13-VINCENT
I was still in disbelief that I had gotten Daisy.
Reagan.
And I had the pleasure of enjoying her company all night long.
I hardly slept because she was next to me. She didn’t seem to mind that I woke her for my own personal pleasure. I knew this wasn’t going to be enough time with her.
I’m never going to lose her number. I would even get it tattooed right where she wrote it. Because she was worth it, and this night topped the last two years one hundred times over. I’d never forget it. I’d never forget Daisy.
With my back to The Chase Yard looking in, she’s sitting there in a T-shirt, jeans, and with a huge secret behind her lips. I didn’t know if I could trust her, but from the person I saw last night, she didn’t seem to have a reason to spill.
Shane caught my gaze as he approached our table. Giving him my attention, I focused on him without saying a word.
“How did everything go?” Shane looked at Reagan with a smile like he was the manager at Applebee’s doing his rounds.
“Uh—” She paused, not knowing how to respond, “Good. No complaints. Thank you.”
“Good.” He looked towards me with the same smile. “Fang, when you’re done here, come find Heather or me.”
I nodded before answering, “Yes, sir.”
Shane dipped his head and walked straight back to his table, joining the brunette woman who had been spotted the last day or two as his shadow when there was free time.
His request made me instantly nervous. I couldn’t say much as Reagan ate her breakfast because I was just overthinking things.
I didn’t have to report to them for the last two years.
It was starting to eat away at me as to why I needed to talk to them.
They didn’t hear me say my name, right? And how would they know I took my mask off?
There was no way someone was listening to me give it to Reagan all night, just waiting for us to fuck up in conversation.
I pushed it down. I had minutes left with her and didn’t want to spend them distracted by something that wasn’t even a problem.
I crossed my arms and tilted my head. “Are you ready to go back to regular life?”
She shot a glance at me between bites of her pancakes. “No. Are you?”
“Not for a second if it’s taking me away from you.”
Reagan set her fork down and drew the cloth napkin across her lips. “You should ask if we can live here.”
I let out a chuckle. “That’s probably going to be a no.”
“Worth a shot.” She shrugged. “It was fun while it lasted.”
Oh, Reagan. It’s far from over.
?
The door closed behind Heather as she joined Shane and me while we stared at each other across the small room. A table with a tablet in the center was the only thing separating us.
She let out a heavy sigh as the chair scraped against the floor, positioning herself closer to the table. “Vincent.” Heather balances the tablet between her hands while it flickers to life. “I hope you had fun last night, because it sounds like it was your last.”
Fuck. “What do you mean?”
Her face flattened. “You’re not serious, are you?” The screen faced her, and she swiped a finger across it. Partially distracted by what she was doing, she asked, “What is rule number one?”
“To…keep your mask on.”
“That makes this pretty clear then, right?”
“Who says I took it off?” They didn’t have proof, did they?
Shane cleared his throat, “We actually have a program that records and journals the conversations in the cabins. Then A.I. flags any words that may be problematic, and we review them.”
“So what did it find?”
“Heather,” Shane instructs.
The screen flashes under her hand, and the audio clip starts, and my voice plays through the speaker, low but clear:
“Mm. Did you think I would look different?”
“I’m not sure what I expected. But I’m happily surprised. And I feel so dumb for saying how attractive you were when you took the mask off.”
“No, don’t. I like it.”
I almost smile again at the reminder of her reaction until realization washes over me that I am fucked. God, what else did they hear? What else were they going to throw at me? Was this it? The end? Did I care?
Heather sets the tablet down with a thud. “Anything to say? Maybe start with your reasoning.”
“Yes, I did fuck up. But she asked me to, so she could get into it. I know it was wrong, and I was just trying to keep her happy.”
“First off, she was assigned to Smoke. But there are no complaints from your original runner, so that’s not an issue. Vincent, this is the one rule we don’t bend. Unfortunately, I think your time with The Forewarning has come to an end.”
My eyes darted to Shane for confirmation. “Sorry, bud, I know how hard it is not to take it off. Last year I almost did.” He looked at Heather. “Three years might just be the limit.”
“Some of the guys are in their fourth year, and they’re no problem.
We just have some guys who don’t know how to follow the rules.
A few other things to go over.” Heather flipped open another app, and watched her finger choose the right buttons.
“Breaking the contract will forfeit the rest of your payment for the event. And because I liked you, we can arrange a consolation payment for your travel home. But I’m going to need your signature that we are terminating your contract. ”
The screen was spun in my direction, and without hesitation, I signed. Soon to be guilt-free of finding Reagan outside of the event.
“And thanks to you, a new rule will be implemented. No using the runners’ safeword. You said it over fourteen times. If you kept your mouth shut, you might have had another year with us. But…” She sighed, powering off the tablet. “It is what it is. We’re sad to see you go.”
“I liked being part of it. I think my mask has run its course, though.”
“Oh, don’t worry. We will find someone to fill it. In the meantime, get your stuff out of the cabin and make your way off the property.”
I stood, following their lead.
“Vincent.” Heather outstretched her hand, and I offered mine. As I shook Shane’s hand, he smiled ever so slightly, which told me this could be the reason he wasn’t running anymore. I guess when you meet the right runner, it’s worth it.
?
Whisper: Well, guys, my flight is tonight. See you all next year.
Striker: Not me. I’m out. I knocked up a girl last winter, and having a baby made me rethink all of this.
Whisper: Serious?
Static: Congrats! (Sent with confetti)
Striker: Thanks.
Striker: Yeah. She’s a few weeks old, and I might try to make things work with her mom.
Fang: Congrats, hope it works out. I won’t be here either. Got caught breaking rules.
Whisper: Fucking dumb dude.
Smoke: That’s what you get for stealing my runner. Doesn’t matter, though, because Ellie spent quite some time on her knees. Ha.
Fang: Dang, sounds like I really screwed up.
I didn’t feel that way, but I knew Shane was watching. Not like they could do anything now that my contract was canceled. But last year it seemed like some shit got leaked, and I want to steer clear of any messes that may come of it.
My drive wouldn’t be too long, and the old 1985 Dodge was warmed up, ready to go. Before I rolled out of the designated parking lot, I took my time and slowly entered the number strategically placed on my arm. Ten digits later, I sent off the first text to her.
Vincent: Wildflower…