Mindsurge (Mindspeak Book 3) (39 page)

Jack reached in the box and took out the silver chain that now held not just one, but three charms. “I searched the yacht for your necklace after you left—tore the boat apart, to be honest.” He grinned. “I finally found it under the dresser in your cabin. The clasp was broken, and it had found its way behind one of the dresser legs. Then, during the week we spent on Palmyra, I found this piece of sea glass.”

I studied the frosted green piece of glass—smooth and uniquely shaped. “A gem of the sea,” I whispered. “My father taught me about sea glass years ago. He was a lover of all things from the ocean.”

“I had the jeweler add the pearl.”

“Another treasure of the ocean.”

He nodded. I turned around and let Jack put the necklace on me, then faced him again. “Thank you,” I whispered. “I love it.”

We snuggled into the large chaise lounge under an oversized comforter. I lay across his body, my cheek pressed against his fleece pullover. “So, have you decided?” he asked at last.

“Yes.”

When he said nothing else, I strained my neck to look up at him. His head was propped up by a bent arm. He leaned forward and placed a kiss gently across my lips.

“Fine.” I sat up. He kept a hand on my leg and drew nervous circles on my thigh. “Here’s what I’m thinking,” I began. “I know I’m supposed to be this strong, independent girl.”

“Woman,” he corrected. I quirked a brow at him, and he shrugged. “It sounds better. More mature.”

“Okay, a strong, independent
woman
. And most high school students are eager to go off to college—to study and experience and figure out what we want to do with the rest of our lives. We’re supposed to be just reckless enough to learn who we really are.”

“Let me guess… You’ve decided to give up your life of recklessness?”

I poked him in the ribs, and he flinched. “Ha ha.” I grabbed his hand. “I know I’m not supposed to follow a boy off to college—”

“Man.”

“Stop.” I laughed. “And I’m not supposed to want a
man
to follow
me
. And then there’s Wellington to consider. Like, what are my responsibilities where the school’s concerned?”

“Seth has already agreed to travel back and forth between Palmyra and Wellington. And you’ve got Dean Fisher and Coach Williams. And your mom.”

“Right. I know.” It was a foreign feeling to have so many people around me who cared and wanted what was best for me. “But none of them share our abilities. Think about how much easier it will be for the clones at Wellington to learn what powers they have with us to guide them. Think about the months and years of confusion they could skip with our help.”

“Why can’t you just say it?” he asked.

I pulled in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I think I have to stay near Wellington. And attend the University of Kentucky.” I fidgeted with the corner of the blanket. “I don’t expect you to stay with me. We’ve been through so much, and you deserve to go out into the world and find your own way. You need to—”

He raised up and cut off my words by covering my lips with his. When he pulled back, his eyes captured mine. “I need you to listen to me now. And I don’t want you to say anything.”

I nodded.

“I’ve watched you practically die several times. And now you’ve seen me on the brink of death.”

Moisture pooled in my eyes.

“You saved my life.” He cupped my face as the tears spilled over. “I don’t think two people can look death and evil in the face the way we have and not come out of it with a renewed sense of purpose.”

I leaned into his touch. “Just spit it out, will ya?”

The flames of the fire reflected off the blue of his eyes as he pinned me with his intense gaze. “I go where you go.”

I waited several beats while his words sank in. “Are you sure?”

He leaned his head back and laughed. “Of course I’m sure. I’ve always been sure. I knew the moment I saw you standing outside the Wellington swimming pool, dripping with chlorine and water. I knew the moment you tried to get out of showing me around that first day. I knew the first time I heard your voice inside my head. I’ve always known.”

“Okay, then it’s settled.” I lay back down and stared up at the sky. And as Jack held me in his arms, I dreamed of a future—a future where darkness is silenced by science and love.

There is more
Mindspeak
coming…

Thank you for joining Lexi and Jack on this journey of self-discovery. Though Lexi’s trilogy concludes with
Mindsurge
, the characters of the
Mindspeak
world have more adventures ahead of them, beginning with Kyle’s story coming spring 2015.

Be sure to sign up for my free newsletter—A Piece of My Mind—
at http://heathersunseri.com/newsletter
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Now that you’ve finished reading the
Mindspeak
trilogy, please consider recommending it to a friend or leaving a review on any of the bookseller sites. Word-of-mouth and reviews are the greatest ways to help other readers discover new books. I would truly appreciate it. If you do review any of my books, please send me an email at
[email protected]
so that I can personally thank you.

Happy Reading!

Heather

John 3:16. My son’s favorite Bible verse.

Many people helped me on the journey to bring
Mindsurge
to life.

Mike. You never cease to amaze me with your selflessness in putting others first. I seriously couldn’t do what I do without you. Thank you for always being my first reader. For always helping me with cover design and photographic marketing needs. For everything. I love you.

Jessica Patch and Laura Pauling. You see my writing before you and other angels step in and raise it from despair.

David Gatewood. I’m blessed to call you my editor. You are my lead angel.

To my early readers who are willing to search and destroy all pesky typos. To Jenny Kays, Connie Boyce, Toni Congleton, Elizabeth Nelson, and Joy Soper.

To Dawn Duncan. You are my rock. Your near daily texts always give me the lift I need. Thank you for knowing a Samoan Navy officer who could tell me how long it would take to get from Hawaii to Palmyra Atoll in the middle of the Pacific Ocean by boat.

To Heather Plunkett. For cover design. Mike and I know how hard it was to deal with Lexi’s hair on that cover. We appreciate your hard work.

Last but certainly not least. To the Kentucky Indie Writers. Every single one of you is simply amazing. The support and encouragement that you offer me is incredible. You are my water cooler.

Heather Sunseri was raised on a tiny farm in one of the smallest towns in thoroughbred horse country near Lexington, Kentucky. After high school, she attended Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, and later graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in accounting. Always torn between a passion for fantasy and a mind for the rational, it only made sense to combine her career in accounting with a novel-writing dream.

Heather now lives in a different small town on the other side of Lexington with her two children and her husband, Mike, the biggest Oregon Duck fan in the universe. She is a recovering CPA, and when she’s not writing, she spends her time tormenting her daughter’s cat, Olivia, and loving on her son’s Golden Retriever, Jenny.

Heather loves to hear from readers. Please sign up for her newsletter—
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Heather Sunseri

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