*Ray

Ray took Zach's wrist to stop his uninvited invasion of her most delicate parts. "Actually, I think we should—"

The door to the room swung open with a bang and she jumped sideways, knocking Zach over.

He screamed and she tried to catch him, managing the break the fall at the last moment. He braced himself, one hand and good knee on the floor, the other arm in Ray's grip, balanced at an angle.

"What the hoopla is going on in here, Zach?" a woman asked. She was furious, if her expression was any indication and the family resemblance to Zach was too striking not to notice.

An embarrassed flush crept up Ray's neck and face. Her shorts hung wide open and too low on her hips, and she knew she was ruffled and sexed up as hell.

"Hi, mom," Zach said, easing himself to the floor. From a sitting position, he held out his hands to Ray to help him to stand.

Right. I'll just help him up before I put my pants in order in front of his mom, no problem.

As soon as he was up, she stood half hidden behind him, lips pressed together in rage and tried to discretely arrange herself.

Zach's mother huffed in indignation. "I take the first flight available from California, only to find one of your hussies keeping you from resting and healing like the doctors have instructed. Unbelievable. Tell her to get out."

Ray wanted to die. Right then and there. No one had ever spoken about her like that, as if she was worthless and one of many. And to accuse her of wanting sex so bad she'd put someone else in danger? Tears sprang to her eyes. She crossed in front of Zach to grab her bag off the floor.

"No need to say anything, I'm going."

"No wait, Ray. Ray!" Zach hopped forward to catch her arm. "Mom, that is not at all what is going on here. She was helping me to the restroom, and she's my girlfriend. I can't believe you'd say something so mean. I love her."

"I have heard this song before, young man. When I got that call from the hospital, I thought you were going to die. How could you do this to me? And why are you out of bed?"

"Mom, I'm fine. Look at me—I'm good. You panicked for nothing."

"Nothing? I panicked for nothing? You are going with me back to California in order to heal at the house, where I can monitor your condition and make sure no other girlfriends make fall on the floor. And that's final."

"Mom," he whined, shaking his head. "I can't go home. It's the middle of the semester!"

Ray was reeling. All she wanted to do was escape. Fast. She had to figure out what he meant by saying he loved her, after the weird mix of doubt, fear, and desire she'd had when he was touching her. This family drama was not what she had signed up for. Zach could act like a little kid without her having to witness it.

"I'd better go," she said, but neither of them noticed her. Since Zach had dropped her arm, she tiptoed toward the door.

It swung open suddenly, hitting her in the head.

She stumbled, hand flying up towards the splitting pain in her temple. Instead of reaching her own head, though, she smacked Lokela's face as he rushed in from the hall. He jumped back and she hit the wall, dazed. A split second later, warm relief flooded her heart. Lokela was there. Everything would be all right.

Between being slapped and finding her flailing, he blinked in confusion. "Shit, did I hit your head with the door?"

Her heart swelled. Stuck to the wall in surprise, she lifted her chest unconsciously. She wondered, for a split second, if she still looked sexed up, and if he thought she was beautiful like that.

Zach's mother sniffed. "And I suppose this brute is that friend you've told me about, the one you are planning the trip with. Really, Zach, you have no taste in company."

Trevor, Casey, and Hugh suddenly crowded into the room, calling out greetings, and shaking the hang-loose sign to Zach. They took up more space than necessary, with legs widespread and arms crossed, stupid grins on their faces.

What the hoopla is going on?

Ray studied them. They were up to something. There had to be a reason they all barged into the room—they weren't even Zach's friends, or friends with each other, so far as she knew.

Lokela's cheeks were a tinge darker than usual. With his brown complexion, a blush was hard to detect, but it was there.

"What's going on?" she breathed softly, so only he would hear her. Actually, she didn't care what was going on with them. She was happy Lokela was there, with her, and this was an excuse to whisper.

He glanced her way guiltily, but immediately shrugged it off. "Hey, man, what's up?" he called to Zach.

"Nothing much. It's good. The doctor should release me soon. This is my mom, Sharon."

The guys all nodded and said hi. Sharon pursed her lips, nostrils flared. She reacted to their presence the same as if they were raccoons in the yard who might get into her garbage cans. Yikes. Ray was ready to leave.

"Call me, Zach, and let me know how you are doing," she said, hitching her purse strap on her shoulder.

"You can catch a ride with us, Ray," Casey said. "Did you have lunch, yet?"

Hot damn, they were the sweetest guys in the universe. She shook her head, not really trusting her voice to say anything else.

"Ray, wait." Zach held out his hand. Both Trevor and Hugh shifted their wide stances, putting themselves slightly between her and Zach. Is that why there were there? To keep her away from Zach?

The thought triggered a memory—her own moment of idiocy when she blurted out to Casey that she had a question about guy's brains and sex in the hallway last night. Were they protecting her?

She sensed the heat from Lokela's body on her bare arm and it rocked her to her soul. He was there to protect her. It was overprotection, sure, but he was genuinely worried about her. They all were. Her heart swelled with love.

"Can I get a moment alone with my girlfriend?" Zach was annoyed. He hobbled around the guys, but stopped short at his mother's huff of disapproval.

"I think you had more than enough time alone before I arrived. And a good thing, too. Your father is at the dorm, already packing your things. Say your goodbyes now," Sharon snapped.

"Right. Goodbye. I'll text you, Ray, we can chat, all right?" he said plaintively.

"You bet," she said. "I guess I'll see you in a few days?"

"More like next semester after his leg is healed," Sharon said.

Zach's face fell in dismay. His puppy-dog expression came on full force, and Ray told herself to leave with only a wave goodbye, instead of swooping in to give him a hug. She would figure things out with him later. They would talk. He was going to fast, and she would tell him the truth about how she felt. It would all work out. At her side, Lokela crossed his arms and fumed silently. There was too much testosterone in the small room for her. She waved and ran for the door.

Out in the hallway, her shoulders collapsed downwards. Was she relieved to be out of there and free from Zach? Disappointed? Angry at his mom? No idea. She needed her sister to tell her what she should feel. If she could talk this out with Beth...

But no. Her sister had her own problems now. Her head was heavy, matching her heart, and as she walked, her shoes clicked despondently on the tiles.

Her phone buzzed with a call in her purse.

Beth's name appeared on the screen. A smile crept onto her face. There was an uncanny magic between her and her sister, no doubt. This wasn't the first time she was thinking of her sister a second before her sister called.

Lighter and happier already, she pressed the phone to her ear. "How do you do it, Beth?"

"Do what?" Beth asked on the other end.

"Call me when I need you?"

"Hah. You'll never know my dark-magic secrets. But actually, I was calling for your opinion on colors for the nursery."

Ray paused to tuck her hair behind her ear in order to listen better. "Ah-ha. Baby stuff. I am your woman for all your baby needs."

"Good. Pale grey and yellow, or pistachio green and beige?"

"Was the store out of real colors?" Ray asked. "This is Hawaii, put some emotion in it."

"You aren't any help. I'll decide on my own. And now I'd hang up, except I think you need to get something off your chest. Spill," Beth ordered.

Ray wished she could. "Just the usual madness. I'll call you later and tell you everything, but for now, remember, sweat between the boobs."

Beth chuckled. "That's right. Sweat between the boobs, itchy skin on my overstretched belly, and I've been burping a bunch, it's the weirdest thing."

In the background, Russel yelled, "And the cutest swollen ankles!"

"Ah," Ray crooned. "I'll give you a foot massage when I see you next. I love you, forever and ever!" She blew air kisses at the phone.

"Bye. Call me as soon as you can," Beth said and hung up.

Ray swiped and shoved the phone in her pocket. Her arm hairs stood on end, telling her she was not alone in the highway. She turned.

Lokela was there, arms crossed, shoulders wide, and he was frowning her direction. For once, he didn't scowl as though he were angry at her. He looked worried more than anything else. How long had he been standing there? Good thing she hadn't spilled any secrets to her sister, but he really should have announced his presence. In a public place, like the middle of a hospital hallway....

"Do you need a ride?" he asked finally, voice warm as the sandy beach.

"I have my bike," she said. "And I have to grab a bite to eat then go to school. After that, I have a study group for biology, which should last a couple of hours." Why was she suddenly filling him in on her whole day?

He nodded a couple of times as if knowing her plans until the evening was perfectly normal. "Need anything else?"

"No. I'm fine. I'm great. It was nice of you to come and visit Zach, he was talking about you," she said, lying. By the look on his face, she could tell she wasn't doing a very good job of it. "Actually, yeah, there is something I need."

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