Paradox (Unearthly Paradox) (12 page)

Inside the house, he asked, “Do you want to go upstairs?”

I nodded. The trip upstairs jarred my chest with every step, bringing back some of the pain. In my room, he practically dumped me on the bed then headed for the door.

I stared at his retreating back. “You’re just going to leave me here?”

He stopped and turned around with a grin. “Do you need Nurse Lomazzo’s help getting changed again?”

I felt a mixture of humiliation and anger. I knew he was trying to avoid my questions by embarrassing me, and as much as I hated it, it worked.

Jett laughed. “Let me know if you change your mind. Nurse Lomazzo’s always happy to help.” He winked then left the room.

Flopping down on my bed, I willed myself to calm down. I couldn’t believe how I could be so infuriated by a guy, then the moment he smiled, my heart did all kinds of crazy things. I wanted to knock the lustful thoughts from my brain.

Wanting to see what he was up to downstairs, I turned on the TV and flicked to the security camera in the lounge room. Jett was sitting on the couch, his head in his hands. About a minute later, he picked up his phone and put it to his ear. He didn’t seem to talk much, and he looked troubled by the conversation. I made a mental note to tell Dad to have audio added to the security system.

After hanging up the phone, Jett rubbed the back of his neck. He stood up, and I wondered if he was coming upstairs to apologise, but he detoured to the front door. I hadn’t heard the doorbell, so the person must have knocked.

He opened the door to a leggy woman in her early twenties. She had long blond hair and big boobs overflowing from her top. My wound felt as though it had ripped open when she stepped forward—as close as her boobs would allow—and kissed him right beside his mouth. She allowed her lips to linger, obviously waiting for him to do something.

Jett put his hands on her hips and… pushed her away. I wished there was a rewind button, so I could make sure I hadn’t hallucinated the move, but by the look on the girl’s face, I had absolutely seen correctly.

He cocked his head toward the open door and said something to her. The greasy look on her face said she didn’t like what she was hearing. She turned around and walked out. I was so relieved that I wanted to jump up and down and do a happy dance.

Jett stalked over to the coffee table, picked up his phone, and called someone. A few seconds later, Jett’s mouth started moving rapidly, as though he was chewing someone out.

Shoving the phone into his pocket, he headed out the back door and disappeared off the screen. Telling myself that I just wanted to make sure he was all right, I slid out of bed and shuffled to the balcony door. I slid it open a couple of inches and stuck my ear to the crack. Silence.

After a few minutes, I started to feel kind of silly, so I decided to study for my next exam. I climbed back into bed with my textbook, but my mind was on other things. No matter how much I didn’t want it to be true, I knew that I was going to fail. The odds of my actually passing my year twelve exams were virtually impossible—thanks to the black-eyed boy downstairs.

“Speaking of…” I opened up the browser on my tablet and looked up “black-eyed people.” I used several different search terms, but I didn’t find anything new, just demons and supernatural stuff. Bringing Jett’s image to the forefront of my mind, I couldn’t help but laugh. There was no way on earth that boy was a demon.

I switched on the TV and flipped to the local news. The reporter was talking to some Schoolies helpers group. They were discussing all the safety measures they were taking, which they hoped would cut down the police arrests by half.
Yeah, right!
They’d said that every year, and each Schoolie was worse than the year before when it came to crime. It wasn’t the actual Schoolies that were the problem, it was the
toolies
—the older people who thought they were young enough to join in the festivities but who were really just tools.

Just as the weather report came on, there was a knock at my door, then it opened.

Jett stood in the threshold, holding up a tub of ice cream and two spoons. “Peace?”

“How can I say no when you’ve brought such a great offering?” Actually, I could think of a better offering, but ice cream would have to do.

Clearly relieved, he smiled and came over to the bed. I sat up and turned around to fluff my pillow.

Jett put a hand on my shoulder. “I got it.” He positioned it expertly.

“Thanks.” I leaned back against the pillow.

Jett climbed in the other side, sitting much closer to me than last time. “Here.” He handed me a spoon.

“One tub, two spoons?”

He smiled. “You worried about germs?”

I almost said I had no idea where his mouth had been. Yeah, that would’ve been the ultimate setback. And really, I wanted his mouth all over me, but sharing was probably as close as I was going to get to kissing him. “Not at all.”

“Good.” He dug his spoon in and scooped some ice cream into his mouth then tipped the tub in my direction.

I took a bite. The weather report had finished, so I changed the channel to my favourite soapie.

Jett nudged my arm. “Seriously?”

I swallowed. “Seriously.”

He threw his head back and groaned. “You’re going to be the death of me.”

Fighting desperately to keep the grin off my face, I said, “Get used to it. It’s one of my favourite shows.” I realised I had insinuated that he would be watching a lot more episodes with me, and I was glad he didn’t call me out on it.

Jett let out a dramatic sigh. “I get to pick what we watch next.”

“As long as it’s
The Big Bang Theory
.” From the corner of my eyes, I saw his lips tighten as he tried to hide a smile.

He bumped my thigh. “Are you planning on sleeping in that thing?” he asked, referring to my school clothes. “Don’t get me wrong. I like a girl in uniform, but I like your jammies even more.”

My cheeks flushed. “And why would I care what you prefer?”

He looked at me—
really
looked at me—in a way I’d only dreamed of, and I was pretty sure I would’ve done just about anything he asked. I had to shove another scoop of ice cream into my mouth to keep from asking Nurse Lomazzo to help me change.

Forcing my eyes back to the TV, I tried to concentrate on the storyline, but my whole brain seemed to have turned to slush. I had no idea why he would want me when he had gorgeous women falling at his feet. I was attractive, but Blondie from that afternoon took good looks to a whole other level.

Maybe I had eaten the ice cream too fast, causing a brain freeze, and I was only imagining that look on him. That was a more probable explanation. But then again, what was wrong with me? Why wouldn’t he find me attractive? And he had pushed Blondie away. “Are you gay?” I blurted.

Jett coughed, almost choking on his ice cream. He gave me an incredulous look. “Ah, no, I’m not gay. Do I look like I’m gay?”

Holy hell.
I really hadn’t thought that through. I couldn’t tell him that I had seen him push Blondie away. I shrugged. “No. But you haven’t…”
Oh, crap.
I had no idea how to finish that without sticking my foot in mouth.

“I haven’t what?”

“Um… you haven’t been on any dates since you’ve been staying here.”

He laughed. “It’s only been three days.” A sly grin crept over his face. “There’s something else, isn’t there?”

“No,” I said a little too quickly.

“Then why—”

Relief washed over me when the commercial break ended. “Shh.” I tapped his arm. “It’s back on.”

He shook his head but stopped pressing for an answer. I stared at the TV, acting captivated while dreading the next commercial break.

Jett’s phone beeped. He pulled it out of his pocket and read the message. When he started typing out a reply, I leaned over to try to read the screen, but he smirked and tilted his phone away.

After putting his cell back in his pocket, Jett groaned and sat up. “I’ve got to duck out for a bit.” He handed me the ice cream. “One of my cousins is coming over to stay with you ’til I get back.”

“I don’t need a babysitter.”

He ignored me. “Her name’s Jenna, and I’m sure she’ll be a lot nicer company than my brother.”

“Didn’t you hear me? I said I don’t need anyone looking after me. I’m eighteen, for Christ’s sake. I can take care of myself.”

He climbed off the bed. “Like you did last Friday?”

I raised my eyebrows. “He had a gun!” When he didn’t say anything, I added, “And what? I suppose your cousin could’ve done something to protect me?”

“Yes.” He walked over to the door. “I’ll be back soon,” he said then disappeared around the corner.

“I won’t let her in,” I called out.

“You won’t have to.”

As soon as I heard him get to the bottom of the stairs, I flipped the channel to the one that showed the foyer. Jett had opened the door to a beautiful brunette. She stepped in and kissed him on the cheek. They talked for a minute before Jett left, then the girl—presumably Jenna—closed the door.

She strolled into the lounge and stood with her hands on her hips as she surveyed the room. When she spotted the stairs, she walked toward them—then up them. I quickly turned the channel.

A second later, her smiling face appeared in the doorway. “Hi.” She gave me a quick wave. “Mind if I come in for a bit?”

“Sure, why not? Everyone else has been here.”

She pinched her eyebrows together as if I’d offended her somehow.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude. It’s just… I don’t know why you’re here. Hell, I don’t even know why Jett’s here.”

Jenna sat on the foot of the bed and adjusted her skirt, which had crept halfway up her thighs. “Jett’s just worried about you.”

“I don’t get why.”

She pursed her lips. “You were shot, weren’t you?”

I pulled down my top to show the gauze. “So it seems.”

Jenna leaned forward. “Mind if I take a look?”

“Um, okay.” I put the ice cream tub on my bedside table then peeled off the gauze.

The wound appeared to be almost healed, and the stitches were probably way overdue for being removed. I made a mental note to call the hospital to find out when I should come in to have that done.

Jenna shuffled closer to my side then ran a finger over my scar. As she did so, she rested her hand against my boob, and I wondered if she was gay instead of Jett.

Leaning in closer, she sucked in a deep breath, as if she were sniffing me but trying not to be obvious about it. My thoughts flicked back to the information I had read about demons feeding off human energy, and I barked out a laugh, which garnered me a look from Jenna.

She gently pressed the gauze back into place then dropped her hand to her lap. “So Jett tells me you’ve just moved here?”

I nodded. “Last week, actually. We moved up here from Sydney.”

“We?”

“My dad and me. He left for China last week, so it’s just me here.”

She nodded. “How are you liking it?” Her eyes went to my chest. “Apart from being shot.”

I thought about my time on the Gold Coast—the people I’d met, the people who’d tried to hurt me. Then I thought about Jett, and somehow, everything bad that had happened was forgotten. He had an amazing way of eating away at my mind until there was nothing left but my infatuation with him. “It’s been good—apart from being shot.”

She smiled. “It’ll get better. Jett will take care of you.”

“I don’t get why. I’m not his responsibility.”

“Well, he feels that you are.”

I’m a responsibility?
Geez, that made me feel all warm and cosy. I decided it was time to look after myself. I didn’t want to be anyone’s
responsibility
.

“Now.” She put her hand on my thigh, sending a new round of questions through my mind. Maybe I had been right about the gay thing, and I’d have to fend her off like Zane. “Do you want me to get you something? Some food? A drink?”

“What I really want is a shower.”

“Do you need help?”

“No!” I practically shouted.

“Easy.” She laughed. “I just meant that I could get you a fresh towel and some clean clothes. Unless you need help with the actual showering part?”

Not trusting my voice, I shook my head.

“Okay.” She gave my leg a quick rub. “I’ll be downstairs if you need me.” Jenna stood and left the room.

Holy hell, what was with his family? And what the hell was with her sniffing me? Bending my head down, I lifted my arm and took a whiff. “Wow.” I needed a shower badly.

I got out of bed with a little pain and went into my wardrobe. I picked out a tank top and pajama shorts then headed for the shower, remembering to lock the door behind me.

Once I was showered, dressed, and teeth brushed, I made my way back into my room, half expecting Jenna to be in bed, ready to seduce me. Fortunately, she wasn’t. I sat down at my desk and pulled out my study notes. I was halfway through the first page when I remembered to call the hospital.

I had no idea which hospital I had been taken to, so I Googled hospitals on the Gold Coast. The listings included Broadbeach Hospital, Robina, and a couple of small private ones. Checking a map, I did a quick search to see which was closer. My house was almost the same distance from both. Deciding to try Broadbeach Hospital first, I dialled their general inquiries number.

“Hello, this is Amy. How may I direct your call?”

“Um, I was wanting to know if I was admitted to this hospital last Friday, and if so, I would like to speak with someone about when my stitches are supposed to come out.”

“May I have your name, please?”

“Zara O’Dell.”

After a pause, she asked, “Do you mind spelling that for me?” When I gave her the spelling, she said, “Sorry, we don’t have any record of you in our system. You might want to try Robina.”

“Okay, thanks.”

I hung up and called the Robina hospital. The conversation went pretty much like the last one.

“Are there any other hospitals that would take gunshot victims?” I asked.

“Just us and Broadbeach Hospital. The only other hospital would be either up in Brisbane or down at Tweed. You said you were shot last Friday?”