West (A Roam Series Novella) Read Online Free Page A

other life.”
    “ I believe you. I’m afraid, but I do believe you,” she nodded, resting her head against my shoulder. “I’ll do what I must, West. If that means making a child with you, then I guess I’m the lucky one.”
    “Annie,” I groaned, threading my fingers through her hair. “None of the other lives have come… this easily. I know what this sounds like. It sounds crazy.”
    “ I was crazy to run from my parents. I was crazy to come live with my grandmother, and to stay even after she died. But I was drawn toward… something… someone . You.”
    The rocking motion of the truck lulled her to close her eyes. I wrapped one arm around her, lowering a kiss to her hair.
    I would keep her if it was the last thing I did.

Chapter Four
    Madison, Ohio
    August 2012
    Roam
    She skipped my class the very next day.
    I was furious. She planned to major in history at Yale, yet she ditches my class on the second day? She’d also left her history book behind.
    I went to the office. She’d come in late, reporting to statistics second period. The secretary handed me a long, blue lanyard with a key atta ched. “Oh, Mr. Perry, if you wouldn’t mind, would you stop in Mad Snacks and unload the shipment of chips? The custodian is running late today…,”
    I forced a polite smile. “Sure.” I have to make friends here. I planned to be there for a while.
    I knew Roam had study hall third period, and I had my lunch break, so I rushed to the cafeteria study hall.
    There she was, engrossed in her cell phone. Her sta tistics book sat unopened. I lowered to the table, one seat away, staring at her. She was absorbed in whatever she was reading, I gave her that. Probably a text from her boyfriend- who I’d learned was Logan Rush after a quick Facebook search.
    “Miss Camden.”
    She jumped out of her skin, her voice shaking as she managed a small “Hi.”
    “I never figured you one for skipping class and surfing your phone in school. I’ll take that. Please come with me.”
    She was mortified.
    She placed the iPhone on the table, and I grabbed the device, sliding it into my pocket. Her hair was fixed into a long, thick braid, and the wet mark on the collar of her sweatshirt (combined with scent of shampoo) told me she’d just showered. Everything about her was fresh, clean, and new, and I would have been content just to sit next to her, watching her read.
    When I stood, she followed me to the football field. The late summer heat must have been so uncomfortable for her in that sweatshirt. “Where are we going?”
    “Mad Snacks. I somehow got roped into unloading the shipment of chips and candy that arrived this morning, and you can help me- since statistics seem to bore you.”
    “I did not skip your class this morning, Mr. Perry. I was ill before school and was late. Excused.”
    Ill? I retrieved the lanyard with the key, my eyes sweeping over her. I liked hearing her call me Mr. Perry too much.
    She reminded so much of Annie.
    “I’m sorry to hear that. Feeling better?”
    As I pushed open the door, I flipped a switch that turned on a fan/light combo.
    “Listen, you’ll need to open the window if I’m going in there with you.”
    The stifling heat was overpowering. “It’s pretty warm in here,” I agreed, irritated at the pile of boxes near the door.
    “Yes, that, and the fact that I have common sense and an unscathed reputation.”
    My eyes snapped to hers. Common sense…? I reali zed she was implying that I was in fact a male teacher, ten years her senior, taking my female student into a secluded, locked room.
    “Of course,” I moved to the concession window, lifting the aluminum gate. She’s right. Why does she always seem one step ahead of me? I’m in control here.
    I hope.
    “When do I get my phone back?” She asked, kneeling next to a box of chips.
    I retrieved her phone from my pocket. “We discussed this yesterday, right?”
    “I was using my phone for research.”
    Her voice was confident.