Dead Running (17 page)

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“I don’t want a girl’s night out. I want to be with Damon.”

“Obviously Damon doesn’t want to be with you,” Tasha said.

I shoved her. “That is totally untrue. He referred to ‘us’ several times today. Like we’re a serious couple.”

Tasha rolled her eyes. “You need a break from Damon.”

Raquel appeared by my side, offering her plastic card to the man behind the counter of Cache Valley Fun Park. “Why does she need a break from Damon? They’ve only gone out a few times.”

“Thank you,” I said. I flung a hand towards the cash register. “And thank you. You don’t need to pay for this . . . thing we’re doing.”

Raquel smiled. “It’s Jared’s card.”
           
“Oh, in that case, you’d better pay.”

“Cassidy?” A deep voice questioned behind me.

I whirled around and had difficulty breathing. “Jesse.” He wore a long-sleeved white T-shirt, a nice contrast to his dark coloring, and jeans that fit him perfectly. Why did this man always look so appetizing to me? “What are you up to tonight?” I tried to act nonchalant, it came across as demanding.

He placed his arm around the shoulder of a tween girl. “This is my niece, Alisha. Tonight’s our monthly date.”

“Hi.” The cute brunette greeted me, then turned to smile worshipfully at her uncle.

“It’s nice to meet you, Alisha,” I said.

A throat cleared, several times.

“Oh.” I gestured vaguely. “These are my friends, Tasha and Raquel.” I didn’t clarify very well, hoping he wouldn’t remember who was who and ask for Tasha’s phone number. Jesse shook each of their hands and exchanged pleasantries. I watched closely for signs that he lingered over Tasha’s fingers. Satisfied that he didn’t, I grinned at him. “We’re playing laser tag. Want to join us?”

Jesse looked to his niece.

Alisha wrinkled her nose. “Only
boys
play laser tag.”

I flung a hand in the air. “That’s exactly what I tried to tell them.”

Alisha stared at Tasha and Raquel then shook her head at me. “Sorry they tricked you into laser tag.”

Jesse laughed and squeezed her shoulder. “Guess that means no. Hopefully we’ll see you later.” He gave me one more slow smile before turning with his niece towards the skating rink.

We all watched them walk away. Tasha gave a low whistle. “You have been holding out on me. From dry spell of the century to two fine men after you.”

I shook my head. “Jesse isn’t after me. He’s never even hinted he wants to take me out.” I glanced quickly at her. “But that doesn’t mean
you
have a green light.”
           
Tasha smacked her lips. “Honey, I’ve never seen a man less interested in me than that wowzer of a specimen.”

I studied her closer, not sure if I trusted her to not compete. “He’s a plastic surgeon.”
           
Her perfectly arched brows lifted. “Hmm, maybe I’d better try harder.”

My eyes narrowed.
Negative info, negative info
. “His entire upper body is covered with tattoos.”

Tasha licked her lips. “I’m drooling here. You know I love a good tat.”

“It’s not just one. You can’t even see his original skin color.”

She clucked her tongue. “He’s got bad boy, rich honey written all over him.
Loving
the possibilities,” She rolled the L with a look that I knew had years of experience convincing men to fall for her.

I clenched a fist, trying to think of something to dissuade her.

Raquel stepped between us. “Enough slobbering over Jesse. It’s our turn to play.”

The front desk kid escorted us towards a darkened waiting area and started fitting vests on us and dishing out instructions I didn’t pay attention to.

“Why are we playing laser tag?” I asked. “Isn’t this something little boys do for birthday parties?”

As if to prove my point a gang of boys burst through the dark curtain screaming and pointing.

“I killed you like twenty times.”

“Oh, yeah, then why do I have 6800 points and you only have 1900?”

“The stupid corner things got me. I would’ve won.”

“Ah-loser.”

The boys put their finger and thumb on their forehead and all started to scream, “Loser, loser.”

I tilted my head towards the invigorated young men and lifted my palm toward Tasha. “To prove my point.”

“You’ve never played laser tag?” she asked.

“You seem to keep forgetting I’m an adult.”
           
“A boring adult.” Tasha shoved me into the darkened room with white lights that lit up my button down white shirt like a billboard. S
hoot me, shoot me
, my shirt shouted.

“You’re going to love it,” Raquel yelled behind me, squeezing her trigger repeatedly.

My vest buzzed. I looked down at my gun, it wasn’t working anymore. “Hey.”

Raquel giggled and raced past me. “Gotcha.” She pointed at some target in the corner, pumped another round into the green neon circle, and activated an annoying siren.
 
“Don’t let those things get you, remember?” Then she was gone.

No, I didn’t remember. I hadn’t paid one bit of attention to the instructions. The red light on my gun registered again. I looked around and called, “El? Tash?”

My jacket buzzed and my gun went dead. I gave myself whiplash trying to find one of my backstabbing friends. I whirled around and realized the target had zapped me.

“A thousand negative points,” Tasha called out as she sailed past me, shot the target, and went into hiding behind one of the dozens of fluorescent-lit poles.

“Dangit.” I ran to hide behind a pole and waited for my gun to regain power. It flashed red and I decided enough was enough. I went berserk. Sprinting between safety posts, my finger pumped so quickly I could hardly see which targets I hit. I screamed and dove and giggled when they hit me. After a few minutes I realized Tasha was right. “This is fun,” I yelled.

I saw Raquel dodging in front of me. Firing pell-mell, with no hint of aiming, I heard my gun say, “Good hit.”

“Woo-hoo,” I yelled. “I got you. I got you!”

I flew off to find Tasha, shooting some things on the wall for extra points.

Tasha ran towards me. I shot her, cackling when my gun confirmed the hit. She didn’t run away.

“Raquel’s down,” she screamed.

“I know. I shot her a second ago.”
           
“No.” Tasha grabbed my arm and pulled me with her.

“Hey,” I protested. “You can’t pull me into some ambush. Be a good loser. I am kicking some serious bum here.”

Tasha stared at me, her eyes wide. “Cassie. Raquel's in trouble. She’s on the ground. She’s hurt.”

It finally sunk in. “No.” I stopped resisting and ran alongside my friend, ripping off my vest and dropping my gun. “Where is she?”

“Over here.”

We rounded a corner and saw Raquel’s dark shape. She knelt behind a post, both hands cradling her stomach. I dropped to the ground. “El? What’s going on? What happened?”
           
She looked up at me. “I don’t know. I pulled something. I’m cramping and . . .” She grimaced. “I feel like something’s coming out.”

My insides gelled. “From down there?” I pointed below her rounded stomach.

Raquel nodded.

“Fluid or . . . ?”

“Fluid,” she confirmed.

I grabbed her arm. “We’ve got to get you to a doctor.”

She groaned in pain but let me slip off her vest and lift her from the floor. I wrapped my arm around her waist and ushered her out of the darkened playing field. Jesse and his niece were hovering over a video game in their roller skates.

“Jesse,” I cried out.

He whipped around, studied Raquel clutching her abdomen then refocused on me. “The baby?”

I nodded.

Jesse flung his roller skates off. “Alisha, go get our shoes and meet me at the front door.” He hurried to my side. “What happened?”

I elevated one shoulder. “She’s cramping and bleeding.”

Jesse swept Raquel into his arms. Tasha and I rushed to keep up with him. We burst through the double doors. I looked down at Jesse’s stocking feet. He didn’t seem to care he was ruining a pair of socks.

Jesse glanced at me. “Cassidy, reach into my back pocket and get my keys.”

I flushed with embarrassment, unable to ignore the surge of excitement as I fished in Jesse’s pocket for the keys.

“Having fun there?” Tasha asked.

I glared at her, pulled the keys out, and clicked the unlock button. A tan Denali lit up a few cars away. I should’ve known he’d have a sweet ride.

Jesse loaded Raquel into the front seat. Tasha and I climbed into the back. I handed over his keys, feeling another thrill as our fingers brushed. Alisha ran to us, climbed in back, and tossed Jesse’s shoes over the console.

“Thanks, Lish.” He slipped his shoes on without tying them, yanked the vehicle into gear, and floored it out of the parking lot. “Are you having pain?” he asked Raquel.

She nodded, bending forward and clutching at her stomach. “Cramping.”

“How far along are you?”

“28 weeks.”

Jesse dialed into his cell phone and demanded, “I need Celeste.” Seconds later, he said, “Celeste, this is Doctor . . .” He glanced at me, cleared his throat, and then gave a forced chuckle. “Yeah. You know who I am. Hey, I’m bringing someone in. She’s 28 weeks, hemorrhaging, and cramping. Back door? I owe you. I know, the list is long.” He hung up the phone. I wondered who Celeste was.

Within minutes we barreled into the emergency room parking lot. Jesse jerked the SUV to a stop by a door that said, “Authorized Personnel Only.” He ran around to unload Raquel. “Will you park my car and meet us inside, Cassidy?”

“Of course.” I’d do anything he asked. It only took a minute for Tasha, Alisha, and I to rush into the emergency room waiting area, but the glowering receptionist would not let us see Raquel.

“B-but,” I stuttered. “I’m her sister.”

The girl tossed her highlighted mane. “Please wait over there, ma’am.” She pointed towards a row of uncomfortable-looking chairs. Her maroon nails had dragon stickers on them. “I will let you know when I have some information.”

After I called Jared, Tasha and I paced the open area praying for good news. Alisha sat down and thumbed through People Magazine, a bored girl stuck in a hospital waiting room with strangers.

I gnawed at my thumbnail. All I could think about was the baby. Jared and Raquel wanted him so badly. Heck, I hated to have it be all about me, but I wanted the little one too. He had to be okay. He just had to.

Fifteen minutes after we got there, Jared burst through the sliding glass doors.

“Cassie,” he yelled.

Twenty people turned to glare. He didn’t seem to care. I ran to him. Jared grabbed me, jerking me into a fierce hug. “Is she okay?”

I shrugged helplessly. “I don’t know.”

He nodded. “Thanks for taking care of her.” He squeezed me again. “Where is she?”

I pointed to the double doors. “They won’t let you in.”

Jared’s face hardened. “See if they can stop me.”

The doors swung open. Jesse stood framed in them. Jared released me and stormed towards the doors. He rushed past Jesse and into the emergency room as the receptionist’s painted-on mouth twisted in panic. “You can’t go in there.”

Jesse walked to her desk. “It’s all right, Donna.”

The girl smiled and licked her lips. “If you say so, doctor.”

Jesse reassured her for a bit too long. She was grinning like he’d asked her to the Doctor’s Masquerade Ball by the time Jesse strode to my side.

“Is the baby okay?” I ignored my jealousy in the face of something more important.

Jesse nodded. “The heartbeat is strong. They’re trying to determine what caused the cramping and blood loss. They’re testing her now to see if she lost any amniotic fluid.”