Saving Sloan (Sloan Series Book 2) (22 page)

Sloan locked the door to change clothes, not wanting any unwanted visitors or boyfriends.

Oh glory! Aaron was her boyfriend. Wait. Wasn’t he her boyfriend? Had they decided that last night? They’d decided they liked each other. Did that mean he wanted to go steady, as Donna called it? Did she dare ask or just go with the flow? She should so text Mackenzie.

She grabbed her cell and looked at the time. After eight. Man, she’d slept a long time. And she already had one text from a number she didn’t recognize. She opened it and stared when the picture popped up. A single red rose with the message:

A fake rose until I can give you the real one. Can’t wait till the Fall. I wouldn’t tell Aaron if you truly care about him. He won’t like it if you do. This is between me and you. <3

Sloan stared at the sparkling rose on her phone, not sure what to do. She was lying to her mother, now she needed to lie to Aaron. She couldn’t let anything happen to him, and it would if he knew.

Who knew her cellphone number? She ran to her computer and turned it on, praying it would hurry up before Aaron got back. Finally, it did and she pulled up a search engine. She typed in the number and waited.

“Sloan?” The handle to her door jiggled. “You okay in there?”

“Hold on, Aaron. I’m changing,” she lied as she watched the little circle swirl above the cursor arrow on her screen. Hurry up, she willed it.

“I don’t mind. I can always help.”

“No thanks.” She shook her head. What was she going to do with him? And on a more serious note, how was she going to keep the text from him? With one click, she deleted the message so he wouldn’t find it if he dug.

A list of numbers popped up on the screen. None matched the one she needed. “Prepaid phone,” she whispered. Of course it was. Why did she even waste the time looking?

“Sloan, it doesn’t take that long to throw on a shirt and pants. Come on, let me in.” He banged harder.

Frustrated, she got up and unlocked the door.

“Took you long enough,” he said as he walked by her.

“Patience.” She tried to smile and slid the cellphone in her pants pocket.

Aaron looked around the room and pointed to the computer. “You had time to get online.”

Busted. “Had to check a few things. See if I had any messages.”

“Did you?”

“Didn’t see any,” Sloan lied. She absolutely hated lying, but it was for his own good. Even if something happened to her, at least her mother and Aaron would be okay.

Aaron’s forehead creased, and he walked closer to her. “You sure you’re okay? You’re exceptionally bubbly today.”

Lie and lie fast. “I slept good last night. First time in a long time and I didn’t wake up groggy. That’s a plus.”

“So you’re saying I did you good.” He smirked.

“That’s exactly what I’m saying.” She hugged him first, settling next to his chest.
God, please let me be doing the right thing. Don’t let anything bad happen to him. I couldn’t stand it.

“Speaking of waking up not groggy, did you take any of your headache medicine yesterday?”

She eased up. “You’re bringing that up again? Thought I talked you out of me being a druggie.”

“You did,” he said innocently. “I just wanted to know if you took any headache medicine from the same bottle you have been taking them from.”

That made no sense. “Yeah. I took two before I got in the shower yesterday.”

Ugh, the shower was not a good memory. She fought to not freak out over it. It wouldn’t do any good. She had to stay calm today or Aaron would ask questions. She couldn’t have that because then he’d find out about the text and the
fake
rose. As much as she wanted to tell him, she couldn’t. She loved him too much.

A broad smile crossed his face. “And you didn’t feel bad or anything afterward? No side effects?”

“Well, I felt like some crazy person came into my bathroom and left a threatening note.”

“Not that, Loopy. Did you feel like you normally do when you take them? Sleepy? Dizzy? Out of it?”

Come to think of it… “No. I didn’t. Hmm… Reckon’ why?”

Aaron’s smile got bigger, if that was even possible. “I had Ray switch the bottles.”

“You did what?”

“Yesterday. He said he asked for a pencil or something from your bag. He switched the bottles.”

That’s why she’d heard the rattling. “Why?”

“Because I had a theory. I think the pills you’ve been taking were planted. I think they were very strong pain pills someone put in your over-the-counter bottle to make you think they were innocent aspirin. The fact that you didn’t have any side effects proves it.”

Pretty sneaky. “But who could do that? My bag is always with me.”

Aaron cocked his head. “This guy can get into your locked car, your locker, your own bathroom, and you wonder how he could get into your backpack?”

“Okay, yeah. That makes sense.” It did freak her out, though, that all this time she’d been going to school and driving while taking pills that she had no idea what they were. “I felt like I did when I took the two pain pills from Darcy,” she said, putting the pieces together.

“The ones I caught you with at my house?”

“Yeah. She offered to give me two, and I took them. Not at the same time, of course. I knew they were strong, but I didn’t think they were
that
strong.”

Aaron bit his lip. “So we know how you got the pills and why you were acting so weird. That’s good. I feel better.”

Yay, she was glad he did. She didn’t. Someone had been in her house, in her bathroom, and now in her body, putting who knows what in her bloodstream. It made her sick. “I’m glad I’m not going to school today. I couldn’t take seeing Darcy.”

“I’ll text Ray and have him do some stealthy questioning. He’s good at that.” Aaron pulled his cell from his pocket.

“Really? Ray’s stealthy?”

“No.” Aaron smiled. “But he’s all we have right now.”

While Aaron texted Ray, she texted Mackenzie to tell her not to worry, that she didn’t feel well, and she’d see her tomorrow at prom. It was a bittersweet text because she knew something horrible would probably happen to her at prom. But, whoever it was could break into her house, so she was just as safe in a room full of people as she was locked in her house.

“Breakfast?” she asked him when she got finished texting Mackenzie.

“Starving.” He took her hand and led her downstairs.

To her surprise, her mom sat at the kitchen island. “You don’t think I’d leave you to deal with this alone, did you?”

“No.” Sloan forced a smile. But she sort of wished she had. She wouldn’t have to lie if these people would just leave her alone. “Didn’t expect you to stay home, though. Two days in a row.”

“I called in. Took vacation for the rest of the week. Tomorrow’s prom and I don’t want to miss a minute of getting you ready. And pictures. Lots of pictures.”

“You hear that.” Aaron grinned and put his arm around Sloan’s shoulders. “Lots of pictures.”

Terrific.

“And you, Mr. Hunter.” Her mom leaned her hip on the stool next to her. “Didn’t sleep on the couch last night.”

“I fell asleep. In Sloan’s room.” His face actually blushed. It was cute. He needed to be embarrassed more often.

“Uh-huh. Just don’t do anything you’ll regret.”

“Mama.” Sloan groaned and hung her head. Why did everything have to lead to that?

“Just sayin’.” She winked and put her coffee cup in the sink. “So, get something to eat and come in the living room for a movie marathon.”

She didn’t wait for a yay or nay before shaking her little legs into the living room.

“I’m sorry.” Sloan grimaced, facing Aaron.

“No, I like it,” he said. “Your mom went from totally hating me to letting me spend the night. I’d say that’s progress.”

She hadn’t thought about it like that. Her mom hating Aaron seemed so long ago. She couldn’t see how anyone could not like him now.

They fixed two bowls of cereal and camped out on the couch. For the next several hours, they watched movies together. Mostly comedy. One sort-of-sappy drama that caused Sloan to have to hide tears. One old-time travel movie from the 80s: Parts One, Two, and Three. Thankfully, no horror movies. She was already living in one of those.

Sloan spent the day cuddled next to Aaron and texting Mackenzie occasionally. She even got a text from Ray asking if she was okay. She told him she was. He told her he was looking forward to prom tomorrow night. She wished she was. It wouldn’t be so bad if she wasn’t going to
fall
. Falling sounded painful.

But she felt bad for Ray, so she texted back that she was excited to go with him too. Even after she’d pressed send, she looked over at Aaron, who threw some popcorn in his mouth. She’d much rather go to the prom with Aaron. Stupid school rules. She hoped it wouldn’t be too awkward to be with Ray all night. If only this hadn’t all happened the week
before
prom. The timing really stunk.

After school, Mackenzie called and asked if they needed her to come over. Apparently, since Sloan wasn’t there, she’d eaten lunch with Travis’ cousin, Sarah. According to Mackenzie, the girl was nice, kinda shy, and mortified by the role Travis had played in helping Boyd hurt Sloan. She said Sarah was going to tell Travis Mackenzie had asked about him the next time she saw him, which could be a while. She wasn’t exactly sure where he was at the moment.

Sloan took out a pad and pen to jot down all of the things running around her mind. First, everyone’s location.

Sloan: home with Aaron and Mom.

Mackenzie: going to her house after supper with her parents.

Boyd: stuck at home.

Boyd’s mom: with him.

Boyd’s father, Mr. Lawrence: business trip somewhere.

Sloan wasn’t sure she believed that now. Not that she thought Mr. Lawrence would hurt her, but she didn’t see him running off on some business trip and leaving his family. Plus, what sort of business trip was it? He’d quit teaching to take care of Boyd.

Donna: next door. Safe.

Sarah Blaylock: living in Travis’ house.

Travis, Boyd’s former best friend: Gone. No one knew where.

Darcy: ?

Tanner: Probably in some drugged-out haze.

Her dad: shacking up a few states away with Tiffani.

He hadn’t even called. To be fair, she hadn’t called him either.

Mentally exhausted, she doodled on the paper. This particular movie was pretty boring so she tuned it out. Something about aliens. She didn’t really care. After she’d sketched an entire garden, Aaron’s phone sang. He flipped it open.

“Ray,” he told her. “He wants to know if you need him to come over.” Aaron looked at her expectantly. “Do you want him to come over?”

That was the big question now, wasn’t it? How did she say yes without hurting Aaron’s feelings or possibly leading Ray on? “Tell him whatever he wants to do.” There, put the ball in his court. Genius.

Aaron entered the text. Almost instantly one came back. “He said he’ll see you tomorrow. Early, so you can start on pictures and stuff before the prom. Is that okay?” Aaron pointed to the screen. “He actually asked that.
Is that okay
?”

It sort of hurt that he didn’t want to come over. They used to hang out all the time, but she understood. She’d been forced to choose, and she hadn’t chosen him. “Yeah. Tell him yeah, that’s fine. Tell him to be here around noon.”

“So early? Prom’s not till, what, six?”

“Five-thirty, but we were going to get some supper first and take lots and lots of pictures.” She glanced at her mom, who grinned.

“Ah.” Aaron keyed in Sloan’s reply. “A full-on date then.”

Her mom nearly choked on her popcorn. “I’m sorry.” She coughed. “I just… I’m sorry.” She went to the kitchen, and Sloan heard water filling a cup.

“This is even too much for her.” Sloan laughed, rubbing her forehead.

Aaron grinned. “I’m kidding, you know? About the date. I know you two are just friends.”

She smiled and cuddled up to him. If only that were true.

CHAPTER TEN

The Fall

S
LOAN WOKE UP
F
RIDAY MORNING ALONE
in her bed. It was the day. The day of the prom. The day of her fall.

Aaron spent the night, but, at her mother’s insistence, he stayed on the couch. It was fine with her. She needed time to think. It would probably prove to be a very long day.

Since she didn’t have to go to school, she stared at the ceiling, thinking about the facts she did know. Someone had switched the medicine in her bottle to prescription strength, similar to the ones Darcy took. If her stalker could get in her house and in her car and in her locker without being detected, it wasn’t a stretch to believe he could switch the medicine.

It was like he was a ghost and could walk through her walls without being detected. Like maybe she’d trusted him — or her — at one time. Maybe he or she had even been in her house. ICU had been in her house Wednesday night. In her bathroom while she’d showered. Her body shook thinking about it. She hated the thought that someone had snuck in and had caught her so vulnerable.

The cellphone on her nightstand started singing, and she picked it up, expecting it to be Mackenzie ready to chat about their prom plans. Mackenzie didn’t know about the final flower she’d gotten via text yesterday. No one knew. To protect her family, she had to keep it to herself. If ICU could sneak into her house, he could make good on his promise to hurt the people she loved.

It wasn’t Mackenzie’s name that popped up. Unknown number. Perfect.

Her hands shook as she pressed the open button.

One more rose. A real one this time. Time for the Fall. Are you excited for prom? I am. Scared to show? Don’t be. Someone is falling tonight. You? Mackenzie? The little boyfriend of yours? Your choice. Get pretty for me. And comb your hair. It looks like a rat’s nest. ICU.

Sloan threw her phone on the bed and ran to the window. No one was on the street or around from where she could see. Freaking out, she fell to the floor and propped her back on the door. Pulling her legs up to her chest, she hugged them and sobbed into her knees.