Heads bobbed and everyone moved closer to the elevator bank.
Bryan cleared his throat. “We’ll take the right side. Tony, you take the middle. Laura and Lenny, you’re on the left. All three teams must ride to the top floor, then run down the hall to the next set of elevators. Whoever makes it down first, wins. Racers ready?”
“So official.” Tony saluted her, sauntering to my side.
Brooke, Tony, and Lenny poised their hands over the buttons.
“Go.” They pressed their buttons simultaneously ... and we all waited.
Laura checked her watch. “So this is what elevator tag is like.”
Then the bell dinged, and the doors opened for Tony and me. We waved at the real siblings as Tony sang out, “Hey, hey, goodbye.”
“You’re such a goof.” I shoved him in the shoulder just like I would do to my brother. My heart lurched at the thought.
Passengers shot us puzzled stares as they exited. If I wasn’t so amped up, I might’ve been more self-conscious. But a nervous energy zipped through me, like something good was about to happen for a change. We scurried on and Tony hit the door-close button.
He grinned. “I can’t believe I’m acting like a middle schooler.”
“Me, either.” I cracked up, then my smile faded. “Did you already know that bagpipe guy was some kind of Guardian lookout?”
“Sure. He’s more like an informant, really, between sectors. A middle man. We tell him stuff. He tells us stuff.” He pressed his nose to the elevator glass, looking out at the courtyard as if that were a normal everyday comment. “They’re only a couple of floors behind us.”
The car jerked to a stop on the fifth floor.
“What do you mean, sectors?” I tried to make my question light and breezy, like I was just a curious initiate. But I knew better than anyone that every bit of information could be potentially useful.
“There are Guardian groups all over this area. It’s a big city. We have to stay in contact.” He shot me an enough-with-the-questions expression.
“Fine, I’ll take what I can get.” I guess my questions weren’t so subtle. Glancing out the glass front, my breath caught in my throat. “They’re about to catch up.”
Who was I to question the Guardian system? After the church, that awful man with his branding iron, that terrible fire—I’d survived. It felt good to be alive, unmarred. Mostly. Thanks to my Guardians and their informants like the bagpipe man, we might actually stay that way. I couldn’t imagine what would’ve happened if I’d attempted this visit by myself.
Suddenly Brooke and Bryan’s elevator shot ahead, while ours stopped.
“Man, they’re passing us.” He was just as into this game as I was, maybe more so. The Coopers waved, Bryan shooting finger pistols at us while Brooke stuck out her tongue.
“How mature.”
“Going up?” A fortyish man asked when the door dinged open.
“Yes.” I frowned, batting my eyelashes at him. Wow, my competitive side would do anything for this win.
The man gave us a slight nod. “I see. I’ll catch the next one.”
“Thank you, sir.” Tony jabbed the button, and we were off again. Still anyone’s game. I spotted Brooke and Bryan’s car stopping below us.
“What’s up now?” I cheered and high-fived him. As we passed the Cooper car, I pressed my hands to my lips, blowing kisses at the glass.
“Don’t be such a baby, sis.” Tony rolled his eyes, but his ridiculous said it all.
I grinned back at him. “Who cares as long as we win?” At the top floor, the elevator dinged, and the doors opened. Cold air blasted my face as we raced down the hallway.
“Which way?” Tony’s dark head swung around in all directions.
“This way, come on.” I yanked his arm, veering from one hall to the next set of elevators. Across the open courtyard, a bell dinged. “No way.”
The Coopers stepped out of their elevator.
“Faster. They’re coming.” Tony bellowed behind me.
My jog shifted into a sprint. When I reached the other elevators, I banged on the button, hard. My flats didn’t stop fast enough, and I flailed about like a pinwheel, almost smacking my head against the wall.
“Great, they’re catching up.” I panted out ragged breaths.
“Come on, stupid elevator.” He kicked the door.
The Coopers buzzed down the hall, Bryan towing Brooke behind him. He practically strutted up to us and pressed his button.
“So, you thought you could beat us?” Brooke squinted at Tony as she approached.
“Game’s not over yet.” Tony countered, crossing his arms over his chest.
“We’ll see who has the last laugh.” Brooke nodded at Bryan. They grinned at each other like fools. Odd, I never smiled at my brother like that unless we were about to pull something big.
Then the elevator dinged, and the doors burst open. That’s when Bryan snatched my hand and yanked me to his side.
“Hey, what are you doing?” I whirled around to see an evil grin on his lips.
“Lucy.” Tony’s hand stretched toward me, but Brooke side-tackled him and they crashed into the elevator. The doors shut behind them, Brooke’s muffled giggle seeping between the crack.
I stuck my hands on my hips, puffing out my bottom lip. “That was a dirty trick.”
“Sorry, Brooke’s idea.” That evil grin said otherwise.
“Sure it was.” When the next elevator opened, he nudged me inside. I stared up at him, hand stuck in his grip, familiar tingles sizzling up my arm.
“I didn’t say it was a bad idea. I did give up a chance at winning.” The smile softened, spreading to his eyes now.
“And you stole my chance.” My heart fluttered in the cage of my chest. Quick, say something. I blurted out the first thing on my mind. “You’re still holding my hand.”
“So I am.” He inhaled a deep breath, staring back at me. Something flickered in his eyes. All of a sudden, he bent down. “Lucy, I—”
As he inched closer, my heart drummed faster, his minty breath filling the car. His mouth lightly brushed my lips, and I closed my eyes. His arms slid around my
