by Shelia Grace
When I got to the brownie, I wanted to go over to Alex’s house and ask for the rest of it. It was like crack cocaine. As soon as I was done, I jammed everything back in the bag and waited. Eventually, people started coming out of their houses with their dogs on leashes, and I took advantage of the time to walk Finn and take stock of the house next to Alex’s. The Mustang was still there, and when the lights around the neighborhood began going out for the night, I went back to the car and drove to the end of Alex’s street.
Within a few minutes of parking, I got the text from Alex saying she was going to sleep. I wrote back and asked if her parents were in bed yet. As soon as I knew everyone in the house was in for the night, I relaxed and took inventory of the duffle bag. Then I got out and walked quickly to the gate at the side of Alex’s house to spray the hinges with WD-40. Going back to the car, I turned on the music and waited. Sometime around midnight, I saw the front door of the house next to Alex’s open. Sinking down in the seat, I watched a guy walk out and get into the Mustang. As soon as he gunned the engine, I started the car, leaving the headlights off. He pulled out, and I waited a few seconds before following him. When he took the onramp to the freeway, I followed him as far as the exit to Long Beach before turning around and heading back to Alex’s house.
I waited about fifteen minutes and then patted Finn on the head and got out. Grabbing the duffle bag, I walked quickly along the shadows until I reached the gate to Alex’s back yard. Moving silently along the side of the house, I checked the perimeter. The downstairs was locked up tight. Next I surveyed the second floor and saw that the stucco wall that ran the length of the house ended at the very beginning of an awning covering the patio furniture. From the wall, it was easy enough to get onto the wooden beams that led directly to a small window, which was still open. And if the house was alarmed, it meant that there was no sensor there.
I settled into a dark corner of the yard and continued to wait. More than an hour passed before I heard the rumble of a car traveling too fast on suburban streets. When I heard a car door slam, I promised myself that if he walked through the front door of his house and didn’t come out again, I would leave an anonymous tip for the police tomorrow morning after Alex and I were long gone—and leave it at that. Then I heard the squeak of the gate next door and my fists clenched.
Pulling the ski mask over my head, I watched as a dark form jumped the fence from the adjacent yard and landed in Alex’s. The second he reached for the awning and started to pull himself up onto the wooden beam, I rose from where I was sitting, duct tape in hand. Cutting silently across the yard, I grabbed both his legs and yanked with all my force. Caught by surprise, he fell like a brick onto the concrete.
“Going somewhere, shithead?” I whispered in his ear as I ripped off a piece of tape and slapped it over his mouth.
When he struggled, I shoved a knee in his groin and flipped him onto his stomach, taping his wrists next. Searching his pockets, I pulled out the pocket knife, several small baggies containing various pills and powders, a pack of cigarettes, a lighter, his wallet, the keys to his Mustang, and a cell phone, which I took the battery out of.
Lifting him roughly by the elbow, I pushed him forward, marching him through the side yard. When he started to struggle, I kicked him in the back of the knee and shoved him through the well-oiled gate. Unlocking his car, I jammed him into the unmercifully small backseat and threw the duffle bag into the passenger seat. I shut the door as quietly as possible and went around to the driver’s side. Getting in, I released the E-brake and rolled down the driveway before starting the engine. As I was pulling off of Alex’s street, my passenger tried to sit up, and I looked in the rearview.
“I haven’t decided whether I’m going to dump you in the Pacific yet, so I’d stay the fuck down if I were you.”
I drove on side streets for fifteen minutes until I found a nice, quiet spot to pull off. Getting out, I wrenched the seat forward and grabbed the asshat in the backseat. With the duffle bag over my shoulder, I marched him into the empty lot before pushing him down on his knees.
“I hear you like hurting girls,” I said conversationally as I pulled the bat out of the duffle bag.
His eyes widened and he thrashed, trying to get to his feet.
“Oh, you’re worried about this?” I asked before kicking his legs out from under him.
He landed with a stifled grunt on the asphalt.
“You don’t have to worry about this … unless you get anywhere near Alex again in this lifetime. In fact, mama’s boy, I want you to move out of your parents’ house by the end of next week, and if I so much as sniff you anywhere near that house again, I will bury you. Do you understand me?”
He mumbled something that sounded remarkably like fuck you.
“I want you to think about tonight the next time you think about breaking into your neighbor’s house.”
I reached into the bag and pulled out the scissors.
“Snip, snip.”
He flinched, and I smiled as I started cutting off his T-shirt. Then his jeans. I would have left him with his cheesy bikini briefs, but I decided, fuck it—why make it easy for him to get home? He started to struggle again, and I figured I would let him assume the worst.
“That’s right, dickface. This is what’s gonna happen to you in jail.”
Normally I wouldn’t hammer on a guy who was bound, gagged, and naked. But then I thought of the bruises on Alex’s ribcage and my hand tightened into a fist. I knocked him cold. Taking the bottles of alcohol from the bag, I drained one over him and his clothes before leaving another for his personal consumption if he felt so inclined when he woke up. It would be even better if the cops picked him up naked and drunk off his ass.
Cutting the tape from his wrists, I collected everything and jogged back to his car holding the baseball bat. I should have felt some triumph, but the fact that he had laid a hand on Alex negated it, because it never should have happened. I drove back in the douchebag-mobile, parking several blocks from Alex’s neighborhood. I left her neighbor’s car unlocked with the windshield cracked and the spark plugs missing.
Jogging back to my car, I gave Finn a cookie from the box Alex had brought. Looking down at my busted up knuckles, I laughed. In a few hours, I would be on my way north with her, and in a twisted fucking way, I owed the naked degenerate I had just left in an empty lot.
Without him, I would be alone in bed dreaming of Alex, probably only moments away from waking up in a cold sweat.
Chapter 27
Alex
When the alarm on my phone went off at four, I groaned. I had just looked at the clock, and it had been two-thirty. With a jolt, I sat upright in bed. Ryan! I hadn’t slept at all last night because I had been thinking about him. For a second, I thought it had all been a dream, but then I realized that he really was here. Probably outside in his car—freezing his ass off and bored. And suddenly I felt like a complete jerk for texting him yesterday, because nothing had happened. Of course not. The fucking neighbor had lied about coming back, and like an idiot, I had believed him. Worse, the only reason he had managed to get into the house yesterday was because my dumb ass had left the sliding door unlocked.
Jumping out of bed, I reached for the clothes I had set out last night and hurried down the hall to the bathroom. I brushed my teeth and jumped into the shower. Then, before heading downstairs, I sneaked into Stephie’s room and kissed her on the forehead, leaving her a little glass figurine of a dolphin that I had gotten during my unsuccessful attempt to get back to the beach earlier in the week. It had been expensive, but I knew she’d love it.
I had said my goodbyes to everyone already. Mom and Stephen thought that I would be gone—with Rachel—long before they got up. When I got downstairs, I left my bags at the front door and went to the kitchen to grab a couple of horrible cereal bars before texting Ryan that I was ready. By the time I put on my jacket and boots and lugged my bags outside, his car was at the curb. And when I glanced
over at the neighbors’ driveway, the Mustang was gone. I sniffed. Good. He’d probably been out partying all night.
Pulling the rolling suitcase toward the curb, I was careful not to trip on the stairs in the dark. A second later, I heard his car door open, and then Ryan was beside me, taking the suitcase and my backpack. I followed him to the car and stuck my hand in the open window to pet Finn. Then Ryan leaned over and opened the door for me. I got in, and when he got to the driver’s side, I looked over at him and sighed.
“Now I feel like a total idiot for making you come all the way down here,” I muttered. “That asshole didn’t even come back last night. I’m sorry. Did you get any sleep?”
He shook his head.
“I had a busy night.”
I frowned.
“Playing Angry Birds?” I laughed and handed him a cereal bar. “They’re gross, but I was going for quick and portable.”
“I have a better idea.”
He turned on the radio and started the car. I smiled at the song playing. Get Lucky. Funny, that was how I felt right now. Ryan got on the freeway and exited a couple of ramps later, pulling into the parking lot of an all-night diner.
“What about Finn?”
Ryan picked up the box of treats and shook some into his palm before tossing them into the backseat.
“He’ll be fine.”
We walked through the empty parking lot, and when we got into the restaurant, I looked around. Saturday at five in the morning didn’t seem to be that popular. The only other people in the restaurant looked like they hadn’t gone to sleep yet. After the hostess put us in a booth by the window, I raised an eyebrow.
“So? What did you do with your busy night?”
Ryan smiled and looked out into the dark parking lot. Then the server came up, and he ordered a black coffee. I asked for an orange juice.
“I think it’s better if you don’t know.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I demanded.
“Exactly what I said.”
I shook my head in disbelief.
“Oh shit. You didn’t murder my neighbor and dump his body somewhere, did you?”
“The thought had occurred to me.”
“Ryan!”
“Let’s just say he’s still walking home, unless the cops picked him up for public indecency.”
“You kidnapped him?” I whispered frantically.
“Only after he tried crawling through your bathroom window.”
“Are you serious?”
“Perfectly. You should tell your parents to keep that window locked.”
I nodded. They had already started using the alarm more regularly, but a shiver ran through me when I remembered the small window in the guest bathroom. Thinking of Stephie, my hands clenched.
“When my parents filed the report for the burglary, the cops told them there was nothing they could do … and I couldn’t say anything about what happened to me.”
Ryan frowned.
“Why the hell not?”
“Did I tell you what his father does for a living?”
Ryan shook his head and took a gulp of coffee.
“I’m not going to like this, am I?”
“Probably not. He’s a big-time litigator, so come on. You think they wouldn’t just hire someone to call me a liar?”
The server came back, and I asked for the omelet while Ryan ordered a breakfast skillet the size of his head.
“Has anyone ever told you that you have shit luck?” he asked when the woman left.
“Or really good luck.”
He frowned again.
“How’s that? Getting followed to the library by Ted Bundy II, running into the worst frat on campus, getting hit by some dick too busy talking on his cell to stop at the red … living next to a sociopath whose father sues people for a living? You wouldn’t call that shitty luck?”
I looked down.
“I met you, didn’t I?”
Ryan was staring at me when I looked up, but neither of us said anything. The food came, and I pretended to be fixated on the rubbery omelet. A few minutes later, when the server brought over the check, I reached for it. It was the least I could do. But Ryan snatched it from me and shook his head.
“No.”
“Okay, then give me your keys. I’m going to take Finn out.”
He handed me the keys, and I went into the bathroom before walking out and releasing Finn from the backseat. I grabbed some dog cookies and put on his leash, walking him to the edge of the parking lot. When he sat down in front of me and wagged his tail, I took a cookie from my pocket.
“You know, I’m going to miss you when we get back to school, you crotch sniffer,” I whispered as I threw him the treat.”
My eyes started to well up, and I turned, looking for Ryan. I jumped about a foot in the air when I saw he was right behind me.
“Shit! You scared me!”
He stepped forward and took my face between his hands, wiping the corner of my eye with his thumb before bending toward me.
“Don’t,” I whispered. “Please. It’s not going to make it any easier when we get to school and I don’t see you again.”
But he wouldn’t let go. His mouth came down on mine, and a spike of pleasure ran through me as he parted my lips. I wanted to pull away, but it was like I was in a trance. My body wouldn’t let me stop. I just wanted more. I felt Ryan’s hand drop to the small of my back, his tongue pushing past my lips as he pulled me all the way against him. The feel of him pressed against me made me moan, and I gripped the front of his shirt.
When he pulled back and let me go, I pressed my fingers to my lips and started walking quickly toward the car. Fuck. This had been a bad idea. Such a bad idea. What had made me think I could do this? But if he hadn’t come down, and that guy had come back … I shuddered, not wanting to think about what might have happened last night. Unlocking the car door, I put the key in the ignition and watched as Ryan put Finn in the backseat.
He sat down in the driver’s seat a second later and glanced over at me. Could things get anymore confusing? I looked out the window as we got onto 405. Ryan turned on the music again, and I continued to stare out the window, trying to think of something rational to say, but the only thing that came to mind was: Pull over. I want to climb on top of you and ride you like a wild animal. I almost laughed at the thought, but I caught myself.
Within a half hour or so of awkward silence, I started getting really sleepy. I sneaked a look at Ryan, who obviously hadn’t slept at all, either. He had ordered a coffee to go, and there were dark circles under his eyes. I stared out the window, trying not to yawn, and figured I would offer to drive after another hour. The next thing I knew, someone was shaking me gently.
“Alex …”
I blinked and stretched. I was comfortable … and horizontal. Slowly I realized that Ryan must have reclined my seat. Looking to the right, I saw that the car door was open—and he was staring down at me. When he held out his hand, I took it sleepily.
“Are we at the dorms?” I asked, rubbing my eyes.
Ryan laughed.
“Sorry, I couldn’t make it that far on no sleep.”
I got out and stretched my legs, looking around the parking lot. I smelled—ocean air. Oh shit. We hadn’t come up 5—that was for sure. Spinning around, I looked across the parking lot and saw a swanky-looking hotel.
“Where are we?”
“Central Coast.”
“You went up 101?” I gasped accusingly.
Ryan nodded and laughed again.
“You sound disappointed.”
“Doesn’t 101 take, like, twice as long as 5?”
“That’s why we’re taking a break for food and sleep.”
He walked around to the trunk and took out my bag and his, plus a full grocery bag.
“You went to the store? Where’s Finn?”
“He’s in the room already. Now, do you have any more questions before we go up to the room so that I
can pass out?”
I smirked at him.
“You know, I could have driven.”
He gave me a look.
“That’s why you just spent the past four hours sleeping? Because you were so well rested?”
I shrugged guiltily. I was still tired. We walked across the parking lot and into the lobby, which was freakishly opulent. The cost of this place finally dawned on me as I stared down at the intricately designed floor. This was no budget motel. What the fuck was Ryan thinking? I stayed silent, but by the time we got to the room and he opened the door, I was practically hyperventilating. There was an oceanfront view—and a massive king bed. Finn ran over to me as Ryan set down the bags in the corner and stripped off his shirt.
“Can you put the groceries in the refrigerator?” he asked. “I haven’t showered since yesterday morning, so I’m going to get cleaned up. Then I’m going to crash.”
I bit my lip and nodded as he disappeared into the bathroom. Then I grabbed the grocery bag and started piling stuff onto the marble counter and transferring the perishables into the refrigerator. Vegetables, fresh pasta, a loaf of French bread, herbs, salt, pepper, garlic, a small bottle of olive oil, tomato sauce, something wrapped in a brown bag, sparkling water, parmesan, a chocolate pastry of some kind, a bottle of apple cider, a bottle of wine. Taking out the box of dog cookies, which had been sitting on top, I gave one to Finn. Then I walked over to the glass door and went out onto the balcony.
“Whoa.”
The view of the beach below and the bright blue water stretching into the distance was impressive. It made me wonder about the hotel that Ryan had booked in San Francisco before the accident—the hotel where he had been planning to take me to … I shivered. Feeling the tension between my eyes and the knot in my shoulders, I decided just to let it all go. I was here, with Ryan. And after this, I would probably never see him again, so I figured I might as well enjoy it while I could. Finn came out and sprawled on the floor of the balcony next to me.
