12. Foster
12
FOSTER
W hat the…?
I jammed on the brake so hard that I went flying forward, only for my seat belt to catch me tight and jar me to a painful, sudden halt.
In the passenger seat, Raina bounced happily. Oh, yay. I m not affected by inertia the way you are. How cool is that?
What the hell are you doing here? I exploded, blinking at her repeatedly to make sure I wasn t hallucinating.
Raina heaved out a breath and sent me a helpless shrug. I m not really sure. One second, I was settling back in my chair at my bedside in the hospital, minding my own business and ready to wait until whenever for my body to wake up. The next, I was here, in your truck. I wasn t even thinking about you, she swore with lifted hands. It s just like I can t get very far from you before I m sucked right back to your side. Eyes widening, she gaped at me. Oh Lord, do you think we re tethered together?
Tethered? I demanded.
I m going to test it. Before explaining herself further, she disappeared from her seat, only to reappear outside, next to the crosswalk.
When I lifted my hands in question, she merely waved me on.
Oh, for the love of… I wasn t about to leave her here by herself, but when her waving grew more insistent, I groaned and slapped my hands to the steering wheel before driving through the green light.
No one was around; it was nearly two in the morning; the intersection was empty. And it wasn t as if anyone could see or touch her even if the first three weren t true—she was safe—but I fully planned to simply drive around the block to pick her up again.
Until she appeared next to me before I could turn the first corner.
Fucking hell! I hissed, gripping my chest.
Or she might just kill me with a heart attack before that.
Not even a full block, she said, glancing over at me with a doomed kind of look. That s not a very long leash in the grand scheme of things.
No, it was not.
Shit.
Okay, here s what we re going to do, I said, trying not to think about the fact that we were physically bound together.
Thank God, she breathed, lifting both hands in praise. You have a plan. Because I had nothing.
It s late, I went on. And everyone is probably dead asleep. So we re just going to return to my place so I can get a couple of hours of shut-eye. Then I ll take you to my friends in the morning. Some of them have some supernatural abilities that might be able to help us figure out where to go from here.
You mean, like Oaklynn? she asked with a hopeful bob of the head, only to gasp and cover her mouth. Oh my goodness. Oaklynn! Yes. She can see ghosts. Maybe she ll be able to see me too.
I shot her a surprised glance. You know about Oaklynn s abilities? I didn t realize the two of you were that close.
Well… Raina bit her lip with a roll of her eyes. She probably wouldn t have willingly told me. But I was there when she described her roommate, Thalia, to Jaylani, and then I saw on the news a few weeks later that Thalia had been dead for, like, ten years, so I just kind of deduced the truth. I had to grill Oaklynn about it incessantly, though, before she finally gave in and admitted it was true.
That s cool, I murmured. Oaklynn s usually too scared to tell people about the things she can see. I m glad she was able to tell you.
Yeah, well… I had to share a personal story with her first about this old guy my sister took me to see in Houston when I was sixteen. He claimed he could commune with the dead, and Kinsey wanted to see if we could reach out to our mom since neither of us had been old enough to remember her before she died. And the things he told us about her when she was dating the captain—well, when we went home to ask the captain about them, he was utterly shocked. He assured us it was all true and that no one should ve known any of it. Anyway, I ve been a believer ever since. I just had to assure Oaklynn I wouldn t go blabbing her secret to everyone except the seven, since she said you guys already knew.
Right. I nodded, soaking in her rambling story. Okay, then. So we ll head over there in the morning and see Oaklynn. I have a feeling the whole group can figure this out together.
Plus, Oaklynn could be the one to gently break the news about Raina s sister.
Great. Raina nodded, looking energized. And thank you again for putting up with me until then. I imagine just bulldozing my way into your life is quite a nuisance for you.
It— I gave a helpless laugh. It s been interesting, I assured her, even as my hands tightened around the steering wheel, wondering just how much this was going to change things going forward…and for how long. But you aren t a nuisance. Don t worry about that.
Oh good. She blew out a breath, then looked out the window. But I still hope we can figure out what to do next.
We will, I assured. We ll get you back into your body; I m sure of it.
* * *
Foster? Hey, Foster. Wake up!
God. Maybe I shouldn t have been so hasty about telling Raina she wasn t a nuisance.
With a groan, I shifted to bury my face in my pillow and block out the insistent voice trying to coax me awake because, apparently, sleeping in was not part of her deal.
It s morning, she sang.
You sure? I asked with a groan as I pulled the covers over my head. Because it sure as hell still feels like the middle of the night to me.
It s seven thirty, she announced. The sun has risen, and the rest of your family is awake.
I whipped the sheets off my face to send her a disbelieving glance that told her I didn t believe a word she said.
She let her shoulders slump. Well, your parents are awake, anyway. I heard them stirring not too long ago. And good God… Scowling at me, she moodily muttered, Why do you have to look so freaking yummy first thing in the morning? You re all scruffy and tousled and just—mmm. She shuddered in delight. I want to crawl under those covers with you and cuddle right into your warmth.
A shock of awareness spread over me, prickling my flesh.
Pointedly pulling the sheets up toward my chin in an effort to hide the fact that I was bending up my knee to cover my morning wood, I grumbled, Okay, fine. I m up. Now, can you turn around so I can go into the bathroom?
She lifted one eyebrow. Why? You re wearing a T-shirt and shorts. It s not like I m going to see— Cutting herself off with an excited gasp, she fisted her hands up by her mouth and nearly vibrated as she said, Oh my God. You have a hard-on, don t you?
I sank deeper into my covers, feeling a hundred percent exposed.
Hey, it s not like I can touch it or do absolutely anything at all to bother it, she argued. I don t see why you re being so?—
Raina, I growled before sending her my most desperately pleading expression.
Oh, all right. I mean… You re sucking away all the possible fun I could have from being stuck with the hottest guy at HaveU, but fine. She turned away, showing me her back.
And I quickly popped out of bed. Thank you, I gushed as I dashed toward the bathroom.
With her back to me, Raina answered, Mm-hmm. Though I never would ve guessed that you were such a modest, private guy. It s so?—
I shut the door, muffling whatever she said next. Just… Don t come in here, okay? I called.
Hey! she hollered back as if offended. I would never invade your privacy like that.
I scoffed since it was a little too late for that , and then I hurried through a shower.
After finishing my morning ritual while keeping one eye on the door the entire time, I realized—shit—I hadn t brought any fresh clothes in with me to change into.
With a groan, I inched my door open to peek out.
And there she was.
Sitting on my bed with her legs swinging cheerfully over the side, she smiled big. Don t have any clothes in there to wear, do you?
I frowned at her.
But Raina only shrugged. I d gather some up and hand them through the door, but… I can t touch anything. And she sounded way too gleeful as she lifted her shoulders in the oops pose, claiming, Sorry.
She was getting way too much joy out of this. Huffing moodily, I opened the door fully and tightened my grip on the towel I had wrapped around my waist before stalking across the room to my dresser.
As I yanked open the top drawer, Raina cleared her throat. I mean, you did promise I could see your bare chest when I remembered my name, so we could just say you re fulfilling your part of the bargain right now.
Except you didn t remember your name, I argued, rushing enough to make my fingers fumble. I discovered it.
Oh yeah. Still… I really don t see what the big deal is. I mean, you have a spectacularly flawless body. There is absolutely no part of you to be ashamed of. And besides, I could be dying right now. So, you know, who cares what I see, anyway, right?
I sent her a harassed glance, and she merely tipped her chin up a notch, trying to look all regal and professional…right before her eyes betrayed her and skated down my body.
I started to respond again, my flesh heating and body parts swelling.
Clearing my throat, I forced my attention back to the task at hand.
Not even sure which clothes I d dragged from the drawers, I tucked them close and plowed my way back into the bathroom. I nearly had the door shut behind me when I glanced back and peered through the crack, just in time to catch her holding her stomach and falling back onto my bed to kick her feet excitedly.
Oh my God. Oh my God! I just saw Foster Union in nothing but a towel. My life…is complete.
Irritation melting, I released a reluctant grin and eased the door the rest of the way shut. I couldn t say I hated her attention. The attraction was definitely mutual. But no way could I tell her why I was so freaking modest.
No one ever seemed to believe it when I tried to explain the discomfort and awkwardness I felt when it came to sex.
Sex was something I d never learned to master, and I felt as if I d grown to a certain age that by now it was too late to go asking for helpful advice. Ergo, I usually just tried to dodge all topics that seemed as if they may lead in that direction.
Wishing I wasn t such a freak, I hurried to dress and flung the door open again.
Raina was standing by the exit to my room, eagerly waiting to leave.
Ready? she asked with an encouraging nod.
Shoes, I told her, detouring to the closet. Once I had some socks and sneakers on, I scooped up my phone, keys, and wallet, and turned toward her. Okay, now I m ready.
She blinked at me. It is so bizarre to watch you do such normal, mundane things.
Probably about as bizarre as it is for me to be woken up by a quasi-ghost, I countered as I opened the door to my room. Most of the doors to my siblings rooms were still closed, all of them weekend-sleeping in. But my parents room was open, letting me know someone was up and about.
In the kitchen, I was surprised to find my dad sitting at the table, eating breakfast.
Hey, hey! he greeted with a ready smile. It s Foster, my right-hand man.
Whoa, Raina gasped, her jaw going slack as she stopped in the entrance of the kitchen to gape at him. Is that your dad?
Ignoring her, I waved. Hey, Dad. When d you get in?
Last night around eight or so, he told me as I passed by to open the refrigerator. You were at work.
He is such a silver fox, Raina breathed in awe as she wandered closer to get a better look.
Grabbing my bottle of morning fruit juice, I straightened to send her a dismayed glance.
What? she asked, lifting her hands. It s not like he can hear me.
But I can hear you , my glare replied while Dad tipped his head as if waiting for me to reply.
Having forgotten what he and I had even been saying to each other, I sent him a tense smile and cleared my throat as I unscrewed the lid on my bottle. So how long do we get you this time?
I head back on Tuesday. Hey, do you have any plans this afternoon? I wanted to check the axle shaft on Amy s car. I m worried the CV joint might be going bad, and I could use all hands on deck.
Uh… Thinking through my schedule, I nodded before taking a big drink. Yeah, I answered after a moment. I think I m free. I m going to head over to hang out with my friends this morning, though.
He nodded with a pained expression of sympathy. Yeah, your mother told me about the classmate who was in a car accident.
Oh my goodness! Raina screeched in joy. He s talking about me. The silver fox knows I exist.
As I sent her a stern glance, Dad added, Give the guys my best, will you?
Sure thing, Dad. Thanks.
I hurried out the door with my bottle of juice, and Raina rushed out behind me.
Well, at least it must be reassuring to know you have good genes, she announced, trailing my steps. If you take after him, you ll age very well.
I glanced back at her with a telling look.
And I m utterly shocked you didn t snag one of those blueberry muffins off the table, she went on, ignoring my reaction. I mean, they looked delicious.
Outside of pizza, I don t eat a lot of carbs, I said as I jogged around my truck to open the driver s side door.
When I found her already inside and sitting in the passenger seat, I hissed out a breath to abate the surprise, still not used to that yet.
All the while, Raina rattled on, Well, if you could eat one for me next time, I d really appreciate it since food consumption is apparently off the list of things I can do at the moment. I m going to have to live vicariously through everyone else for a while. And seeing your teeth sink into that muffin—mmm. She shook her head. I m just saying, it wouldn t be as good as watching you come out of that bathroom in nothing but a towel, but I bet it d rank up there in my top ten favorite Foster visuals.
Glancing at her as I started my engine, I shook my head. You are so weird. Then, I had to chuckle because I liked her weird.
Raina merely pointed. But I made you laugh, she charged. See. It s a good weird, isn t it?
I merely kept shaking my head as I sighed and pulled away from the curb, refusing to answer.
She folded her arms over her chest and fell back in the seat. Yep, it s a good weird, she reassured herself, looking satisfied.