Mind Games by Stephanie Black

Author:Stephanie Black
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: LDS;Drama;Suspense;Dream;Reality;Mind;Ghost
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Published: 2017-08-11T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

Natalie scribbled so many notes that her hand cramped. Dr. Strickland’s lecture was even better than she’d remembered, and every helpful and informative word Strickland spoke nudged her mood further and further into optimism. When she checked her phone after the lecture, she found a text from Kenton that brought another gust of optimism: Sorry about Quincy. I didn’t mean to cause trouble for you. I called him tonight. He didn’t pick up, so I left a message saying there was no affair and to leave you alone.

At least there was hope for getting Baxter to back off, though he might decide the retraction was the lie. But it was movement in the right direction, and that was worth optimism. She replied to Kenton’s text, thanking him for his honesty and curbing her urge to qualify “honesty” with “belated.” Admitting to Baxter that he’d lied and thus stirring Baxter’s curiosity as to why he’d done so must have been agonizing for Kenton. He had difficulty simply making a phone call to someone he didn’t know well, let alone making a call about such a sensitive matter. He’d accomplished what was, for him, an extremely challenging task, and she wanted to give him credit for that.

On the drive home from Cornell, she let her mind drift, refusing to let herself concentrate on anything except the requirements of maneuvering safely in traffic. Other thoughts and observations came and went: the glitter of headlights and taillights on the rain-wet road, Heather’s confused accusations, Daisy Frederiksen’s insults, the dented bumper of the truck in front of her, Kenton’s lie, the flute concerto on the stereo, a tiny chip in the windshield that she needed to fix, Gideon’s intervention.

Gideon’s intervention. Thoughts of Gideon kept entering her mind until finally they washed away all attempts to think about anything else. Gideon and the way he’d trusted her word and gone to battle for her with Kenton. His support, his good humor, his kindness. His recent inconsistency about aspects of their relationship that marked it as more than a close friendship. Instead of confronting him, she’d allowed the confusion, letting it taint comfortable communication with don’t-rock-the-boat silence. How much had she avoided discussing their relationship because it was easier to tell herself she was being patient with his insecurity than to face her own insecurity?

How hard was she trying not to notice that sometimes she yearned to be with him—forever—more than she’d ever wanted anything and other times she was petrified at the thought of emotionally entrusting herself to another person?

With the mixed signals they were both sending, it was a wonder they could communicate at all.

She’d talk to him about it this week. She’d invite him to dinner at her house on Friday, and she’d forewarn him what she wanted to discuss so he wouldn’t feel ambushed. Even if his answers weren’t what she wanted to hear, she needed to hear them. No more procrastinating the discussion, hoping Gideon—and she—would naturally float past whatever issues were swamping their relationship.

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