Meant to Be (4 page)

“
That’s powerful.” Rad’s
voice interrupted her thoughts.

Lauren nodded and laid her hand flat
on the wall. “Imagine the courage it took to resist.”

“
And the
desperation.”

“
Yeah.” She took a deep
breath and let it out slowly. “Freedom—or the lack of it—is a
powerful motivator.”

After staring at the wall in silence a
few more moments, Rad’s voice broke through her thoughts again.
“Now that we’ve had a history lesson, let’s go this way.” His
fingers took her arm with gentle authority and guided her past more
exhibits, then through a door where they watched a projected image
of Robert Ripley, the founder of the museum, greet them from behind
a desk.

Lauren leaned closer, enthralled by
the realistic display, her eyes roaming over every detail of the
room. When she glanced over her shoulder, she found Rad gazing at
her with a look of faint amusement.

“
Having fun?”

He didn’t give her a chance to answer,
but took her hand again and led her toward a huge swirling
kaleidoscope-like tunnel that made them both dizzy as they walked
through. Laughing and amused, Lauren continued her exploration,
stopping at different displays that caused her to groan, close her
eyes, and shriek with amazement.

Rad, always a few steps ahead, would
come back, grab her hand, and say, “Hurry up. Come see this.” And
then he would stand there and watch her reaction as she gazed upon
the vampire killing kit or the bone flute skin mask covered with
real human skin, and she would find it impossible not to return his
captivating smile.

Lauren was particularly fascinated by
the photograph of a man who had been shot by a firing squad and
survived. He had nine documented bullet wounds, including one
through his jaw. “Guess it wasn’t his time to go,” Rad said,
staring at the photo.

“
Guess not.” Lauren had a
smile on her face as she turned to the next exhibit, but it
disappeared when she entered what was called the “torture
room.”

“
What’s wrong?” Rad must
have noticed the change in mood as he came up beside her and read
about the iron gibbet—a devise used to hang prisoners on the
outside of castle walls until they succumbed to the
elements.

“
They would be left for
months to be picked clean by birds to serve as a deterrent for
other lawbreakers.” He read the last sentence out loud and then
glanced at her. “That would suck.”

Lauren nodded as she continued to
stare at the metal contraption. “I’m not afraid of dying, but I’d
rather not do it slowly.”

Her reaction seemed to amuse him. “I
don’t think you have to worry about dying slowly in a gibbet. Just
sayin’.”

Lauren forced a smile. “Yeah, guess
you’re right.”

By the time they got to the optical
illusion part of the museum, the torture room was long forgotten.
They giggled like children as they tried to “touch the jewel” that
could not be touched and laughed hysterically as they tried to read
a sign, saying the words that were written rather than the color
they were written in.

When they walked out of the museum
into the bright sunlight, they were still laughing and in high
spirits. Lauren turned toward the Boardwalk, assuming they were
going to hike back the way they came, but Rad grasped her hand and
grinned. “No, this way.”

Confused, but in a light-hearted mood,
she followed as he led her into another storefront.

“
You didn’t think you were
going to get away that easily, did you?” Rad smiled and winked as
she realized they were about to enter the LaseRace room—another
Ocean City attraction Lauren had never experienced.

“
You paid for this
too?”

“
Yep.”

“
And it’s something you
thought I wanted to do?” She shot him a look of exasperation mixed
with curiosity.

Rad chuckled. “Let’s just say you seem
like the competitive type, and I knew you’d be game.”

Lauren smiled. Well, he had that part
right. And from what she had read about it this morning, it might
be fun.

She stood beside Rad, listening
intently as the operator explained what would happen when they
entered the room individually. The objective was to race across the
floor as quickly as possible, push a button on the opposite side,
and then race back—all while trying to avoid the web of laser beams
that crisscrossed the room.

“
You go first.” Rad pushed
Lauren toward the door. “So I know what I have to do to beat
you.”

When the door closed behind Lauren,
she had a moment of low-grade panic. The room was dark and full of
haze. She didn’t like enclosed places. But as soon as she stepped
across a line on the floor, the lasers appeared, and she forgot her
fears. She bolted over one beam, under another, over and under,
until finally she saw the red button on the opposite wall. She
lunged for it, gave it a push, and then scooted across the floor on
her stomach, under the beams, until she got to the other side and
slammed the last buzzer.

When the door opened, Rad was there
looking at the results screen with a serious expression on his
face. “Hmmm. That’s better than most people do.”

“
You look
scared.”

“
You
didn’t let me finish.” He gave her a lighthearted grin. “That’s
better than
most
people. Too bad, it’s not good enough to beat
me
.”

Lauren smiled. “Go for it, buddy.” She
watched the screen and bubbled over with excitement when she saw
the final results. Their times were only seconds apart. He was
faster, but she had one fewer beam disruption.

The operator shrugged and shot Rad a
sympathetic gaze. “Looks like a tie.”

Lauren looped her arm in Rad’s as they
walked away. “That’s no fair. I think she thought you were good
looking and scored it a tie so she didn’t hurt your
feelings.”

“
Really? If anyone won, it
was me,” he responded. “I had the better time.”

“
But what’s a good time if
you hit the beams? Anyone can run across the room in record time.”
Lauren was so intent on the conversation she didn’t notice where he
was leading her. All of a sudden they were in a strange, dimly lit
room with loud music and flashing lights on the floor that made her
dizzy. When Rad walked away, she froze, afraid to move forward and
afraid to move back. She knew where she was now because she had
seen it in the tourist guide—The House of Mirrors. Just seeing the
pictures and description in the booklet this morning had made her
heart race. “Wait. Stop. Don’t leave me!”

Rad glanced over his shoulder at the
tone of her voice, as if to see if she were serious, but before he
could react, Lauren lunged forward and grasped the solid strength
of his arm. “I’m serious. Get me out of here.”

He apparently thought she was joking.
“Yes, that’s the idea, but it’s not going to be easy.” He walked
and hit a mirror then turned another direction and did the same
thing.

Lauren closed her eyes tightly and
hung onto him as if her life depended on it.

“
If you open your eyes,
you’d be able to help,” he said, looking down at her. “And I could
use it, obviously.

She just shook her head. “I’m really
claustrophobic. Please. Get me out of here.”

“
It’s okay. We’ll get out.
Just stick with me, kiddo.”

Even though it was obvious Rad had no
idea how to get out, he took charge with quiet composure, patting
the hand that still clenched his arm with a confident and
convincing touch that assured Lauren he was in control. She opened
her eyes only once, but instantly shut them again, preferring the
darkness and Rad’s voice to the confusing lights and
mirrors.

“
Here we go,” he’d say in
a calm, soothing tone after finding his way through a doorway. “I
think we’re almost there.”

After what seemed like
hours, but was only about ten minutes, they arrived at a sign that
said, “
You have found the maze exit. If you
want a challenge, go back and find the entrance.”

“
I’m up for a challenge,
how about you?”

Lauren barely even heard Rad. She was
already out on the Boardwalk, her face to the sun, heaving the
sweet, salty air into her lungs.

“
I’ll
take that as a
no
,” he said as he came up behind her. “I’ll take this as
a
no
too.” He
rubbed the arm where she had been clinging to him with an iron-like
grip. “I think I’m going to have a bruise.”

“
Good,” she said. “Maybe
it will serve as a reminder for future reference.”

He studied her for a moment
as if reflecting on her use of the word
future
. “I think I’ll remember.” He
quickly changed the subject. “I’ve worked up an appetite. How about
you?”

“
Not exactly the top thing
on my mind right now, but okay.”

She started to move away, but he
touched her arm and stopped her. “You really scared in there?” His
voice was low and serious… and gentle.

Lauren frowned. “Let’s just say, if I
had the choice between being stuck in a confined space and instant
death, pretty sure I’d take the latter.”

“
So no gibbets or prison
cells for you.” Rad smiled, obviously trying to make a joke, but
Lauren’s thoughts turned serious.

“
Yeah, if I had any choice
in the matter.”

“
Well,
sorry about that.” Rad put an arm over her shoulder and pulled her
against him in a brotherly way. “Like the old saying
goes,
what doesn’t kill
you—
”

“
Yeah,
yeah, I know—
makes you
stronger,
” she finished for him.

“
Yup. That’s what they
say.” He let her go and strode ahead, apparently with food on his
mind. “My buddies told me Thrasher’s Fries are the
best.”

Lauren chuckled. “Oh, good. We’re
going for the health food menu.”

Rad flashed a smile that sent her
pulse racing again. Every fiber in her being warned Lauren to keep
up her guard, but the charm and magnetism he radiated was becoming
impossible to resist.

Once they got to the counter, Rad
ordered a bucket of fries and two drinks. “Well, it’s like this.
Where I’m going there aren’t any fries, so I’m binging
today.”

“
Good idea.” Lauren smiled
and popped one in her mouth. “I like the way you think.”

Chapter 4

Rad took the bucket of
fries and Lauren the two drinks, and they searched for a place to
sit on the crowded thoroughfare.

“
This seems like a good
one for people watching.” Rad nodded toward a bench facing the
Boardwalk and leaned down to read the memorial plaque on the back
before sitting down.

The look that crossed his
face made Lauren pause to read the inscription too.
Like the mighty waves surging from the sea.
Darling, so it goes, some things are meant to be.

When Lauren’s gaze met his, Rad
smiled, but offered no comment. She sat down and handed him his
soda.

“
So you’ve been here
before?” He leaned back and surveyed the Boardwalk while popping a
French fry into his mouth.

“
Many times.” Lauren took
a deep breath as she regarded the familiar landmarks surrounding
her. “My grandmother owned a little house a few blocks back, so we
came here every summer.”

“
You’re an East Coast
girl, then.”

Lauren tried to decide how much she
wanted to tell him. He was, after all, still a stranger.
“Virginia,” is all she said.

“
What a coincidence.
That’s where I live now.” Rad didn’t elaborate about where exactly,
and she didn’t ask. They continued with trivial conversation and
laid back banter until the last fry was eaten. Then Rad patted his
stomach. “I think we better walk this off. You up to
it?”

Lauren smiled. “Sure. Why
not?”

When she stood to throw away the
trash, she realized Rad had not moved. “Why are you looking at me
like that?”

“
I’m surprised you agreed.
I thought I’d have to argue with you first.”

“
I’m a fast learner.”
Lauren half-smiled and half-frowned as he stood. “Arguing with you
gets me nowhere. You always win.” She paused a moment and stared at
him with her head cocked to the side. “Just so you know, that
doesn’t happen very often. I like to win too.”

“
Yeah, I noticed that in
the laser room.” Rad turned, but took only a few steps before he
stopped and rubbed his hands together. “Speaking of winning, do you
see what I see?”

Lauren followed his gaze and laughed.
“I see what you see. Are you thinking what I’m
thinking?”

“
If you’re thinking I’m
thinking that I’m going to whoop your butt, then yeah.”

“
Bring it on.” Lauren
strode toward the bright lights of Marty’s Arcade without pausing
to see if he followed. But when she stepped inside to the clanging
bells, buzzers, and flashing lights, memories came flooding back
and almost overwhelmed her.