Free Mindsurge (Mindspeak Book 3) by Heather Sunseri

caring about you?”
    “I didn’t say that.” I drilled two fingers into the center of my forehead. This was stupid. A laugh bubbled up through my throat and across my lips before I could stop it. “Are you hearing yourselves? We’ve resorted to staging kisses and arguing over who cares and who doesn’t. I’m so done with this.”
    “All I was trying to say was that you needed Jack. And he needed to be aware of that, and of what you’re going through. And now you’ve been left the responsibility of running Wellington, along with a group of crazy adults we don’t even know we can trust.”
    I looked from Jonas to Jack and back. “You’re right. I did need Jack. And you. That’s why I met with both of you this morning. You’re also right that I’m hiding things.” I looked at Jack. “And after your reaction to my need this morning…” I turned to Jonas. “And after your typical games here just now… I’m right back to where I was when I first learned of my father’s death. On my own.”
    “That’s not fair.” Jack’s arms hung limp at his sides in defeat.
    “Oh, yeah? Well, guess what? I don’t care if it’s fair. You both need to grow up. I’m being forced to, so why can’t you?” I shoved past them, assuming they would know better than to follow me.
    I had hoped to have them both with me this morning, learning with me more about this life we were being forced to lead—a life we would have to protect if we wanted to see our nineteenth birthdays. I had known that the meeting with the lawyers would be crazy hard. Asking Jack and Jonas to be there with me was my way of telling them that I believed we were a team—and at the same time, I had hoped it would keep them from invading my head uninvited.
    But now that they knew I was hiding things, Jonas would constantly be looking for a way in, and I would have to work extra hard to shut him out. I couldn’t have anyone knowing the amount of money my dad had left me. At least not until I knew why.
    I made it through the wrought-iron gate of the cemetery before Jonas mindspoke. I’m sorry.
    I threw my hand in the air, giving him a backward wave. Whatever.

Chapter Seven

    Sunday morning, I jogged to Gram’s nursing home—a place I once upon a time used as an escape from boarding school life.
    Gram was sleeping when I entered her room. Her breakfast sat on a tray, untouched. I could see that she’d lost weight in the last month. Seth had told me that Gram’s body was suffering the effects of cancer, but that Gram had expressly requested—before the Alzheimer’s took over—that she not undergo invasive radiation or chemotherapy treatments, or major medical treatments of any kind. And Seth confirmed that surgery was not an option.
    In short, I was losing Gram, the only mother I’d ever known.
    I leaned over and gave my grandmother a soft kiss on the cheek. Her skin was silky smooth and smelled of moisturizer. After memorizing the peaceful look on her face, I turned and exited the room in search of the person that was supposed to meet me.
    The nursing home was already humming despite the early hour. At the entrance to the common area, a sign read: Church Service, 11:00 A.M . The area was mostly empty, but I suspected that, come eleven, the home would be abuzz.
    I continued further into the room. Around the corner, by a window overlooking the parking lot, was Seth Whitmeyer, sitting with one of the residents while she ate breakfast. I approached the table hesitantly, my running shoes squeaking on the tile floor. “Hello, Mrs. Whitmeyer.”
    Seth’s and Sandra’s mother paused mid-bite to look at me. Her cheeks lifted and her eyes brightened. “Sandra, dear.”
    “No, Mom.” Seth grabbed his mother’s hand. “This is Lexi. She looks a lot like our Sandra, but this is one of my students. The one I was telling you about.”
    Mrs. Whitmeyer’s eyebrows tilted inward. “Oh.” She stared at her warm cereal, and Seth gave her hand a squeeze