Free Fall (Roam Series, Book Two) by Kimberly Stedronsky Page A

head home.”
    “You’re not staying?” I asked, fully expecting him to spend the night.
    He rubbed his neck tiredly. “No. I have a feeling that you’ll… be just fine.”
    His words were chilled, a sudden change in the caring way he’d been to me over the past few days. As he began to move away from the bed, I held him, pulling him closer. Before I could think of the consequences, I pressed my lips to his.
    “I do love you, you know. I always will.” I ruffled his dark curls. “Please just remember that when you dream tonight.”
    He looked unconvinced. “I’ll try. Get some rest… don’t stay up all night. I’ll see you in the morning.”
    I watched him leave, quickly growing irritated. A headache festered in between my eyes, and no amount of pressure from my fingertips made it go away. I longed for the days I could pop two Advil and call it a night.
    Packing for 1955 proved to be much more difficult than packing for 1977. Nothing in my closet was acceptable, and I ended up with mostly jeans. West had been right; jeans were easy and they worked for years.
    Sometime around eight, Morgan knocked. When I opened the door, she looked massively annoyed. “I’m dropping dad off at some party at the bar, and going out with Jason.”
    I looked down, sighing. “At least he’s not driving.”
    “I don’t even want to talk about it.” She shook her head disgustedly. “Anyway, his keys are downstairs if you need to go anywhere. Are you okay with me going out?”
    “Sure,” I reached for her, and she gratefully accepted my hug. “Are you okay? You sound really down. Other than with dad, I mean.”
    She shrugged. “I’m fine. Jason is so amazing. I really see us going somewhere.” She squeezed me once again before heading for the stairs. “Get some sleep. Love you.”
    “Love you too.”
    I watched them both leave from my bedroom window, continuing to pack. Fishing my iPod out from under my pillow, I plugged it into the speaker dock by my bed and switched back to the nineties playlist. No love songs tonight.
    Halfway through a Boyz II Men’s I’ll Make Love to You, I shut the device off and shoved it into my packed bag. My iPhone would have to stay; no use bringing it to 1955. I picked my phone up off my desk, noticing Morgan had texted me, and slid the message open.
    As I read, my lungs refused to work.
    Sorry I’m so pissy. Reed called me and actually wanted to get together. Of course, now that J and I are getting closer. Effing men! Anyway he said he would come over tonight- told him not to bother. So if he does just don’t answer the door. Love ya.
    Troy… I dropped my phone, gripping the back of my desk chair. Breathe, breathe… I couldn’t.
    He found a way.
    Troy found a way to return, but West didn’t.
    Trying to fight the cloud seeping over my mind, I gave into blackness. When I woke, I was sprawled ungainly on the floor, propped against my bed. I carefully prodded my scalp, deciding that I hadn’t smacked it on the nightstand. As Morgan’s text flashed through my mind, I cried out, rushing to my feet before my blood had time to reach my brain. Troy is here, he’s coming here…
    My fingers were clay as I fumbled for my phone, trying to call Logan. Finally, I held down the voice prompt, nearly screaming Call Logan! My phone obliged, and I hit speaker as the ringing began. Two… three… voicemail?
    Growling out loud, I grabbed my bag and West’s, running from my bedroom. Two steps down I slid on the carpet, falling hard on the third step. My eyes darted frantically to the dark windows, two by the front door and one near the living room. I panted, my rear-end bruised from the fall. Is he here?
    My jacket became a foreign object, my fingers refusing to operate the zipper. Finally pulling the tab up, I left the bags by the door and ran for my father’s car keys. When they weren’t on the microwave, I checked the hook below the house phone next.
    A sliding sound upstairs, directly above my