“She has to be in high school, stil ,” Beth said.
“She’s old enough to drive, though. Did you see her car?” Kim added.
I perked up, then. “You saw them leave?”
Beth nodded. “She took off down the street in some kind of sports car; Jared was with her. They looked like they were arguing.”
“It was a Lotus,” Kim said.
“It was a phantom black Lotus Exige S two-sixty. Nice, nice car,” Ryan mused. “It costs over twelve-grand just for the paint.”
“Doesn’t Josh’s dad have one?” Kim asked, elbowing Ryan.
Ryan shook his head with raised eyebrows.
Kim looked at me. “It’s a good thing she wasn’t his date, Nigh. That would have been one short catfight.”
“Hey,” Beth prodded. Her giggling had tapered off. “What’s wrong? You’l see him again, I’m sure of it. You should have seen the way he looked at you when you were dancing together.”
I couldn’t help but notice Ryan frown at Beth’s words.
My attention was drawn to the passing lights outside my window. Seeing him again was exactly what I wanted, but my sense of self-preservation cried foul. The entire situation was one big red flag, but did I believe Jared was dangerous?
Something about Jared’s eyes assured me that in the short time I’d known him, he was safe. Every piece of me that had been guided by my father to be reasonable and wary was screaming run, but I knew I would intentional y try to cross paths with him at the earliest moment fate al owed. The moment of sadness in his eyes before he left me played out over and over in my head. I had to see him again.
The next study group session, Ryan col apsed in the chair beside me. He teetered his pencil between his fingers while I went over my notes.
“Nina?” Ryan whispered.
“Yes?”
“Who was that guy the other night?”
I feigned a confused expression. “What guy?”
He smirked at me. “You know who I’m talking about. That Jared guy. Are you dating him?”
I shrugged. “No, not real y.”
“What does that mean?”
I kept my eyes on my paper. “I’ve gone to lunch with him once, he’s given me a ride home a few times, and I’ve see him around town…,” I was purposeful y vague. I didn’t know where the conversation was headed.
“So what was that, at the pub? Why did he show up with his sister to tel you he wasn’t there with her?”
“I haven’t talked to him to get that figured out, yet.”
“But you’re going to talk to him?” His voice was growing impatient with my answers.
“I don’t know, Ryan. Why?” I said, unable to conceal my irritation with his line of questioning.
Ryan squirmed in his seat and then turned to face me. “I wanted to ask you…if…you know… if you wanted to grab dinner sometime.”
“Oh,” I rubbed my forehead, “I’ve got a lot on my plate right now.”
Ryan nodded indifferently. “I just thought I’d ask. I didn’t know if you and that guy were….”
“It’s not about Jared,” I lied.
“Do you think he came there to check up on you?”
I contemplated that for a moment. “I don’t know, maybe. I’ve been running into him a lot, lately.”
“That’s pretty creepy.”
“I like to think of it as fate stepping in,” I mused.
Ryan’s face twisted to petulance. “Sounds like stalking to me.”
“You should talk, trying to fight over a girl you barely know.”
“He had his hands on you,” he grumbled.
“Thank you,” I smiled, nudging him.
“You’re welcome. You know that guy’s got to be bad news, right?”
“I don’t believe that.” Ryan scowled at my words, but I shrugged off his skepticism. “I can’t explain it. There’s something in his eyes.”
Ryan shook his head in disapproval. “I just don’t want you to get hurt. His little sister is insane.”
“I’m with you on that one.”
We both laughed and then Ryan shrugged. “Maybe once you get things al sorted out with your stalker, you’l reconsider.”
“He’s not a stalker.”
“MmmHmm,” he said, trying to appear interested in his algebra book.
Beth began gathering her plethora of organizational aides and Kim stood up and stretched. The rest of the group disbanded as Kim, Beth, Ryan and I walked out of the library together.
“I’m starving,” Kim said.
“I could eat,” Beth chimed in.
Ryan turned to me. “Is an after study snack out of the question?”
They al eyed me expectantly. “Let’s eat,” I shrugged.
Ryan and Kim went over possible plans for the weekend over pancakes and hash browns while Beth and I discussed our intentions to attend the basketbal game. Even with the ever-growing puzzle that was Jared, life was a shade of ordinary again. I felt the unease I’d been feeling for weeks slowly dissipate into the greasy air.
While walking out to the car I noticed a short, squat man walking paral el to us. Ryan veered to the outside of our group, positioning himself between us and the stranger. The man arrived at Kim’s Sentra the same moment that we did.
“Are you Nina Grey?” The man asked me in a hoarse voice. I felt my body tense.
“What do you need?” Ryan asked, stepping forward.
The man noted Ryan’s presence but spoke only to me. “I was an associate of your father’s. My name is Charles Dawson. It’s important that I speak with you.”
I wasn’t sure what to say, the mention of my father created a stabbing sensation in my stomach.
“I would like to speak with you alone, if you don’t mind,” he said, his squinty eyes shifting from each of my friends and then back to me.
“Nina, do you know this guy?” Ryan asked, jerking his thumb at Mr. Dawson.
I studied his face for a moment. He wore an expensive suit like the hundreds of other men I’d seen in my father’s company through the years, but his face wasn’t familiar.
I tried to be polite. “I-I don’t think I do, sir. I’m not sure I could help you.”
Mr. Dawson took a step toward me and Ryan did the same.
“I’ve been trying to get in touch with your father for some time, now. It’s come to my attention that he’s passed away.”
I worked to separate my lips long enough to form the words. “That’s correct.”
“Your father had agreed to sign over some property to me, and I was wondering if you were at al familiar with our transaction?”
Kim spoke up. “Nina, this is probably not the appropriate time to—,”
“I think you’d rather speak to my father’s attorney, Thomas Rosen,” I interrupted. “He is with Rosen and Barnes in Kennedy Plaza. I’m sure he wil be able to assist you.” I turned to get into the car, but the man took several quick steps to thwart my efforts. He held my door and his face turned grave.
“It’s of the utmost importance, Nina. I’ve exhausted al of my options, and I’m asking for your help.” His eyes darted to Ryan and then back to me. Mr.
Dawson kept his voice low, “Jack has a safe. Maybe you’ve seen it? My papers are there in that safe and I need to obtain them right away.”