too. Though some authority has to go after The Scientist.”
“We haven’t seen him. But, that’s what we’ll do. We’ll tell the authorities that he went crazy and forced the other coordinator down the hole. We’ll tell the students that you were weather-delayed and that the two coordinators were shifted to another campus due to a staffing shortage.”
If this made the national news, it would make the rounds in Manhattan, and tie back to her family. Her parents would hate being the focus of gossip. Kaitlin said, “I’ll go along with your story, because my parents would hate the spectacle.”
The director nodded. “Good. Remember. Bad storm. You sheltered at the hangar. Hiking back, you fell into the hole where the rescue coordinators eventually found you. The other two coordinators left after they were sure you were safe. Everyone stops the vitamins. Deal?”
“Deal,” Elena said.
“Okay. Get some rest. We’ll see you in class in the morning.”
Something about having it all settled made the exhaustion hit her harder. Kaitlin groaned. On the trudge back to the dorm room, she leaned against Rhys. Inside, Elena and Thane collapsed onto Elena’s bed. Kaitlin fell onto her own with Rhys beside her and slept.
Chapter Eight
This was the first time Kaitlin had ever had a boy in her bed, even if it was only because they’d fallen asleep. She tried to keep her breathing even.
Rhys.
Her heart rate picked up and washed away the tiredness and body aches caused by yesterday’s climb. What should she do? Should she get up and brush her teeth? Lie quietly until he awakened? She moved an inch and the mattress shifted.
Rhys’ arm dropped over her waist.
She stilled.
Rhys was amazing. Since day one when she’d run to him and told him about their being 98% matched as soul mates, he’d been wonderful. He’d watched her dance with such fascination in his expression, like she really intrigued him. And it wasn’t just the crazy heights her jumps achieved or the speed she’d picked up on the experimental drug. It seemed to be her who fascinated him. Even when she danced small graceful motions, he watched avidly.
Rhys.
She shifted her head and stared at the strong curve of his lips. Not too thin. Not too thick. Perfect. Rhys.
“Kaitlin!”
Kaitlin’s eyes flew open to the sound of a familiar voice. Mom? Here? No way.
Mom stood in the doorway, wearing her favorite Italian gray suit with a cream silk blouse. Dad stood beside her. His black power suit was impossibly out of place in Alaska.
An unfamiliar couple appeared behind them—a woman with a man in a wheelchair. Elena jumped out of bed and threw herself at them.
The man patted Elena’s shoulder. “They reported you kids missing, and all the parents came straight away.”
They hadn’t been missing exactly.
“Missing,” Rhys drawled and sat up. The mattress shifted toward him.
Kaitlin didn’t look at Rhys and felt her face heat. She was in bed with a guy, and from the way her parents were staring at her they didn’t realize that it was because they’d fallen asleep.
What would they believe?
She pinched the sheet between her fingers and blurted out, “We fell asleep studying.”
Silence.
More heat filled her face.
Get up.
Staying here would only make this more awkward. She crawled out of bed and went over to hug her family. “Mom. Dad.”
“I’d better go find my own parents.” Thane escaped.
Mom went along with the study-excuse, even while knowing it was a lie. “Grades are the reason you’re here. You’re setting an example for the nation.”
“Yeah, we fell asleep studying,” Rhys said in a dry voice. But, he didn't openly call her on the lie.
Another couple pushed into the room. Rhys climbed out of bed and embraced the lady. He ignored the guy, who was most likely his stepdad, given that all their parents were showing up.
Rhys’ stepdad snorted and said to Elena’s parents, “Good thing we followed you, or
“We haven’t seen him. But, that’s what we’ll do. We’ll tell the authorities that he went crazy and forced the other coordinator down the hole. We’ll tell the students that you were weather-delayed and that the two coordinators were shifted to another campus due to a staffing shortage.”
If this made the national news, it would make the rounds in Manhattan, and tie back to her family. Her parents would hate being the focus of gossip. Kaitlin said, “I’ll go along with your story, because my parents would hate the spectacle.”
The director nodded. “Good. Remember. Bad storm. You sheltered at the hangar. Hiking back, you fell into the hole where the rescue coordinators eventually found you. The other two coordinators left after they were sure you were safe. Everyone stops the vitamins. Deal?”
“Deal,” Elena said.
“Okay. Get some rest. We’ll see you in class in the morning.”
Something about having it all settled made the exhaustion hit her harder. Kaitlin groaned. On the trudge back to the dorm room, she leaned against Rhys. Inside, Elena and Thane collapsed onto Elena’s bed. Kaitlin fell onto her own with Rhys beside her and slept.
Chapter Eight
This was the first time Kaitlin had ever had a boy in her bed, even if it was only because they’d fallen asleep. She tried to keep her breathing even.
Rhys.
Her heart rate picked up and washed away the tiredness and body aches caused by yesterday’s climb. What should she do? Should she get up and brush her teeth? Lie quietly until he awakened? She moved an inch and the mattress shifted.
Rhys’ arm dropped over her waist.
She stilled.
Rhys was amazing. Since day one when she’d run to him and told him about their being 98% matched as soul mates, he’d been wonderful. He’d watched her dance with such fascination in his expression, like she really intrigued him. And it wasn’t just the crazy heights her jumps achieved or the speed she’d picked up on the experimental drug. It seemed to be her who fascinated him. Even when she danced small graceful motions, he watched avidly.
Rhys.
She shifted her head and stared at the strong curve of his lips. Not too thin. Not too thick. Perfect. Rhys.
“Kaitlin!”
Kaitlin’s eyes flew open to the sound of a familiar voice. Mom? Here? No way.
Mom stood in the doorway, wearing her favorite Italian gray suit with a cream silk blouse. Dad stood beside her. His black power suit was impossibly out of place in Alaska.
An unfamiliar couple appeared behind them—a woman with a man in a wheelchair. Elena jumped out of bed and threw herself at them.
The man patted Elena’s shoulder. “They reported you kids missing, and all the parents came straight away.”
They hadn’t been missing exactly.
“Missing,” Rhys drawled and sat up. The mattress shifted toward him.
Kaitlin didn’t look at Rhys and felt her face heat. She was in bed with a guy, and from the way her parents were staring at her they didn’t realize that it was because they’d fallen asleep.
What would they believe?
She pinched the sheet between her fingers and blurted out, “We fell asleep studying.”
Silence.
More heat filled her face.
Get up.
Staying here would only make this more awkward. She crawled out of bed and went over to hug her family. “Mom. Dad.”
“I’d better go find my own parents.” Thane escaped.
Mom went along with the study-excuse, even while knowing it was a lie. “Grades are the reason you’re here. You’re setting an example for the nation.”
“Yeah, we fell asleep studying,” Rhys said in a dry voice. But, he didn't openly call her on the lie.
Another couple pushed into the room. Rhys climbed out of bed and embraced the lady. He ignored the guy, who was most likely his stepdad, given that all their parents were showing up.
Rhys’ stepdad snorted and said to Elena’s parents, “Good thing we followed you, or
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