoming Dance dress in the afternoon.”

“That’s okay, Mrs. Cooper. I have a few friends coming over to help.”

Who? I wanted to ask, feeling jealous, but he was still talking.

“I promise to keep the noise to a minimum, but if the music becomes too loud, please, feel free to stop by and let me know.”

Mom chuckled. “Oh, don’t worry about me. I can sleep through a tornado.”

I snorted at the lie. Everybody appeared to be bending over backwards to be nice to Torin. He must have drawn be-nice-to-the-new-neighbor runes on them or something.

“Do walk Torin to the door, sweetheart,” Mom added.

I gave her a sharp glance, but she just smiled. The challenging look in Torin’s eyes told me he wouldn’t move until I escorted him to the door. Sighing, I led the way to the front entrance, my eyes darting upstairs when I reached the foyer.

“Don’t worry. Golden Boy doesn’t know I’m here,” Torin whispered. “Not that I care if he does.”

“You should. If you haven’t noticed, he doesn’t particularly like you.” I opened the door and stepped aside for him to pass.

“That’s because he knows he’s not worthy of you,” Torin whispered as he walked past me. Then he turned and added, “I wish you didn’t have to bring him tomorrow night, but I’m willing to have you anyway I can.”

His boldness didn’t surprise me anymore, but his words thrilled me even though I knew they shouldn’t. “You shouldn’t say things like that.”

“Why not? They’re true. Come on, walk me to the driveway.”

I frowned. “Why?”

“I’ve missed you.”

I’d missed him so much I wanted to close the gap between us and touch him. I opened my mouth to tell him how I felt but the words got trapped in my throat. Instead, I stared helplessly at him. The yellow security light danced on his chiseled cheekbones, the sculptured lips, the lock of black hair on his forehead, and his impossibly gorgeous eyes.

“I also know a thing or two about Kate that you might find useful.” When I still hesitated, he added, “Scaredy-cat.”

“Not.”

“What do you think I’m going to do with your mother a few feet away and Mrs. Rutledge peering at us from behind her curtain?”

Sure enough, I caught the subtle movement behind our neighbor’s curtain. I rolled my eyes and closed the door behind us. “Nosey crone,” I mumbled.

“Be nice,” Torin said. “So? Did you find any answers at the hospital?”

I smiled, getting my equilibrium back. “So that
was
you on the bike. Are you stalking me again?”

“It’s called guarding, Freckles. So what did you learn?”

“You want me to share info? Start by telling me what you know.”

He stopped, crossed his arms, and studied me with a wicked smirk. “Okay. Kate Hunsaker was the person behind the nicknames.”

“What?” The switch in topic caught me off guard.

“Kate was the one who came up with nicknames for your teammates.”

“Yeah. Right.”

“You are called Slinky because of your favorite slinky toy. Cora makes funny expressions when bored so she’s Eyezz. Eirik is Houdini because he pulls disappearing acts during practice. Jimmy Baines is Condor because he looks like a condor when he does butterfly. Jess is Eel…”

I stared at him with round eyes as he listed the nicknames of all the swimmers on my team and the stories behind the names, most of which I didn’t even know.

“I had no idea. How did you know? Never mind. You probably got all that from talking to other swimmers.”

He chuckled, the sound low and sexy. “Actually, no. When I recruit, I come prepared with background info on everyone on my list. So? What were you doing at the hospital?”

Still absorbing what he’d just said, which explained why he knew so much about me, I studied him. “Where do you get your information?”

“From my superiors.”

“So you know everything about me?”

“Nope, just relevant stuff. Quit procrastinating and tell me why you went to the hospital.”

“I figured that if you didn’t mark me, then someone must have.” I quickly explained what my mother had told me about my birth. “Did you know about that?”

He made a face. “No-oo. Go on.”

“My doctor didn’t have any answers, so I went to the hospital to find the identities of the nurses who took care of me. Unfortunately, they don’t live here anymore.” I explained about the three nurses and what we learned from Nurse Guillaume. “I got strange vibes from her, but…” I shrugged. “I could be wrong.”

“No, always trust your instincts. What are the three nurses’ names?”

“Why?”

“So I can track them down.”

“Without me?” I asked.

“I work better alone.”

“Not this time,” I protested. “My birth, my investigation, so wherever you go, I go.”

“You do know I can go to the hospital and get the information on my own, like that.” He snapped his fingers.

He’d have to go through Debbie first. I grinned. “Yeah, good luck with that.”

He frowned. “You know something that I don’t?”

I gave him a toothy grin. “Oh yeah and loving it.”

“One day you’ll come to trust me, Freckles.” He caressed my nose. “See you tomorrow.”

I could still feel the heat from his finger on my nose as I entered the house, closed the door, and went to join Mom. She’d been watching something on TV but turned it down.

“Freckles?” she teased.

“I hate that name.”

She chuckled. “Yeah, I could tell.”

I made a face. “Are you going to help me with the eulogy?”

Mom patted the stool next to her. “Tell me what you know about Kate?”

I sat and sighed. “Hmm, she was quiet and shy. When you talked to her, she’d just clam up.”

“Put a positive spin on these things that defined her. Quiet and shy becomes thoughtful. Clamming up just means she was a good listener.”

When Mom finished, I was grinning. I hugged her. “You’re the best, Mom.”

“Raine?” she called as I ran toward the stairs.

“Yeah?” I turned and walked backwards.

“It’s nice to see stars in your eyes.”

I made a face. “I’m going to pretend I don’t know what you mean.”

“As long as you understand what you’re getting into. Have you thought of what you’re going to do about it?”

I shook my head. “No.”

“Be careful.”

Seriously, mothers shouldn’t be involved in their daughters’ love lives.

13.
 
AN OBSESSION

Kate’s wake and funeral service were beautiful. Not that a funeral could ever be deemed a thing of beauty, but her family made it memorable. There were flowers inside and outside the church, colorful balloons, teddy bears, and swim-themed stuff placed near the entrance. A photo montage cycled on the video screens as soft religious tunes played over the speakers. Photos and a photo board were also set up next to Kate’s coffin at the front of the room. The turnout was huge, which made me dread my turn at the podium even more.

The pastor spoke first, followed by various relatives and friends. Doc gave a beautiful eulogy. By the time he was done, there was not a single dry eye. My turn arrived too soon.

Taking a deep breath, I walked to the front.

For one brief moment, everything I had rehearsed flew right out of my head as I studied the audience. What had I gotten myself into? I glanced at the cards in my hand. They had talking points, but I couldn’t focus on a single one. Panicking, I glanced at Eirik. He nodded encouragingly. Cora gave me two thumbs up.

As though on cue, Torin entered the church. He leaned against the back wall and crossed his arms. I hadn’t expected him to attend the funeral even though I’d seen Jess and her friends on the bus. As usual, my heart skipped. He smiled, and the weirdest thing happened. I felt a boost of confidence, like I could conquer the world. The smile didn’t just have the ability to make me weak in the knees. It said he believed in me.

Exhaling, I glanced at the top card. “First, I’d like to offer my condolences to the Hunsaker family,” I read. “It’s not easy losing someone you love. Kate and I first met in junior high when we swam for the Kayville Dolphins. Two years later, we both made varsity as freshmen.” I frowned, hating the way my speech sounded stiff and rehearsed.

I flipped the cards upside down and pushed them aside, then focused my attention somewhere above everyone’s heads—the golden rule of public speaking. Or imagining everyone naked, which would be iffy since Kate’s grandparents were seated right in front of me. Without intending to, my eyes locked with Torin’s.

“I had an entire speech rehearsed and written down, but I’ve decided it’s not good enough. Rehearsed speeches are boring, something Kate wasn’t. Kate was full of surprises. She was the glue that held the swim team together even though some of us didn’t know it.” Warming up to the subject and becoming less nervous, I made eye contact with Kate’s grandparents and talked to them. “You see, in any sport, there’s something the teammates do that makes everyone feel special and part of the group, makes new members feel welcome. We give each other nicknames. We put these special names on kickboards and jackets, flippers and trophies. Parents don’t hear anyone scream their daughters’ and sons’ name at meets. Instead you hear Condor and Slinky, Houdini and Sparkplug…”

Chuckles came from the students. I glanced at them.

“These unique names define us out there in the water during meets. What you may not know…” I made eye contact with Kate’s parents then glanced at the section with the swimmers. “What most of us
didn’t
know was the identity of the person behind these names. The person who listened, observed, and came up with the perfect nickname for each and every one of us.” I paused for effect. “Kate.”

Excited murmurs came from my friends again. Some turned and looked at each other in surprise.

“The coolest thing is there’s always a story behind whatever she picked. My name is Slinky. I wish it’s because I’m fast or smooth under water. My father bought me a slinky toy, which I’d take to meets to calm my nerves when I was with the Dolphins. Kate remembered.” My eyes smarted as thoughts of my father intruded. I swallowed and pushed them aside. I pointed at Marj. “Marj is Zoomer because it took her forever to master the use of her Finis Zoomer fins. Randy over there,” I pointed at another swimmer, “is Stoner. He
acts
high after practice because chlorine messes with his head.”

Giggles came from the students.

My gaze met with Jimmy Baines. “Jimmy is Condor because he has the perfect form when he swims butterfly, like a condor. Coach Fletcher is Doc because he’s been working on his PhD, like…”

“Forever?” someone yelled from the audience, and laughter followed.

“And Kate was Shelly, because she was quiet and shy until she was in the pool. Then she crawled out of her shell and shined like the star she was. I can list more things that made Kate special. From setting records in her freshman year to how she was always the first one in the pool and the last one out, but it won’t take away the pain of losing her, of knowing…” My voice shook, and tears filled my eyes, thoughts of my father returning and blindsiding me. I cleared my throat and blinked rapidly to stop the tears from falling. “The heartache of knowing that someone you love has been taken from you so suddenly, that you’ll never see him… her…”

More images of my father flashed through my head, and the floodgate opened. The harder I tried to stop crying, the faster the tears flowed. Through the haze, I saw two people move toward the stage. The next minute Eirik and Cora flanked me.

While Eirik finished my speech, Cora led me outside to the church’s stoop. She held me while I cried. She mumbled something over and over, but I didn’t hear her. The tears kept flowing. Kate’s parents had no idea how lucky they were to have closure. Not knowing whether my father was alive or dead just made everything worse.

A second thought crept in. I’d broken down in front of everyone. That was beyond humiliating. The thought of riding the bus to the cemetery then to school with them only made me feel worse.

“I wish we could leave before the others come out,” I whispered.

“I can give you a ride home,” Torin said from behind me.

I wasn’t sure I should. “We still have to go to the cemetery.”

“Go with him, Raine,” Cora urged. “Everyone will understand.”

I hugged Cora and started toward Torin’s bike. We didn’t speak during the brief walk. He wiped some of the wetness from my cheeks before snapping the helmet into place, his expression filled with concern. More tears threatened to fall. I hated it when people pitied me. It was as though their pity made things seem worse.

Needing his warmth, I wrapped my arms around him and closed my eyes, for once not stressing about holding him. As though he knew it, he gripped my hands before starting the engine. When we got home, he walked me to the door, his hand reassuring on my arm.