by Smoke, Lucy
"Yeah, you're right. I just assumed..."
"We do tell each other everything, Harlow. I am going to tell them. Bellamy probably already has and he's just approaching us one on one, he's the type to do that."
"I'm glad you're not mad," I said.
"You make me crazy," Marv replied and when I peeked back up at him, his lips had turned up into a full smile. He was so incredibly handsome when he smiled that he often took my breath away. "But I think that's what you're supposed to do."
"I'm supposed to make you crazy?" I asked, skeptical.
He laughed before tilting his head down. The top of his forehead brushed mine and I could smell the coffee on his breath. Damn. He’d had another cup. There was no way he'd be getting any sleep tonight. It really was a good thing we took that nap.
"You're a special girl, Harlow, and only a special girl like you could make me crazy like this," he said.
"Is it a good kind of crazy at least?" I asked.
He laughed again, but this time it was quieter, more subdued, more intimate. "Yeah," he said. "It's the best kind of crazy."
I wasn't surprised by the kiss. Not in the least. It seemed like the perfect moment, the perfect opportunity. And this time, when I went into the kiss, I went into it knowing how I truly felt. I knew how special he was to me. Even though Marv could make me want to bang my head against the wall. Even though he was sometimes overprotective and a complete and utter jerk when it came to Grayson, he was still my Marv.
When he kissed me, I closed my eyes and let my hands automatically reach for him. My fingers touched the nape of his neck, feeling the light strands of hair as he slanted his mouth over mine. Our noses bumped playfully and when I pulled back I couldn't help but laugh.
"If it's any consolation," I said, "you make me crazy too."
He laughed. "I'm glad I'm not alone then."
The front door opened again before I could say anything more and Marv and I broke apart, our eyes going to the porch. Bellamy raised a hand and even from the end of the driveway, I could tell he was a little off.
"Hey," he called out, descending the steps, "I didn't mean to interrupt. I just, um...Harlow, do you mind if I talk to you real quick before you leave?"
Marv and I exchanged glances. "Yeah," I replied. "Now seems as good a time as any." Marv chuckled and kicked the base of the mailbox pole with his foot as he passed by, heading back towards the porch.
Bellamy stopped Marv and leaned over to speak to him. Whatever was said, I couldn't hear, but Marv peeked back over his shoulder at me before he nodded his head. Ahh, I realized Marv was right. Bellamy was likely going to tell him about what had happened before. Marv and Bellamy finished their quick chat and Bellamy came down the driveway as Marv headed up. Once the front door was closed, Bellamy stopped in front of me, rocking back on his heels as he shoved his hands into his front pockets.
"Hey."
"Hey yourself," I said. "So, what'd you wanna talk about?"
Bellamy grimaced as if he wasn't sure how to say it. "I just wanted you to know that I'm gonna tell the guys about what happened between us."
I nodded, proud that I had guessed correctly. "Marv knows," I said.
Bellamy's eyes widened. "Oh, I—" His gaze slid to the front door. "I was going to tell him after I spoke to you. I was gonna tell him first before I told the others."
"Yeah," I said. "He overheard me talking about it with Lizzie."
Bellamy turned back to me and slid his hands back out of his pockets. His fingers clenched and unclenched into fists. He was anxious, I realized. "You talked about it? About us?"
I licked my lips and crossed my arms in front of my chest, hugging myself. "I needed someone to talk to and she's been pushing me to tell her which of you guys is my boyfriend. She's my roommate right now and she's met Marv and Grayson and she saw me having lunch with them and Texas in the cafeteria and well...it was...um...girl talk."
"Girl talk," he repeated, nodding. "Right."
"I'm sorry," I said. "Did you want me to keep it a secret? I mean, I know I probably should have asked if you'd be comfortable with me talking about it. I didn't say anything bad. I-I liked it." My face flamed as those last words came tumbling out of my mouth.
Bellamy froze for all of three seconds before a soft smile stretched across his face. "I'm glad," he said quietly.
I stood there, at the end of the duplex driveway, my face burning hotter than when Mount Vesuvius erupted over Pompeii and all because I had told a guy I liked it when he went down on me. I was eighteen for the love of all that was holy. I could just come out and say it, couldn't I? Why did I have to get all freaking girly about it? Even with those thoughts circling around in my head, my cheeks were assuredly still red when Bellamy took a step closer.
"Harlow?"
"Yeah?" I kept my gaze trained on a dark spot on the concrete. It was a crack—tiny and barely discernible, but it already looked like grass was beginning to grow through the small imperfection.
"Harlow, Sweetheart, look at me," Bellamy prodded. Reaching up and putting a long finger under my chin, he urged me to lift my head. It was hard and incredibly embarrassing, but finally, I managed to look him in the eye. I swallowed thickly as he leaned down and brushed his lips across mine. The same lips that had just kissed Marv, and Bellamy knew it too. I knew that he did. He didn’t seem grossed out or disgusted or even really irritated by that fact either. He still kissed me like I was the only girl in the world and he was the only boy—man, I reminded myself. These guys weren’t boys. They were men.
And Lord, did these men know how to kiss. Marv's kiss had left me feeling warm and tingly. This kiss—Bellamy's kiss left me burning and achy. I gasped when he flicked his tongue and when I did, he took advantage, sinking into me. Our heads tilted to the sides and I unwrapped my arms from around my middle so they could find his waist. When my fingertips brushed his belt loops, I grabbed a hold and held on for dear life.
Bellamy's kiss sucked me in. He nibbled lightly on my bottom lip before diving into my mouth, into the fiery kiss, like he didn't just want it to consume him, but like he needed it to consume him. My spine arched backward as he leaned over me. Bellamy made me feel small and dainty just by comparison. His chest was wide—though not wider than Knix's, it was still wide enough to block out everything else. His dark hair fell forward, the shoulder length strands brushing my cheek as he overwhelmed me with his kiss.
I had to release his belt loops and push back on his chest so that I could breathe. Much longer and I might have passed out.
“You’re okay with me telling them?” Bellamy asked, panting.
I put the back of my hand to my mouth, trying to catch my breath as well. “I knew you would anyway,” I said. “I don’t want to hide anything from them.”
He nodded as if he appreciated the answer and even…liked it? I couldn’t be sure, but there was a glint of pride—or something like it—in his eyes. “Okay,” he said.
After a moment that allowed the both of us to finally get our hearts back down to normal speed, he glanced across the street, towards campus. “Are you going to be okay walking back on your own?” he asked. “I could drop you off if you want.”
“I think I’d prefer to walk,” I replied. “I want some time to myself, but thank you anyway.”
“Just…be safe?” He looked at me seriously, his dark brows drawn down low. “Text us when you get there. I just want to know you’re okay.” Little tiny fluttering wings brushed against my insides—like echoes from those two amazing kisses.
I nodded. “Of course. I’ll let you know.”
“Thank you, Sweetheart.”
“No problem.”
“And Harlow?” He stopped me just as I turned back towards the street. I glanced over my shoulder. “Don’t worry, Erika will be fine. Iris will see to it.”
A small ping resounded in my chest, a reminder. I wasn’t just a college student. I was an Iris girl, and my best friend was in trouble. I nodded sharply
and once again turned towards the campus. No matter how much I liked Lander and my classes and my roommate, this was all only temporary. The real work had begun. And regardless of my relationship issues, I needed to focus on finding Erika, keeping her from signing any sort of contract with H. B. Holdings, and keeping her safe.
Chapter 12
"Harlow." Lizzie's low, irritated groan from across the room woke me. I rolled over, peeking out from beneath the covers, wondering what had set her off. Was she calling my name in her sleep? Then the room lit up and the phone on my nightstand buzzed as a call came through. "Harlow," Lizzie hissed again.
I squeezed my eyes closed and moaned as I reached out and snagged the phone. Nearly blinding myself with how bright the screen was, I clicked the answer button and put the phone to my ear.
"'lo?" I grumbled.
"Get up and meet me downstairs."
"Grayson?"
"No, it's the muffin man—Yes, it's Grayson. Come on, I've got the car running," he said.
I pulled the phone away and checked the time.
"Grayson," I snapped. "It's the middle of the night. Whatever it is, can't it wait until tomorrow? I am a normal person, you know. I need sleep."
"I promise, you can get your beauty rest tomorrow night," he replied. "Now, get your butt down here."
"I'm hanging up, Muffin Man."
"You want to know where Erika is, don't you?" he stopped me.
My thumb hovered over the 'end call' button and I bit my lip, wavering before putting the phone back to my ear. "Did Alex call?"
"He may not know what to do," Grayson said. "We need to do something now."
I groaned softly, sitting up in bed. "Grayson. Knix told us to wait."
"Are you okay with that?" he demanded.
Not completely, but I knew if I told him that, he'd take it and run with it. Grayson was just one of those people—give him an inch, and he would take a mile and never look back.
"It's half past midnight," I argued.
"I have coffee," he said.
"I don't like coffee."
"Yes, and we will discuss that impracticality at a later date. Look, Harlow—I need to do something, and I have an idea, but I need back up. Please." After a brief pause, he sighed. "If you don't want coffee, I can stop and get you hot chocolate or something. What about one of those Frappuccino things from Starbucks?"
"Starbucks isn't open," I pointed out.
"Then I'll get you something when it does open," he said. "Are you in or out?"
My head thunked back against the wall behind the low headboard of my twin sized bed. "You're gonna go whether I go with you or not, aren't you?"
"Without a doubt," he said, "but at least I asked you first."
"I'm going to tell the guys, you know that, right?"
"They're probably all sleeping and I'm leaving in less than five minutes. So, if you want to figure out where Erika is, my car is parked out front. I'll be waiting until the twenty 'til mark."
"Fuck!" I hissed, throwing off the covers. "Fine. I'm on my way."
"See you soon, Babydoll." I hung up and dove off the bed for a pair of pants. I slid into dark yoga tights, grabbed a dark tank top, and laced up my sneakers in just under the time limit Grayson had given me. Lizzie grumbled as I shut the door behind me and sprinted down the hallway with just my phone and my keys in hand.
Outside, at the curb, an older, dark sedan waited for me. I slid inside and turned to Grayson. "Nice choice of sleuthing-wear," he said, taking a look down at my attire. I glanced down at the same time and noticed that he, too, was wearing dark colors.
"All the better to break the law with," I said with a smirk. "That is what we're doing, right? It's the reason why you called me, because you know none of the others would think twice about stopping you from doing something this stupid. So, tell me, what idiotic thing are we doing tonight?"
"Just a little breaking and entering," he answered, putting his hand on the wheel and pulling away.
"If we go to jail," I said, pulling my messages up on my phone and clicking on one of the guys. "I doubt any of them will bail you out." Texas would be the least angry, but they all needed to know what was happening and I had warned Grayson I would tell them, so I typed in all their names—Knix, Bellamy, Marv, and Texas—before wording a text to tell them about what Grayson was doing. My fingers hovered over the screen. "But for the sake of need to know—because I need to know—where exactly are we breaking and entering?"
Grayson shot me a quick smirk that didn't reach his eyes. "Greenwood Rehab."
I blinked. "Of course."
Harlow: Grayson called me. He's going to B&E Greenwood. Going with him.
Just before I pressed send, Grayson turned sharply, and the phone tumbled out of my hand, sliding down into the crevice between the console and the seat. I glared at him, but he kept his gaze trained forward.
"You did that on purpose," I snapped.
"I don't know what you're talking about." The smirk remained.
"Asshole," I said, digging down into the tiny space available, searching blindly for the phone.
"You might have to wait until we get there to get it," he said helpfully.
"I told you I was going to tell them!"
"Yeah, well, you can't blame me for wanting to keep them in the dark as long as possible. Can't have them stopping us before we get started."
"What are you hoping to find at Greenwood?" I demanded. "Do you really think they'd be stupid enough to hide evidence there?"
Grayson flicked a look at me. "Of course they have evidence there," he said as if it was obvious. "Everyone knows that the best place to hide evidence is in plain sight."
I shook my head. "You're crazy."
He shrugged. "It's true, besides—I thought you wanted to find Erika."
"I do!" I gritted my teeth, glaring at him. The next time he took a corner a little too sharply, my shoulder slammed into the door and I realized I hadn't buckled in. I reached for the seatbelt and snapped it in place before returning my glare to his face. "I do want to find Erika," I repeated. "But I also don't want to put her in any more danger. What do you think would happen if they caught us looking for her in Greenwood Rehab? I know they won't have her there. So, why would I want to go looking?"
"How do you know?" Grayson asked.
"What?" I blinked, confused.
"How do you know they won't be holding your friend at Greenwood?"
"Well, I...It would be just...stupid to hide someone there, wouldn't it?"
Grayson shrugged. "You tell me," he said. "Is it? Where else would they take her?"
I thought about it for a moment. "No, she can't be there." But I wasn't so sure.
"It can't hurt to try, though. It's better than doing nothing."
I turned my head to look at him. The street lights filtered into the dark interior of the car, flashing across his face every few seconds before his expression was, once again, shrouded by shadows. I bit my lip, wondering if he was right. If I was being honest, yeah, I wasn't completely, 100% comfortable with how the job was progressing. Other than finally finding Josh—which had been all Texas and Grayson—it felt like nothing we had done so far was good. Especially me. I hadn't done anything to contribute.
"Are you still going to tell them?" Grayson asked after a while.
I nodded. "Yeah, but it can wait until we're already there." That answer seemed to appease him and when we finally pulled into the parking lot of the Greenwood Rehabilitation Facility, Grayson appeared far more stable when I finally dug my phone out and sent the text message.
"Leave your phone in the car," he said.
I shook my head. "They'll worry."
Grayson's piercing blue eyes met my gaze. "Babydoll," he said, "I know they are going to worry, but you've informed them of our plan and if you go inside with that phone, they'll be calling and texting nonstop."
"I haven't exactly informed them of anything," I protested, "since you haven't told me what the
plan is."
Dipping over to my side of the car, Grayson popped the glove compartment open and retrieved a small pouch. "I did tell you," he said. "We're breaking and entering. Now, leave the phone and let's go."
I groaned as Grayson got out of the car and headed towards the building. He had managed to park behind a large tree on the border of the parking lot. Once we left, it would be empty and appear as though someone had simply left the vehicle to sit there overnight, but there was still a lot of open space from the car to the building. I got out and hurried after him.
His legs ate the distance up much quicker than mine, but both of us got to the side of the building without much fanfare. Once we did, we slid around towards what Grayson said was the employee's entrance and exit. Crouching down on the ground, he opened the pouch and retrieved two slender looking metal tools. One of them had a curved, dipping edge while the other was straighter, narrower.
"Keep a lookout," he whispered. I did, but within a few minutes, Grayson was smirking in victory as he turned the knob and swung the door inward to a long, dark hallway. "Ladies first," he said, gesturing.
I pursed my lips and arched a brow.
"Since when do you treat me like a lady?" I asked, taking a step inside.
"I always treat you like a lady," he argued.
"Name one time."
"I—" His voice cut off as we hit the end of the hallway and noticed a light towards one side. Sharp eyes cut to me in the darkness. I couldn't see his face as clearly as I would have liked, but I understood what he meant when he put a hand on my shoulder and then moved around in front of me. He wanted me to hang back.
Waiting in the dark, alone, was the worst. It reminded me of old, scary movies, where young women in black and white would head directly towards a door—usually leading into a basement or attic or somewhere equally creepy—as those watching urged them to turn around and run away. I stuck close to the wall, though, and kept my gaze trained on Grayson's movements as he edged away from me, towards the light. Once he reached the end of the corridor, he flipped his head back and motioned for me to come to him. Quietly, I eased forward.
