Rush (Roam Series, Book Four) Read Free Page B

each other. Give them a chance to reunite. I’m sure he wants to talk to you.”
    “He has one thing on his mind, and it isn’t me.”
    “You think maybe he was trying to protect you, by leaving?” Why in the hell am I defending him? Who cares. I kicked at the brake pedal.
    “I’m sure that’s what he tells himself.”
    It’s nice to have an honest conversation that doesn’t result in her breaking down into tears. “I’m not his biggest fan. He’s been through some shit, though.”
    “ Who hasn’t.”
    “I haven’t,” I replied, catching my reflection ag ain and cringing at the strange blue eyes staring back at me. “My life was just perfect before all of this.”
    “ Lucky you.” She tucked her knees up to her chin and wrapped her arms around her legs. “But you have the nightmares.”
    I took a deep breath, turning the key in the ignition. “Look, we’re going to be here a while. I’m starving. Let’s go find some more food, okay?”
    She nodded. We found another diner in Swansboro, taking our food to the van to eat. She was finished with her hamburger before I had time to get halfway through mine. “Wow. Food doesn’t taste like that in 2012.”
    “I’m surprised you had time to taste it.”
    “Hey, try sharing a house with eight other kids. You eat fast, or you don’t eat.”
    “You’re just so…,” I backtracked, trying the word skinny in my mind. She wasn’t skinny, just curvy in all the right places. It was obvious she worked out- a lot. “You’re in great shape. I can’t believe you can put food away like that.”
    “I’m a dancer. The calories come right off.”
    My eighteen-year-old mind sent my thoughts straight to a shiny, silver pole and a fistful of dollar bills. I shifted uncomfortably and cleared my throat. “Ballet?”
    “Ballet, h ip-hop, modern… even swing, which might be useful here.” She nodded toward the window, and I broke into a blatant smile.
    “Really? You think maybe the people of 1955 are just lurking around corners, planning a swing -dance flash mob any minute?”
    She fought to hold back her grin and lost. “Good point.”
    What a smile… she’s so damn beautiful. “You should do that more often.”
    “What, swing dance?”
    “No- smile.”
    She cringed and laughed, and my own corny compliment forced me to join her. “That was awful. Try harder, Logan,” she rolled down the window, taking a deep breath of fresh, winter air.
    “Okay, that was lame. True, but lame.” I glanced back at Troy. “I need to do it again.”
    She nodded, and I watched a sudden urgency pass over her face as she grabbed my arm. “No- wait! What if Roam had the baby?”
    “What?”
    “What if it’s born- the prophecy over- and he’s not immortal anymore? How can he take me to my mom if he’s dead - really dead?”
    “Violet-…,”
    “No!” She pleaded with me, gesturing to the boat dock. “Please, get some rope. We’ll tie him up, and gag him. We can’t break his neck Logan. Please.”
    “How are we supposed to get him across the sound if he’s alive?”
    “It’s already getting dark. When West comes for us, we’ll just have to knock him out. But no killing him,” she insisted.
    I groaned, my full stomach and growing exhaustion only increasing my impatience. “ You go find some rope. Hurry.”
    “Okay,” she tugged on the door handle and ran to the dock. I glanced around before climbing out of the van, deciding no one was watching us.
    The nagging thought that I’d managed to set aside for hours finally pushed its way forward, and I exhaled quickly.
    What if Roam doesn’t make it?
    Her body was different as Annie; shorter, more petite. There were no hospitals on the island. What if something went wrong? What if she bled to death?
    “ Okay, here, tie him up before he wakes up. We can use West’s tee shirt to gag him.”
    “ Right.” I tore the bloodied tee shirt, securing it tightly around Troy’s head.
    Her long lashes fluttered as she