Something or someone was shaking me. In confusion I frowned, mumbling incoherently.

Rattle.

“Rae,” Peter’s voice was next to my ear. “Rae, please, wake up.”

Click.

“Rae, someone is trying to open your door.”

I bolted upright, my heart racing in my chest, “What?”

Peter jumped up from the bed as soon as I was awake and cracked his knuckles, crouching in a fight stance, “He’s not getting to you. No matter what.”

Click. Rattle. Rattle.

My entire body broke out in a sheen of cold sweat. I stood, frightened, my eyes fixated on the door, “Peter?”

He was beside me instantly, one sliding arm around my waist and posed like he was ready for war. A blade was in his other hand, a large one, like a hunting knife.

“Where the hell did you get that?” I asked, a little too loudly.

“Shhh,” he admonished. “I had a feeling I might need it. Don’t worry about where I got it right now. You need protection.”

Click. Silence. Click.

“Whoever it is, they’re not leaving,” I pointed out, shaking my head. “Put the knife away. I’m going to open the door. Go hide in my closet.”

“No,” he growled. “You don’t understand yet. Just listen to me for once dammit.”

I threw my hands in the air, full of drama, and didn’t care, “Whatever.”

He crushed me to his chest, his lips meeting mine in a passionate, scorching kiss, “Do not be so foolish.” He inhaled a deep breath of air and shook his head, “Don’t answer that door, Rae. No matter what.”

He was scaring me now.

“Pete? You’re freaking me out,” my voice trembled as proof.

“That’s not what I intended. I’m sorry,” he hadn’t let go. I was still clutched against him. “I’ll explain when I can. Please, trust me baby.”

I nodded, terrified, and had no idea what his words meant, “What should I do?”

“Nothing,” he growled low. “Hope he goes away.”

Rattle. Rattle.

“Peter?” I whispered. “I think I’m going to pass out.” I was near to hyperventilating and completely terrified with his actions and the knowledge that Charles was trying to get into my room in the middle of the night.

He caught me as my knees buckled. At that exact moment, there was a small bang and then the door . . . unlocked.

Peter slid under the bed with his arm around me, seconds before my door swung open. I could hear his heart racing in his chest, both of us trying to breathe as silently as possible. Our chests rose and fell quickly with our anxiety, and I swear the air underneath became thinner and more oppressive the second I heard that door open. Pressed to the cold wooden floor, I felt like a criminal in my own home.

Charles was pacing the length of my room. I heard the window raise and lower a minute later. Maybe Step-Vader would think I had snuck out. I could only hope so. He walked to my closet door and paused, then the door opened and shut.

I heard him laugh lightly and saw his feet moving toward my main door. It opened and shut, but he didn’t leave. Peter gripped me tighter.

Neither of us moved.

Neither of us spoke.

“If you’re in here Rae, let this be a warning. Next time I won’t leave this room empty-handed,” the door opened. “And if I catch Peter in here, I’ll hurt him.” The door closed as his footsteps echoed down the hall.

Shaking, I slipped from under the bed, pulling Peter with me, “Oh God. Oh God, Pete.”

“Shhh baby,” he soothed, holding me against his chest. “I’ve got you. He’s never going to harm you. Understand? Not ever.”

I shook my head, “He will. One day he’s going to succeed Peter. One day, after you leave, he’s going to come for me and no one is going to stop him.”

The words fell out of my mouth before I could stop them.

He trembled with rage, “Then I don’t leave, it’s as simple as that.”

Standing, I shoved his arms away, “You should go . . . tonight,” I backed away from him, hot tears coursing down my cheeks. “I’m asking you to leave.”

“No Rae.”

I turned my back on him, “I said leave.”

My shoulders shook as I cried, misery permeating every square inch of my body. I had to push Peter away. He wouldn’t be hurt because of me.

He spun me around, his lips descending on mine, his kiss desperate and fierce, “I know what you’re doing. I’m not going to be that easy to get rid of.” He crushed me to his chest, “There’s no place on this earth that means anything to me without you there.”

My head fell into his neck as I clutched his shirt with my fingers in desperation, “You have to go Pete. You have to get out of here. It’s your ticket to freedom and I won’t allow you to throw away all of your dreams because of me.”

He stiffened, “You’d be surprised what my dreams are Rae.”

My head rose, my heart in agony. I wanted him to stay, but it was so selfish and unfair, “You’ve wanted to join the military since you were a kid and fly planes. I’m not going to let you give that up.”

“You don’t understand baby,” his hands rested on my cheeks, his thumbs brushing the hot tears aside. “I love you, Rae.”

“I’m sorry Pete,” I replied in anguish. “But I don’t love you, so you’re better off leaving. Really. It saves you from more heartache. I was going to tell you tomorrow anyway.”

He blanched, a look of intense anguish washing over his face, and then his eyes narrowed, “Don’t do this Rae.”

My eyes searched his, begged him to believe me, to walk away, and never look back. We both knew if he stayed here because of me he was never going to leave and fulfill his dreams. He would resent me for this, one day in the future. I couldn’t live with that.

Wasn’t this love? Pushing someone away so they could have their best chance, even if it broke your heart in the process? “It’s ok Pete,” I kissed him softly. “You should go. He won’t come back tonight.”

“Do you think I’m stupid?” he growled. “I’m not going anywhere.” Marching across the room, he made sure the door was locked again and shoved my desk across the floor until it covered the frame completely. “He’s not coming back in, even if I have to block your door every damn night and stand guard. So don’t pull any more bullshit, Rae. I mean it.”

My chin lowered to my chest, and I sighed, “I don’t want you to hate or resent me.”

He tugged me toward him, his arms encircling my waist, “Baby, you still don’t get it.” He kissed my lips tenderly and sank down on the bed, surrounding me in his embrace. “You’re my Rae of sunshine. Lie about loving me again, and I’m going to spank you.”

I sat up, indignant, “What the –”

He laughed, “Rae, I’m just teasing.” Maybe it was his way of diffusing some of the tension we felt.

I settled back onto his chest, “Very funny.”

“You know I’m telling you the truth, right?”

“About being your ray of sunshine?” I yawned. Sudden fatigue washed over me. I felt drained, both emotionally and physically.

“Yeah,” he whispered, squeezing my back as his arms wrapped around me. “You always have been. Both to me and your dad. Go ahead and sleep. I’m fine.”

“Pete?” I yawned again.

“Yeah?”

“What if he comes back?” A tremble coursed through my body, bone-deep, and I was afraid.

“He won’t tonight, but just in case I’ll stay awake the rest of the night.”

That didn’t seem fair, “You need rest.”

“I can take a nap later. With you.”

“Peter.”

He laughed lightly, “Go to sleep baby.”

“Pete?”

“Yeah, honey?”

“I think . . .” I paused, and my eyes closed. “I think I actually do love you.”

He chuckled softly, “Baby you’ve loved me as long as I’ve loved you.”

I mumbled a reply in agreement right before I fell asleep.

***

“RAE,” JAKE’S HANDS formed into a megaphone by his lips. “Earth to Rae. Come in Rae.”

I rolled my eyes and threw my empty paper cup in his direction, across the table, “Shut up Jake.” I was more than a little distracted with Step-Vader’s late night trek into my room last night. To divert me from my anxiety Peter had called in the troops to meet up for pizza and a night of fun. I still didn’t know what the fun was going to be yet.

Jake laughed and swatted it away, only it bounced off his hand and hit R.J. on the side of the head, close to his temple.

“Dude!” R.J. protested, wadding the cup into a ball and aiming it at Jake’s head.

“Bro, it was an –” the ball hit him in the forehead, smack in the middle. “Accident.”

R.J. nearly fell off the end of the booth, laughing hysterically.

Hayley leaned over and whispered in my ear, “And they wonder why we prefer college guys.”

“Right,” I agreed, rolling my eyes. “I don’t think they’ve changed since elementary.”

“Harsh,” Peter protested, a big grin spreading across his face. “I think they’ve matured to at least middle school.”

Hayley and I giggled.

“I might give them sixth grade, but that’s generous,” Hayley folded her arms across her chest, watching the two of them as they blew straw paper at each other in some sort of war. Two dozen straws already littered the table. “I take that back. Fifth grade tops.”

“Very generous,” I added, trying to hold back my laughter at their sullen expressions. My eyes rose to Peter’s, expecting to find him amused. Instead, he was gazing out the front windows of the restaurant, a frown marring his brow, “Pete?”

He turned back to me slowly and reached for my hand, intertwining our fingers, “Don’t worry Rae. Everything is fine.” He beat me to the question, knowing what I was going to ask. “Seem like the pizzas are taking forever?”

“Definitely,” Jake agreed, rubbing his belly. “I’m starved.”

“All you do is eat,” Hayley poked him in the stomach. “How do you stay so skinny?”

Jake was six foot three and a hundred and sixty pounds, soaking wet and fully clothed. Even so, he was handsome. A bright smile, hazel eyes framed by dark lashes girls would kill for, and long wavy brown hair to his shoulders. I knew this by heart. Hayley always described him that way to me as her eyes glazed over.

I wasn’t the only one who liked someone in our group.

“Babe, I’m fit. There’s a difference,” he pointed out. “Besides I’m muscular. Look at these guns.” He lifted his arms and flexed.

“Impressive,” she gushed, raising a finger and touching his bicep.

R.J. snorted, “Impressive for a skinny runt. Check these out,” he flexed bigger muscles than Jake, but Hayley shrugged, her eyes only for Jake.

Jake seemed to notice as his grin grew wider.

“So, Hayley,” he began as his arm slid around her shoulders. “When are you going to let me take you out?”

R.J. shook his head at Peter as he shrugged, rubbing my palm and smiling, “Hayley and Jake sitting in a tree . . .”

R.J. laughed so loud he snorted, “More like you and Rae.”

Pete sat up taller. “Works for me,” he leaned forward and kissed me gently. “I can kiss Rae forever.”

I blushed, “Peter!”

R.J. groaned, “Man, now I’m the only one without a date.”

Jake held Hayley a little closer, “I’ve been trying to date Hay for months. Stay away.”

R.J. shrugged, “She’s not my type.” He winked at her, and she winked back.

“Good,” Jake blurted, then seemed to realize how obvious that was and leaned back, as if he had not a care in the world. Typical Jake. All macho man.

Hayley looked over the moon. She was smiling so wide I thought her cheeks might hurt, “Why didn’t you ask me then?”

Before Jake could reply, R.J. beat him to it, “He’s stupid.”

Peter laughed at Jake’s thunderous expression, “He was nervous, same as me.”

I turned to Peter, “You were nervous?”

“Yeah, but I still knew you loved me.”

I rolled my eyes and shoved him back in his chair as he laughed with R.J., “Ha. Ha. So funny.”

“Kiss me, Rae,” Peter leaned down, and I couldn’t resist pressing a light kiss on his lips.

R.J. groaned, “This is so unfair.”

Hayley laughed, “Why? You in love with Rae too?”

R.J. blushed, “Uh, no.” His eyes darted to Peter’s, “he knows that.”

“Yeah, I do man. No worries.”

The pizzas finally arrived. For the next half hour we gorged ourselves on soda and the pies until nothing was left. The guys finished everything off.

“Ready?” Peter asked, helping me with my jacket.

“Where?”

“You’ll see,” he replied with a wink.