Santiago snapped his fingers in my face. “Dakota?”
I looked up at him and swallowed. “Yeah?” The word came out all scratchy.
“I asked you a question,” he said.
“Yeah?” I said. I could barely remember where I was.
“Why are you here?” he asked.
“Why are you here?” I asked.
“I’m here because you’re here.”
“Oh. To make sure I’m ‘safe and happy’?” I used my fingers to make air quotes.
“That’s exactly right.”
“I’m here to find a way to get rid of you,” I said.
He smiled, flashing a tiny little dimple in his right cheek. “Is that right?”
“That’s right.”
“You know that will never happen.” His tone was playful and borderline smug. Why didn’t he take any of this seriously?
“Do you have any idea how old this is getting, this…enigma, mystery man crap?”
“I’m sure it is. But it’s better than the alternative.”
“Which is?” I asked.
Goofing around, two large dudes shuffled past and bumped me right into Santiago’s arms. My chest smashed against his body, our faces so close I could smell his sweet breath—cinnamon mixed with something kind of minty.
Eyes locked, the two of us just stood there as people passed by laughing, screaming, and singing. I couldn’t help it, but him holding me so tightly, our hips pressed together, our lips within an easy distance, created tiny explosions of pinpricks throughout my body.
He stared into my eyes for what seemed like an eternity and then his gaze slowly slid to my lips. Kick me again, but I realized that I wanted him to kiss me. I wanted it so badly that I started to lean in just as he did.
Wait. What’s wrong with me? I can’t be trusted around him. He’s like kryptonite for intelligence!
I quickly pushed back. “All right. You win, Santiago. I’m done.” Coming to the party had been a stupid idea.
“Where are you going?”
“To find Bridget. Maybe one of the pledges can drive her home.” I couldn’t take this anymore. The strangeness of the situation was simply too much, and though I’d tried to be strong and believe there were reasons for all this, I wouldn’t lie to myself anymore. The entire thing was terrifying. I had no control over my emotions when I was around him. This situation felt like being right back in high school, reliving those final months spinning in my head instead of enjoying life. After Janice was gone, I had a ton of offers for the senior ball. Boys actually wanted to date me, and the other girls were nice to me. I’d finally ditched my Queen Loser title, but instead of enjoying it, I spent every day wondering if Santiago might return. I woke up nightly in a cold sweat for months until I finally made a deal with myself. I’d promised that the moment I graduated and moved off to college, the past would stay behind.
“Dakota, don’t leave.” Santiago grabbed my hand.
I yanked it away. “Don’t. Don’t touch me.” I pushed my way to the front door, nearly stumbling in my red heels as I hit the stairs. The tears begged me to let them loose, but there was no way I’d let this man see my cry.
“Dakota,” Santiago ran ahead and blocked me with his body. Once again I found our bodies pressed together. I looked up at him, unable to speak. Feeling his warmth and his arms gripping me tightly triggered that damned Pavlovian response. I didn’t think. I just…was.
He brought his hand to my cheek and whisked away a tear that had escaped. “I’m sorry. But it has to be this way.”
“You’ve ruined my life,” I whispered. “I’m crazy.”
“You’re not crazy.”
“Really? Really? Because I’m pretty damned sure I am. For fuck’s sake, I found your picture on the Internet. I made you up! Then there you were! And then you disappeared. So please, please try to explain in which universe the definition of crazy doesn’t fit?”
I attempted to wriggle away, but he pulled me closer.
His eyes drilled me with his intense emotions. “I know this is hard. But you’re alive. And I’ll be damned if I fail to keep you that way because you can’t handle a few ambiguities.”
Was that what he thought this was about? Ambiguities? How could he think that when he’d just said he was keeping me alive? So who wanted to hurt me and why? But, of course, he wasn’t going to tell me anything. That much I knew.
I studied his face, trying to put the pieces together. Nothing fit. Nothing. Especially the fact that when I was near him, I felt safe. And now, pressed firmly against his strong body, I couldn’t stop my body from reacting.
“I’m going home,” I said.
“You’re upset. I’ll take you.”
“Leave me alone, Santiago.” I tried to shake him off me, but it only made him madder.
He raised his voice, “I can’t do that, Dakota.”