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“In a little bit. It won’t hurt to watch the team for the rest of their practice. Maybe something will give me a clue to the person’s identity.”
I hung up the phone after I promised Simon I’d come home as soon as practice was over.
“Kind of keeps you on a short leash, doesn’t he?”
My lips tightened at Ryan’s mocking words. I stared straight ahead as I answered him. “The topic of Simon is off-limits unless you have something constructive to say about him. I won’t warn you again.”
Ryan didn’t answer right away, but when he did the tone of his voice made me turn towards him. It was full of anguish and his hazel eyes were dark with emotion. “Just don’t make a mistake that will cost you your life.”
I turned away from him, refusing to answer him since I had told him I would no longer talk about Simon with him. Ryan was wrong. I would believe in Simon no matter what, and I convinced myself that my faith in him wasn’t a death sentence. I had to believe that love was enough. I was willing to stake my life on it.
Chapter Ten
We didn’t learn anything else at fencing practice and conversation was kept to a minimum as we made our way back to the apartment. Simon looked relieved to see me but Sarah and Grant were barely awake, having just stumbled out of bed.
“As much as I’ve loved bunking with all of you, I think it’s time for me to go home,” Grant announced. He looked at me questioningly. “That’s okay, right? My vardoger’s gone.”
I paused and glanced at Simon. I had gotten so used to being on high alert the past few days that it felt odd to let Grant go off on his own. But he wasn’t in imminent danger anymore, and I couldn’t spend my life hovering over him. Making Simon stay back to watch over them had stemmed from remnants of fear that were hard to banish. I smiled at Grant. “Sure. It’s safe now.”
Neither Simon nor Ryan disagreed, but Sarah was the one to object. “Are you sure? Caitlin’s father is still out there.” She looked at me sympathetically, apparently having been filled in by Simon about what I had been doing that morning. “And she’s had another vision.”
“I’ll be able to sense her father’s energy in time so that we’re not taken off guard,” Ryan said. “And the vardoger from Caitlin’s vision is only a danger to the person it’s attached to.”
Sarah didn’t seem entirely convinced and she insisted on going down with Grant to his apartment. The three of us were left alone and before Simon and Ryan could get into another argument, I quickly told Simon in detail everything that had happened while we were at fencing practice.
“What are you going to do with the girl from the fencing team?” Simon asked.
“I’m not going to do anything with her,” Ryan responded caustically. “She’s just a way to get closer to the fencing team. Right now, we have no idea which of the three is the one from Caitlin’s vision. The best we can do is try to get to know them better and hope that Caitlin sees something that tips her off to the identity of the victim.”
“That’s not going to happen if you’re the one spending time with members of the fencing team,” I countered. “I should be the one hanging out with them.”
“That can only happen if you have a pathway to the team.” Ryan gestured to himself. “I’m the pathway.”
“Let’s go to my apartment,” Simon interjected. I cringed at the rudeness of his suggestion since that would leave Ryan alone in my apartment.
“I think it’s better if we stay here.”
“Why?” he challenged. I glanced at Ryan who looked bemused by our conversation. I remembered his comment about Simon keeping me on a short leash and I couldn’t help flushing.
“Even though we’re not in immediate danger, I think it’s best if we stay together. We want to have as much time as possible to prepare once Ryan feels my father getting close.” It was a weak excuse since Simon’s apartment was just down the street and it would take less than five minutes to travel the distance if we needed to get back, but I was relieved when he didn’t argue. I didn’t want to admit that I felt safer with Ryan around because that would hurt Simon.
The rest of the day was more than a little uncomfortable as we spent it together in the small apartment. I was questioning the wisdom of my decision to spend the day together and decided that so much togetherness wasn’t needed in the future. I told myself that I was no safer with Ryan around than I was with just Simon.
It was almost a relief when Ryan left for his date with Britney. He had made arrangements to meet her at the Cove, a local Italian restaurant. Simon seemed to relax once Ryan was gone, smiling at me easily.
“It’s been forever since we’ve been alone together,” he said. I leaned against him on the couch as he put his arm around my shoulders. It almost felt like old times as we watched mindless television and cuddled, avoiding any serious topics. I almost forgot about Ryan and his date. Almost.
It was almost ten when Ryan returned, and I couldn’t help but wonder what he and Britney could have been doing for three hours.
“How was it?” I asked casually, not wanting to seem eager for details.
“A little mind-numbing,” Ryan said with a rueful smile. “You’re right, she’s a little young for me.”
I rolled my eyes although I wasn’t sure how I felt about his answer. “I meant, did you learn anything that might help us?”
“Not really, but I got myself invited to a get-together they’re having at her place tomorrow and she said I could bring some friends along. It’ll be a perfect chance for you to get to know the members of the fencing team and see if anything tips you off to the identity of the person in your vision.”
I laughed as I thought about Britney’s reaction to me showing up. “Somehow I don’t think she’ll be too pleased to see me.”
