Brian sees a vision of his father fighting Deidrich, along with the two white dogs. He wants to join him, but Jackie assures him that Miles isn’t there now. He goes back to bed and has terrible dreams, waking with a start that also wakes Jordan.
“You okay?” she asked dreamily.
“Had some bad dreams. Don’t remember them, though.”
“You kept calling out. You had me worried a few times.”
“Sorry. I’m okay right now. I had some strange things happen after you went to sleep.” He told her about the vision he’d had of his father.
“Wow! Really? So, he’s alive, then?”
“Of course he’s alive. Why wouldn’t he be?”
“I don’t know. I just had it in my mind that he was dead.”
“All this time you thought my dad wasn’t alive?”
“Why else would he leave and not come back? He obviously loves you guys a lot or he wouldn’t have left all this information for you. I know if my dad left like that, he’d come back if he could.”
“Maybe he can’t yet,” Brian said tersely. “My dad’s a lot like yours. He’s strong and takes charge. He doesn’t let his family suffer if he doesn’t have to. He’s a good man, Jordan!” Tears burned in his eyes. It was important to him that she understand what his father was like.
“I get it, Brian. I know your dad is a good guy. I don’t know how I know that, but I do. I know that whatever he’s doing, it’s to protect you and your mom.”
“It’s more than that. This stuff that’s happening, it’s evil. I got that from the vision. He’s not the only one fighting, but he’s the main one going on the offensive right now. He needs reinforcements. He needs us. Not just you and me, but your parents, my mom, Chase and his dad. I think Mr. Finley knows a lot more about all this than he’s said.”
“I think so too. It’s time to get him and Chase together with our parents and have a talk. We need to know what they know. But first, we need to read everything your father left for you. Maybe something in that research will give us a key.”
“Mr. Finley kept saying we needed to see the pattern.”
“Not we, you. He was pretty specific.”
“Maybe so, but I have a feeling that even if I’m at the center of this, we all need to see it. We all bring things to the table.”
“And we’re all in pairs. There’s you and me, Andre and Louisa, Sweet and Ginnifer, Mom and Dad, your parents, and Chase….” She paused. “Does he have a girlfriend?”
Brian’s eyes widened and he stared at Jordan. “You’re gonna laugh when I tell you.”
“Why? Is he dating that Marissa girl?”
Brian nodded slowly. Jordan’s jaw dropped.
“No way! Chase and Uptight Barbie? You’re kidding!”
“They were, anyway. I don’t know if they’re still together. They had a big fight a few weeks ago. She’s a religious freak and he’s—well, he’s a guy.”
“So, he wanted sex and she’s too frigid to give it up?”
Brian snorted in disgust. “Something like that.”
“Good thing you aren’t like that. You’d be sadly disappointed.”
“We aren’t dating,” he reminded her. “That puts a different spin on things.”
“Why?”
“Because it would mean that I was actually attracted to you,” he replied casually, turning away from her.
Brian was teasing, but clearly Jordan didn’t think so. A pillow hit him in the back of the head. Jordan’s shriek very likely woke the household.
“You bastard! I’m not deformed or anything! You seemed pretty interested in my tits!” She continued to hit him with pillows, scrambling to her feet, on the bed, to get better leverage.
“That was an accident.” Brian moved away from her, laughing. “Your coat hung up on the Velcro.” He put his arms up, laughing as she battered him with two pillows now.
“Oh, you!” Jordan launched herself at him. Her trajectory was off and she missed him.
To keep her from landing in a heap on the floor, Brian caught her. His hands slipped and he had a handful of her chest as she slid down, kicking and cursing. He tried to help her up, but she struggled up on her own, narrowly missing his chin with the top of her head. Still angry and fighting like a wet cat, she knocked him over. Brian made a grab at her and they tumbled on the bed together, with Jordan lying on top of him. Their faces were mere inches apart.
For the second time since they’d met, Brian felt an undeniable urge to kiss her. He watched as her angry gaze softened. Her dark hair cascaded around them smelling like dusky flowers—a scent that was uniquely Jordan. She leaned closer, eyes drooping closed. Brian raised his head, meeting her halfway.
© 2016 Dellani Oakes
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