Destiny Ever-Changing by Tasha Ivey Page B

name. I'm not a psycho stalker, I promise."
    "When you say 'box,' you mean the"
    "Just a box," he quickly interrupts as if to save me from today's embarrassments. "I don't remember which one."
    He's not a good liar, but I am relieved. "Good! Well, actually, I mean, you were right. My name is Laura. Laura Carey, actually."
    He holds his hand out to shake mine and tries to stifle a laugh. "Nice to meet you, Laura Carey, actually. My name is Brooks Tucker, actually."
    I can't help but laughing, even though he is making fun of me. "Okay, I deserved that, actually . I have a tendency to sound like an idiot when I'm around someone I don't know. I'm not what you would call a social butterfly." I still sound like an idiot.
    "And yet you came and found me tonight?" He raises one eyebrow, looking insanely gorgeous.
    "You have the wrong idea. I was just on a nice, long walk, and I could see you lying on these stairsobviously drunkand I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I didn't even know it was you until I was within a few feet of you. In fact, I thought you were asleep, and I was going to leave before you ever saw me. I'm no psycho stalker either."
    "Touché," he says as we both turn toward the sound of a gate opening at the top of the bluff. He quickly grabs my arm and drags me under the stairs with him to hide. I don't understand what is going on, but I'm having a hard time thinking of anything other than how close he is to me. With one arm wrapped tightly around my shoulders, he has me pressed against his side. Tight enough that I feel every breath he takes. Tight enough that a fury of nervousness and attraction explode through my body.
    "What are we doing?" I mouth to him, attempting to overcome my temporary stupor.
    Brooks simply puts his finger over his mouth, looking up at the stairs.
    "Joshua?" a woman yells. "Are you out here?"
    When there is no answer, the woman descends the steps halfway and repeats her inquiry. Again, there is no answer, and the woman huffs and goes back up the stairs. I hear the sound of the gate closing.
    The curiosity is killing me. "What is going on? Who was that, and who is Joshua?"
    "That is Jacqueline Martens. She lives up there."
    "Oh, she's the woman you work for. Which makes Joshua her . . . husband?"
    Brooks begins to fidget. "No, not yet."
    That woman must make him nervous or something. I see an immediate change in his mood and his facial expression as he helps me out from under the stairs. He was calm and almost charming before; now, he is nervous and sullen. His once relaxed face becomes hardened and furrowed. Deep creases are forming just above his brows, and he presses his lips into a tight line.
    "Why were you hiding from her?" His mood change causes my soaring adrenaline to leave me feeling more like a deflated balloon.
    He begins to say something a few times, but he can't seem to form the words. "I just don't want her to know where I am," he finally says with an edge of bitterness in his voice.
    It's obvious to me that he is agitated. I'm not sure what has provoked this behavior from him, but I decide it's time for me to go. "Well, Brooks, it was nice to see you again, and I want to thank you again for today. I have a long walk back home, so I better get started. Maybe we'll see each other around town."
    "I doubt we will, but maybe," he says as he sits and glares at the sand, completely emotionless.
    That was the strangest conversation I've had in a long time. I can't figure out what is going on between him and his employers. Out of nowhere, she shows up, and he turns into cold stone. I almost wonder if there is some sort of love triangle thing going on.  His behavior was just so odd, and he became so indifferent. He could have at least offered to walk me home; it's an awful long way to walk without much light.
    After what seems like forever, I finally make it home. Fumbling with the keys, I finally get the door open and flick the light on. I take a quick shower to wash