Chapter 11
ELEVEN
CASSIE
After an awkward hour in the coffee shop, I grab some alone time with Jack.
We take a walk around campus to catch up, and it’s as if he has never been away. I love the easy familiarity of his arm slung around my shoulders, and hearing his husky voice makes me realize just how much I’ve missed it.
“Was it bad?” I refer to the funeral and he exhales slowly.
“It was tough, but beautiful. Emotional even.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t be there to support you.”
I’m sad about that because ordinarily I would have. If Jack hurts, I hurt, but Rockwell Academy happened at precisely the wrong time for that and it was decided that one of us should head here on time.
“It’s done, and she had a great life. I hope I’ll be so lucky.”
Jack’s grandparents lived a good life and his grandfather had only passed a few months ago.
He changes the subject. “So, The Claiming.” He chuckles softly. “What the fuck is that all about?”
“It’s stupid if you ask me, but regarding that, I need your help.”
“Tell me.”
I fill him in on the conversation and then sigh heavily. “So, you can see we have a problem. It’s doubtful Siri will escape from the dungeon without help and one of the conditions is that I take the challenge with her. If she does escape, she is free to experience normal college life. If she is claimed, then Frankie won’t be watching her and threatening anyone who tries to date her.”
“Fuck, Cass, what if you get caught? You could be tied to some creep for the entire semester.”
He stops and shakes his head, his obvious anger reflected in his eyes.
“Which is why we need a plan.”
“Which you have already got sewn up, I’m guessing.”
He exhales sharply. “Okay, run it past me.”
“Well–”
I hesitate because he may not like what I’m about to say and he huffs, “For fuck’s sake, Cass, just spit it out and we’ll go from there.”
“Okay.” I take a deep breath. “So, my plan is simple. We discover the layout of the dungeon and plan our route through to the tunnel. Time our exit and plan for every eventuality.”
“Of course. Standard operational procedure.”
I grin, loving how Jack already gets it—gets me. Problems at home are dealt with the military way, so we are assured of success at all times.
“So, we gain access and carry out a reconnaissance before the event. I enter the challenge as requested and take Siri with me, guiding her to safety with one big fuck you to Frankie as we make our escape.”
“And?”
“Well, Jack, you may not agree to this, but we require a back-up plan.”
“And that’s me, I presume.”
“Of course.” I slip my hand in his and squeeze tightly. “You join the challenge and act as back-up. If the plan doesn’t work out, you claim whichever one of us won’t make it.”
“And if both of you don’t make it, what then?”
“Go for Siri. I can take care of myself.”
“I’m aware of that, Cass, but what if you can’t?”
“Then I’ll deal with it.”
I hold my breath as I wait for his decision, already knowing the answer because Jack will always have my back.
He huffs with irritation. “Fine. Okay, but I don’t like it.”
As I squeeze his hand, I plant a grateful kiss on his cheek and smile.
“I knew you’d be in. Hopefully, we’ll all walk out of there.”
“If we plan accordingly, it should work. I’ll ask around about the dungeon and do some digging for the layout. You brief Siri and let her know what we’re thinking.”
He appears thoughtful. “Do you think she’ll agree? I mean, she may want to be caught.”
“If she does, I have a feeling she would be happy to be caught by you.”
He shakes his head. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
His confusion causes me to laugh. “You’re such a dumbass, Jack. Siri likes you. It was obvious.”
“Not to me.” He runs his fingers through his hair—a classic Jack move when he’s confused or troubled and I nudge him playfully.
“Listen, Siri doesn’t stop talking—ever. She has a lot to say, but when she set her eyes on you, she was struck dumb. I’ve never seen her so tongue-tied and she had that doe-eyed expression when she looked at you. She tried to disguise it and look anywhere else but the entire freaking table saw it, except you, it seems.”
“Fuck!” He shrugs. “I was too busy trying to ice out that other girl. Kennedy, was it? She was seriously coming on to me.”
“That’s typical of you, Jack, most men, really. You only see the obvious and miss the importance of subtly.”
“I didn’t miss that Frankie couldn’t tear his eyes away from you.”
His words halt my teasing and a strange flutter in my chest heats my skin.
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
It’s my turn to play dumb and Jack teases. “I’m guessing he doesn’t know what an asshole you are yet. Give it another week. He’ll soon lose interest.”
“You’re probably right.”
I laugh out loud. “I love that you’re here. I can be myself again.”
This time he nudges me and with a wicked grin shared, we head off to his new home, The Elusive house.
* * *
As we tread up the wooden steps, I note the chairs set on the veranda and the discarded beer bottles on the deck.
Jack shrugs dismissively as I point to them. “Welcome drinks.”
“And you don’t clean up after yourselves?”
I raise my eyes because that’s not the Reaper way. The place is run military style, and we are encouraged since birth to clean up after ourselves.
“I tried, but the guys told me they have girls who come in and clean every day.”
“Girls?”
My eyes widen as he shrugs. “Apparently, a few of the students pitch in. They do it out of love. At least that’s what Jesse told me.”
“Disgusting.” I turn my attention away from the bottles and as we step inside, it feels as if I shouldn’t be here.
Despite the exterior, inside is grand on a surprising scale. There is a large staircase in the hall that leads upward and splits at the top in two directions.
Jack heads for it and as I follow him up, the stairs creak under my feet. We bear left and he opens the third door on the right.
“Hey, you lucked out.”
I step inside a huge bedroom with the biggest king sized bed covered in decadent bedding.
He grins. “This place was remodeled when Frankie came to Rockwell. His family arranged it and I’m not complaining.”
“It beats my dorm. I’ve got a small bed squeezed up in one corner with one set of drawers and a hanging rail.”
I wander through the room, opening a door that leads into a walk-in closet and another leading to an ensuite bathroom.
“Jack, you are living like a king.”
“It’s what I deserve.” He chuckles softly.
“Can I move in?” I ask, shaking my head in astonishment, and he shrugs.
“Sure, maybe I should claim you instead and we can room together. Nobody would know.”
For some reason, that makes me awkward and I hate that it’s because of the night we shared. The memory just won’t go away, even if Jack appears to have forgotten all about it.
I change the subject.
“I would hate your smelly feet.”
“You’re making that up.” He rummages in a bag that has been discarded on the floor and heaves out a huge bag of what appears to be candy.
“Here, your mom sent these to keep you going.”
I seize the bag eagerly.
“Oh my God, I love her. Look, some of her cookies that I adore.”
I cram one into my mouth and for some reason, my eyes fill with tears as I taste a little piece of home.
Jack appears concerned and pulls me down beside him on the bed, a comforting arm slung around my shoulder. “Hey, what’s up?”
I swallow the cookie and sigh. “I miss home already, Jack. How is that possible when I’ve been looking forward to this for years?”
I rest my head on his shoulder and he whispers, “You’ve got me, darlin’. I’ll always be here for you. Anytime it gets too much, come and find me. Text me or shout. I’ll hear you.”
Tears build in my eyes as his comforting familiarity wraps me in happiness. Thank God for Jack because without him, I doubt I’d make it through this semester before asking to join Imogen at the college near home.