Page 72 of Ordinary Secrets

Either way, I’ve come up with my own theory. My explanation for Arella and her parents being near Shadow Ridge that night is that three-year-old Arella—I meanHannah—was one of my parents’ research subjects. Maybe my parents were about to meet with them to take them to the base when Arella’s parents got attacked by the Royals. I’d bet anything the Royals killed the Calders so they could take Hannah for themselves. Then somehow, my parents were able to save Hannah and get her somewhere safe.

I have a feeling that the same Royals who sliced Victor’s throat are the ones who came crashing into my home, probably looking for Hannah. That would also explain how my mom’s lip and my dad’s face got slashed so badly—a sight I have yet to forget.

While this is a possible theory, I’m missing significant pieces to the puzzle. Like, how did the Royals find out about the Immunes project? Were there moles back then like the ones Victor discovered recently? Is that how they knew Victor was a ZIRDA agent and where he lived? Is that how they knew where my parents lived, too?

Also, how did my parents know where and when the Royals were attacking Arella’s parents? And if Arella was one of my parents’ research subjects, does Victor know that the little girl back then is the same one he found and assigned me to? If so, why wouldn’t he tell me that? Most importantly, why would my parents leave the house that night feeling anxious if they thought they were simply meeting with Arella’s parents for another research session?

There’s too much here that doesn’t add up, and sadly, the person this entire thing revolves around seems to know the least. Based on the way she talks about it, Arella thinks her parents’ car accident was exactly that—a car accident. She has no reason to think otherwise.

Do her grandparents know the truth? If my theory is correct, the ZIRDA agent who delivered Arella to her grandparents probably said nothing more than “Her parents were found in a car wreck at the bottom of a cliff, but this little girl survived.” If that’s the case, why is Hannah’s name now Arella? And why would her grandparents move her around California annually if it wasn’t to make her harder to find?

Her grandparents have to know something, which is why the next phase of my mission is to get Arella to introduce me to them. Maybe the more I know about them, the more answers I’ll have.

It’s just past noon when my phone buzzes again. I haven’t eaten or done much beyond lie on my couch, trying to decipher my thoughts. My phone flashes with a picture of Jess. I almost let it go to voicemail but don’t because I don’t want her to take my silence as an invitation to show up.

“Happy Fourth!” Jess says. “You wanna get lunch?”

“Can’t. Busy.”

She snorts. “Doin’ what?”

“Workin’ on stuff.” I’m playing with a little stress ball, throwing it into the air and catching it with my telekinesis before it lands on my face. The goal is to stop the ball as close to my nose as possible without the ball actually touching me.Real important stuff.

“Take a break.”

“Can’t. I’ve got a lot of work to do.” I throw the ball up and stop it with my Kinetic power about a fingertip from my nose.Eh. I can do better.

“You really can’t take off, like, a half hour? Not even for me?”

I know what that means, and I’m not interested. I’m not dating Arella for real, but having another woman over just to fuck still feels weird. Besides, I’m in the middle of trying to figure out a gift to get for Arella.

Earlier, Victor suggested that, to speed things up, I should shower Arella with gifts. The only problem is that I don’t think she’s easily impressed by material things. If I’m gonna get her something, which I fully intend to, it has to be something meaningful to her. I just don’t know what that would be.

Jess isn’t used to hearingnofrom me. After I keep denying her, she calls me nasty names and hangs up. I think about texting her that I’m sorry, but it’d be a lie. She’s not my priority right now. Arella is.

The rest of the afternoon drags on. By the time I’ve thrown the stress ball into the air another hundred times, I still don’t know what Arella’s perfect gift is. I think about asking Liz for advice, then realize it’s a dumb idea.

If Arella was a Zordi, Liz would probably have the perfect suggestion. Because Arella’s an Ordinary, the only advice Liz’ll give me is that I need to quit before Arella gets hurt. Little does Liz know, I don’t plan on hurting this woman. When the time comes, I’ll getherto break up withme. Problem solved.

I’m still thinking about a gift idea as I pull up to Arella’s apartment. When she steps out of her home, I hop out of my car to greet her properly. Before she can say anything, I scoop her up, press her back against my car, and plant a heavy kiss over her lips. It’s a full minute before I release her.

“Your kisses are getting addicting,” I pant.

She’s got a dazed expression as she responds with a breathy “Yours are too.”

“You didn’t stiffen up when I lifted you.”

Her brows crumple together as she thinks. A second later, she leans back, and her eyes light up. “Wow. I didn’t.”

Gently, I pull her in for a hug. “You’re so strong; you know that?”

Besides Liz, Arella is the strongest woman I know. For three years, a weak man stole that strength from her. It took a lot of courage for her to walk away, and not only did she do that, but she was brave enough to fight back.

On the night I kicked her ex’s ass, she told me she used to always fight back until doing so only made him hit her harder. Eventually, she learned that taking it resulted in less bruises. I’m glad that she’s finally done with his shit. Now she can live her life the way she wants. If only I could find the strength to fight my battles the way she has.

Beautiful waves of red and orange paint the sky as Arella and I arrive at the park. Vehicles of all colors and sizes are scattered around the lot. We find a parking spot toward the back; then I cut the engine.

“Babe...” I say, placing a hand over her knee. She doesn’t flinch, and it makes my insides throw confetti into the air. “I’d like to leave before the fireworks start. Is that okay?”

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