Izabelle

"Hunter told you he loves you, Deana went psycho on Hunter, and you moved in with Kyle."

Katie sank her teeth into a homemade chocolate chip cookie I'd baked earlier. "What else did I miss? Oh, yeah, you're living with Kyle and you've turned into an evangelist."

Tilting my head, I gave her a look that said I knew exactly what she was doing. "I asked about your life."

"Aw, no. No way. Mine is better than sheep for sleep. Total snoozeville. I want to talk about you." Her gaze slid over my navy and white polka dot blouse and boot-cut jeans. It was the third outfit I'd tried on for her. "You look wowza!"

"You've said that about every outfit I've tried on." I sighed.

"I never said wowza. The black lacy top was chic but cliché. I liked the knee-high boots and red halter. Might want to borrow that sometime. But this looks like you—beautiful and enticing, but innocent at the same time."

Shaking my head, I made a low sound of disagreement. "I'll take your word for it. Fashion is not my thing. Thanks for helping."

"Where's this hot date taking place?"

"I'm not sure."

"Probably somewhere dull and boring," she sighed, fighting a smile. "Like a car show. Possibly a hardware sale."

"Hunter will probably take me horseback riding." Funny how just saying his name could make my belly do a little flip.

"Very romantic," she exaggerated.

I threw her a pointed look. "Jase would be romantic if you'd give him a chance."

Katie choked on her latte. "Sneaky how you change the subject. He's in love with himself and no less than a dozen women. Not sure why you're all of the sudden Team Jase."

"I'm Team Katie. But I have noticed he's different with you. It's sweet. I've never seen him pursue a woman before."

"Because they usually fall at his feet and scream, 'I love you, Jase! Take me out! I beg you!'"

I laughed, but I wasn't letting her off easily. "I think you're jealous."

"Pul-lease. Jealous is the last thing I feel about Jase."

"What do you feel?"

Katie leaned back her expression twisted like she was trying to find the right word. "Indifference." Her eyes lit up. "That's it! Big, fat indifference."

"Uh-huh. You protest a little too much."

"I don't want to talk about it." She waved her hand dismissively. "Have you heard any more from Scott?"

"No. It's finished." I didn't want to talk about that any more than she did Jase. As much as I wanted it to be over, I had a weird feeling that it wasn't.

"Not to be a downer," Katie said, reaching for a pair of silver hoops on the table and holding them up to my outfit. "I changed my mind. I like these better than the sand dollars."

"Ok," I said slowly. "No worries, I'm not attached to the sand dollars."

"Sorry, I changed the subject. Too much coffee. The Deana and Hunter incident is freaky. That's the downer part."

"I know." The words were quiet. I was more upset than I wanted her to know.

"What does Hunter think?"

"That Deana could be trying to shift the blame because she's scared of Scott."

"Makes sense." She took a sip of coffee. "Sooo, you and Hunter are together, together." Katie wagged her brows.

I knew what she was implying, and I shook my head. "We're together, but we're not sleeping together if that's what you're asking."

Her lips parted in surprise. Then she tossed her head back and laughed. "Yeah, sure."

"It's true. We've decided to wait." Lucy had mentioned Jesus enough that I knew how Katie would react to the reason Hunter and I hadn't slept together.

"Waiting for the right time? I guess that's romantic, sweet, and sensible."

"We're waiting for marriage."

She looked confused. "Why?"

"We're following Jesus now. God says intimacy should only be between a man and wife."

"You've got to be kidding." Katie rolled her eyes. "I guess Lucy converted her dad, and now you've jumped on the religious train. Why are all my friends turning into believers?"

"Katie," I said gently. "Why are you always mad when someone brings up God?"

"Oh, c'mon Izzy. You were the same way until you started going out with Hunter."

"No. I always questioned. Especially, after Kyle found Jesus." I sighed, seeing her skepticism. "I wasn't sure, but I was open to finding answers. I started reading the Bible. It changed me."

"You found answers in the Bible. Yeah, sure." The words dripped with sarcasm.

"I prayed." I could tell Katie wasn't buying any of this. "God is calling all of us. We just have to answer Him."

"And now you act like you know everything."

"No, not at all." It was the last impression I wanted to give her. "The more I learn about God the more realize what I don't know. I just have to have faith and trust him with the rest."

Bracing for another argument, Katie's next statement surprised me.

"I'm not into the church scene, obviously, but I might consider the possibility of there being a God. Jesus is another story."

I started to tell her Jesus was God, but that might be too much for now. The Trinity was confusing. "Jesus is God's only son, and he died for our sins. You can't believe in God without believing in Jesus."

Before I could say more Jack shot to the living room and began to bark ferociously. The hair at the back of my neck prickled.

Katie froze, frowning. "Does he normally do that?"

"It's probably a squirrel."

"Poor squirrel. I know you said it's over with Scott, but..."

I felt sick. "Kyle paid him the money he claimed I owed for the car. I don't think it's him."

"What about Deana? Maybe her damsel in distress act for Hunter was all a ploy to throw him off the track. She could be the one doing this creepy stuff."

"I don't think so."

"Good." Katie seemed relieved. "Are you ok? You're as pale as the kids in that vampire movie."

"I'm not sure how to respond to that. Guess I'll use more blush."

"Funny. Jack's probably not used to being at Kyle's place." Her forehead crinkled as she seemed to ponder that. "Why is he here?"

Jack's barking became more insistent and threatening.

"Hunter thought he'd be good protection."

"Yeah, right. Hope Kyle doesn't mind getting his packages." Katie laughed. "No one will dare approach the house."

I'm checking it out." I tried to ignore the sense that something very bad was about to happen as we walked into the living room.

Jack was acting strange. I was acting cool for Katie falling apart inside. His barking stopped as suddenly as it started and then he let out a low, ominous sound. Coming from such a friendly dog, it raked over my already raw nerves.

"What's wrong, Jack? Is it a squirrel?" Reaching down, I rubbed his head.

Jack's growl deepened, and he ran toward the back of the house. I followed him, stopping dead in my tracks when he began to bark ferociously at the room where I was staying.

My heart raced. I felt light-headed. Like I couldn't catch my breath.

Jack charged forward getting in front of me.

Katie reached for her phone. "I'm calling 911."

THWACK!

We both screamed at the solid sound of something small and dark hitting my bedroom window.

"What was that?" she cried, clutching my arm and trying to look outside.

"I think it was a bird." Weak with relief, my shoulder sank but my heart still raced.

Katie stared at me. "Is bird code for a deranged serial killer?"

"No," I croaked.

"Ax murderer?"

"A real bird, Katie. It flew into the window." Jack came to my side and nudged my leg, and I patted his head.

"Everything ok here?"

We both reacted to Kyle's question, running to him and hugging him. He stiffened, caught off guard by our actions.

"What's going on?" He was all of a sudden alert, his gaze sharp.

"Jack started barking. We overreacted." Swallowing, I glanced at Katie. "It was just a bird, right?"

"It looked like a bird," Katie echoed.

Kyle's gaze narrowed. "There was a car parked out front of the neighbor's house when I got here. A man was inside."

My stomach dropped. "You said Mrs. Ortiz has someone help her with stuff around the house."

"Evan. He's in college. This guy was older and—" Kyle stopped and slid his hand over his jaw.

I knew him too well to let this go. "Tell me."

"He seemed familiar, but I didn't get a good look at him." He exhaled, shook his head, and smiled. "He's probably a friend of the neighbors."

"Yeah, probably."

Long after Katie had gone home and Kyle turned in, I laid awake battling the anxiety that wouldn't let me rest. When it became unbearable, I got to my knees and gave it to the Lord. Prayer should have been my first instinct. I was late, but I knew Jesus was waiting on me.

I am with you, daughter.

The quiet, still words filled me with peace. No matter what happened, I wasn't alone and I never would be again.