Paradox (Unearthly Paradox) (13 page)

“Yeah.”

“This may not be my place to say, but do you think you might have the day wrong?”

“No. Why?”

“Let’s just say if you were shot three days ago, you’d still be in hospital.”

My heart hammered in my chest, not because I thought I was going insane—as I was sure she was insinuating—but because I knew that something was off—in a big way!

“Thank you,” I mumbled then hung up.

Two hours later, I was still sitting in my room, utterly confused that there was no record of me at any hospital. I had even called the small private hospitals and the ones in Brisbane and Tweed. None of them had me in their systems.

Lifting the gauze, I poked and prodded the scar just to make sure it was really there and not someone’s idea of a sick joke. The scar wouldn’t budge, and the stitches lifted my skin when I pulled at them, which ruled out the fake theory.

I did a search for “recovery time for gunshot wounds.” The information I found didn’t make me feel any better. According to the first five pages of search results, I should have been in hospital for weeks.

On a whim, I Googled “black-eyed people inhaling people” and ended up freaking the crap out of myself. I
so
wasn’t one of them, and I was pretty sure Jett wasn’t either because they apparently had to be invited into your house, and I certainly hadn’t invited Jett into mine.

Jett still wasn’t back, and Jenna was still downstairs. I was so sick of being in my bedroom. It was my house, and I wanted the run of it. I looked at the clock—ten thirty. Deciding it was time to take control of my life, I went to confront Jenna. When I got to the bottom of the stairs, I saw Jenna sitting on the sofa.

She whipped her head around. “Is everything okay?”

“Um, yeah.” I walked over to the sofa and rested my hands on the back of it. “It’s getting late. You don’t have to stay here any longer. I’m feeling well enough to take care of myself.”

I expected her to take the hint but she didn’t budge. “It’s okay. I don’t mind staying ’til Jett gets back.”

“Thank you, but that’s not necessary.”

She shrugged. “I know, but I’m happy to.”

“Thank you again, but I’m fine.” I wondered if I would have to spell it out.

Her smile dropped. “I’m staying until Jett gets back.” The authority in her voice reminded me of Jett.

Something told me that no matter how much I insisted that I would be okay, Jenna would not leave. “Fine. I’m going to bed now.”

The cheery smile returned. “Night.”

“Night.” I went back upstairs, locked my door, and crawled into bed.

I didn’t care that Jenna was supposedly there to protect me. My door was staying locked. I didn’t want her sneaking in later to sniff me while I was asleep.

Frustrated that my mind kept going where I didn’t want it to go, I put on my favourite playlist and tried to focus on the music to lull myself to sleep. Eventually, it worked.

The next morning I was dressed with my bag packed and ready to walk out of my bedroom when someone knocked on the door. I’d hoped to get out of the house before Jett came to wake me up, but obviously, I was a little late.

I opened the door just as he turned the handle. I expected him to be startled, but he wasn’t the least bit.

“Hey,” he said casually.

Adjusting the strap of my bag, I said, “Morning.”

He leaned his shoulder against the doorframe. “Feeling better this morning, are we?”

“Much.” I looked at my watch, hoping he’d take the hint, but he didn’t move. “But I won’t be if I’m late.”

His hand flew toward my face, and I closed my eyes, waiting for the impact. But all I felt was a soft brushing sensation at the corner of my mouth. I opened my eyes, completely stunned that I was still conscious.

He studied me. “You had a bit of toothpaste.”

God, I was pathetic. “Umm… thanks.” Blood rushed to my cheeks.

He smiled and straightened. “Let’s get you to school.”

“You don’t have to take me. I feel good enough to drive.”

Jett shook his head. “I’ll take you.”

I huffed. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re incredibly bossy?”

He raised his eyebrows, then a mischievous grin played at the corners of his lips. “May I remind you that Nurse Lomazzo knows best, and he says you’re not fit to drive just yet.”

If I thought my cheeks were red before, I was pretty sure they were practically glowing after his last remark. Taking my silence as acceptance, Jett took up his usual position by my side, and even though I didn’t need it, he helped me down the stairs and out to the garage.

“So where did you get to last night?” I asked once we were in my car.

Jett started the engine. “Sorry, I got caught up with something.”

“Something or someone?” Where the hell did that come from? I wanted to slap myself for being such a jealous bitch. And I had absolutely no idea why I was feeling that way, when last night I had decided to distance myself from him.

“Something and someone,” Jett said, making my chest tighten in response. “I had to stay at the club for a bit longer than I planned. There were a few staff problems I needed to deal with.” He pulled out onto the road.

“Oh,” I said, hating myself even more for being jealous. “I don’t suppose the strippers went on strike and you had to cover for them?” I laughed, trying to lighten the mood.

He chuckled. “No. But we’d have probably made more money if I was up on stage.”

I bit my lip, trying to supress the stupid grin that wanted to work its way onto my face when I thought about Jett strutting his stuff on stage. Then my stomach churned as I took the image further and thought of girls drooling all over him and sticking money God knows where.

Jett put a hand on my knee. “You okay?”

I was jolted out of my daydream as I became completely fixated on the fact that his hand was
still
on my knee.

He shook my leg. “Zara?” His gaze flicked between the road and me.

“Yeah, just thinking how this is the last week of school, and then I’m officially an adult.”

He narrowed his eyes. “You’re already eighteen, aren’t you?”

“Yeah, but my dad thinks he still has control over me, even though the law says I’m an adult.”

He moved his hand back to the steering wheel, and I held in a sigh. “Yet he leaves you at home alone?”

“Well, yeah. He only cares that I do well in school so I don’t embarrass him.”

He nodded. “And what do you want to do?”

“You mean after school? With school?”

“Both.”

“I wanted to go to university and study business, but I think I’ve blown that dream.”

Jett turned onto the school’s road. “How so?”

I glared at him. “You think I could concentrate on my math exam yesterday after I found out you saw me naked?”

He grinned. “If it makes you feel any better, I didn’t see you naked.”

I laughed. “Yeah, right.”

Jett pulled into the lot and once again parked in a disabled parking spot right up front. He turned off the ignition. “I was a complete gentleman. I even closed my eyes when I took off your bra.”

“And I don’t suppose your hands accidentally slipped?”

“I wish they had, but they didn’t.”

My eyes practically bugged out as I gaped at him.

“What?” He smirked. “I’m a guy.”

“Oooo… kay.” I threw open the door and jumped out, relieved to feel the warm, salty breeze blowing across my face. I headed toward the gate.

Jett caught up and wrapped an arm around my waist. “Now, remember to be completely and utterly in love with me for everyone to see so dearest Daddy doesn’t find out.”

Pretend? I wasn’t quite up to the love part, but I couldn’t deny the complete and utter lust I had for the guy. There would be no pretending on my side, and that was the biggest problem. “You know… I’m pretty sure I can get to class by myself.”

“Now what kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn’t walk you to class?”

“Need I remind you that you’re not my boyfriend?”

He scowled. “And what if you get halfway there and you collapse, and they take you to the school nurse, who then has an obligation to call your dad, who will then hire a babysitter much uglier and meaner than me to take you to and from school?”

I slipped an arm around his waist. “Is that better?”

“Much.”

We walked through the gates and were met by way too many hot-bodied females waiting to pounce on Jett the second I left his side. The bitch who’d had a go at me in class for trying to steal her boyfriend was also there, even though she was supposedly dating my would-be rapist. I smiled at her as I snuggled my head against Jett’s chest.

He leaned down and whispered, “Not that I’m complaining, but I think they would believe we’re together even if you don’t do that.”

“You’re enjoying this way too much, aren’t you?”

“You have no idea.” He slipped his thumb under my shirt and softly rubbed my hip.

“I’m pretty sure that was unnecessary, too.”

He shrugged. “Maybe. But I wanted to give the full effect for that girl over there who looks like she wants to rip your throat out.”

I laughed. “You have no idea.”

We walked up the path to the first building.

“Why?” he asked.

“Why what?”

“Why does she hate you?”

Stopping in my tracks, I stared at him. I was sick of pussy-footing around the topic, but I wasn’t sure school was the best place to discuss it. “I think you already know.” When he didn’t respond, I asked, “You were there, weren’t you?”

“Looky here,” a voice said from behind Jett. “Slut face has already moved on.”

We turned around at the same time, and I saw Tyler standing about two metres away with his rape posse. I expected to see a smart-assed expression that matched his comment, but his face paled and his eyes were full of fear as he stood there, locked in Jett’s gaze. Jett took a step toward him, and Tyler’s posse scattered.

The world went into fast motion. One minute, Jett was standing in front of me, and the next second, he had Tyler up against the wall, his arm pushed up against Tyler’s throat.

I looked around, expecting to see a bunch of gawkers. But everyone, including Tyler’s friends, was hurrying off to class as if nothing was happening. Jett leaned in and said something I couldn’t make out. I knew I should’ve been trying to drag him off Tyler, but that bastard deserved everything he got. Maybe he would think twice before attempting to rape another girl.

A second later, Jett dropped his arm, and Tyler crashed to the ground. Tyler doubled over as he desperately tried to suck in some air, but Jett hadn’t punched him.

Jett strolled back over to me. “He shouldn’t cause any more trouble,” he said, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear.

Everything inside of me was screaming that I should be afraid of him, but I wasn’t. I wondered if my lack of fear had to do with Tyler being a potential rapist or if it was because I was so infatuated with Jett that I was making up excuses for him like abused spouses so often do.

“Hey,” he said, putting his hand on my hip. “You okay?”

I gave him a small nod. “Um… yeah.”

Jett wrapped his arm around my shoulders and ushered me away from Tyler, who was still hunched over on the ground. The way he held me close to him the whole way to class was kind of possessive, which had my head fighting my heart. When we got to my classroom, everyone was already inside and sitting at their desks.

“You want me to walk you inside?”

I shook my head. “I think I can manage.”

He ran his hand down my arm then took my hand and gave it a squeeze. “Good luck.”

“Thanks. I think I’m going to need it.”

He lowered his head and brushed his cheek against mine, taking a deep breath as if he were inhaling me. But the action didn’t feel creepy coming from him as it had with Jenna. Instead of being grossed out, I wanted to step closer to him. Letting out his breath, he pressed his lips against my cheek. I feared I might die on the spot from ecstasy. I put my hand on his side for support so I wouldn’t collapse like some idiot who’d never been kissed before. Only that made it worse. Feeling his rock-hard hips made me want to slide my hand under his shirt and touch his stomach. I mentally slapped myself out of the stupor I was falling into.

Jett stepped back and smiled. His eyes were ten shades darker, but at least the whites were still showing. “I’ll see you soon.” He squeezed my hand one last time, and as embarrassing as it was, he had to physically turn me around and show me to the door to stop me from staring at him.

Turning the last page of the test over, I sighed with relief. I had actually managed to finish with ten minutes to spare. How I had been able to concentrate after Jett’s kiss was beyond me.

Many nervous faces turned to the whiteboard as the teacher put a line through the “ten” of “ten minutes left” and wrote “five.” Only one other person had his paper turned over. His arms were crossed, and he was leaning back in his chair as he waited for the time to go by.

Turning my head to the right, I noticed one of Tyler’s friends staring at me. The moment my eyes met his, he dropped his gaze. I thought that must’ve had something to do with him seeing me with Jett. Maybe all the harassment was going to stop. I could only hope.

“Two minutes,” the teacher called from behind his desk.

Planting my elbow on my desk, I rested my head on my hand and spent the remaining minutes thinking about what I was going to do when I got home. The previous night—even that morning—I had been determined to create some distance between Jett and me, but after the incident outside the classroom, I wanted anything but that. Then I remembered my stitches. They needed to come out, but something deep inside me that I didn’t understand was telling me to keep quiet and talk to Jett about it first.

“All right, class, put your pens down and turn your papers over.” The teacher walked around the room, collecting the exam papers.

Once he returned to his desk, he dismissed us, and everyone piled out of the room. I was the last one to leave, and I expected to see Jett waiting outside for me, but he wasn’t. So much for his possessiveness. It must have all been in my imagination.