Chapter Ten

Jasmine

They insisted on paying for my train fare, and I wished I had enough money to argue about it. But I didn't, so I thanked them as graciously as I could manage and promised myself I'd pay them back after I won the bet. Because I would. Packing for the trip, I tried to pretend it was no big deal and that after ninety days, I'd be home again, picking up right where I left off, unchanged by the experience.

Why couldn't I believe that?

Seeing Drake and Naga in video chat made all of this entirely too real. I bumped my wheeled bag down the front steps and out to the sidewalk. I ran over our conversation in my mind as I had since it ended, pausing for only too few hours to sleep. They were in cybersecurity, they said, doing a lot of work as contractors for the US government but also for other clients. Considering how much time I spent online, my knowledge of such things didn't extend far beyond not using 123456 for a password. Of course I had antivirus, but I didn't understand a lot about how it worked.

I did get the idea that it was not something they'd be able to discuss with me over the dinner table, but that was okay. They probably wouldn't want to hear how I worked with layers of images and used various parts to put together characters on cover flats.

I got the message that my rideshare was arriving and indeed could see them coming down the street in the early morning light. Leaving my car at the train station parking lot was not only expensive but unnecessary with such inexpensive and reliable alternatives. The guys had suggested I reconsider my refusal to fly and indeed had asked me what happened to make me feel that way, but I had no good answer. My grandfather had always said that if we were meant to fly, we'd have wings, and even though it was not particularly logical—after all, the same thinking process could be applied to going sixty miles an hour and being born with a combustion engine—I hadn't been able to get past it. That little girl who sat on Grandpa's lap, sucking on a candy and listening to his wisdom, still missed the man who'd passed away right when she started kindergarten. And the train was great, always a nice way to travel.

The station was only about fifteen minutes from home, but by the time I got there, I had almost talked myself out of going at all. My dang throat was tickling, and I had to keep sipping from my water bottle to keep from coughing. It was best not to be hacking in a public place, or everyone on the train would fear they'd been exposed to something awful.

"Here." The driver tossed a little bag to me. "Probably the weather; it's been so dry lately. Honey drops really help."

I took one and tried to pass it back, but he waved me off. "I have lots. Hope they help."

He was so kind, the honey drop soothing and reminding me of Grandpa's candies. And once I was aboard the train and sitting in the comfortable seat, I leaned back to watch the landscape and grew much more relaxed.

Having planned to work on a cover design, instead, I gifted myself these hours rolling across the states to slow down and take a break. I so rarely looked away from my screens, and maybe it was time to do that some. I'd worked darn hard to achieve my success and gain a strong following, but if I didn't make some changes, my health would suffer.

At some point, my eyes drifted closed because when I returned to awareness, the train was slowing, and the conductor's announcement came over the speaker system. My stop next. I jolted out of the seat and dashed to the restroom to freshen up because it was not going to do for me to meet these two handsome shifters, looking like something the cat dragged in and with dragon breath from my nap. So, I brushed my teeth with enthusiasm and rinsed with the small bottle of mouthwash I carried in my pack today.

Freeing my hair from its braid, I shook it out and brushed the waves over my shoulders then reapplied some lip gloss and mascara, a little blusher, and called it good. The train stopped with a slight shake, and I braced myself on the sink then returned to get my things from my seat. Descending to the platform, I looked around for the shifters, not seeing them at first. I got that icky unmoored feeling of being in a strange place alone, not actually that different from when Mom was late picking me up from school once when I was six.

But I wasn't six, and even if nobody did show up this time, I had enough money to buy a ticket home. I wasn't that broke!

"Jasmine!" The deep, smooth voice of Naga pulled me from my overthinking. "Over here."

The crowd parted, and I saw them standing outside the station. I don't know how I missed them, since they were taller than just about anyone else there. Must have just been the angle, or maybe they had been inside the station? Anyway, no matter. I stood up straighter and pasted on what I hoped looked like a confident smile. I let the crowd pull me in their direction, my heart hammering so loudly I hoped nobody could hear it.

"Here you are." Drake reached out and pulled me in for a hug. "Welcome." He gave me a squeeze and passed me to Naga who also gave me a quick, firm embrace.

"Hello, Jasmine. We didn't see you at first and were afraid you might have changed your mind."

Their combined strength and masculine scents weakened my knees. "Change my mind? Never." I laughed, but deep inside, a fear bubbled up. What had I gotten myself into?