“C’mon, it’ll take twenty minutes. Then you can rush off with a full stomach to do whatever it is that you’d rather be doing instead of being with me.”
I recoiled at Egon’s keen ability to fold kindness and a nasty helping of guilt all into one badly timed request. “I ree-ally, really want to, but I’m already late. I am so sorry.” I ree-ally, really meant it, too.
“Last time you didn’t feel like it. Okay, your friend was hurt. I got it. So I gave you some time. Now you’re too busy.” Egon looked away. “Rinnie, it’s okay if you don’t want to hang out with me. Just say so.”
“No, that’s not it! It’s just—”
“It’s that kung fu school of yours, isn’t it? Look, I understand dedication. I practice a lot, too. But you’re a little…overboard, aren’t you?”
Overboard? Practicing every night wasn’t overboard. Putting on a mask and chasing bad guys might be… “No,” I said, hugging myself, rocking back and forth. “I just have something I need to do tonight.”
“It’s okay. Look, I thought we had something—”
“We do, Egon, we do!” I took Egon’s hands and pulled him toward me. “I like you, Egon. A lot. I never had a real boyfriend before.”
“Then tell me what you’re into.” Egon’s face was turning red. His hands quivered in mine. “What are you and Kathryn doing? I’m worried about you. I think you’re involved in something dangero—umm…” Egon got a really weird look on his face. “Boyfriend? Really?”
I felt like I had been kicked in the stomach. “Really.”
“Cool.” He squeezed my hand. “Mickey-D’s?”
I blushed, and gazed at my feet. I suddenly hated being a Psi Fighter. “Look, maybe we can go out tomorrow night? I promise, I won’t make any plans.”
Egon’s mouth hung slightly open, and the deepest sadness I had ever seen filled his eyes. He shook his head and slowly pulled his hands away. “Sure, whatever. If you don’t have something else you’d rather do.”
“Egon…”
He turned and disappeared down the hall.
I stared, unsure of what had just happened. I suddenly lost all desire to go after Mason.
It was time to go home.
Time to wonder how a day that had started out so sweet had ended up smelling like the Class Project. Time to brood about how my secret life was ruining my real life.
Chapter Twenty-eight
Psi Fighter No More
The smell of bacon filled the kitchen. I sat at the table watching my dad cook, hoping breakfast would help perk me up from my sleepless night. Even during the few minutes I did sleep, I dreamt of kidnappers with decomposing skulls, and Egon saying he didn’t have time for me.
“What’s wrong?” Susie took my hand in both of hers and hugged it. “You just look so sad today.”
“I’m sleepy.” I pulled Susie in close. Susie always knew.
“I love you, Rinnie.”
“I love you, too.” I felt my eyes fill with tears. So I didn’t have Egon. Big hairy deal. I didn’t need a stupid boyfriend. I’d always have my family. They would never leave me.
“Can you walk me to school today?” Susie asked.
“That would be fun.”
“That would be wet and muddy,” Dad said. “Been storming all night. Hurricanes, lightning, earthquakes, devastation. I think the end of the world is near. Better take the bus.”
“Dad.”
“Rinnie could ride the bus with me,” Susie said.
“Rinnie hasn’t even showered yet.” Dad gazed at me with concern. “She’ll never make the bus.”
I knew the look. Dad didn’t argue when I had said I didn’t feel good enough to go to school that morning, but he knew it wasn’t because I was ill.
“I have a meeting this morning. I’ll drop you off on the way if you’re feeling better.”
I watched Susie get on the bus. Two hours later, I got in the car with Dad. He rarely dropped me off at school. It was a short ride, but it was nice. The Monkees blasted away on the stereo, and Dad was singing “I’m a Believer” at the top of his lungs. Seriously, he didn’t help my taste in music any more than Andy did. Maybe it was time for a change.
“Dad, I don’t think I want to be a Psi Fighter anymore.”
Dad choked and turned off the music. “What, tired of practicing every night?”
“Oh, no.” I shook my head. Fond memories of kicking Andy’s butt flashed through my mind. “I love practicing. It’s fun. It’s the…other stuff.”
“First Kathryn, now Egon. I know how you feel.”
“First my birth parents. I mean, I don’t really remember them, but it still leaves a hole in me.”
“I have a hole, too, sweetheart.” He took my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I remember them. I was there that night. No six-year-old should see what you saw. Your mom and dad were our best friends. We filled the hole a little when we adopted you. Filled it a lot, actually.”
I kissed my dad’s hand. “You stopped being a Psi Fighter after you and Mom found us, didn’t you?”