Chris moved his palm around to the back of my neck, slipping his warm, dry hand up under my wet hair. “Put your arms around me,” he said. I hooked them behind his neck, which pulled me up closer against him. Our hips were touching, my legs bursting into rainbows. I was suddenly aware of my breathing. I let my eyes drift shut as I momentarily melted into him. “He still watching?”

A glance, and then I nodded.

Chris let out a short sigh. He pressed his lips together, thinking. Heriberto had stubbed out his cigarette, but he wasn’t moving. He continued watching us. “Oh, for crying out loud,” Chris said. He pulled me in closer, resting his chin on the top of my head and swaying a little bit, as if we were just entangled in a long hug good-bye. My insides melted into a giant, swirling rainbow puddle at my feet. I felt completely engulfed by him. The hug lingered, and then he was reaching around me to open the car door. “Get in.”

I hesitated, but not to be difficult. I just needed a minute to let the rainbow set me back down on the ground. I had so many feelings welling inside of me. Exasperation that it was always so difficult between us. Fear, because our lives were always in danger. Sadness that these moments between us always felt so right, even though I knew they were only out of necessity.

I stepped out of his way, then slid into the car. He shut the door behind me and came in through the other side.

“I drove myself,” I reminded him.

“We’ve been here all day, and he was definitely watching us, ever since we got out into the parking lot.”

“So? People have to go to the parking lot to get their cars.”

“Think about it, Nikki. If we suspect Heriberto is the one behind the hit-and-run, he knows who I am already. And probably you, too.”

I studied his face. A trickle of sweat was etching itself down one temple. “So maybe he wasn’t behind it, then,” I said. “He didn’t even notice us until now. Could be you were looking for him for a totally unrelated reason.”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t remember him at all. But I was searching for him and there’s no official file for it. . . .” He trailed off.

“You knew he was coming for you.”

“That would make sense. And somehow Sam is involved. I don’t get it.”

“Maybe he’s, like, a mentor. Maybe you hooked them up.”

We watched as Heriberto lit up another cigarette. He checked his watch.

“Why is he still just standing there?” I asked.

“Smoke break?” Chris responded.