Saving Sloan (Sloan Series Book 2) (20 page)

Ray kissed her on the forehead. “You have us both, in a way. But…” He didn’t finish. Instead, he sat her up and gently brushed his lips against hers. It was nice, but not like kissing Aaron. When Ray kissed her, it was like… comforting. When Aaron kissed her, it was like every nerve in her body exploded. One brother gave her stability. The other passion. She loved them both, but Ray was right. She had to choose. It wasn’t fair.

“You’ll still go to prom with me, right?” she asked, worried he wouldn’t.

“Yup.” He chuckled and pulled her into his arms. “Aaron will be so jealous.”

“As good of a reason as any.” She laughed and settled in his arms. So, she’d finally picked a brother. Aaron. Passion over comfort. Wow, she wasn’t expecting that.

She picked one brother and was being held by the other. Such was her life.

She forgot all about asking Ray about not going to Boyd’s house, but she already had her answer. Ray wouldn’t hurt her, and he wouldn’t lie to her. Boyd was the liar. She knew it.

R
AY LEFT AT AROUND
eight. Sloan kissed her mother and went upstairs to finally take her blessed headache medicine and shower before bed. She took the pills with some water and smiled. Finally.

She gathered up her pajamas and change of underwear before heading into the bathroom to wash her hair.

The warm water felt wonderful sliding over her body, washing the day away. It had been a rollercoaster day. Fighting with Aaron. Kissing Aaron. Choosing Aaron.

Seeing Boyd for the first time in months. Trying to figure out the puzzle of who had stalked her.

The shower provided her with a place to just relax. To let her mind wander and not have to think. It felt so good to not think.

She sang mindlessly, not really paying attention to the lyrics. It felt good to just drift away into her own little world for a few minutes. To just be calm.

After what seemed like only a short time, the water started turning cold, and she turned the faucet off. Way too short of a shower, she sighed.

She opened the beige shower curtain and grabbed for the fluffy purple towel she’d left on the sink. Instead of the towel, she stabbed her hand on something. In pain, she yelled and pulled her hand inside the shower to check it out.

Tiny blood pockets bubbled on her hand in several places where she’d been pricked.

“No.” She gasped. As fast as she could, she opened the curtain. On top of the towel lay two roses.

CHAPTER EIGHT

S
HE HEARD THE SCREAM BUT DIDN’T
know it had come from her. It sounded so far away. So foreign.

“Sloan!”

Her bathroom door opened, and Aaron tripped in. He looked scared to death. That made two of them. Sloan didn’t care that she was dripping wet or that she was naked. With a shaking finger, she pointed to the roses lying on the towel she had just laid down there thirty minutes ago.

“Oh… man!” Aaron grabbed the towel, causing the roses to fall onto the floor along with a folded white piece of paper. He wrapped the towel around her and pulled her out of the tub. Holding her tightly, he moved her toward the closed commode lid and eased her down. Kneeling, he put his hands on either side of her face and made her eyes find his. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”

Sloan couldn’t talk. All she could do was shake.

“Sloan,” Aaron said more firmly. “Sloan, calm down. You have to talk to me. What happened? Did he hurt you?”

She found the ability to shake her head no. She wanted to talk. She really did, but she knew if she could, she’d probably just sit and scream.

He’d been in the room with her. While she was in the shower. He’d been with her, and she hadn’t known it.

“Okay. We can do yes or no questions, baby. Okay? Can you do that for me?”

Sloan had never heard Aaron so concerned, and it worried her. She had no idea how he’d gotten there, but she knew she was glad he was. She forced a nod, praying she could hold it together long enough to give him yes or no answers.

“Did someone hurt you?”

She shook her head. She hadn’t even known he was in there.

“Good.” He collapsed a little in front of her. “Good. Thank you, God. Good.” His voice trembled too. “Did you see who put the roses in here?”

Again, she shook her head.

“You just opened the curtain and found them?”

She held up her shaking hand and showed him the tiny bloody marks.

“You grabbed the roses when you were reaching for the towel and stabbed your fingers on the thorns?”

Sloan nodded. Her breath caught, and it felt like a thousand-pound weight was sitting on her chest.

Aaron started to get up, but she pulled him back down. He couldn’t leave her. Not like this.

“I’m just going to look around to see if I can see anyone, okay? I promise. I won’t leave you. I
promise
.” He gently brushed his fingers across her cheek and stood before she could answer.

First, he looked out the window. “Your mom’s downstairs. I guess she didn’t hear you scream. I was on the way up here to tell you I was sorry for storming out when I heard it. Scared the daylights out of me.”

“Me too,” she said through chilly lips. She’d finally found her words.

“Good to hear you speak again.” He smiled for a brief second before bending down to get the folded up piece of paper next to the two red long-stemmed roses.

“What… what does it say?” she eeked out.

He read it to himself at first. The anticipation killed her. Why wouldn’t he just spit it out?

“Aaron.”

Biting his lip, he turned the note around for her to see.

Two days, Sloan. Two days till the Fall. You’re getting close, but do you know who I am? You will soon. Very soon. Do I need to remind you about police involvement and your mother? I think she’s getting close to calling them. I’d stop her if I were you. If you love her at all. Two days and then you fall. And you will… fall.

Don’t forget. ICU

Sloan jumped up and nearly fell over when the dizziness hit. Before she could fall, Aaron caught her and pulled her back up to standing.

“You need to sit,” he demanded.

“I need to warn my mother. She can’t call the police.”

“You put your clothes on, and I’ll talk to your mother.”

A very bad thought crossed her mind. This was Aaron. Aaron who thought she was crazy and had entertained the thought that she’d sent the flowers to herself. “I didn’t do this, Aaron. I didn’t put those flowers there then freak out. I know I didn’t. You have to believe me. Please.”

He held her tightly, gently rubbing his fingers though her wet hair. “It’s okay. I believe you.”

“You do? Who else could have gotten in here?”

“I don’t know,” he whispered in her ear. It caused chill bumps to form on her skin. “I don’t know, but I know you didn’t do it.”

“Why?” She held him tighter. “Why do you know now?”

He kissed her neck. “Because I believe in you.” Aaron let her go and held her at arm’s length. “Get some clothes on. I’ll meet you downstairs.”

“In my room. I’ll meet you in my room,” she corrected then felt her face flush when he looked confused. “Not like… I don’t think my wobbly legs can go down the steps. I’ll see you when I have some clothes on.”

Aaron smiled for a second and left her alone to change. When the door shut, she fell to the floor.

A little while later, she emerged from the bathroom to find her mother waiting for her in the hallway. She wasn’t freaking out as badly as she’d expected her to be.

“Aaron told me you think the worst is over.”

He did what?

Aaron stood behind her mother and gave Sloan a
go with it
look.

Her mom’s brows creased. “The worst is over, right? No roses all day. That’s wonderful. Right?” Her mom looked from Sloan to Aaron and back to Sloan. “Because I was getting ready to call the police. They are professionals and know how to deal with this stuff more than we do, but Aaron came down and said that might be a bad idea. Said it looked like the stalker had given up. Is that right?”

Sloan’s throat got dry. She understood why Aaron told her that, but she hated to lie to her mother. Okay, she had to think about it. What would her mom do if she knew the truth? What if she knew about the threatening note in the bathroom while her daughter had showered?

She’d call the police.

Sloan knew her mother, and apparently Aaron did too. If she knew, even with the threat, she would be calling the police. Mr. ICU would know as well and would hurt her. Sloan’s mother might not be worried about it, but Sloan couldn’t take that chance.

She had to protect her mother. No matter what. Aaron agreed with her. No police. They had to do this on their own.

“Yeah.” She scratched her head and smiled. “Yeah. Aaron’s right. The countdown must be over. He or she must be tired of taunting me. Must have been a stupid game.”

“A sick game if you ask me.” Her mom shivered. “You’d tell me, right? If you got another note.”

Sloan’s breath caught in her throat, but she tried very hard to cover it up. She didn’t want to lie to her mother, but didn’t see any other way out. She had to protect her. Sloan looked her mom, dead in the eye. “Yes, ma’am. I’d tell you if I did.”

“Good.” Her mom hugged her tightly. It made Sloan feel awful. She wanted to protect her so badly, but she hated lying. Hated it.

Over her mom’s shoulder, she saw Aaron. He grinned sadly and nodded, clearly happy she’d figured out the lie he’d wanted her to tell. They were a good pair. A good lying pair.

“I need to use the restroom. Excuse me.” Aaron scooted by Sloan and her mother. He closed the bathroom door behind him.

“I’m worried about you,” her mom said when they were alone in the hallway. “I want to protect you.”

“I don’t need protecting.” Sloan smiled best she could. “It’s over. It’s all over.”

“Just because you didn’t get a note today?” Her mom didn’t sound convinced, and that was an issue since Sloan needed her to be convinced so she wouldn’t involve the police.

“Yeah. It was a countdown, Mom. A countdown to prom. No roses. No endgame. I think whoever it was just wanted me to be spooked. I guess it worked.”

“Spooked me too.” Her mom squeezed Sloan’s shoulders. “It’ll be okay, Sloan. You’ll see. It’ll all blow over. If it doesn’t, tell me. Okay? Promise me you’ll tell me if you get any more roses.”

As hard as it was, as much as it hurt, Sloan agreed.

“You tell Aaron I have the couch made up for him downstairs if he still wants it. He was worried about you. Wanted to spend the night to make sure you were okay. Guess he won’t need to now.” Her mom’s eyes twinkled, and Sloan saw the subtle change from Mr. ICU to Mr. Hunter and Sloan’s feelings for him. Were they that obvious?

“I’ll tell him. Thanks.”

When her mom was almost to the stairs, Sloan ran to her and pulled her into a bear hug. Before letting her go, she kissed her cheek. “Love you, Mama.”

“I love you too, baby,” her mom answered with a concerned look. Oh great. Sloan feared she’d let her mom know about how worried she was. After a second’s hesitation, her mom smiled. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight,” Sloan said as her mom descended the stairs to the living room.

Hearing footsteps on the wood floor downstairs, Sloan ran back to the bathroom door and knocked. “She’s gone,” she whispered.

“Good to know.” Aaron opened the door with the two roses in his hand. “Didn’t want her seeing these. Would make my whole lie into a… well, lie.”

“Can’t have that.” Sloan sighed. She turned and went toward her room with Aaron a few paces behind her.

She went to her bed and sat down. “My mom said you could still sleep on the couch if you wanted.” She heard the click of the door behind her, and she looked up. “She said you were worried.”

“I was.” Aaron looked nervous as he walked toward her bed. She’d never seen Aaron nervous before. It was sort of fun. Mr. Calm Cool and Collected now was Mr. Nerves. He sat down at the foot of the bed, way away from Sloan. She appreciated the space. It had been a horrible night. Some stranger — or actually, someone she knew — had been in her house, in her bathroom while she was showering and had left roses, and she’d had to lie to her mother to protect her. All she wanted was her bed and a good night’s sleep.

“I didn’t want to end it that way. The way I left. I was acting like a…”

“Jerk.” She finished for him.

“I was going to say hothead,” he corrected with a grin.

“I think jerk fits better.” She laughed. It felt good to laugh. Normal. Man, she missed normal.

“Maybe. But you wouldn’t listen to me. Sure, I might have entertained the thought that you might have had something to do with the roses and cards, but just entertained. I didn’t actually believe it. I didn’t want to believe it.”

“Why?”

Aaron slid closer to her. Not too close, though. Still not in touching distance, but close enough to make her breath catch. “Isn’t it obvious?”

She swallowed hard. “What do you want?”

He inched close enough to touch her knee. His voice was low, husky. “You.”

Sloan tried but couldn’t find the words to say to that. Truthfully, she wanted him too. She wanted him to take her and kiss her and make everything all better.