“It’s all going to work out, sweet girl. I just know it. Call me when they get Z to safety.”

“I will,” I promised, calmed by her certainty. “Just a few more days. I love you.”

“I love you, too. I’ve missed you so much.”

Before I knew it, the GPS was leading me into a giant dirt parking lot.

It was past eleven in the morning when I climbed down from Kaidan’s giant vehicle into the California heat. The games were under way. Dirt bike engines whirred on the trails, jumping peaks and spitting up clouds of dust. The audience was spread wide throughout the sprawling motocross duplex, with some people crowded into bleachers, and some standing on top of vans and buses. Clustered groups were scattered across a nearby hillside on blankets. The guardian angels were almost impossible to see in the bright sunlight, like thin apparitions.

Heat prickled my exposed skin while I stood there, and I regretted not thinking about buying sunblock on the way. I scanned the racing bikers, using my extended sight. Blake was catching air over a jump, in the lead. His win was met with cheers and whistles. A group of girls sitting on the hill did a chant for him, his own personal cheering squad.

The crowd began to shift during the competition transition. People headed for coolers and restrooms. I could feel my skin burning, so I made my way to the hill, finding a patch of shade near the cheerleaders. A pang of longing sliced me as I watched them laugh together, drinking hard ciders. They sat in the direct sun, soaking rays into their already golden skin. One girl stood to tell a story and the girls never took their eyes from her. The leader of the pack. She was the embodiment of a California girl: blond multihued highlights, wafer thin with curves in all the right places, tan, and fashionable. More than a few girls’ auras darkened with slivers of forest green as she grew animated in her storytelling.

Her own aura interested me. I noticed the deep violet of pride surface as she captured everyone’s attention. Her friends were giggling like mad now as she reenacted an argument she’d had with someone. I almost didn’t notice Blake sneaking up behind her, his bright yellow motocross suit catching everyone’s attention. What was he doing? He put a finger to his lips at the crowd of girls, then grabbed her around the waist.

She squealed as he tickled her, and the others clapped. Blake hadn’t noticed me sitting away from the group, watching in shock as he turned the girl for a kiss. Her arms went around him, as if this was a common occurrence, and petals of pink bloomed around her. More envious auras sprouted, from the girls as well as surrounding guys who’d turned to see the commotion. Blake gave her one last peck before looking around and catching sight of me.

“Anna?”

He stared at me, unsure, his arms still around the blonde. I smiled and stood as he came over, the girl close behind him.

“Hey,” I said.

He greeted me with a hug and the girl stopped, crossing her arms. I kept my attention on Blake.

“What are you doing here? Where’s Kai?”

“I need to talk to you about that, but not here.” I shot a glance at the crowd watching us.

“Is everything okay?” he asked. I nodded and stepped back from him, sensing discomfort from the girl. I leaned and waved at her from around Blake.

“Hi, I’m Anna,” I said. She frowned in return, her aura becoming a jumble of green and gray.

Blake jumped to attention, stepping to the side. “Yeah, hey, Michelle, this is one of my friends from way back. Anna, this is Michelle . . . my girlfriend.”

Girlfriend? He wouldn’t look at me.

Michelle eyed me from top to bottom before determining I was a nonthreat. She uncrossed her arms and reached for Blake’s hand, giving me a small smile and a “hey.” Then she stepped in front of Blake for his full attention. They were the same height.

“Good job out there, baby.” She kissed him and he smiled.

“One more set to go, then I’ll be done,” he said. “Let Anna sit with you, cool?”

Her aura zipped with gray agitation, but her face didn’t waver. “Sure,” she told him.

He kissed her again and gave me a wink before returning to the games, stopping to shake hands and receiving pats on the back the whole way.

Michelle turned away and went straight to her friends. They couldn’t read her aura, but they could probably tell from her body language that she was not happy about having to babysit Blake’s little friend.

“Anyone else ready for another drink?” Michelle asked. The girls crowded around the cooler and I watched the dirt arena. I wished I could crawl back over to the shade of the tree to contemplate the fact that Blake had a girlfriend. It made sense, as far as working went, for him to have the devotion of the most beautiful girl. But his affection for her had been genuine. And she loved him.

My heart suddenly hurt for Ginger.

“So, how long have you known Blake?” Michelle sat next to me, one slim leg outstretched and one bent. Her legs were golden and shiny next to mine in the bright sunlight. She twisted the cap off the hard cider and threw it in the grass.

“A while now,” I said, purposely vague. “How long have you guys been together?”

“A year,” she stated. We stared at the motocross lineup of competitors, getting ready for the trick competition. “A whole year, and you didn’t know about it. That’s interesting, you being a good friend and all.”

I tensed at the passive-aggressive comment and looked at her, but she was watching the dirt trails. Through her big sunglasses I could see unnaturally long eyelashes framing light eyes. Her face was a perfect oval and her lips were plump and pouty.