Read Online Until We Meet Again by Renee Collins - Free Book Online Page B

figure out what she wants. Moments like these, I’m certain
she’s trying to seduce me. But other times she seems aloof, even
resentful of me.
I glance at the door. “I suppose it’s rather late. Ned’s probably
waiting for me.”
Fay watches me and then sits up, brushing her sleeve back in
place. “He gave that up hours ago. It’s almost noon, you know.”
“Ah.”
Fay’s still analyzing me, though she’s trying to hide it with a
casual, almost bored expression. “As a matter of fact, you slept
right through my visit. I have to go now.”
“Must you?”
She stands, and I catch a hint of hurt on her face. “I have an
appointment in town.” She smoothes her hair and breezes past.
“Do ring when you’re ready to give me the time of day.”
I grab her hand. “I’m sorry.”
She forces a laugh. “What for?”
“Fay.”
All at once, she presses her lips to mine. Her kiss is short,
but slow and tempting. The tip of her tongue brushes lightly
against mine. It’s indecent and intoxicating in a way only she
can manage. When she breaks off the kiss, a curl of triumph
pulls at her smile. She pats my cheek.
“Enjoy your studying.”
With that, she glides out of my room, her hips swaying ever
so slightly, like they always do.
Feeling flushed, I loosen my collar. I have half a mind to run
after her. But then my eyes fall to my desk. I slide open the
drawer with a tug. I pull out my notes and scan over the words.
Almost like a portal, they draw me right back to the emotions
of yesterday. It’s afternoon now. Cassandra might be waiting
for me. I set the pages down and soar out of my room.
Uncle Ned is in the library, sipping a brandy and reading the
paper. As I rush by, he sits up abruptly.
“There you are, Lonnie! Being the slouch today, are you? You
know, you missed Fay coming by.”
“Don’t worry. I saw her.” I make a motion to the door. “Have
to run, Ned.”
Without waiting for his reply, I continue on to the back
patio. Each step over the back lawn feels longer than the last.
My breath is as fast and short as my heartbeat. Breaking into a
full run, I crash through the bushy path.
But the beach is empty.
Waves lap against the shore in slim, white lines. Gulls screech
overhead and dip in the salty wind. But no Cassandra. A line of
doubt cuts into my heart. She should be here. I don’t want to even
approach the what-ifs, but they creep up on me all the same.
What if the doorway that allowed us to see each other has
closed? What if she’s gone forever? What if she can come back,
but she doesn’t want to? I stare at the shabby green bushes,
which quiver in the ocean wind.
She’ll come back. She has to come back. I plant myself on the
sand, facing the pathway. I’ll wait all day and night if I have to.
I’m not leaving until I see her one more time.
Chapter 8

Cassandra
stand at the entrance to the pathway. My eyes are

I
    closed. My hand brushes against the bushes. The
smell of ocean and greenery hangs on the wind. The gentle
repetition of breaking waves pulses in my ears. I’m here. I’m
awake and very much alive. This moment is real. So, whatever
happens when I walk through these bushes will also be real.
    Exhaling deeply, I open my eyes. Let’s do this.
One step follows another, each growing more confident.
And even before I set my foot on the sand, I catch sight of
him. He’s sitting on the beach, both hands pressed together
at his lips, watching the bushes with a look of deep concentration. When he spots me, his eyes light up. He jumps to
his feet.
As he walks toward me, his enthusiasm shifts to a satisfied
nod. “So, it wasn’t a dream then.”
“No. Not unless this has been the longest, most elaborate
dream in human history.”
“It’s good to see you,” he says. “For a while there, I thought
you might not come.”
“That was definitely a possibility. Last night left me pretty
shaken up.”
“I barely slept,” Lawrence concedes.
“That makes two of