Jackson by Leigh Talbert Moore Page B

in frustration as I watched him fumble with his pants. Two steps and he jumped feet-first into our pool. The heat was oppressive. I squinted up at the sun beating down through the holes in the trees, and a bead of sweat trickled down my forehead stopping at my eyebrow. It matched the one sliding down my waist under my heavy coveralls.
    “Only if you promise to answer my questions.” I stood and slipped out of my clothes.
    After our first day at the creek, I’d started wearing my brother’s brown shorts and tank tops for swimming. Less transparent when wet. I jumped in feet first as well and when my head popped up, I squealed from the shock.
    Gallatin laughed and swam to me. Then he slid his arms around my waist in the water. My heart started beating fast again at the unexpected gesture. His body was warm against mine, and our faces were inches apart.
    “What are you doing?” I clutched his strong arms under the water and tried to take them from around me.
    “No more running all the time, no more hiding.” He held me tight. “Just easy days. Predictable days of work followed by lazy afternoons at the creek. This is how my life would be. With you.”
    He leaned forward and kissed the tip of my nose then he released me and ducked under the water. I watched his body shoot to the other side of the pool where the giant tree lay rotting, covered up in green fuzz. He resurfaced and placed his hands on the ground, lifting himself out of the pond, his back still to me.
    “You’re supposed to be answering my questions.” My voice was a little shaky from his words, the sudden intimacy.
    “I’m here because of Cato.” He walked around the side of the water to our spot in the sun. “She dragged me to this location against my will.”
    He stopped and pulled out the blanket, spread it in the hot sun and the lay down on top.
    “Keep going,” I said. “Why? And why are we being held this way?”
    “I was with the desert group. They let me go to the university, because for a little while it looked like we might stay. Then we received word we’d been found.”
    “What does that mean? Found ?”
    “Thirty-six hours, forty-eight tops. One group was deep in the woods, the other in the remote desert. We’d isolate any inhabitants who might see, as few as possible, bring out the ships, prepare them, and leave. Memory-wipe as needed. Gone.”
    My throat tightened, and I shook my head. “You’re saying things that don’t make sense.”
    He rolled onto his side to face me as I drifted closer, then his voice went calm. “We’re not from this world, Prentiss.”
    A sudden splash made him jump back. I turned and ducked under the water, kicking my foot to shower him again as I powered to the other bank, ignoring the twinge of pain my angry gesture sent through my hip. My head popped up at the water’s edge, and I hoisted my body out of the pond. In an instant, Gallatin was on his feet, heading in my direction.
    “Why does that make you angry and not afraid?”
    I stood and gingerly stomped around the small pool to where my clothes sat by the pack. He was right beside me as I pulled everything on, not caring if my undergarments were soaked and my body freezing. He caught my arm, but I jerked it away.
    “Please tell me why you’re so angry.”
    I started back to camp, but then I stopped and turned so fast he slammed into me. He caught me and held me by the waist, his hair pushed back and his strange amber eyes lowered to mine, his scar on full display.
    “I thought we were past the point where you’d lie to me.” I struggled to get my arms free of his grasp. “But you’re sticking to protocol, I guess. Mind games and tricks.”
    “What do you mean? I’m not tricking you!”
    “Did you just try to tell me you’re from another planet?”
    A line formed between his brows and he looked down. “Yes.”
    “God bless America!” I pushed out of his arms and gingerly stomped a few steps away.  “Of all the ridiculous