“Jayden?” Linden repeats.
Alexis looks worried. “Your brother. He’s a doctor, remember? He’s more or less our personal doctor, because you wanted to have him around while we’re on tour.”
“Do you remember anything at all, Linden?” I ask, trying to help.
He looks at me and smiles. “You. I remember you.”
A giggle escapes me, and I blush. He has amnesia, but he still knows how to flirt. That’s weird.
“What else do you remember?” Alexis prods.
“That party last week. I left it with some chicks, but everything after that is dark,” he admits.
“Man.” Alexis sighs. “All right, well, Jayden will be here tomorrow. He has some appointments he couldn’t cancel, but maybe tomorrow he can help you get some of your memory back.”
Linden looks at me again. “Why don’t you sit down with us, Thalia?” He points to a chair next to the bed.
I step closer and sit down, looking at the two of them. Alexis is really hot, but Linden is hotter still. I should go and answer my friends’ worried questions, but I decide to let them wait just a little bit longer. I could call, but if they start interrogating me over the phone, it’ll be awkward.
Instead, I listen to the two hotties talk. They’re still trying to figure out what Linden remembers, but there’s a blank that encompasses the last seven days. After Alexis gives him some prompts, Linden remembers what happened before the ominous party. That’s something, I guess.
“Oh, and Trish will fly over with Jayden tomorrow afternoon,” Alexis adds as an afterthought. “She had to work today.”
“I look forward to seeing her,” Linden says.
I wonder whether Trish is his girlfriend, or maybe even his fiancée. Ugh, why do I even care?
“I have to stay here for a few more days before they’ll let me go,” Linden tells me with great earnestness. “But after that, I’d like to take you out to dinner, to thank you.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “That’s really nice, but no, thank you. I have to study a lot, to prepare for the next semester.” I try not to make it sound like a giant rebuff, but his face is the picture of disappointment. “And I really gotta go now, too.” I rise and say my—rather formal—goodbyes.
“Would you give me your phone number, Thalia?” Linden asks.
“No,” I say with a smile.
“But … ” He stops himself.
I leave the room, walking toward the elevator quickly. I hope neither of them will follow me, because I don’t want to have to explain my refusal or deal with a scene.
The elevator doors open, and I step in. As they start to close again, I see Alexis in the hallway. He breaks into a run, sticking his hand between the elevator doors and stopping them at the last moment. “I’m sorry to hold you up, but could you maybe recommend a good hotel?”
I shake my head. “I really don’t know the hotel scene. I live on campus. There’s got to be a Four Seasons or something, though.”
“Oh, okay.” He nods. “I’ll dig out my computer and google what’s close.”
“Yeah, good idea. But if you keep blocking the door—” I start to explain, but the siren-like warning that indicates the doors have been open too long does the explaining for me.
Alexis steps into the elevator with me, and the doors finally close. “Why don’t you want to go out to dinner with Linden?”
“It’s not necessary. He thanked me already. I helped him, I kept my promise to come back today, and thus I’ve done my part.”
“He seems to like you.”
“Oh, crap,” I say with a smirk. “He can’t like me, because he doesn’t know me.”
“Then get to know each other,” he says.
I sigh. “No.”
“Why not?” he insists.
Now I roll my eyes. “Because I don’t want to.”
“And that’s the only reason?”
With another sigh, this time a more irritated one, I leave the elevator as soon as the doors start to open. As I walk over to where my car is parked, Alexis calls after me, “Wait up, please!”
But I’m really not in the mood for this stuff. I get into my car, start the engine, and step on the gas. Men, I think, with a shake of my head. I head toward Delsin and Cami’s house, ready to receive my scolding for last night. I listen to P.O.D. on the way, because that’s bound to get me in the right mood. You know, the one that says, I don’t give a shit what you say, I’m an adult and you’re not my mom!
***
I park in the driveway, take a deep breath, and get out. I walk to the front door and push the doorbell.
I can hear quick steps approaching inside, and then the door opens. Delsin looks at me with one raised brow. “Hi. Come in.”
“Is that Thally?” Cami calls from somewhere behind him.
“I’m in trouble, right?” I ask through clenched teeth.
“Totally.” He nods and smiles, and we walk toward the large living room together.
God, why is my best friend playing the angry mother card? She’s a year younger than me, for Christ’s sake! I sigh softly and look at Delsin. “All right, let’s do battle.”
“I wish I could support you, but she’s already cut me down to size for speaking up last night, so I’m out. Dahlia is your ally, I can tell you that much,” he says with a wink.
Wimp. As I enter the living room, I see Cami standing in the middle, arms crossed and an angry look on her face.
“Oh, please, Cami, skip the sermon,” I say quickly. “As you can see, I’m perfectly fine. You can even touch me. I’m not a ghost come to haunt you.”
“You picked up a complete stranger in the middle of the night and ferried him around,” she says accusingly. “Anything could have happened!”
We’ve been through this already, I think, but I don’t say it, because it would only make her angrier. “I know.”
“And that’s all you have to say about it?” she barks.
I glance around at the others, smiling at Dahlia, who’s sitting on the couch, watching the scene with wide eyes. “Cami, Thalia is twenty-one, and she knows what she’s doing,” she pipes up shyly.
Cute. Dale is really cute, and really shy. I’m surprised she’s still shy after more than half a year with the rest of us.
“She’s right, Cami, I’m twenty-one and no longer a child. Linden was injured, and that’s why I picked him up,” I explain. “Listen, I got home safe and sound, even if it took me much longer than planned. Okay?”
“But anything could have happened,” she rants, still angry. “I was out of my mind with worry, Thally! Don’t you see that?”
I heave another sigh. Her excessive worry is really uncalled for. “It’s nice of you to say that, but I can really look after myself, okay? I told you where I was and that I’d call you when I got home. You used to respect a statement like that, but now you act like some insane mother hen. You’ve become a paranoid bitch, really.”
“I’m a paranoid bitch?” she squeaks, incredulous at my brief lapse in patience. “I was scared!”
Avery enters the room then. “Maybe you both need to calm down, okay? Thally is fine, and that’s what counts. Nothing bad happened, so stop being overprotective, Sweets.” He joins Dale on the couch, wrapping her into his arms.
“I’m totally calm, Ave, I am,” I insist.
Cami mumbles something that sounds like, “Worried out of my mind, and now this!” Then she flops down in an armchair.
“Cami?” I ask, forcing her to look at me again. She stares back with a frown. “I’m sorry, okay? But after only five minutes, I knew the guy’s full name, and two hours later, I even knew his birthday and blood type. I really am able to look after myself. It’s sweet of you to be worried, but unnecessary.” I try to stay calm, because I don’t want her to get all worked up again.
“Okay. I’m sorry I yelled at you, but I was really scared that something had happened to you,” she admits sheepishly. “When we couldn’t reach yo
u, I was close to flipping out.”
“Close?” Delsin says in an amused voice. “Caramel, you kept everyone from sleeping. Even Dale, even though she was close to falling off the couch in exhaustion.”
Now I feel awkward. “I’m sorry, Dale.” I throw her an apologetic glance, and she blushes.
“It wasn’t that bad,” she says in a voice that is little more than a breath of air. I can see why Avery fell in love with her. She never gets mad, or at least doesn’t let anyone see it.
“I’ve already apologized to all of you,” Cami shouts at the rest of the group. Delsin and Ave laugh, and Cami crosses her arms again. “You guys are dumb,” she murmurs.
I run a hand over my face, trying to hide my amused expression.
“Yeah, go on and laugh at me.” She frowns, and I can’t suppress a giggle.
“I need a cigarette,” Delsin announces. “Can’t bear this circus any longer.”
Ave nods. “Me, too.”
“Me three.” I chuckle, heading for the French doors that lead to the terrace. Both of them follow me out, and Delsin offers me a cigarette. I rarely ever smoke, but I need a cigarette now to calm my nerves. “Thanks.” I smile.
“Sure.” He gives me a light, and I sit down in one of the deck chairs.
“She really kept you awake for the rest of the night?” I ask, feeding my own bad conscience.
After lighting his own cigarette, Ave nods. “Yeah. She wouldn’t let us go to bed.”
“Fuck.” I shake my head in incredulity. “I’m really sorry.”
“Could be worse,” Delsin says with a shrug. B I can see he’s still tired.
“Dude, you didn’t get any sleep because of me,” I remind him, “and your girlfriend.” I take a drag of the Lucky Strike, feeling the smoke burn and scratch my throat. I really shouldn’t make this a habit.
“True, but that just means we’re even now.” He grins.
“Even?” I echo, lifting an eyebrow.
“You don’t remember?” he asks, tapping his cigarette against the ashtray.
Ave interrupts, “What’s the mysterious stranger’s name anyway? You said you knew his name.”
“Linden Priest,” I reply.
“Maybe Cami will be calmer after she googles him,” Delsin jokes. “Finds out he’s not a murderer, you know?”
“That’s not funny.” Her voice comes from behind me. “And that’s exactly what I’m going to do now. Can I use your laptop, babe?”
“Feel free, Caramel,” he answers, giving her a smoldering look.
I’m still floored whenever I see Delsin Rough like this. The former womanizer, now so deeply in love? It’s just weird. I remember wishing he would look at me like that, even though I always knew what we had was a one-night stand. By now, I’m glad he has Cami. She really keeps him on his toes.
“Thanks, babe.”
I look over my shoulder at Cami, who’s wearing a smug smile. I make a face, because I’m sure she’s not going to find anything interesting about this guy, apart from the usual Facebook profile.
A short while later, I hear her squeal from the living room. “Oh, shit! I think I found him! Was he born in 1991, Thally?”
“Dear god,” I grumble, putting out my cigarette and getting up. “I’m coming!” I call inside. Then I roll my eyes at the guys. “Why do you guys never get in trouble when you do stuff? And when did she morph into a female version of Inspector Gadget?” I heave a sigh of resignation.
Ave shrugs and then starts laughing. Delsin echoes his laughter, but his eyebrows disappear behind his too-long bangs.
“Oh, forget it.” I step inside to find Cami and Dale on the couch, reading a Wikipedia article.
“Linden Julian Priest was born on March eighteen, 1991, in Miami,” Cami reads aloud, her excitement clear. “He is the singer, songwriter, guitarist, and keyboardist of Downstair Alley.”
“Fuck,” I groan, sitting down next to her. “So I played Good Samaritan to a boy-band singer?”
“Boy band? I think you’re wrong there, honey.” Cami grins, switches to YouTube, and clicks on a video. A rock song blasts from the speakers. Not squarely my taste—I prefer the even louder kind—but his voice sounds really good.
“Do they have any better songs?”
“No idea, but we’re gonna find out.” Cami clicks on the next video.
“I just wanna be with you!” His awesome voice blares through the room. “’Cause without you I’ll die! Give me a chance to make things right!”
“Okay, okay. Enough.” I stick my hand under Cami’s, closing the tab.
“I wanted to listen to that,” Dale murmurs.
I shrug. “It’s not going away any time soon. And I’m sure Cami remembers the name of the song.”
“‘Without You I’ll Die,’” she tells Dale, who types the title into her phone.
I lean back, resting my head against the back of the couch. “Okay, so he’s a singer. And? I’m a singer, too, right? A lot of people are. That’s nothing special. I don’t even know his band.”
“Admit it,” Cami squeals, “you’re all excited, and your thoughts are doing a tango in your head.”
She nailed it, but I won’t give her that. “No, they aren’t,” I deny it with a giggle.
“Oh, yes, they are.”
“Nope.”
“Yes,” she insists.
“No, and now stop it.” I laugh.
“What did we miss?” Delsin asks as he and Ave reenter the living room.
“Thally’s mysterious stranger is the singer of Downstair Alley,” Dale informs them.
“You picked up Alexis Kingston?” Ave asks.
Okay, he seems to know the band. “Yes, today. From the airport.”
“And Linden Priest was last night’s victim?”
I nod.
Ave steps behind the couch and looks over Cami’s shoulder. “I knew the name sounded familiar.” He laughs. “I went to high school with these guys!”
“That’s funny,” I say. They may be members of an up-and-coming band, but they’re also just guys, like my friends. Their music hadn’t made it into my ears until three minutes ago, so I won’t act all fangirly now. There’ll be enough time to flip out later.
“Maybe I should drive over to the hospital and say hi,” he muses. “You want to come, Thally?”
For the umpteenth time today, I roll my eyes. “Bite me.”
“Hey!” Dale chimes in.
“Not like that, Dale.” I laugh, and she blushes violently.
“You don’t want to come?” Avery insists.
I shake my head, saying, “I can tell you his room number, but I’m not gonna go there again. Linden was way too eager to invite me to dinner, to thank me he said. But he has a girlfriend, so I would feel uncomfortable going out with him.”
“Are you crazy?” Cami blurts. “This guy is a damn rock star! Go visit him again and ask him for that dinner, Thally. Of course you and he can go out, as friends.”
“Oh, that kind of dinner usually ends with sex,” Dale interrupts loudly, which makes Avery mumble something about her wanting it too with Avery once.
“I’m not going to ask for anything,” I insist. “His friend has my number, so if Linden is serious about his invitation, he’s going to call anyway.”
Cami sighs. “You’re still pining for Colton?”
“No,” I hasten to say. But actually, yes. I miss him. I don’t want to admit it, though. It’s not even love, more of a sick kind of dependence. We were great together—in bed, I mean—and that has kept me from letting off steam with a bunch of other guys. I was so content with this one man, because he looks really good and he’s a great lover.
“Okay, you are,” Cami interprets my lie. “But you have to forget him. What you had was only a casual thing anyway. Dinner with Linden Priest is not going to harm you.”
“Honey, people like him tend to be hounded by paparazzi,” I say. “Imagine someone snaps a picture of me and him having dinn
er. I’d be hounded, too. No, thank you. I can do without that kind of drama.”
“I dare you,” she teases.
“Ha. Wait till I dare you to do something you don’t want to do,” I counter with a grin.
We keep talking about Linden, and why I don’t want to see him again, until I rise and say that I need to go home. I want my bed. I still need to catch up on sleep.
“I’ll call you guys soon. But I’m going to spend the next two class-free days sleeping,” I declare. “So please don’t call. And tell Hailey, too.”
“Okay,” they grumble, one after another, as I make my round hugging them all goodbye.
Chapter 3
I’m standing in the midst of a bunch of yelling and screaming groupies when Linden gets out of the limousine. There’s a red carpet, which he and Alexis walk down slowly. All the girls are cheering and yelling, including me. “Linden, can you see me? I’m right here! It’s me, Thally!” I scream, but he doesn’t look in my direction. “LINDEN!” I scream at the top of my lungs. But again, nothing.
Now girls are pushing from behind, pressing me against the steel barrier, which stabs me in the belly. I pray that it doesn’t break, or topple over. I can feel panic wash over me, a prickling, swarming feeling as if a thousand spiders were crawling across my body. I’m getting dizzy, and the world is spinning around me, and then I fall over the barrier, unconscious.
I open my eyes and sit up, my heart beating a fast cadence. “What the hell was that?” I ask my empty room in confusion, rubbing my cheeks. Why am I suddenly dreaming of this guy? The question haunts me as I lumber into the kitchen to fetch a glass of water.
The moment I put the glass to my lips, I hear, “Good morning, Thally,” from behind me.
I give a start, spilling the water down my nightshirt, and turn around. Nathaniel.
“Good morning, Nate. What time is it?”
He grins at me. I would grin, too, if he were standing before me looking like someone who’s failed a wet t-shirt contest. He looks at his watch. “Nine.”
“I feel like I’ve hardly gotten any sleep,” I sigh.
“Were you having nightmares? In the last half hour or so, I heard you curse and yell a few times. Something about how someone should piss off.”
Linden: Rocking Pleasure: New Adult College Romance (Coral Gables Series Book 3) Page 3
