Chapter 24
Tessa
My alarm wakes me up. I turn it off, but it takes me a moment to remember what time of day it is or even what day it is.
I notice the pink blanket surrounding me, and it all comes back to me.
I sit up in bed, still waking up. I feel soo much better.
When I glance at my phone again, I realize it’s a few minutes after seven.
I need to get moving, so I can get back to campus on time.
I check my phone and see that Slater texted me. I open it eagerly.
Slater- I have practice until six-thirty. I should be back a little after seven to pick you up and get you back on campus before you start at eight. I’m going to stop to pick up something for you to eat. Anything sound good?
I read his text again and note that he sent it around two-thirty.
Realizing he’s going to be here any moment, I quickly get moving.
I fold up the blanket. I take off the socks and stuff them in my bag to wash back at the dorms. I leave the pillow and blanket on the end of his bed and change into my uniform.
I’m just about ready when a knock sounds on the door. “Come in.”
The door opens, and Slater walks in, smelling like he just jumped out of the shower and threw clothes on. I take a breath, and it stalls in my chest. “Hey,” I say softly, unsure what else to say.
He gives me a soft smile, and I swear I feel it all the way to my toes.
“Hey. Are you ready?” I nod. “I don’t want to rush you, but I don’t want you to be late.
And I want you to be able to have a few minutes to eat.
” He picks up my bag and throws it over his shoulder and then leaves.
I follow him through the quiet house and out to his truck.
He throws my bag in the backseat and opens the front door for me.
I climb up and instantly smell sandwiches.
My stomach growls eagerly. He closes my door and heads around to his side.
I buckle just as he climbs in. “I didn’t know what you’d be hungry for, so I just grabbed hoagies. Is that okay?”
“Yes, of course. You didn’t need to grab anything. Thank you.” I don’t know why, but I feel off with him. I feel shy, and that’s not how it’s been between us. He hands me a sandwich and then reaches into the backseat. “Here.” He hands me a pink bag.
“What’s this?” I ask as he starts pulling out.
“Open it.”
I look at the bag first. I laugh softly. “So, you’ve obviously picked up on my obsession with pink. The blanket, socks, pillow, and now this bag.”
He glances over at me. “Your entire dorm room is pink.”
“It’s true. I love pink.” I glance down at the bag. “What is this?”
“Open it,” he says for the second time.
I pull out the tissue paper and peek inside. I pull out a white box, unsure what it is at first. Then I see the Bose insignia. I open the box and see headphones. I suck in a breath. “Slater, these are like three-hundred-dollar headphones.”
He nods. “They’re the best noise canceling headphones. I have the same pair. Well, mine are black, not pink.”
“Slater,” I try, completely blown away. “I--” I shake my head. “That’s too much. You shouldn’t have done that.”
“I wanted to. I did debate on giving them to you, though.”
I glance over at him. “You did?”
He nods. “They’re the best noise-canceling headphones, and they will help you sleep in the afternoons.
But then you won’t come over to my house.
” He lets the words hang, and I don’t know what to say.
I move on and look inside the bag. I pull out a six pack of Hershey bars.
I glance over at him. “I love chocolate. Thanks.” Next, I pull out a pack of red and yellow Twizzlers. I grin. “You found them.”
“I still think Twizzlers are disgusting.”
“You have to try these.” I pull out a bottle of ibuprofen next. I frown in confusion and then pull out a box that says it has a heating pad inside. Mortification rolls through me when I put it all together; I can’t even look at him.
“Evie gave me some suggestions,” he says quietly. “She, uh, told me that’s probably why you’ve been crying.”
I sort of laugh and cry at the same time. “I haven’t been crying.” But even as I say the words, I feel a tear drip down my cheek because this was so kind of him. “Slater, this is...” I take a breath.
“Good thing you’re not crying,” he says, and I can’t help my laugh.
“Oh, my word,” I finally say. “I am so embarrassed,” I finally admit.
“You don’t need to be.”
I laugh and suck in a shaky breath. “Thank you, Slater. This was really, really thoughtful.”
“You’re welcome. You’d better eat; we’re almost back to campus.”
And just like that, we’re right back to business. I can’t help my smile. “Which one is mine?”
“You can have either. I got a ham one and a turkey one.”
“Which one do you want?” I ask.
“I’m good with either; you take which one you want.”
“I’ll take the turkey one. Thank you.” I dig in, suddenly realizing how hungry I am. He drives on to campus and finds a parking spot not far from the guard shack where I need to check in. I hand him his sandwich, so he can eat. “This is so good. Thank you.”
“Did you eat lunch?” he asks.
I think back. “I had peanut butter crackers.”
“That’s not lunch.”
I shrug. “Well, it was for today.” I take a few more bites and then look over at him, guilt churning in my stomach. “Slater, I—” He turns to look at me, and I bite my lip. “I don’ t want you to feel like you have to take care of me. I can take care of myself.”
“I know.” He takes another bite of his sandwich.
I’m too hungry to stop eating, so I continue as well. When I finish, I put my hand on my stomach. “That was like seriously the best sandwich I’ve ever had.”
“Maybe it was the company.”
His words draw a laugh from me. “Probably,” I admit, and he flashes me a smile.
I ball up my trash, and snag his as well so I can throw it all away on my way in.
I’m about to get out of the truck, but I put my hand on his arm.
I notice he goes perfectly still. “Thanks, Slater, for everything. Seriously.”
Those dark eyes meet mine. “You’re welcome, Tessa.”
I glance at my stuff and then back at him. “Just leave it all in the truck,” he says.
“Okay. Thank you. I’ll see you tomorrow?” He doesn’t answer and instead climbs out of the truck. I open my door and hop down. “Have a good night.” I wait for him to get back in his truck, but he doesn’t. “Wait.” It finally dawns on me. “You’re not coming with.”
“Aren’t I?” he asks in an amused voice.
“No, Slater. You need to sleep.”
“I’m fine.”
“No.” Frustration builds in my chest, and I stop right in front of him.
“Slater, please.” He steps close and lifts a hand, tucking a stray hair behind my ear, causing me to shiver and completely lose my train of thought.
I force myself to stay focused. “You just came from practice; you have another practice in the morning. You need sleep.”
“No, Tess,” he says in a quiet voice. “What I need is to know you’re safe.”
“I am safe. Please, Slater. I want you to get sleep; I feel terrible for keeping you out late last night as it is.”
He steps closer, so that our chests are almost touching. “When are you going to get it, Tessa?”
“Get what?” I ask, my voice barely a whisper as I stare up at him.
“Tessa!” Somebody calls out, breaking whatever this thing between us is. I take a breath and step back.
“I’ve got to go; I’ll see you tomorrow.” I don’t leave him a chance to respond and jog over to the booth.
“Hey, Cliff.” He talks the entire time, but I barely notice.
My mind is stuck back on that moment with Slater.
I can’t stop thinking about what it was he was going to say.
My mind keeps playing it over and over. Cliff keeps talking, going so far as to follow me outside.
He finally leaves me alone, and I get started on my shift.
“Does he ever stop talking?”
I nearly jump out of my skin when Slater appears next to me. I gasp and put a hand on my chest. “Slater! You scared me to death. Where did you come from?”
“He follows you around like a puppy.”
“Who? Cliff?” He nods. “He’s just nice.”
Slater scowls. “No, he’s not, Tess. He’s into you.”
I laugh. “No, he’s not.”
Slater shakes his head. “Apparently, I need to make my presence more visible when I drop you off.”
His words cause a strange tingle to cascade down my spine. Before I can say anything, my radio comes to life. “Tessa?”
I swallow when I hear Cliff’s voice. I don’t look at Slater. “Yes.”
“Can you check the South border behind the dorms?”
I nod. “Sure.” I don’t bother to say anything else, not wanting to make Slater more irritated than he already is. I redirect my steps that way.
“Isn’t that near the woods?” he asks, irritation in his voice.
“Yes.”
“Why do you have to check it?” he asks. “Why can’t he?”
“Because I’m the one working this route,” I say in a calm voice as I start making my way that way.
“I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about. Somebody probably just called in a problem.
I’ll just check it out. If there’s nothing to worry about, I’ll get back to my regular route.
” He’s quiet beside me, and I don’t push for conversation.
When we get to the area I’m supposed to be checking, I walk up and down the path twice.
I look up at Slater. “See? Nothing to worry about.” He’s not looking at me, though. His eyes are on the woods behind me.
“Tessa,” he says in a really low, quiet voice. “I need you to do exactly as I say.”
I turn to him. “What—?”
He slips an arm around my waist, completely shocking me. He shocks me further by pulling me into his chest. My heart is hammering loudly in my own chest, and I barely hear the words he says against my ear. “I need you to go back to the guard shack.”
“What—” I start again, but he interrupts.
“Do you trust me?”
I pause. “Yes.”
“Then I need you to go. Now. Don't stop. Don’t turn back, no matter what happens.”
“Slater, what’s going on?” I try to turn to him, but he’s got an iron grip on me, somehow keeping me within his arms but not hurting me.
Then his voice is at my ear again. “When I say run, you run. All the way back to the guard shack. Okay?” I shake my head, trying to understand what’s going on. “Tessa?”
“Okay,” I finally agree.
“Stay still,” he says right next to my ear.
Only then does my body start to nervously shake.
I have no idea what’s going on, but whatever it is, it seems to have Slater spooked.
And that’s terrifying. I’m going along with his plan for now, but I have no intention of running.
I’m the security guard on duty, not Slater.
Whatever it is, I will help deal with it.
I’m getting ready to tell him just that when I hear a low growl come from the trees.
And then Slater is pushing me forward. “Run!”