"That's ridiculous. "

"So does that mean you want me to call her? I have her on speed dial, you know. She is my neighbor."

I sighed, losing my patience. Truthfully, I really didn't want to walk home in the heat. And I had been in agony on the way here.

I bit my bottom lip, debating. Finally, I gave in. "This doesn't make up for what you did-- and neither does the smoothie." I figured I might as well add that last bit about the smoothie since I was already caving. I was thirsty, anyway.

But Gabe looked as if he couldn't care less what I forgave him for or not. He only seemed appeased that I was allowing him to take me home. I wondered why he even cared, though I supposed he was doing it for Miriam. He could let himself believe he was some sort of Good Samaritan, for all I cared.

I knew better.

Gabe walked over to the smoothie stand while I waited for him across the street. Apparently he was some kind of regular there because I could hear the young, female cashier greet him by name. And then she proceeded to giggle over something he'd said to her. I rolled my eyes. Apparently, there were people who actually liked Gabe, maybe even adored him. I couldn't quite wrap my head around it. The only aspects of his personality I'd been exposed to were his arrogance and his rudeness. I couldn't even begin to guess why Annika had fallen for someone like him. I'd admit the man was intriguing, but that was his only decent quality. And it certainly didn't redeem him for his bad manners.

He walked back over to me and handed me a Styrofoam cup. "This way," he said as he directed me to the parking lot behind the police station.

I sipped the smoothie, appreciative for anything made of ice. The frozen drink seemed to be highly popular in this state, and for good reason.

"It's pineapple," I remarked, surprised.

"Is that all right?" he asked.

"Yeah. . .it's my favorite."

He observed me, a strange look building in his gray eyes. "I suppose it was a lucky guess."

A really lucky guess, in my opinion. But I didn't comment on it. I decided I might try to sustain from being horribly mean to him on the way home since he'd picked out an excellent smoothie.

Gabe led me to an older, black Ford Ranger, opening the door for me.

Slightly chivalrous- I would add that to my list of possible good attributes.

"What no BMW? No Mercedes Benz? I must say I'm surprised, especially after seeing your mansion."

"I'm on government salary, remember? And besides, I need room for the board." He nodded his head to the bright orange, Ron Jon surfboard harboring in the bed of his truck.

"I didn't peg you for a surfer. Aren't you on the wrong coast for that?"

I'd come to find out that Florida's Gulf coast was relatively calm compared to the Atlantic coast. Most surfers preferred to stick to the Atlantic, where the waves were much more likely to exist.

While starting the engine, he told me, "There are some decent waves every now and then. Especially in the winter."

I'd always wanted to learn how to surf, but I'd never pursued it. I'd certainly had the opportunity, being surrounded by many oceans on many different occasions. But I just never got around to it. Maybe I could attempt it soon, I mused.

We'd pulled out of the parking lot and drove out onto Main Street when I noticed Gabe looking into his rearview mirror for a long period of time.

"What is it?" I asked.

"I think someone's following us."

I felt myself tense anxiously as I scouted out the area. "Are you sure?" I asked. "Who is it?" I immediately presumed that Luca and some of my Dad's lackeys came to retrieve me. The thought paralyzed me with fear. It wasn't a fear of my Dad's men. And it wasn't a fear of being forced to leave. I was ready to go anywhere at almost any time. It was part and parcel of the genes I had inherited. Instead, it was a fear of facing my dad.

I just wasn't prepared for that yet.

"They're a few streets down, but they're driving parallel to us. I could be wrong. We might just be headed in the same direction."

"You're probably not," I informed him, sighing. "I suppose someone had to come looking for me sooner or later."

He glanced over at me, raising a brow. "Lola, is your family searching for you?"

I shrugged and sunk back into the seat. "I don't know."

"Are you afraid of them? Would they hurt you in any way?"

"What?" I asked, caught off guard. "Oh, no. Not at all. Well, sometimes I do feel like a sacrificial lamb."

I noticed his expression had become entirely confused and so I explained. "My father arranged a life for me that I wasn't very happy about. It's the reason I decided to leave."

"What kind of life?"

I debated whether or not I should tell him. I figured he should understand. Prost.i.tution was very common amongst gypsy tribes. Since the beginning of our ancestries, if a woman didn't choose marriage, they sought to support themselves in other ways. They lived to pleasure men by dancing, fortune telling or taking them to bed for a few coins. In modern times, the practices hadn't changed all that much.

I a.s.sumed he knew of the traditions and so I finally decided to go ahead and tell him. "He planned to sell me to a madam with a very elite clientele."

Gabe stared ahead for a moment until it dawned on him what I was saying. At first, he stayed very quiet, which didn't surprise me. Most people simply accepted that way of life. It was a part of our culture.

But then Gabe began cursing- loudly, and in Romanian. I wasn't fluent, but I could comprehend some of what he was saying. If I was translating it correctly, I heard him shout an expletive that meant 'always h.e.l.l'. I didn't really understand why he said that, but I didn't ask, either. Then, startling me, he banged on the steering wheel a few times with his fist.

When he calmed down, he glanced over at me.

My eyes were still wide with shock at his outburst. After a moment, I said, "Well, that's pretty much how I felt about it, too."

The angry expression he bore turned into one of surprise and then completely melted away as he softly chuckled.

"Sorry," he said while sighing. "I just hate the backwards practices that continue to happen."

"You don't have to apologize to me."

"I'm glad you stood up for yourself and decided not to go through with it," he said. He sounded like he genuinely meant it. Who was this person? I found myself wondering what happened to the abominably rude man I met on the docks.

"I think I'm going to take a few odd turns and back roads, just in case we are being followed," he told me.

The rest of the drive was quiet. But even through the silence, I was completely absorbed by Gabe's presence. I tried closing my eyes, tried forgetting he was there. But it was no use. I remained on edge for the rest of the ride home.

Soon enough, we pulled into the driveway. I immediately unbuckled my seatbelt and hopped out of the car.

I grabbed my school bag and turned towards the house when I realized Gabe was behind me. I paused for a moment. "Thank you for driving me home," I said, waiting for him to get back into his car and leave. He didn't leave. All he said was, "No problem."

"Have a nice day," I said, attempting another obvious dismissal.

But he walked directly in front of me, towards the front door. Miriam left it open at this time of day, letting the ocean breezes flow into the house. Gabe walked right inside, as if it were his house.

I couldn't help but feel aggravated by the level of comfort he must feel for Miriam. And, well, if I was being truthful, I was more annoyed at the level of comfort he must feel because of Annika. I cursed myself silently.

I had no idea where this delusion I had been harboring, the one that made me feel like I held a claim over Gabe, had ever come from. But I was determined to return to sanity as quickly as possible. With that thought resolute in my mind, I dismissed Gabe from my sight and headed upstairs towards my bedroom. I didn't care why he decided to come inside or who he wanted to talk to. And honestly, I shouldn't care.

I would simply distract myself until he left. Homework, I thought to myself. There is tons of homework to do.

Emptying my school bag onto my bed, I filed through my notebooks. Pausing, I heard myself sigh. I knew I wouldn't be able to concentrate.

Why was he still here, anyway? What did he want? Was he looking for Annika? I gulped, realizing the possibility that they may have made up. I lifted my pillow to my face and groaned into it. What was going on? My mind screamed.

I needed to find out.

I headed back downstairs, looking for Gabe. I walked through the empty living room and heard voices coming from out back. Miriam was in the backyard attending to her garden. I moved towards the sliding gla.s.s door. It had been left open and so I peeked through the blinds. It seemed I'd been doing so much spying these days, it was starting to come naturally.

Gabe had his back to me. His hands were in his suit pockets. I couldn't see his face to read his expression, but I could tell the conversation was serious by the hard lines in Miriam's face. She was wearing a bright yellow sundress, with blue stripes and a matching blue scarf. It was a cheerful outfit. She must have been in a good mood before Gabe approached her.

"I can't say I approve of whatever it is you're doing," I heard her say to Gabe. Her voice was low and tense.

"Miriam, you know I never meant to hurt Anni."

Though they spoke quietly, I could still make out some of their m.u.f.fled conversation.

Miriam shook her head, sighing. "What good do you think could possibly come from this?"

"What is it, Miriam? Do you think I harbor some sort of secret yearning that she might remember me?"

Miriam merely shrugged.

"Well, you would be absolutely right. I know you don't want to hear that, but it's the truth."

Miriam stopped watering her stargazers and looked up at him now, frowning. There was a pa.s.sion in Gabe's voice and demeanor I'd never heard before. It was intense, and a little frightening.

"I pray every single day of this semblance of a life that she will wake up and remember she's in love with me."

Miriam stood up. Her expression was painted with obvious disapproval. "And what then, Gabe? Tell me what would happen if she did remember?"

"I could protect her!"

Miriam snorted derisively. "And if you couldn't? You would never forgive yourself and you know it."

Gabe couldn't seem to answer her. He hunkered down, onto a nearby bench. He stroked his hands through his hair, looking rather exhausted. Suddenly, he looked up at Miriam with wide eyes. "d.a.m.n," he muttered under his breath.

"What?" she asked, confused. Her head started to turn towards the house in the direction he was eyeing. "Ohhh," she murmured in realization.

I quickly moved away from the blinds, crouching down behind the wall. I winced, feeling like an idiot. How could I completely forget that Gabe had the ability to see me? How could I forget such an important detail? I had to make this look like I wasn't eavesdropping- and quickly!

I moved from my spot and headed out into the backyard, approaching Miriam and Gabe. They both stared at me curiously, which made me feel even more awkward.

"I didn't mean to intrude on your conversation. I just needed to ask you something, Grams."

"Yes?" she asked.

I racked my brain for something, anything to say at that moment. But nothing was coming to me. Why oh why did I even bother trying to cover up the fact that I was spying? It had to be painfully obvious to them either way.

"Um, where can I find the laundry detergent?"

It sounded lame, but it was the only question I could think of.

"The laundry detergent?"

"Yes, I need to wash my uniforms. They're um, starchy."

My grandmother arched a curiously high brow.

"It's in the laundry room. In the shelf above the washer." It was a matter-of-fact statement. I could feel the blush creep into my cheeks.

"Thanks. Uh, would you like me to wash anything for you?"

"I believe there are a few sets of sheets in the hamper."

I nodded and turned to leave. The sooner I could get myself out of this awkward situation, the better.

I breathed in and out as I left the patio, not realizing I'd been holding my breath nearly the entire time. I was happy to get out of there. I still felt like such a fool. There was no doubt in my mind they both knew I'd been lying. But what else was I supposed to say? That I was spying because I was entirely too fascinated by the neighbor? That even though he could be rude and deceitful, I still found him alluring? Should I have said that my very own body wills itself to Gabe's presence, like he was a magnet and I couldn't help but be drawn towards him?

No, I definitely couldn't tell the truth.

Besides, I was embarra.s.sed of myself as it was. There was no need to further that embarra.s.sment. Not to mention that Miriam would fly through the roof if she knew her seventeen-year-old granddaughter had developed a sort of crush on a twenty-something-year-old man. Even my own father would disapprove. Well, that wasn't true, I supposed. Christo would approve of anyone who was wealthy.

I found myself wondering who Gabe had been referring to-- this mystery woman who had forgotten him. He had sounded so forlorn about it. And I was more than a little jealous by the way he talked about her. It sounded as if. . .as if he loved her. Could it be true? Could Gabe love someone who didn't reciprocate that love for him? And was that why he broke off the engagement with Annika? It hardly made sense to me. Who could possibly forget someone like Gabe? He was much too striking. I knew that I could never forget someone like him.

TEN.

"Lola!"

I smiled at Dakota's excitement as she hurried in through the foyer, dropping her bags to the floor.

"I'm so happy to see you're still here!" She threw her arms around me in hug so wrenchingly tight that I couldn't breathe for a moment.

I laughed as soon as she let go of me. I had missed Dakota's cheerful nature. "You didn't think I would be?" I asked curiously.

She shrugged and said, "The gypsy life is hard to let go of. We don't all have the strength to stick around in one spot for very long. And I guess I'm a little surprised you decided to stay. You struck me as a wanderer."