Chapter Eighty Four
Raleigh
As the bell rings, I busy myself with slipping my book and notebook back into my backpack before zipping it up, letting the rest of the students empty from the classroom before standing up from my seat in the back row and heading for the door at the front of the classroom, throwing a wave at Mr. McLean as I pass by his desk.
“Have a good day, Raleigh,” he says, his thick scottish accent out in full-force today. He’s been in the states for thirty-some-odd years and his accent still comes out rather thick at times.
I suppress a giggle at the way he says my name, sounding like ‘Raw-lee’ just like you would pronounce Raleigh, North Carolina, rather than the ‘Ray-lee’ pronunciation that my parents gave me.
“Thank you, Mr. McLean. See you tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow,” he gives me a polite smile and nod of his head before turning as he begins to ready the board for the next class.
As soon as I step from the through the door, I’m swept up in the flow of students as they make their way down the hallway, on to their next destination.
As I get caught up in the crowd, I think about how I’m not supposed to be here right now but with Lincoln.
**How I made him a promise.**
**A promise that I’ve now broken.**
Sidling up next to me as soon as I step out into the courtyard, Serenity slips her arm through mine and with a hip-check, she asks, “What’s up, hot-stuff?”
“Not much, ready to be out of here,” I tell her, as tears begin to burn the back of my eyes. With a sniff, I glance at her out of the corner of my eye and say, “I made a promise to Lincoln that I would be there waiting for him when he was released from the hospital but because of this asshole, I’m here being babysat like a toddler.”
“Oh, Ray…” Ser says, pulling me away from everyone and closer to the parking lot before wrapping her arms around me.
“I’m so sorry. I completely forgot that was today.” When she pulls back the sincerity of her words is staring me in the face, she truly is sorry.
I’m looking out into the parking lot, wishing more than anything else at the moment that he were here, when I spot his familiar black truck.
“Oh my God!” I shriek as I shove past Serenity and take off running toward the parking lot, butterflies and giddiness filling me as I close the distance between us.
As soon as I get to him, I jump, both my legs and arms wrapping around him when he catches me, with his hands planted firmly on my butt.
“What are you doing?” He asks, a look of confusion taking over his face but that smirk that I love so much is still firmly in place.
“I can’t believe you’re here!” A giggle leaves me as I lower my face to his, desperate to taste him.
*It’s been entirely too long.*
“Raleigh, stop. Stop, Raleigh!” He hisses quietly through clenched teeth as places one hand on my cheek, his thumb moving up and down against my skin in a caress. “Rayleigh, I’m not him. I’m not Lincoln, remember? It’s Jackson.”
His whispered words brings me back to reality and suddenly I can’t hold back my tears as they flood my eyes, only to fall and slide down my cheeks.
“Shit,” Jakson curses before pulling me closer and placing a lingering kiss to my forehead, *gotta make it look believable*, I can’t help but think as a choking cry leaves me. “Shhh, Ray, hey, it’s okay. I’ll take you to see him after school myself, if that’s what you want. It’s going to be okay, we just want to keep you and the babies safe.”
“I just miss him so much…and seeing you every day…it’s like some kind of cruel joke,” I cry the words, trying to not be loud and draw any unwanted attention.
I feel him stiffen for just a minute before he cups my cheek with same hand again and lowers his mouth to my ear, “I’m sorry. That was never my intention.” There’s a moment of silence and then he says, “In the back corner of the lot is an older black Buick with tinted windows. Walk over to it and get in the passenger seat. Don’t ask any questions just do it, okay?”
He pulls back slightly, looking at me expectantly. When I nod in understanding, he releases his hold on my ass, instead, holding onto my waist and letting me slide down his body until my feet are touching the ground.
As soon as I’m settled he whispers, “Go,” and then pulls his hand away from my body.
I have no idea what awaits me inside the Buick waiting beneath a crop of trees in the far corner of the lot but my nerves are going haywire, bad scenario after bad scenario playing through my mind with every step I take.
About halfway there, I stop and turn around to glance back at Jackson. He’s still standing in the same spot, his thick arms folded across his broad chest with his legs spread wide but his face show no emotion what-so-ever. When he sees that I’ve stopped, he gives me a smile and a wink and a brief nod of encouragement before his face falls back into the blank mask from before.
*So weird. What is up with the blank face?*,I wonder, my teeth tearing at my bottom lip as curiosity about Jackson’s odd behavior change and nerves over what lies ahead begins to eat at me.
Doing as I was told, I go to the passenger side and reaching out with a shaky hand, I pull the handle, the click sounding like the cocking of a gun to my frazzled mind.
Pulling the door open, I glance inside and anything that I would have said gets stuck in my throat as a voice growls, “Get in!"
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