Page 18 of Soul Mates: Hercules Valentine and I

Hercules came to mind as I stole a glance at Max, who was punching out a message on his cellphone. I wondered if my parents knew that Hercules was the one who’d saved me. Once the doctor and nurse left, I asked Max if I should give a statement to the police or something.

He looked up from his phone. “I handled it.”

“How did you handle it?”

“You don’t have to worry about it.”

Feeling at a loss for words and helpless, my gaze shifted from my mom to my dad and then back to Max. I sometimes wonder why they give him so much responsibility over me. He often behaves like a third and less agreeable parent.

“It happened to me, not to you.” I turned to my parents, desperate for their support with this one. “I need to make a statement.” I had to—for the sake of Hercules not thinking I wimped out on him.

“No,” my dad said. His tone was adamant.

I blinked. Something struck me then, harder than ever before. Max’s voice belonged to my parents. He’s their bouncer, their fixer.

“But I’m a Grove, and…”

“I said no.”

My father’s staunch expression didn’t change, and that infuriated me, a daughter who never questions or talks back to her parents. “Is it because of Hercules Valentine?”

My father touched his tense eyebrow. He always does that when he has to think his way out of a tight spot. “We should get out of here. I’ll get the nurse.” He walked out of the hospital room as though I hadn’t mentioned Hercules and the fact that I wanted to give my statement to the police. As far as my dad was concerned, the discussion was over.

I went to bed disappointed that Hercules wouldn’t know that I tried. Staring with tired eyes at the ceiling in the dark, I questioned whether I wanted to follow through for him, for me, or for the other girls who went through the same thing I went through. When the answer came, I flipped onto my side and pulled the covers up to my neck.

Bling-bling-bling-bling-bling,my cellphone chimes. That’s the alert that says I have a text message. I stop myself from dozing off, roll over, and see who’s reaching out to me.

I know what you did. Just wanted to say, thank you. Hope to see you in Massachusetts. Forever, Hercules.

I sit up against my headboard and read what he wrote over and over again.Forever, Hercules?I ponder whether I should respond but finally shake my head and set my phone back on the nightstand.

Will fate be so unkind to me? Will she dangle Hercules in my path like forbidden fruit?

Sinking back under the covers and pulling the sheet and quilt up to my neck, I whisper, “I doubt it.”

Hercules didn’t cometo the graduation. The rumor was he missed the ceremony because last night his father suffered a heart attack. How awful, I thought. He saved me, and then his father fell ill. I must be his bad luck charm. I thought about responding to his text, but I couldn’t stop feeling like I would be a nuisance at such a horrible time in his life. Regardless, the ceremony went by like a streak of lightning. I received my honors and my diploma, and now I’m finally done with Dorset Meacham Academy.

I never felt so relieved about anything in my life.

Three Years Later

Chapter Nine

Serendipity Strikes Once

Paisley Grove

The alarm on my cellphone chimes, but I’m already up, dressed for my sunrise run, and ready to walk out of my room. I barely slept a wink last night. I have so many things on my mind these days that it’s hard to relax. Dandi—short for Dandelion—and Eden, my two roommates, are still asleep. A foghorn could blow through our three-bedroom suite and they wouldn’t stir. It's only six o’clock in the morning, and they were out on the town way beyond midnight. Even though they’re mostly irresponsible, the three of us have become friends. So many times, they’ve tried to wrangle me over to the dark side, but I refuse to go. Actually, I'm unable to go. I have too much coursework and too much of still working for my brother.

I first met my roommates the summer after graduating from high school. They were Treasure’s gift to me, and she presented them during our month-long vacation in the Greek Isles. We were at another crowded pool party with a DJ blasting the worst techno music ever. Nearly naked girls on platforms throughout the snake-shaped swimming pool humped poles and twisted their hips. Skimpy bikinis, nut-hugging speedos, and topless women were the norm, and I’d gotten used to them by then. I’d just closed my eyes as I lay back on my chaise longue beach chair before they showed up. The sun felt smooth as its warm rays shimmered across my skin. And despite the noise and the raucous energy, I was at peace and on the verge of falling asleep.

“Hey,” Treasure said, slapping me on my thigh.

Irritated, I opened an eye.

“They’re here.”

“Who’s here?” I groused.