After our meeting, Nick and I run through the neighborhood with Ceres before returning to the backyard. Nick wants me to practice with my knife again. He quickly draws a fake person on a scrap piece of plywood and leans it up against the deck. I practice stabbing him in the areas Nick and Ceres point out, then we switch to breaking holds while stabbing someone with my closed knife. Ceres watches and offers suggestions to help. The rest of the guys decide to split up and practice fighting as well. It makes me feel better that everyone is taking this so seriously. I know they're all trained through Finn, but they don’t need to practice much.
This is so surreal, all of it. I’m going to need to call Sarah tonight.
Chapter 27
Summer
School the next day is ominous. I get some studying done, but my focus is elsewhere. Gabby sticks close to us between classes, and I’m jumpy as hell. Seb, always a bright light, looks like his usual self, but I know him well enough to see the stress around his eyes and stiff posture. Alex, Bay, and E are also quiet. Holly and Jaxon are watching us quizzically but seem to read the room and not ask questions. It’s an endless day.
We head to my house again after school with Ceres accompanying us so Troy can update us on the FBI. They're discussing witness protection, and it seems likely, but it hasn’t been approved yet.
After dinner, everyone heads home, Alex and E following Bay to his house since he’s alone in his vehicle. Troy tells those of us who are going into WITSEC to pack what we want to take with us, but no personal items will be allowed.
I really want to talk to Sarah about all this, but it may not be safe to do so. Going into my room, I grab a suitcase from the closet and start putting clothes inside. It doesn’t seem real. The labyrinthine of this situation is hard. I plop onto the floor as tears quietly fall.
Zander finds me on the floor surrounded by clothes and quickly joins me. “Darling, this will work out. I truly believe that. Your safety is the most important thing in the world to me.”
Sniffing and wiping my tears away, I take a deep breath. “I know, and I understand why we’re doing this. It’s just not fair. What am I going to do without you, Sarah, Sue, and Jake? And then there are the guys not coming. I feel like a sinking ship without a lifeboat.”
“I don’t want to be separated from you either, having just found you, but you will come back when this is over, and I’ll be here waiting.”
“Do you know anyone who has ever done this?”
“Not personally, no, but Troy does. He helped get a few people into WITSEC for Eddie shortly after we retired from the Army.”
“This is crazy. What do I bring?”
“Clothes, shoes, toiletries. Nothing that can connect you with here or Virginia. Unfortunately, Jake’s hoodie and all your pictures will have to stay. I will take good care of everything for you.”
“Okay,” I nod. Zander helps me fold and pack up what I can take before leaving to make ice cream sundaes.You can do this,Summer,I keep repeating to myself. This situation isn’t as bad as the accident, and it’s temporary. This is just another move. A move with people who are important to me. Having a few of my newfound family with me is better than starting over alone. Focus on the positive.
Seb calls as I’m finishing up. “Sunshine, I feel like I’m in the twilight zone. Are you packed?”
“Yeah, just finished. What did you pack?”
“Clothes mostly. Troy went through my stuff and pulled out my basketball hoodie and a few pics I had hidden. This sucks.”
“You don’t have to come, Hurry. This is an enormous deal.”
“I’m coming, Sunshine. You guys aren’t going anywhere without me. Did you pack Jake’s cologne or any of your medicinal stuff?”
“No, I never thought of that. Do you think it would be okay to take that?”
“I don’t see why not. There’s nothing inherently personal about it.”
“That makes me feel a little better,” I reply as I get up to grab the cologne and a few dried herbs and creams to add to the suitcase.
“Gotta go, Sunshine. Troy is calling me. We’re having a movie night together. Call me later if you want.”
“Bye, Hurry.” Wheeling my suitcase out to the end of the bed, I grab my laptop and notes, wandering across the hall to Nick’s room. He’s sitting on top of the bed with his laptop open on his lap. I see his duffel bag lying beside him, mostly full and zipped up. “You don’t want to go over to the condo tonight and spend time with Troy?” I ask.
He shakes his head no, looking up at me. “Zander is making sundaes for us. Want to come out to the living room?”
Nick closes his laptop, sets it on the bed, and gets up, walking over to me. He kisses my head, then pulls me out to the living room. I squeeze his hand and let go before going into the kitchen to help Zander carry the sundaes. “These look amazing,” I tell him. There are at least 3 scoops of ice cream in each bowl, with whipped cream and chocolate sauce covering them. He even has small bowls of sprinkles, chocolate chips, and strawberries set out. I grab the small bowls and spoons and set them on the coffee table before going back for the ice cream sundaes. Zander also adds a tray of drinks and a tray of salty snacks, then we all settle on the couch.
I add chocolate chips to my sundae before snuggling into my corner seat, grabbing the throw to cover my lap. Zander sits beside me before turning on an action movie.
Once we finish our sundaes, he pulls me closer, putting his arm around my shoulders. I haven’t really snuggled with Zander before, but I understand the need to do so tonight.
