Tala Prophecy: The Complete Series Read online

  A few minutes later they were in his car, cruising toward the mall. She promised she would text him twenty minutes before she needed to be picked up.

  Since she’d come back from Yellowstone, she preferred working in the stock room with only the occasional visit to the sales floor. But today was busy, so they pulled her out to work the register. Again, she was glad the store was cool enough for her to wear a cardigan.

  The constant movement of customers through her line kept her mind off other things. She even saw a few friends from school. Thankfully there wasn’t enough time for them to talk to her or ask how she was doing. About an hour before closing time, she reached out to grab the clothes from the next customer and her hand brushed his. Nausea gripped her. Looking up, she recognized Rafe. He was as handsome as the first time she’d seen him, but all she could think about was not throwing up all over his new clothes.

  “Hi, you’re the new kid, right?” Reagan asked as she started scanning his items.

  “Yes, and you’re Reagan, right?”

  He knew her name. She started to ask how, but the growing desire to vomit was her only focus. “Yes.” It was a lame response.

  “I like your necklace. Where’d you get it?” he asked.

  A strange question. What boys even noticed things like that? She answered, “From my Nana.” Focusing on the task at hand, she looked at the total on the screen. “That’ll be forty-three twenty-nine.”

  He handed her a credit card and she swiped it, glancing down at the name as she passed it back: Rafe Falcon. Reagan couldn’t help but smile.

  “Hope to see you around, Reagan.” Rafe fired a grin in her direction.

  “Sure. Thanks.” Again, lame. But how cool could a conversation be in a checkout line? Maybe it was because she was focused on watching him walk away, but her stomach was finally settling down. “Tony, do you mind if I take my dinner break?” she asked her supervisor.

  With his nod of approval, she went back into the break room to have her prepared dinner. Mom was great about sending food. Reagan pulled her lunch bag and phone from her locker. She checked her messages.

  Dex was confirming their plans for tomorrow and Serena was checking in. Then, there was an email from Aspen. She was thinking of asking Rafe out and wondering what Reagan thought about it. Reagan felt an odd surge of protection, of wanting to keep Rafe for herself. I wonder where that came from, she thought.

  Break time flew by as did the rest of the evening. Reagan was working so hard, she forgot to text her dad until Tony was locking up and all the employees were walking out to their cars. Great, now I’ll have to wait in the dark; alone. Gripping the phone until her knuckles went white, she tried to remember if she still had the mace in her purse. Her dad had given it to her when she started working at the mall.

  “Do you have a ride, Reagan?” Startled, she almost dropped her purse. She couldn’t remember this guy’s name, but he seemed nice enough at work.

  She wanted him to stay with her, but it seemed silly and even embarrassing. “Thanks, but my dad’s coming. He should be here any minute.”

  As the guy walked away, the parking lot suddenly seemed very dark and empty. It was a windy evening. Irritated by her hair swirling all around her, she took the hair-band off her wrist and secured her wild mane into a bun. She considered calling Dex, but then she swore she heard someone saying her name. Jerking around to see if anyone was behind her, she found herself alone. Without thinking, she reached up to touch her necklace.

  Then, she heard it again: “Reagan.” It drifted across the wind like a whisper.

  “Who’s there?” Reagan yelled, freaking out. She almost jumped out of her skin when her cell phone rang. Thank God, it was her dad. “Hey, how far away are you?”

  “Two minutes.”

  Reagan felt a huge sense of relief. “Thanks.”

  Am I going crazy? I know I heard my name.

  Seconds seemed like hours. Just when she was about to call her dad again, she saw him pull around the corner.

  ↄↄↄↄↄ

  Reagan kept primping, not sure why she was putting in so much effort. Dex would be there any minute, but they were just going out for some food and a movie. He picked it, some action flick. She wanted to feel normal again; to care about things like makeup, hair, and clothes. Things she’d always cared about before. Looking down at her nails, all she saw were wild cuticles, chewed off edges, and a lack of color. She never went without a manicure. So much about her had changed when Sam died. Who knew nails could be such an indicator of bad times?

  Her phone buzzed.

  B THERE N 5. Dex.

  She’d thought about him during her entire five-mile run that morning, before the sun turned the pavement into a skillet. The run felt good; her first in weeks. Her mom even ran along, but Reagan turned around. It was a long-run day for her mom, and Reagan wasn’t up for ten miles. Mom had cut her hours down to part-time since Sam died and it was nice having her around. Between her and Nana, Reagan was getting spoiled. But her dad had all but disappeared.

  Hearing the doorbell brought her out of her head and back to primping. Finishing up, she took one final look in the mirror. Not bad. She grabbed her phone and purse before putting on her necklace and heading downstairs. Dex was talking to her mom.

  “What are you two up to today?” she asked him.

  “Just dinner and a movie.” Dex looked over at Reagan when she came around the corner. He winked and grinned. Reagan felt her insides get mushy. A tingle ran down her belly, just like it did when they first started dating.

  Mom must have noticed Dex’s wink, because she turned to her daughter. “There you are. Don’t make this poor boy wait so long next time.” Mom swung back around to Dex. “Okay, you two have fun!”

  In some ways, Reagan was glad her mom could manage perky again. It was the first time she’d been that way since they’d been back. But it was always embarrassing when she went overboard. Reagan wondered when Mom would start to put on the pressure to be included in the plans to go see Breaking Dawn Part Two.

  Dex grabbed Reagan’s hand as soon they walked outside. He leaned in, his breath warm on her cheek. “You look amazing. I was hoping after the movie we could go by my house for a bit.”

  Reagan hoped he didn’t sense her recoil. “I guess. What are your parents up to tonight?” Please let them be home, please let them be home.

  “That’s the best part. They’re out tonight at some shindig. It’ll just be the two of us.”

  Reagan spent the better part of the evening trying to figure a way out of the inevitable. But, she loved the attention Dex was giving her all night. He pulled out her chair at the restaurant, opened her car door each time they got in or out, and held her hand through the movie. Maybe they would just mess around. Maybe it would finally be what she wanted.

  They pulled up to his house just as the sun was going down. He opened her car door again, and they walked inside. As soon as they stepped in the door, he started kissing her, thrusting his tongue down her throat. He backed her into the living room and down onto the couch. His hand slid up her leg and started undoing the buttons on her shorts. She pushed his hand back, still giving him a chance to slow down.

  “It’s been so long, Reagan. I need you,” he said. His hand went up her shirt and yanked at her breast. She pushed it away again.

  He sat up and looked at her. “What’s wrong with you? It’s been forever, and I’m the only one who seems to care.”

  She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. After a journey to Hell and back, and losing her brother along the way, all this idiot could talk about was sex. She sat up, pulled her top down and her shorts up. “I’ve been through a lot, Dex.”

  “I know. I gave you some time.”

  Time. It had only been weeks. “My brother died just a couple of weeks ago; sorry if sex isn’t the first priority for me right now.” She got up and huffed over to the door. “Please take me home.”

  He didn’t move one mus
cle to get off the couch. “Maybe we need to take a break until—”

  She was pissed and couldn’t bear to hear one more word out of his selfish mouth. “Until what, Dex, until I agree to sleep with you again?”

  “Well, until you at least want to.”

  “You’re such an ass. Either take me home, or I’ll call one of my parents to pick me up.”

  “You aren’t going to call them. What are you going to say?” Dex inched closer to her with each word. “Are you going to tell them I wanted sex? That we’ve already done it? I’m sure after losing your brother they’ll be thrilled to know their daughter’s a slut. I’ll tell them you begged for it.”

  Slapping him so hard blood ran from his nose, she ran out the front door. She hoofed it a couple of miles to Safeway before pulling out her phone. “Aspen, can you give me a ride home?”

  “I can’t believe it’s August already! Summer’s going to be over before we know it.” Serena was twirling her hair and invoking her best whiny voice.

  “But this year is going to be awesome,” Aspen said.

  Reagan could see images of prom and graduation dancing in her friends’ heads. “We still have a few more parties this summer, so it’s not over yet.”

  “Is Dex meeting us there tonight?” Serena asked.

  Reagan’s anger spiked at the mere mention of his name. She had no clue. If she had her way, he’d stay away and give her some space, but she also knew he’d never miss Brent’s party. They were football buddies, and this was one of the biggest parties of the summer—or at least it was last year.

  “I don’t know. I’m sure he’ll be there.”

  Serena and Aspen both lifted an eyebrow and grimaced. Reagan could read the questions on their faces: What happened? And why weren’t we told?

  Reagan knew they would press her until they got the rest of the story. She sighed. “Plus, I think we’re on a break anyway.”

  “When did that happen?” Both girls rushed over. Serena put her hand on Reagan’s right arm, while her left hand was snatched by Aspen.

  “A few days ago. I haven’t talked to him since, and I don’t really want to right now. It wasn’t pretty.”

  Serena and Aspen exchanged glances.

  Reagan knew this was out of the blue for them, but it wasn’t for her. Tonight was about having a good time, anyway, not about Dex—finally.

  “Let’s just have fun tonight,” Aspen said.

  “Exactly what I need.” Reagan was looking forward to an evening about the girls.

  They got in Aspen’s Volvo and headed out.

  Pulling up to Brent’s street, they commented on how many cars were there. “I wonder if Rafe will be here.” Aspen brightened.

  “Are you hoping he’s here?” Serena gave Aspen a playful shove from the backseat.

  “Quit it, I’m trying to drive. But, yes, I’m kind of hoping he’s here.”

  Aspen found a parking spot, and the girls all got out. They headed up to Brent’s front door. Before they had a chance to knock, the door opened. “Finally. I was wondering when you guys would get here. Half the cheerleading squad is missing.”

  “Well, three of us are here now,” Serena said, tossing her long hair behind her. Brent was between girlfriends, and Serena was between boyfriends.

  “Beer and other drinks are in the kitchen. Help yourself, ladies.” Brent ushered them into his house, placing an arm at Serena’s back. “Hey, Reagan, Dex is around here somewhere.”

  Reagan felt a sense of relief that Dex hadn’t spoken to anyone about their decision to have some space, but that was coupled with the dread of knowing she’d run into him at some point. She knew she couldn’t avoid him forever, but she wanted to have fun tonight.

  Sticking close by Serena and Aspen for support, Reagan followed the crowd to the kitchen. In need of an escape, she decided a drink would settle her. Beer never agreed with her, plus she didn’t like it. It always seemed like a guy drink. Her dad often had one with dinner, but never her mother. Mom usually had a glass of wine. Reagan had tasted both and didn’t care for either.

  “I can make you a rum and coke if you like.”

  Rafe’s voice startled her. Before she could respond, Aspen jumped in. “That sounds good. I’ll have one of those. Just make it with a Diet Coke. Oh, and I’m Aspen, by the way.”

  Rafe, still looking at Reagan, responded, “Hi, I’m Rafe.”

  “We know,” Serena added. “You’re the new guy over on Snowmass, right?”

  “That’s me. So about those drinks. One for Aspen. What about you, Reagan?”

  “I’ll take two. But one at a time is fine.” Oh my God, did I just ask for two drinks? Am I flirting? She knew she shouldn’t be, but she felt drawn to him. Dial it down, she told herself. Dex was around somewhere, and Aspen already set her sights on Rafe.

  With drinks in hand, they moved to the basement. Music was blaring and a disco ball shot spinning lights all over the room. Reagan downed her first drink and decided to head for the dance floor, needing to let go. Serena and Aspen had already started dancing.

  Before Reagan could find a place to put her empty drink and join them, Rafe walked up with her second drink in his hand. “I’ll take that one. Here’s number two.”

  He remembered, even sought her out. She was impressed. A rush of nausea hit her again. What is it with this guy? Every time he’s around I feel sick. Then she wondered, was it nausea or a case of butterflies as Nana would say?

  Rafe placed a hand on Reagan’s back. “You look a little pale. Wanna go outside for a bit?” She nodded, and they walked outside.

  “Thanks. I feel much better out here. This isn’t hurting, either,” Reagan said, lifting her new drink cup. She downed it.

  “Do you need a third?” Rafe asked.

  Before she could answer, she saw Dex. He was staring a hole through her from across the yard. Clearly he wasn’t happy to see Reagan and Rafe sitting on the back steps. Like Dex had a right to judge. Two girls were hanging on him.

  “Who’s that?” Rafe asked.

  Reagan knew she’d been caught, but what did she say? Her boyfriend? Old boyfriend? “My boyfriend, actually. Well, sort of.”

  “Sounds complicated.”

  “It is, and I’m all about not being complicated tonight.” There it was again, that flirting. She smiled at him, digging herself further into the hole.

  “Hi, Reagan.”

  She knew who it was before she even turned around. “Dex.”

  “Who’s this?” Dex stood next to Rafe, arms crossed.

  Rafe didn’t wait for Reagan to respond. Instead, he extended his hand to Dex and made an introduction. “Hi, I’m Rafe. I’m new in town.”

  “Then you might not know Reagan is my girlfriend.”

  “Is she now?” Rafe didn’t flinch when he said it, and never took his eyes off Dex.

  Reagan didn’t want this to happen. She could feel people staring at them. “Dex, just go. I don’t want a scene.”

  “You’re the slut making a scene.”

  “That’s enough,” Rafe said, putting his hand on Dex’s shoulder. Reagan was terrified a punch was about to be thrown.

  Dex surprised her and backed away. “Whatever Reagan. I don’t care what you do anymore.” He huffed off, the two girls hanging on him earlier trailing after him.

  “Do you wanna get outta here?” Rafe leaned over and whispered in her ear, breaking the tension.

  Reagan felt another surge of butterflies, having him so close. She knew she should decline. Not only was Dex pissed, Aspen was into Rafe. Reagan wasn’t the kind of person who pursued her best friend’s crush. But she let the Rum and Diet Coke do the talking, “Yes, I do. Can we go now?”

  They got up and walked around the house to his car. Reagan’s head was spinning.

  She texted Aspen and Serena: GOTTA GET OUT OF HERE. DON’T WORRY. I’LL CALL YOU.

  A few seconds later, a ping announced an incoming text message from Serena: R U STILL STAYING @ MY HOU
SE 2NITE?

  OFFICIALLY, YES. Reagan texted back the two simple words, but she realized she’d have a lot of explaining to do. Putting that reality out of her head, she turned her phone off and threw it into her purse which was wrapped around her body.

  “Where are we going?” she asked after a few minutes.

  He reached over and grabbed her left hand, keeping his other on the steering wheel. “Do you trust me?”

  Her mind started screaming. Trust you? I don’t know you. But she found herself nodding, even as she let go of his hand. The warmth of his touch was getting to her. She reached up to touch her necklace, a new habit of hers, and realized she hadn’t worn it this evening.

  They pulled up to a wooded spot. “Here, this will take the edge off.”

  Reagan took the flask he handed her. She only knew what it was because her dad had one in his office. It was in a hollowed out book titled How to Survive your Mother-in-Law. Downing the contents, Reagan shook her head from the intense taste. She leaned her head back on the headrest and closed her eyes for a few seconds. When she opened them, Rafe was staring at her.

  Trying to break the intensity of his stare, she looked at her surroundings. “So, is this where you wanted to go?”

  “Yes. Don’t worry, I’m here. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  Feeling light and turned on, she put her hand on his thigh. “Let me decide what I want to happen to me.” She leaned in and kissed him. It was the most intense feeling she’d ever had. Ever. She pulled away to catch her breath.

  Rafe got out of the car, came around to her door, and opened it. When he extended his hand, she took it and let him pull her out. They started walking into the woods. Reagan’s head was getting foggier, she began to lose focus, and a shooting pain ran down her back.

  She heard an odd sound, something like branches cracking. Her body began to cramp. Too much alcohol, maybe. Was she about to get sick? She threw a hand over her side, trying to squeeze the source of the cramping. Then she doubled over and her knees hit the ground.