want to go home and crash.”
I touched the Band-aid above his eyebrow. The purple discoloration on his cheek looked worse. I wanted to kiss him, but I couldn’t when he had a busted lip, so I kissed his cheek, instead. “Goodnight. Thanks for the wonderful birthday surprise.”
He grimaced. “It ended on a shitty note.”
“Don’t think like that. It was beautiful, and I’ll always remember it. And you were awesome tonight.”
He frowned, obviously uncomfortable with the compliment. “I’ll call you tomorrow.” He gave me a brief peck on my forehead and walked away.
Mom was asleep on the living room couch, candles on every surface in the living room and kitchen. I blew them out, pausing when I saw Eirik’s present, which I still hadn’t opened. I tucked it under my arm and woke up Mom.
“You’re finally home.” Her eyes roamed my face as though looking for injuries before she hugged me. “What time is it?”
“Late. Come on, Mom.”
“What happened to the girl who got hurt?” she asked.
“Her name is Kate Hunsaker.” I explained her condition as we staggered upstairs.
The first thing I did when I entered my bedroom was peer at Torin’s house. It was in total darkness. He had disappeared after the doctors spoke with Kate’s parents. Was he home? Why was I worried about him? I was sure he could take care of himself. Besides, I had Eirik, my unofficial—or was it now official?—boyfriend and best friend. My life was perfect. Torin and his mysterious background didn’t fit in it.
Closing the curtains, I sat on the bed and opened Eirik’s present. I smiled at my favorite chocolate and a framed eight-by-ten picture of me. It was a memento from the years Mom tried to make me a carbon copy of herself. I was probably nine or ten and wore a Gypsy inspired outfit and a matching headscarf with beads. It was one of the first photographs Eirik had ever taken of me. He’d even signed it. Smiling, I placed it on my nightstand. I’d always treasure it.
I went to the bathroom to brush my teeth and crawled into bed.
***
Caridee came to our house for my birthday mani-pedis and facials, but all she talked about was the blackout.
“My cousin Camille knows Gaylene, who knows Chief Sparrowhawk’s sister-in-law. The chief thinks someone went to the substation and threw the switches on the circuit breakers.”
“We’ve never had a blackout before. Who’d want to plunge the town and neighboring county into total darkness?” Mom mused.
I didn’t dare say anything, but a certain jealous exchange student came to mind.
“Kids playing pranks,” Caridee said. “Sally Hunsaker’s little girl got hurt real badly. They had to operate on her last night.”
Mom reached over and gripped my hand. “Raine told me. She and the swim team stayed at the hospital with Kate’s parents until the poor girl was out of the operating room. Trojan swimmers are very supportive of each member, you know. One of them, Eirik Seville, is the one who found the Hunsaker girl, protected her with his body, and carried her to safety,” Mom repeated what I’d told her last night. I was surprised she remembered. “Because of him, that dear girl escaped serious injuries.”
“How brave of him.” I imagined how Caridee would embellish the story in the coming weeks. Eirik deserved a hero’s recognition, even if it was through the grapevine. “I heard they were planning to operate on her again.”
“Why?” I asked.
Caridee shrugged. “I don’t know. Complications after surgery are pretty common.”
My stomach churned. If Kate didn’t make it… No, I couldn’t afford to think like that. “Why does Chief Sparrowhawk think someone was behind the blackout?”
“He found something. Gaylene didn’t know what exactly, but she said it was solid evidence someone messed with the switches.”
After she left, I went upstairs and called Eirik. He sounded like he’d just woken up. “Kate is going in for a second
I touched the Band-aid above his eyebrow. The purple discoloration on his cheek looked worse. I wanted to kiss him, but I couldn’t when he had a busted lip, so I kissed his cheek, instead. “Goodnight. Thanks for the wonderful birthday surprise.”
He grimaced. “It ended on a shitty note.”
“Don’t think like that. It was beautiful, and I’ll always remember it. And you were awesome tonight.”
He frowned, obviously uncomfortable with the compliment. “I’ll call you tomorrow.” He gave me a brief peck on my forehead and walked away.
Mom was asleep on the living room couch, candles on every surface in the living room and kitchen. I blew them out, pausing when I saw Eirik’s present, which I still hadn’t opened. I tucked it under my arm and woke up Mom.
“You’re finally home.” Her eyes roamed my face as though looking for injuries before she hugged me. “What time is it?”
“Late. Come on, Mom.”
“What happened to the girl who got hurt?” she asked.
“Her name is Kate Hunsaker.” I explained her condition as we staggered upstairs.
The first thing I did when I entered my bedroom was peer at Torin’s house. It was in total darkness. He had disappeared after the doctors spoke with Kate’s parents. Was he home? Why was I worried about him? I was sure he could take care of himself. Besides, I had Eirik, my unofficial—or was it now official?—boyfriend and best friend. My life was perfect. Torin and his mysterious background didn’t fit in it.
Closing the curtains, I sat on the bed and opened Eirik’s present. I smiled at my favorite chocolate and a framed eight-by-ten picture of me. It was a memento from the years Mom tried to make me a carbon copy of herself. I was probably nine or ten and wore a Gypsy inspired outfit and a matching headscarf with beads. It was one of the first photographs Eirik had ever taken of me. He’d even signed it. Smiling, I placed it on my nightstand. I’d always treasure it.
I went to the bathroom to brush my teeth and crawled into bed.
***
Caridee came to our house for my birthday mani-pedis and facials, but all she talked about was the blackout.
“My cousin Camille knows Gaylene, who knows Chief Sparrowhawk’s sister-in-law. The chief thinks someone went to the substation and threw the switches on the circuit breakers.”
“We’ve never had a blackout before. Who’d want to plunge the town and neighboring county into total darkness?” Mom mused.
I didn’t dare say anything, but a certain jealous exchange student came to mind.
“Kids playing pranks,” Caridee said. “Sally Hunsaker’s little girl got hurt real badly. They had to operate on her last night.”
Mom reached over and gripped my hand. “Raine told me. She and the swim team stayed at the hospital with Kate’s parents until the poor girl was out of the operating room. Trojan swimmers are very supportive of each member, you know. One of them, Eirik Seville, is the one who found the Hunsaker girl, protected her with his body, and carried her to safety,” Mom repeated what I’d told her last night. I was surprised she remembered. “Because of him, that dear girl escaped serious injuries.”
“How brave of him.” I imagined how Caridee would embellish the story in the coming weeks. Eirik deserved a hero’s recognition, even if it was through the grapevine. “I heard they were planning to operate on her again.”
“Why?” I asked.
Caridee shrugged. “I don’t know. Complications after surgery are pretty common.”
My stomach churned. If Kate didn’t make it… No, I couldn’t afford to think like that. “Why does Chief Sparrowhawk think someone was behind the blackout?”
“He found something. Gaylene didn’t know what exactly, but she said it was solid evidence someone messed with the switches.”
After she left, I went upstairs and called Eirik. He sounded like he’d just woken up. “Kate is going in for a second
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