Chapter Forty-One #2
Mom sat up and gave her a look. “Said something about what?”
Amanda looked away. She’d never told anyone how Halle and Billy had been before the explosion. At first, she forgot. Then with Halle by her side at the hospital, Amanda thought the memory had been a delusion.
“What didn’t you say?” Mom demanded.
She shook her head. “I thought there was something between Halle and Billy, and it turns out that I was right.” Amanda waited for her mom’s lecture or, at the very least, reference to a science project gone wrong. But it didn’t come. Neither did the shame she should’ve felt for being duped.
“You can’t take on all of this, Amanda,” Mom whispered.
Her protest caught on her tongue. Exhaustion weighed her shoulders down. She was so tired of taking responsibility for the burdens she continued to carry. “You’re right.”
Her mom wriggled until she could hold Amanda’s eyes. “I know that. But, really, do you?”
She’d never claimed to be a saint, but the differences between right and wrong were suddenly clear.
Other people had been assholes. Classmates who talked to the press.
Journalists who picked her apart. A boyfriend who blew up the library.
Their issues had pulled Amanda underwater so many times—and she was done carrying the load. “I do.”
Then her tears came. She’d created every rule, contract, and teenage attitude problem in reaction to others, and that had cost her the one thing that she really wanted: Hagan.
Heavy footsteps came closer. The two men reappeared, and this time, faced them. Amanda wiped her cheeks, not using one iota of energy to glare.
“Ma’am,” one said, as though apologizing for leaving the First Lady tied up. “We—”
“You never saw us,” the other added. “We were never here.”
The first guy smacked the other one on the back of the head, then gave a quick salute.
“Thank you,” Mom said.
The men disappeared the way that they first came in, giving Amanda one more quick glance.
“What are you thanking them for?” Amanda managed once they were gone.
“Don’t forget, your father’s the commander of the free world. And a lame duck.”
Amanda blinked, trying to see what Mom saw with her term-limited father, the longest-serving US president in history, never running for office again. “So Dad sent spec op guys to screw around until the cavalry arrives?”
“A particle attracts another particle with a force that's directly proportional to the product of their masses.”
Amanda squinted. “Come on, Mom. I’m too tired to think.”
“He’ll move heaven and earth to safely get by my side.” Mom grinned. “Your dad’s my particle.”
“Oh, God.” Amanda dropped her chin and shook her head. “I think Newton just rolled over in his grave.”
“Newton, huh?” Mom beamed. “Guess my little quips have made an impact over the years.”
“You mean traumatized,” Amanda said. “I haven’t forgotten our heartwarming birds-and-bees discussion.”
Mom patted Amanda with her bound hands. “You remember when we made jelly-filled donuts.”
She gagged. “I haven’t had a jelly donut since second grade, thanks to you.”
“Oh, come on, sweet pea.” Mom chuckled. “How boring would life be if my advice was simply trust in your man to find you.”
The large shadow of a man stepped in from the far side of the cabin. Amanda’s heart stopped. “Hagan.”
“He found you,” Mom whispered. “That’s a good man.”
Amanda had so much to explain and didn’t know how to ask for his understanding. She wanted to tell him that she wasn’t a puzzle or gamble, but simply a survivor. But above everything, he needed to know that she loved him.
Unlike the other men, Hagan’s face wasn’t covered. Triumph and heartache pulled at his expression. His long legs crossed the room like a man on a mission. Then, Hagan nodded to her mom, “Dr. Hearst,” and then swung his fierce gaze to Amanda. “You’re okay?”
She nodded. “Yeah. Where’s Halle?”
Hagan ran a hand into his hair. “Locked in the ambulance with—” His eyes darted to her mom and back as if he’d said too much.
“With Billy.” Amanda’s chin dropped. Even if she refused to carry the guilt and anger that Halle forced on her, the betrayal still stung. “We’ve solved a mystery or two while tied to the couch.”
“None of this is your fault.” Hagan touched her chin, then lifted her face. “I know that.”
“I want to explain,” she promised. “I’m sorry—”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left like that.” He shook his head. “We can—” The corners of his lips tightened at the sight of her scratched wrists. “This’ll be another thing you won’t be able to explain to the feds.” He pulled a knife from his thigh and sliced their bindings.
Mom rolled her hands. “To go with our imprisoned captor and disarmed cabin.”
“More importantly.” Hagan focused on Amanda. He took a deep breath and let it out as if he’d held it since they’d parted way, then dropped onto one knee. His gaze swept the ground before he met her eyes. “I can’t untie your feet.”
Mom sighed. “That’s not what you should’ve said.”
Hagan’s forehead creased as if he didn’t understand her lifetime of hoping Amanda would fall in love and live happily ever after. Or, at least, remember that she wasn’t a robot and find someone to have sex with.
“Mom.”
“I can’t take all their fun away.” He double checked the bindings hadn’t cut into their skin, then sheathed his knife. “In less than five minutes, a battalion’s worth of federal agents will swarm up the mountain to save the day.”
“My particle,” Mom said as if Amanda needed the reminder of who might be the commander in chief.
“You know where Halle is,” he continued, “every trigger and trap has been removed. There will be no surprises when they arrive.”
“You’re leaving?” Amanda asked.
“We were only here to mitigate risks that bureaucracy might create.”
That had to be code for doing whatever was necessary to keep everyone alive. “Okay.”
He checked a large watch strapped to his wrist and hesitated. “If you hadn’t thought about it yet. There’ll be plenty of press—they wouldn’t know what to do with themselves with that smile.”
Her heart twirled. “I’ll try to remember that.”
“I like this boy,” Mom added.
Hagan grinned. “And when the feds come rolling in, try not to knee anyone in the—”
Mom gave her best science professor look. “’nads?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He winked at Amanda. “We’ll talk soon. Figure out what needs to be said.”
“Sort of like starting over?” Amanda bit her bottom lip, not sure she was ready to forget everything that had grown between them.
“I don’t know. I’d like to avoid groin injuries and squaring off with my boss.” Hagan’s grin hitched. “Maybe we just review the basics?”
Her heart melted when his smile grew, and she held out her hand. “I’m Amanda Hearst.”
“Hagan Carter.” He shook it and traced the gold wedding band on her left hand. “Still got it on.” He lifted his hand. “Me too. How about that?” Hagan rechecked his watch. A muscle in his jaw ticked as though he didn’t want to go. “When this sorts out, let me take you to dinner?”
She beamed. “You’re asking me on a date?”
His eyes danced. “Maybe Majboos?”
Back together and with an inside joke that made her insides go squishy … “I’d love to.”
“Good.” Hagan bent down and kissed her cheek, whispering, “Because I’m in love with you.”