of here. Out of my bedroom and my house.”
“That I can do,” he said.
Instead of going for the door, Talon came toward me.
With the same hand that had been between my legs, he touched my chin.
“It meant nothing,” he said. “You’re a Bump. You’re pathetic.”
“And you’re a nasty Troc,” I said.
“You better take a shower then,” he said.
“I plan on it.”
“Then I’ll just see myself out,” he said.
“Don’t steal anything on the way out,” I said.
Talon laughed. “You’re something crazy, Winter.”
“I’d have to be crazy to be talking to you.”
“Sleep tight,” Talon said. “And I promise, we’ll blow something up soon. Okay?”
“Whatever,” I said.
Talon left the bedroom.
I hurried to the top of the steps and listened for the door to shut.
Then I ran to my bathroom and stripped out of my clothes.
I got into a hot shower and stood there.
And I smiled.
This entire thing was dangerous… yet fun.
Chapter 18
the check up
I didn’t see Gia the next morning.
And my mother still wasn’t home.
Yes, I even took the risk and opened my mother’s bedroom door.
Her bed was perfectly made.
No sign of her.
For a few seconds, I actually did worry about her.
Maybe something happened to her.
Oh fucking well, right?
I had enough on my own plate to worry about that didn’t include my mother.
I made myself breakfast and then left the house.
Alone.
When I got behind the wheel of Tank Two, my phone started to ring.
It was Dad calling.
I swallowed hard, realizing I hadn’t heard from him since he left.
The guy who was going to check up on me, right? He was always going to be there, right?
“Hey, Dad,” I said.
“Good morning or good night?” his voice boomed into the phone.
“Should I be asking you that?”
He laughed. “Oh, the nights are late here. And the days are long. How are you doing?”
“I’m okay.”
“Please tell me you remember something.”
“I remember your voice,” I said. “And that you’re my father.”
“You actually remember it?”
I shook my head. “I mean… from the last time we spoke.”
“Oh.”
His voice deflated like someone blowing up a balloon and letting it go.
He took a deep breath and sighed.
“I’ve been telling people about your condition out here,” he said. “There are a few doctors who would be willing to have a look.”
“What?”
“Yeah,” Dad said. “These are the best doctors. The smartest. They’ve dealt with this before. They could maybe help you.”
“I don’t want to leave here.”
“You don’t want to leave your mother’s? Are you two getting along?”
“No,” I said. “I meant… I don’t want to leave here. This area. I’m trying to sort it all out.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“Think about it,” Dad said. “You can fly out here. Spend time with me. See these amazing doctors. I mean, either way, you can still talk to them, right? Tell them everything you’re thinking and feeling. Physically, you’re okay, right?”
“Yeah,” I said.
I looked at myself in the mirror. Any marks or bruises were gone now. I really had gotten lucky. My last second decision to move toward the back seat of Tank before it hit the trees was maybe the smartest decision of my life.
Or was it?
Look at what I was involved in now…
“Winter.”
“Yeah?”
“I’m sorry the way everything happened.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong. And it’s really not so bad here. My mother just does what she pleases.”
“I’m sure she does,” he said.
I rolled my eyes.
I was not going to get into the torrid past of my parents.
“I’m on my way out the door here, Dad,” I said.
“Oh. Right. Busy girl. That’s good. No use sitting around, right?”
“Yeah. Right.”
“I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch,” he said. “It’s a mess out here. There was something with an investor… blah, blah, blah. I miss you, Winter. Please let these doctors try to help you.”
“Can I think about it?” I asked.
“Of course you can. Please keep thinking. Never stop thinking. You’re going to remember everything, Winter. I know it. I’m not worried about it at all.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, Dad,” I said.
“You need it. I’m sure your mother has other views on this.”
“I’m not getting involved in that.”
“Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I need to get some sleep. Be safe, Winter. Love you.”
“Love you too, Dad,” I said.
The call ended.
I drove Tank Two away from the house and purposely went by Gia’s house.
Her car was still there.
I figured she was still sleeping. Or maybe she was getting ready and had a busy day of running.
I needed to get to BFH.
What Talon told me stuck in my head.
I wanted to see if Noah was going to be