Page 26

Tulip:(shrug emoji) Sometimes fears make little sense.

I didn’t know him well enough to share that part of me yet.

Bullseye:You’re weird.

Tulip:At least I’m not boring. (smile emoji)

Bullseye:You’re lying to me.

Tulip:Huh?

Bullseye:Sizzling. There’s a reason.

Tulip:(eye-roll emoji) Nope. What’s your longest relationship?

Bullseye:Ahhh. Changing the subject now? (smile emoji)

Why was he so hung up on the sizzling comment?

Our conversation continued, and he stopped asking about the sizzling issue. The more I chatted with him, the more I discovered things about myself. I remembered that carefree version of me that had been lost so long ago.

My chest tightened. I was developing feelings for this stranger. I was stepping into the danger zone and didn’t know what to do about it. Arrow’s face intruded into my thoughts, and guilt gnawed at me.

Let me know when you’re ready to date.

Arrow was waiting for me? Was he just saying that, or was he truly waiting? I couldn’t trust someone like him. He was a man who had a lot of options. Would he toss me aside once he got what he was after?

The last two encounters with him had been casual and friendly. He didn’t appear like he was still waiting for my answer.

I had suppressed my attraction to him. Arrow seemed to demand complications, whereas Bullseye didn’t. Confusion sparked in me, but I stopped it.

I wanted an easy evening with no complications. I returned my focus to the mystery man tugging at unfamiliar places in my heart.

CHAPTERTEN

VIVIAN

I wokeup at five in the morning, wondering why I couldn’t fall back to sleep. It was Sunday, and I could sleep in. Ishouldsleep in. But no, my body had other ideas.

I couldn’t believe I stayed up past midnight texting with Bullseye. I was lonely, crazy, or bored. Perhaps all of the above. I didn’t recognize this strange person in me. Actually, I sort of recognized her. She was a version of myself I hadn’t connected to in a long time. This version didn’t have worries or fears weighing her down. This version was the girl who went fishing by herself and talked to fish before she released them back into the waters.

One incident changed that, scarring me forever. After my mom died, I was afraid of a lot of things. That fear suppressed my emotions, and I think I forgot how to find that joy again. How could someone forget to be happy? Happiness should come easy, right? I was happy when my little patients smiled at me after a difficult procedure. I was happy knowing Dad was safe and at peace. I was happy that I could take care of Kaylee and not leave her alone in this cruel world.

But your soul is missing something.

I supposed I could never truly be happy if I were always on guard, scanning the horizon for any incoming threat. Being prepared was better than being attacked unexpectedly.

On that fateful day, I experienced two extreme emotions. That day had started out bright, beautiful, and full of hope. I had worn a new yellow shirt with pants to the party with my mom. My dad was out of state at a dental conference. By the end of the day, I was severely injured, and my mother dead.

Mom had exceptional talent, and I wished she got to live a longer life. Grandpa used to take her along on all of his business trips. All she had to do was look at a document, and she’d memorized everything on it, including account numbers. The information was used to blackmail his enemies.

She was both an asset and a threat because she knew a lot of confidential information. Only a few people knew about her ability. They just assumed that Grandpa adored his daughter and wanted her by his side. Over time, the work exhausted my mom mentally and emotionally. She didn’t want to memorize numbers to hurt others, even though they were her father’s enemies. She didn’t have many friends. Her close friend was Kaylee’s mom, Angela.

I often wondered how life would be for my mother if she had used her skills for something outside the crime organization. She could’ve been a rocket scientist. She could have created something innovative to improve the world. Yet she was trapped in a corrupt society that abused her ability.

I didn’t want that for Aimee.

Why didn’t Mom leave The Triad earlier?