Escaped the Night by Jennifer Blyth Page B

“Thanks for the offer, but I’m going to meet up with Jayce . He said he’d pick me up in a little while. ”
     
    “ Hanging with Jayce again…” Uncle Dane said.
     
    I waited fo r him to object, but he was cut off.
     
    “ Ohhhh , do tell, do tell ! ” Auntie Steph absolutely beamed as she questioned me. Placing her elb ows up on the counter and leaning forward with her head in her hands , she waited for me to spill the details .
     
    “ Jayce, you know, the guy I met at the mall. I hung out with him and his friends yesterday. He’s pretty cool.” I tried leaving it at that.
     
    “Is he cute?” Her head tilting side ways as she prodded .
     
    I tried to act casual, but felt my face grow warm. I nodded, then took a bite of my toast.
     
    “You like him! You like him, a lot!” she squealed , th rowing her arms in the air .
     
    ‘ I like your aunt ! ’ J ayce intruded. ‘ Looking fo rward to meeting her, she’ll be easy to win over . Your uncle on the ot her hand … might be a bit more challenging .’
     
    I looked ove r, my uncle sat with a concerned expression . C learly not sharing the same enthusiasm as his wife.
     
    “Jayce is really nice, polite, he’s a true gentleman . ” I hoped this would help p ut his mind to rest.
     
    “Well, keep your cell with you at all times. Remember,” he said, the worry lines noticeable on his forehead, “we’re only a phone call away.”
     
    I got up and gave him a big hug. “Well, I guess I should start getting ready now. I told Jayce he could pick me up at eleven.” I never actually picked a time for Jayce to pick me up and wasn’t su re if he ’d caught the clue I just dropped for him. I couldn’t tell if we were still connected. I’d have to verify with him when I had a little more privacy.
     
    I loaded my dishes into t he dishwasher and headed down the hallway toward the bathroom . I was in desperate need of a shower. I stopped by the hall closet and grabbed a towel. I closed the bathroom door and was about to strip down when I clued in to the fact that I wasn’t sure if I was alone. A shower with Jayce in my head , oh my… I t hought about him as hard as I could.
     
    ‘ Well now , hello there, ’ he answered playfully.
     
    I was about to vent , but he cut me off.
     
    ‘ I know. Trust me. You don’t even need to ask. I’ll try t o think of lots of other things . Even though, I ’d re ally rather be thinking about you. ’
     
    ‘ If y ou prefer me to show up sm elly, then continue to think about me , Jayce. I dare you. ’ I wasn’t about to shower with him in my head.
     
    ‘ All right! You win. You ’ve got my word, okay? No thoughts, ’ h e promised. ‘ How about you s end me over a thought when you’re done . O r better yet, I’ll just see you at eleven. ’
     
    I was glad he picked up on my unsubtle hint. He was tricky and I had to lay down some ground rules with him . I needed to make sure I stu ck to my guns. ‘ Thank you… now out. ’
     
    It surprised me ; I actually felt him leave. A t least , I’ d learned something. I now knew what it fe lt like when he was connected and when he wasn’t. I needed to remember this feeling for future reference.
     
    I attempted a quick shower , just in case this whole ordeal was too tempting f or him. He was a guy after all and this was clearly asking a lot. I toweled off and put fresh clothes on. I br ushed my hair and teeth and put on a little bit of make-up.
     
    ‘ I’m ready for you, ’ I thought over to Jayce , hoping he’d hear me .
     
    ‘ Give me twenty minutes and I’ll be there. ’
     
    ‘ Jayce, were you connected this entire time?’
     
    ‘ No, I swear. It’s almost eleven and I knew you ’d be ready.’
     
    ‘Really?’
     
    ‘ Yup, I promise. S ee you soon .’
     
    Not even fifteen minutes passed by and there was a knock at the front door. Uncle Dane opened it .
     
    “Hello, I’m Jayce Fallon. I’m here to pick up Shanntal. I apologize for not