Page 77 of The Otherworld

“Orca,” he says, “tell me the truth.”

I can’t.

I shake my head. “No, Papa. He didn’t touch me.”

Relief dawns in Papa’s eyes, washing away the fear. “Good… Good. He seems like a respectful young man.”

“He is,” I agree. “He’s wonderful. I’ll be sorry to see him go.”

That’s when I hear a familiar sound: the telltale buzz of an engine not far away.

An airplane engine.

Seconds later, Adam reappears in the doorway, smiling.

My heart jumps when I see his expression. “Is that a plane I hear?”

Adam nods.

“Superman?”

He laughs. “Superman.”

25

Recluse Island

JACK

“Jackie… wake up.”

Those words bring me back to my middle school days—Mom’s hand nudging my shoulder, her voice sweetly reminding me that if I don’t get my ass out of bed soon, Adam won’t give me a ride in his truck, and I’ll have to take my bike to school.

“Five more minutes,” I grumble, rolling onto my stomach and pulling the blankets over my head.

“It’s a beautiful morning,” Mom singsongs, swishing the curtains open. “Thought you’d be a little more excited about that clear sky out there.”

My heart does a backflip as I realize what she’s talking about.

Adam.

I bolt upright, tossing off my blankets and springing out of bed like a kid on Christmas morning. “Clear sky? For real?” I vault over Adam’s bed to get to the window, grinning from ear to ear as I look up at that unlimited visibility.

It’s not a dream this time.

“Why didn’t you wake me up earlier?”

Mom raises her eyebrows. “I tried to, several times. You sleep like a bear in hibernation.”

I grab yesterday’s clothes from the floor and throw them on, snatching my aviator shades from the nightstand.

“Do you want some breakfast first?”

“No time.” I give Mom a quick kiss on the cheek. “I’ll be back soon.”

“Be careful, Jack. Pay attention to your flying.”

“Yep, will do!”

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