Absolute Zero (Touch of Frost) Read online

  “It’s not even eleven.”

  “I know. They can barely stay up past nine. So lame.”

  True that. They were the definition of lame, but at least Georgia had parents. Even though they weren’t her birth parents and have been lying to her for eighteen years. Hell, they didn’t even know that Georgia’s real birth date was the same as mine. August tenth.

  Or maybe they did? I couldn’t shake the feeling they knew more about the Kelvin and Blaze bit.

  “Okay.” Georgia cranked the door handle. “Have fun with Zach.”

  I slid toward her and drew her into a sideways hug. “Call me when you wake up tomorrow. Love ya, sis.”

  “You, too.”

  She thrust open the door, stepped out, then I settled into the driver’s seat. With her shoulders slouched, she moped up the sidewalk leading to her front door. The porch light illuminated the darkness that had settled in around the house. The neighboring houses were dark and with no streetlights near Georgia’s, it looked like she lived out in the country instead of just a few blocks from my and Scott’s apartment.

  She disappeared through the door, and the front light doused. I rested my head back and drew in a deep breath. God. I wonder what Georgia’s parents are going to say tomorrow. Everything could change for us. But what if they didn’t say anything? How would they react to what we had to tell them?

  With my luck they’d haul our asses to the psych ward and throw us in straight jackets.

  I shook my head as I shifted the car into reverse, then navigated the short driveway. With empty streets and hitting every green light—all three of them—I met Zach at the end of his driveway in less than ten minutes.

  I scooted over to the passenger seat, and he plopped into the driver’s side. Instead of shifting the gear into Drive right away like he normally did, he leaned over and pulled me into his arms.

  “Are you okay? Damn those guys who hit you.” Boy I loved these strong, warm arms around me. Once again the growing distance between us faded into oblivion. How could I doubt anything with him? How could I ever glance at another guy?

  It’d just been a moment of weakness.

  “Those guys were so drunk, Zach. No way should they have been driving. Not even sure how they knew where they were going.”

  “Obviously they didn’t.” He pulled the door shut and put the car in drive. “And you took their keys?”

  “Tossed those suckers into the woods!” I couldn’t hold back a laugh. “We called a cab, though, so they won’t be out there long.”

  “That’s a good one.”

  What I should have done was toss the keys and left them out there to fend for themselves, but that felt too mean.

  Zach steered the car away from the end of his long driveway and made the first turn toward the outskirts of town. It was too dark to go to our meadow, but there was a nice place to park near it.

  “How was orientation?” Zach asked.

  “Fine. Sorry you missed it. But I can show you around tomorrow if you want.”

  “That’s cool. After work, though.”

  “Your dad has you working a bunch.” I unbuckled my seatbelt and scooted close to him.

  “They’re all still pissed I skipped out on State and stayed here. So they’re keeping me…busy.”

  I wondered if they’d ever get over Zach’s decision and stop hating me for it. “Thanks for coming out here so late even though you have to work early tomorrow.”

  “Sure.” He smiled, though for some reason, it didn’t reach his eyes like it normally did.

  And that quickly the doubt flooded back in. Things certainly had changed over the summer. I’d thought that since we fried The Center, and Zach and Georgia were staying here to go to college with me we’d have a blast.

  I was naïve to think that.

  Zach put his arm around me. I nuzzled my forehead against his neck and drew in a deep breath. His familiar woodsy cologne tickled my nose. My entire body responded to his scent, warming from the inside out.

  Maybe it was the danger of meeting at the end of barely-lit driveways and stealing away to abandoned parking lots to be alone, to learn each other more intimately than possible with the ‘rents lurking.

  Soon I’d have my own apartment—well—an apartment with Georgia. Then Zach and I could really do some getting to know each other.

  If we wanted. And after my behavior tonight, I had to ask myself if I wanted it. Of course I did. Zach was…Zach. My first love.

  I hated the nagging doubt chipping away at the back of my brain.

  “This weekend you’re moving into your place, right?”

  I hadn’t missed the you’re part. He’d originally promised to help, but I suddenly felt an I can’t come discussion brewing. “You’re helping, right?”

  “I’ll try.”

  Try? I wanted so much to ask him again what was going on with him, but I didn’t dare. Probably because I didn’t want to hear anything bad right now, and somehow, I knew something was going on with him.

  Zach veered the car off Main Street toward our spot. My heart throbbed, and I nestled closer. “Soon I’ll have an apartment. No more meeting at our spot like this.”

  “This has been fun, too.” Has?

  “But a nice comfy couch with a TV or some music going and no ‘rents hovering. That’d be better.”

  “You going to have a house warming party?”

  “Me? A party? Who would I invite? Samantha Jones?”

  His jaw tensed, then he coughed into his hand.

  I giggled, trying to lighten the mood stifling me in this car. “Kidding. I’d be up for something if we survive our little dinner thing with Georgia’s parents tomorrow night.”

  “That’s right. It’s tomorrow.”

  The car jostled as he pulled into the dirt lot. It’d only hold three or four cars at the most. Tall, overgrown trees surrounded the lot except a narrow path leading to it. Unless someone specifically knew it was there, no one would see that entrance.

  The trees broke enough to let a little patch of starry night shine through.

  “You nervous?” he asked.

  “Just wonder what they’re going to say. And what if they don’t tell Georgia anything? I’m scared to bring up the whole adoption-fire-thrower-type thing. You know?”

  He turned the key, and the car darkened for a second until the battery took over.

  The dashboard lights were almost as romantic as flickering candles as far as I was concerned. I could still see his smooth skin, dimpled chin, and his lips.

  It was those lips I wanted to taste, right then and there. I nudged closer and pushed myself up until I found their warmth. Zach took in a sharp breath, almost like I startled him with my forwardness, but he quickly recovered and pulled me close.

  “You smell like smoke.”

  “Georgia’s bright idea of a party,” I said with a ragged breath. “But you taste yummy.” Kind of like he’d been eating candy corn and drinking Pepsi or something.

  He turned to face me more, then cradled the sides of my face. I loved it when he did that. It felt like I was the center of his universe when he held me so tenderly like he was.

  His thumbs rested on my cheeks, just below my eyes, while the rest of his fingers covered my jaw and part of my neck. Tingles shivered down my chest and to my stomach. We stayed connected for a long time until the dizziness made me pull away for air.

  “Here, in this car, at this place, there’s nothing but me and you.” He smiled. “No parents. No job. No… Just me and you.”

  His lips brushed against my neck, then up to behind my ear. A moan slipped through my lips. That seemed to excite Zach because his teeth grazed my skin. His hand skimmed over my shoulder, down my side. I flinched at his cool fingers as they tactically explored my back.

  My mind swam with desire, wanting to pull him on top of me and find out how this whole sex-thing worked. I wasn’t exactly sure what to do, but I knew what my body felt. Then again, did I really want m
y first time to be in a car?

  Oh, but he felt fantastic, especially the hand navigating from my back to the front of me. His thumb brushed against the fabric of my bra. That ignited a new and exciting flame just south of the belly button.

  A rush of heat streamed across my abdomen, and I yanked him into a kiss. I had to taste a little more. Needed to.

  The ergonomics of the car prevented me from pulling him on top of me, but it was probably for the best. We’d not even talked about going all the way. Hell, I didn’t even know if he wanted to.

  His hand told me he wanted to as it navigated to the small of my back, then down below the beltline until he touched the elastic of my panties.

  Oh sweet Jesus. “Zach,” I whispered against his mouth.

  He pulled away but stayed close enough for his warm breath to wash over me.

  “Let’s just slow down a little.”

  He retracted his hand as his jaw twitched. “I got a little carried away.”

  “No you didn’t.” I pulled his face close and pressed my lips to his, then his cheek, then his neck. “I loved every touch. I—want to—but I don’t want our first time to be in a car.”

  He leaned back, and his slate eyes bore into mine. He brushed his thumb over my bottom lip, then over my chin and traced my throat as he drew in a deep breath. The corner of his lip twitched. “Mandy, I need to tell you something.”

  My phone shrilled Scott’s annoying ring-tone. Of all the times—

  “Tell me what?”

  He settled into the driver’s seat, his gaze focused out the front window. His jaw twitched again. “Nothing. You better answer that.”

  “He can wait. He’s just wanting me to get my butt back home.”

  “I should get back, too.” He leaned forward as if to reach for the keys stuck in the ignition.

  I combed his hair with my fingers, then curled them around the nape of his neck and turned his head toward me. “Spit it out, Zach.” My heart pounded, and not like it was just doing because of his touch. It was pounding because he seemed sorry, almost like he regretted touching me. His posture was stiff, and he refused to look straight at me.

  The phone rang again, but I kept my focus on him.

  He made no move to look at me while his fingers curled around the steering wheel. Like a switch flipped, he was gone again. Lost in whatever was going on with him that he refused to share with me.

  I was new at this whole girlfriend-thing, but I knew enough that he needed to tell me what the hell was going on.

  Another ring sliced through the thick silence between Zach and me. I snatched the phone from the dashboard and tapped answer. “Yeah. I’m comin’.”

  “Mandy. Hurry up. Georgia’s here.”

  “What?” I sat straight. “What’s wrong?”

  “Her mom’s gone.”

  Chapter 5

  “Georgia?” I yelled as I stormed into the apartment.

  “We’re in here,” Scott said from the kitchen.

  I slammed the door and hurried through the living room to the kitchen. Georgia sat slumped in the chair, elbows resting on the tile-top table.

  “What happened?” I sat on the tabletop and grabbed my sister’s hand.

  Her blood-shot eyes bobbed in a pool of tears. She handed me a crumpled sheet of paper. I glanced at Scott. He shook his head and looked down.

  Oh great. Now what had happened? It was bad enough that something was going on with Zach. Now something was spooking my brother and sister.

  I smoothed out the sheet against my lap then read it.

  Dearest Georgia,

  I cannot stay here any longer. I had to leave to find my own life. Things have been bad between me and your dad for several years, and I tried to hold on. But I can no longer do so. Please don’t try to find me. I’ll be in touch with you after I’ve had some time to think.

  Love, Mom.

  “Are you kidding me?” I re-read the letter twice. The blue, cursive writing was shaky, like she’d been writing it while driving or something. “She left you and your dad?”

  “And right before the dinner date where we thought she was going to tell me everything,” Georgia said.

  I looked at Scott.

  He shrugged. “Timing’s a little peculiar.”

  “A little?” I hopped off the top of the table and pointed my finger at him. “You’re the one who decided we should wait! After California I wanted to confront them right away. But you wanted to let things play out. Now we’re totally screwed, Scott.”

  Georgia tunneled her fingers through her hair. “I went to the safe. The door was the same as before. I don’t think she even checked it.”

  “How is that possible? She had to have known that stuff was in there. Hell, she probably put it in there.” I jerked the fridge door open and snagged a can of Pepsi. “This totally and completely sucks.”

  “Tell me about it.”

  My heart crashed to the floor. “Oh, God. I’m such an idiot.” I stepped to Georgia’s side. “I’m sorry. Your folks are getting a divorce, and I’m whining about my shit. I’m a total jerk.”

  “It’s okay. Ever since I found out they weren’t my birth parents things have been weird. I was just buying time ‘til we move into our own place.”

  I squeezed her shoulder. “But still. This is huge.”

  “What’d you say to your dad?” Scott asked.

  “After you dropped me off, Mandy, I hung out in the kitchen for a while. Watched some TV while I ate a bowl of cereal. You know. Junk like that.” She stood from the table and stepped to the counter next to the fridge and crossed her arms over her chest. “I hopped online and chatted with Facebook people, posted on some blogs, then got ready for bed. I yanked my covers back and there was this freaking note.”

  I gulped some soda, and my eyes watered. I didn’t have a good feeling where this was going. Or it was the caffeine and bubbles cramping my stomach.

  “Well, I was stunned, needless to say, so I stormed into their bedroom.” Georgia’s nostrils flared, and her jaw clenched. “Um—well, Dad sat on the bed, holding a piece of paper.” She looked down, and her shoulders shook.

  I moved to her and yanked her into my arms. Scott’s wove around us, too. Georgia buried her face in my neck, and I held her vibrating body close to me.

  “He was crying. Bawling like a little kid. It was still horrible to see. You know?”

  “Trust me. I know,” I said. How ‘bout seeing him sliced and diced, eyes fixed on the ceiling? I didn’t say that, but still, I knew how much it sucked to see her dad hurt.

  “He told me they’d been talking divorce for a while, but that he thought things were getting better. He had no idea she’d leave.” She eased away from me, and Scott and I loosened our grip. “I asked him if I was adopted.”

  Okay, that stalled out my heart. “You did?”

  She nodded, then slid her forearm beneath her rose-colored nose. Black streaks of mascara-stained tears rolled down her cheeks. With my thumb, I wiped them away. I hated seeing her so sad. So broken.

  “He admitted to me that I was adopted and I asked if there was anything specific about the adoption he was supposed to tell me, but he didn’t have a clue.”

  “What’d you say?” Scott descended back into his chair. “How’d you ask it?”

  “I sat next to him on the bed and asked him. He looked at me funny and asked what I meant. I just told him that I always felt like I didn’t belong to them. I mean, they’re both blond, way bigger and fatter than me. No facial features matched.”

  “Nice thinking.” I petted her hair.

  “He said sorry for not telling me, but that he had no clue what I meant about him supposed to be telling me anything.” Georgia held out her hand and a flame flickered above her open palm. “But it’s not like I could show him this and ask, right?”

  “True.”

  “I wasn’t sure if I should tell him about the safe and the disc, though. So I kept my mouth shut.”

 
“I’m glad you didn’t say anything,” Scott said. “At least until we have time to talk about it. If you just told him, well, I’m not sure why, but I think it’s good you didn’t.”

  “But I want to, Scott. Let’s show him the part about my real mom telling me she was going to send me this disc.” She doused her flame. “Then maybe he’ll get honest. We don’t have to show the part about our powers and stuff.”

  I glanced at Scott. “She has a point. If he’s lying, we need to call him on it.”

  “He didn’t even know his wife was going to leave. I bet Georgia’s mom knows everything—or something that made her run. Her dad’s probably clueless.” Scott ran his fingers through his hair and tugged. “The timing—everything—just feels off.”

  I didn’t know what to think. We’d ended The Center by burning it to the ground, along with everyone and everything inside of it. Well, except stupid Andrey. He got away. And now, right before a family dinner where we thought her mom was going to tell her something important she up and leaves?

  “You think your dad could be connected to The Center?” I asked.

  “No.” Georgia shook her head.

  “But if he knows anything about the experiments, he might be too scared to say anything,” Scott said. “Or he could be in on everything.”

  “He would have snatched Georgia right away.”

  “Not if he doesn’t know I have powers. I’ve hidden them from him, he has no clue I can do this crap.”

  “God. This sucks.” I stomped out of the kitchen. The temperature dropped several degrees as I entered the dark living room. Got even colder by the time I reached my room. I slammed the door shut and flopped onto my bed on my stomach.

  Everything sucked right now. Zach. Georgia’s mom. Nate. College. I thought since Georgia, Jasmine, and I destroyed The Center things would turn around for the Hillman family. Georgia and I were wicked strong, and getting more so each time we practiced. We had this cool apartment we were going to move into. College was starting soon.

  Now everything was all messed up.

  The hinges to my door creaked, and I glanced back. Georgia stole through the doorway. She clicked it closed behind her and moved toward me.