Mindsiege (Mindspeak #2)(55)

Swimming relaxed me. But even the hardest workout wouldn’t expunge the memories of the last few days. And forgetting wouldn’t prepare me to face Sandra.

I would confront Sandra. It was just a matter of time. And it was important that I be prepared.

I touched the wall, out of breath. I had been swimming for over an hour. I ripped my goggles and swim cap off my head and threw them up on the deck. Eyes closed, I ducked back under the water and smoothed my hair back. When I surfaced and reopened my eyes, I stared at bare feet in front of me.

Glancing up the length of the legs and body above me, I found Jack staring down at me. I leaned my head back in the water to get a better angle on his incredible body and smiled. “Up for a swim?”

He didn’t smile back.

He turned and kicked his shoes off and away from the pool. Next, he pulled his shirt over his head, providing me with quite a show of his ripped upper body. Facing me, he yanked the snap of his jeans and pushed them down, stepping out of them and tossing them aside so that they joined his shoes and T-shirt.

Wearing only his boxers, he walked the few steps to the edge of the pool and sat. His legs dangled in front of me.

Slowly, I ran my hand along his ankle, up the length of his shin, and around to his calf. Holding on to both calves, I positioned my body between his two legs.

He stared down at me, but still hadn’t spoken. I wanted to tell him that everything was going to be okay. That I loved him. That when this was over, we would go on to graduate from high school, go off to college, and just be together. But I couldn’t tell him those things. I wouldn’t make promises I might have to break.

I looked away from him. We were alone in the aquatic center.

He reached out and placed his palm on my cheek. Closing my eyes, I leaned into his gentle touch. Cool air touched my cheek when he pulled his hand away. He used his hands to shift and ease his body into the water.

We were face to face—me in a swimsuit and he in his boxers. The strong scent of his shampoo mixed with the smell of chlorine. My hand shook as I reached out and touched the hair on his forehead. His other arm snaked around my waist and pulled me to him. My face was inches from his. His breath was hot against my lips. He held me so tightly I was sure he could feel my heart beat against his chest. My eyes were glued to his. My mind—blank.

I saw and experienced nothing but the beautiful person in front of me.

He leaned in and kissed me just under my earlobe. Electric impulses traveled from that spot and spread down my arms, my chest, and into my stomach.

His hand began to roam up my back until his fingers spread wide, two of them slipping under one of my straps.

“I love you,” he whispered in my ear. “That will never change.”

I pulled my head back and looked at him. At the emotion in his eyes. His hand roamed further up my body until it was intertwined in my hair. Then, all at once, he crushed his lips against mine. The electric current running through us exploded like a thousand active neurons.

We stayed like that until we both needed a breath. He trailed additional kisses along my jawbone until he breathed into the crook of my neck. My hand roamed his back and massaged the base of his neck.

Eventually, he loosened his hold and pulled his head back to gaze at me. “You’re shaking,” he said.

“Am I?”

He nodded, his face serious. “You’re cold. Let’s get you into a hot shower.”

After climbing out of the pool, Jack wrapped me in a large towel.

I stared at the gold specks in the blue of his eyes. “Where will we be in eight months?”

His brows furrowed, casting a dark shadow over his face. “I’ll be wherever you are, and you’ll be wherever I am.”

I smiled a little at that. His face remained as serious as it had been when he’d entered the pool.

He grasped at terry cloth with both hands and brought me closer. He leaned in and kissed me with soft lips. Once. Twice. Three times. Then, he let me go. “Shower. I’ll see you at lunch.”

“Come with me?” I asked with a distinct playfulness.

Finally, he smiled. Closing the distance between us again, he whispered against my cheek, “That’s not what you really want. Timing is off.”

“No, but it got you to smile.”





Chapter Twenty-Three


The dining hall was empty compared to a normal day. Most of the noise came from the workers trying to keep a routine for the frightened students who remained on campus—other cloned humans who I assumed were unaware of how they were created. Seth claimed he would be talking with them soon. I recognized most from Dad’s list.

They were young. Seventh and eighth graders, mostly. I couldn’t help but wonder if they had spoken to their parents. Would their parents tell them the truth about being clones?

I massaged the bridge of my nose. As much as I wanted to do something to help the unsuspecting students left at Wellington, I couldn’t. I had to concentrate on Dani and Addison. They needed my help more at the moment. Maybe by helping them, I would also do something good for the others.

I continued to look around. A few teachers huddled at their usual table, no doubt discussing the bombing. How much did they know? Cathy, Dean Fisher, and Dr. Wellington weren’t present. And I hadn’t seen Jack’s dad since before the art gala.

Over by the windows was my target group: Kyle, Jonas, Briana, and Jack.