Hidden in the Immortals (Book #1)

Chapter 8

My knees immediately felt wobbly and my legs felt like they were not about to keep me upright for a second longer. But even so, I managed to continue standing. Garrett was a Nelson. A Nelson. He was a hunter; or at least he could be. But I felt like Roger wasn't as lenient about his kids hunting as Uncle Romeo was. Especially after overhearing the conversation between my dad and him in the parking lot of City Hall the other night.

I crouched down on the floor and grabbed the card; letting out a shaky breath as I did so. I walked over to my bed, sat down, and dialed the number. I held my phone up to my ear; panic setting in more and more with each ring. My heart felt as if it were about to spring violently from my chest. All other sounds around me were drowned out aside from the ringing of the phone and my rapid heart beat.

"Hello?" Garrett's sweet, smooth voice answered. I tried to respond, but my voice seemed to be failing me at the moment. "Hello?" Garrett repeated.

I cleared my throat. "Hey, Garrett," I finally replied in a weak, shaky voice. "It's Julianna." You know, the girl who you've never met before this because her dad is insane.

"Oh, hey, Julianna!" He replied enthusiastically. The genuine excitement and happiness in his voice caused a huge smile to slowly force its way across my face. "How're you doing?"

I didn't have an honest answer to his question. The events that have transpired since the night of the bonfire swarmed my head to the point of making me feel dizzy. And now this? Garrett was a Nelson. He was the son of probably the most frightening man on earth. His father was the Immortal hunter equivalent to the boogeyman; except the Immortals knew without a doubt he existed and he would mercilessly slaughter them if he got the chance. "I'm good." My voice coming out so unconvincing it almost made me laugh. "Quick question," I cleared my throat again. "Is your dad Roger Nelson?"

There was a short pause before he answered. "Yes he is." His voice sounded a bit nervous. "I hope it doesn't weird you out that my dad is the mayor." Boy, I wasn't weirded out; I was terrified.

"No, that's totally fine." I breathed out the lie of the century. I couldn't tell him who my father was. Not yet anyway. He would head for the hills and never speak to me again. Obviously, my dad knew who Garrett was, and I'm sure Garrett was just as terrified by my father as I was; probably more. But I wanted to date Garrett and I didn't want to blow my chance. "So, when do you want to go out?" I asked, trying my best to make my voice sound light and happy.

"How about tomorrow?" He suggested after just a moment of pondering it. "A Saturday picnic at Old Brook park?" He asked. "And then maybe wander the streets of Old Brook?" He added with a soft chuckle.

The giant smile reappeared on my face. "That sounds great!" I answered with a bit too much enthusiasm. I cleared my throat. "What time?" I asked in a normal tone of voice.

"How about around noon?" The spring in his voice was so cute.

"That sounds perfect!" The overly enthusiastic tone was present in my voice again, but I didn't care anymore. Garrett seemed to be just as excited to go on this date as I was, no use covering it up anymore. "Can't wait." I added with an ear to ear smile.

He chuckled. "Me either." He let out a subtle, happy sigh. "Bye, Julianna."

The way he said my name made my stomach flop. He spoke each syllable so delicately; making it sound like my name was the most perfect word in existence. "Bye, Garrett." I was certain my tone matched his.

As soon as I hung up the phone my mood went from excited and giddy, back to panic and terror. His dad was Roger Nelson. The guy who would probably kill me without batting an eye if he found out I was an Immortal. And how would Garrett react if he found out? Would he kill me? Would he let me live because he liked me?