Runaways (Orphans 5)

"I am, but I'm not going to forget you, if you don't want me to," I said.

His breathing slowed. He pressed his forehead against my shoulder and waited as if he had to endure some terrible agony for a moment.

"Are you all right?" I asked.

"Yes. Just give me a minute," he said. I let him lie there, his body against me. We listened to each other's hearts beating like jungle drums Who knew the messages they were exchanging? Finally, he turned on his back, slipped his coveralls up, and took a deep breath.

I fixed my- bra and put on my sweatshirt. "I'm sorry," I whispered.

"There's nothing to apologize for, Brooke. You did something to me from the moment I first saw you and I couldn't help myself. Believe me. I'm not like this normally."

He sat up, pulling his knees in and embracing his legs with his head down. It was easier for him to open his heart to me that way.

"I have this fear thatI'll be like my mother, wild, immoral. It's like it might be in my blood or something. I hated the way men treated her and I don't want to treat a woman, any woman that way.

"But it was different with you," he said,

raising his head. "I just couldn't stop my feelings."

"I know. Neither could I," I said.

I could see his smile glisten in the starlight. "I guess your friends are going to wonder where you are."

"No, they have no idea how long fixing a car should take," I said. "It's all right."

"You can drive your own car back now," he said.

"I'm not in any rush." I lowered my head to his lap when he straightened his legs and looked up at him.

"I guess this is what they mean when they say love at first sight. Man, oh man, I don't know whether to feel foolish or happy."

"Be happy, Todd. I am."

"You really won't forget me?" he asked.

I laughed.

"You'll forget me first. I'm sure."

"I'll take that bet," he said. "As soon as you land somewhere, write or call and I'll make that my first vacation."

"Promise?"

"On every star in the sky. Every time you look up at night, you can think of me and my promise. Just remember I'm waiting back here and don't let me wait forever, okay?"

"Oh, Todd, I don't know where we're going to end up. I'm afraid now," I said. "And I'm the leader. I'm the one who got them all to go."

"You'll figure it out, Brooke. I can see you're someone who lands on her feet. My money's on you."

I laughed.

"Now you do sound like someone in love because when you're in love, you're blind to what's real."

"Who told you that?" he asked.

"No one. I came to that conclusion myself," I said.

"I told you I am too realistic. It won't apply to me."