Free Tethered (A BirthRight Novel) by Brandi Leigh Hall Page A

hair curling up around the elastic at his ears. So familiar.
    Who on earth is he?
    I wish I could tear off the mask to see his face.
    He squeezes me closer, my chest crushing into his.
    My body tingles with excitement. More than anything, I don’t want the night to end. I want to savor this moment.
    Haltingly, he lowers his head to kiss me.
    As our lips touch, the jarring sound of gunfire and chaotic screams jolt us back to reality.
    His arms fall from my waist as panic threatens to implode through my chest.
    “No, don’t go,” I whisper.
     
    Everything goes pitch black—then my eyes pop open to the blinding sun in my face.
    What the hell was that?
    If I don’t know who these people are, why show them to me? Again? Why bother giving me a vision that makes no sense?
    “I don’t understand,” I utter under my breath.
    Both times the vision stopped on its own without finishing. Is it from years of forcing my visions away? Had I subconsciously created this reflex?
    I shift my weight, unable to get comfortable on the hard surface beneath me.
    A day ago, I would have been relieved at the realization. Today, however, something in my gut tells me I need to see this vision.
    The first vision was similar to the last, but I was able to glimpse a bit more this time. I could sense more. The last one, I felt what was going on in the room around me. The foreboding danger. But this time, I could only feel what I was experiencing in that moment, between this guy and myself.
    When is this supposed to happen? My guess is, not anytime in the near future considering the fact of what’s going on with Pap. Plus I have no plans to do anything, let alone something black-tie. It just doesn’t make sense.
    Perhaps that’s the point.
    I pull my feet up on the bench, wrapping my arms around my bent legs as I lower my head to my knees. “Focus, Chloe. Think. There must be something missing,” I say aloud.
    “Chloe?”
    “Geez!” I snap, almost falling off the bench as the urban-Adonis interrupts my mental debate. “Hunter? You scared the crap out of me. I didn’t realize anyone was there.”
    He chuckles. “Yeah, I can see that. Though, you wouldn’t have been able to see me anyway, not with your face buried in your knees.” He pauses. “Is everything okay with your pap? You seem upset.”
    “Oh, yeah...I mean no, he’s not...but that’s not what...oh, never mind, it’s nothing.” I shake my head so hard I swear I hear maracas. “I fell asleep and was having a bad dream, that’s all.” I firmly plant my feet back on the ground, yanking down my clinging pant legs in one fluid motion.
    A smile spreads across his stubbly face as he watches me readjust. What’s so funny?

Chapter 5
Stalk You Later
     
     
     
    Hunter wiggles his hands deep into the front pockets of his indigo designer jeans. “So, your pap’s okay then?”
    “Well...we’re not sure yet, actually. We just found out he’s in a coma.” I can’t help but hang my head.
    “Oh. That’s too bad. I’m really sorry.” He rubs the back of his head, suddenly unsure of what to do, or say. I can’t be sure which. “You mind if I sit? Or...if you’d rather be alone, I’ll understand. You just look like you could use some company.”
    Only if it’s you! “Sure. Please...sit.”
    He lowers himself beside me, my nerves tingle with tiny electrical pulses.
    Okay Chloe, you promised you wouldn’t act like a total ass-hat if you saw him again. I speak the words in my head, but thinking it doesn’t make it a reality.
    I’m hopeless.
    He stretches his long legs out in front of him. “You wanna talk about it?”
    “Talk about what?”
    “The bad dream you were having. You know, sometimes it helps to talk.” Still holding his keys, he glances away and fidgets with the metal ring holding them together.
    Why is he being so nice to me? Most good-looking guys are so self-absorbed, they could give a care less what goes on in the ambivalent recesses of a girl’s mind.