She said it again, slower this time. "Who do you know? Here. At this party." Her voice hardened. "Name one person."
I lifted my chin. "I know Jax. And his brother."
"That's a little convenient."
"Oh yeah? Why?"
"Because they're both gone."
Yes. They were. I gave a tight shrug and said nothing else.
But apparently, she wasn't done. "Give me another name, someone who's here right now who can vouch for you."
There was no one.
It was like she'd found my weak spot and was kicking it for all she was worth.
Somehow, I stiffened my spine and said, "I'm vouching for myself, so take your 'fine hook' and shove it."
Escape time.
With that, I turned away. To my infinite relief, she didn't try to stop me as I stalked off, heading toward the rear of the house.
I didn't know where exactly I was going, but I did know that I'd be smart to put some distance between us. As the party went on, I tried to blend with the crowd, even as I kept a sharp eye out for the redhead.
From time to time, I spotted her, watching me with open malice, and I couldn't help but wonder what awful things she was planning behind those green eyes of hers.
The whole situation was beyond nerve-wracking, and I kept asking myself the same question. What if she called my bluff? What then?
I thought of my ex-aunt Tabitha. She'd been kicked out. Had she walked out on her own accord?
Or had she been dragged out, kicking and screaming? It wasn't lost on me that Jax had led me to a different part of the house, just as that one-minute deadline had expired.
I envisioned Tabitha being hauled out by a bouncer or something. Would I be next?
As the minutes turned to hours, I tried not to panic. But when Jax never did return, that's when I knew, I was in serious trouble.
Chapter 15
Around me, the party had thinned considerably. I wasn't sure how many hours had passed, but it was at least three or four.
You know how time flies when you're having fun? Well, it doesn't fly at all when you're dodging a redheaded psycho or trying to pretend that you belong someplace when you don't.
It didn't help that I'd realized – far too late, of course – that Jax still had my phone and wallet. I considered the ten measly dollars I had to my name. Back when I'd actually had it in my possession, it had seemed like nothing at all.
Now, it was everything, because without it, I was even more doomed than before. On top of that, the wallet contained my driver's license and debit card, not that any funds were available. Still, I did need it back.
I watched with increasing desperation as one guest drifted away after another. By now, even the band had packed up and left.
Oh sure, music was still wafting through the house, but this music was a lot quieter, coming from some unseen source, probably a central sound system or something.
I didn't know, and I didn't care. All I cared about was finding some way out of this mess.
I had to face facts. He definitely wasn't coming back, which meant that I had to leave. Cripes, I should've left hours ago.
Idiot. Meaning me of course.
As I drifted from room to room, trying to get lost in the small pockets of people who remained, I tried to think.
I had no money, no phone, and I didn't even know where I was.
Oh yeah. I was an idiot, alright.
I glanced around, searching for a friendly face – someone who might loan me their cellphone or give me a ride. I didn't know why I bothered. I had no one to call and nowhere to go – which, of course, was how I'd ended up here in the first place.
I was so lost in my worries that I didn't notice someone creeping up behind me until I felt a hard tap on my shoulder.
I whirled to look and wanted to scream in frustration. It was her, the redhead. I tried not to cringe. Again?
She said, "He's not coming back, you know."
Oh yeah. I knew.
She smiled. "Wanna know what I think?"
I was so tired of that question. "No."
"I think he met someone else."
I stiffened, but made no reply.
Unfortunately, she was on a roll. "A guy like Jax? He's hit on wherever he goes. You think you're the first girl to waltz in and think you're something special?" She laughed. "You're so cute."
I gave her a tight smile. "Thanks."
She blinked. "What?"
"You called me cute."
"Yeah, but I didn't mean it."
I forced a shrug. "Oh well. Too late now."
I didn't even know why I was tweaking her. It wouldn’t solve any of my problems. If anything, it would make them worse.
Silently, I looked toward the main entrance, wondering if I should just slink away now, before things got really ugly.
I envisioned myself walking out through the front door and then down the front steps. Unfortunately, that's where the vision ended. I didn't even know if I'd be turning right or left.
Plus, it was very late, past midnight for sure. What on Earth was I supposed to do?
Damn it. I should've called Allie. If only I'd called her right away, she might've been halfway here by now.
The redhead gave a little laugh. "If you're waiting for him to walk through that door, you'll be waiting a long time."
I'd already been waiting a long time. Stupid me. I wanted to say something clever, but nothing came to mind. My only response was a tight shrug.
Into my silence she said, "You do know, he's probably fucking someone else by now."
The image sliced through me. That was stupid, too. I mean, it's not like I was his real girlfriend or anything.
"Or maybe," she continued, "he's onto his second girl. He likes to do that, you know, one girl after another – sometimes, two at once."
I didn't believe her.
And yet, her words burrowed under my skin. I had to remind myself that it wasn't like I'd planned on having sex with him tonight or anything.
After all, we'd just met, and I wasn't one to pounce on somebody just because they were hot. And chivalrous. And thrilling beyond all reason.
Suddenly, I wanted to cry. Stupid or not, I had felt like there was some sort of connection between us. And he'd been so wonderful, right up until the moment he'd left me stranded in a house full of strangers.
Aside from ditching me, what kind of guy takes off with someone's cell phone and wallet?
Thanks to this, I was totally screwed. And now, my eyes were stinging with tears that I refused to shed.
Damn it. I had to do it, the thing I'd been dreading. I looked to the redhead and said, "Can I borrow your phone?"
"Why?"
"To make a call." Obviously.
Her gaze narrowed. "To call whom?"
I was tired and stressed, and so ready for all of this to end. "I don’t think that's any of your business."
"It is if you're using my phone."
I made a sound of frustration. "Oh come on. Jax has my phone, so…" I gave a little shrug, as if no further explanation should be needed.
She made a forwarding motion with her hand. "So…?"
"So…" I sighed. "I can't call anyone without it."
She smirked. "Bummer for you."
Yes. It was.
Even worse, any second now, I just knew I was going to burst out crying.
Shit.
Why here? Why now?
Trying to get a grip, I clamped my lips shut and looked away.
The redhead said, "So, are you gonna answer my question or not?"
I didn't even look as I muttered, "What question?"
"Who are you going to call?"
I looked back to her and snapped, "Well, it's not Jax if that's what you're worried about."
"I'm not worried." She gave me a slow, deliberate smile. "In fact, I'm enjoying myself immensely."
No kidding. I could see it in the curve of her lips and in the gleam of her eyes. She was enjoying this.
And if I actually broke down and sobbed, she'd probably have an organism right here and now.
Whatever. I looked around, wondering who else I could ask. Probably, I should've asked one of the waiters while they'd been still circulating. If nothing else, the house surely had a landline somewhere, right?
But the waiters had disappeared to who-knows-where at least an hour ago. And, as if that weren't bad enough, while I'd been talking to the redhead, at least half of the remaining guests had drifted out the front door.
Just then, the music cut out entirely, making the massive space seem ten times emptier.
My stomach sank. Oh, crap. The party was officially over.
And I was totally screwed.
Chapter 16
Desperately, I looked back to the redhead and said, "Fine. The person I want to call is my roommate."
Technically, Allie was my ex-roommate, but she was still my best friend. Or, at least I sure hoped she was, even if we hadn't parted on the best of terms.
The redhead asked, "Why her?"
God, was this really necessary? Through gritted teeth, I replied, "Because, I'm going to ask her to pick me up."
This was true, but it wasn't the full story. Allie was at least ten hours away in Nashville. Unless she hijacked a plane, she wouldn't be here until long past sunrise.
This meant I was looking at a long dreadful night followed by a long uncertain morning. And this was assuming that Allie would be able to come at all.
But then, I suddenly perked up. "But wait, you probably have Jax's number, right?"
"Yeah. So?"
"So maybe you could call and ask him to bring me my phone."
She laughed. "Nice try, chickie."
"What do you mean?"
"If you think I'm falling for that, you're crazy."
Oh, I was crazy, alright, but not in the way she thought. I was crazy for coming here in the first place – not just to the party, but to the whole stupid state. Florida had not been kind to me.
I gave the redhead an annoyed look. "You know, he has my wallet, too."
"Bummer for you," she said for the second time in five minutes.
For the briefest instant, I almost debated calling my mom. She was local, and she knew my location, even if I didn't.
Maybe she could come and get me?
I considered that idea for like two whole seconds before rejecting it outright. Knowing my mom, she was still with Dominic, probably at the so-called penthouse, where I'd been living for the past week.
So I couldn't go there. After all, what kind of favors would be expected in return?
I gave a little shudder and tried not to think about it.
The redhead gave a long-suffering sigh. "Alright, fine."
I turned to face her. "What?"
"I guess you can use my phone." Her gaze narrowed. "But I'm dialing."
"Why?"
"Because I don't want you snooping through my contacts, that's why."
Boy, she didn't take any chances, did she?
I told her, "Fine, whatever."
"Whatever?" she repeated. "Don't you mean to say thank you? I'm doing you a big favor, you know."
If I had any other option, I might've told her where she could shove the phone and the favor. But I didn't, so I gritted out the two words she wanted to hear. "Thank you."
"You don't sound very grateful," she grumbled, reaching into her tiny black purse. She pulled out a cellphone and said, "What's the number?"
I froze. Oh, crap. I didn't know it, not by heart. I never dialed Allie's number. Mostly, I just hit her name in my contacts and let the phone dial itself.
I tried to think. I definitely knew the area code, but the rest of it was hazy at best.
The redhead said, "I don't have all night, you know."
Thankfully, I did know the number to our apartment, the one we'd shared until just a week ago. These days, Allie was living there with someone new, but the number was still good.
With sudden relief, I rattled off the digits and watched as the redhead tapped them out on the screen. When she finally handed the phone over, I turned away, seeking some semblance of privacy.
She demanded, "Where do you think you're going?"
I glanced back over my shoulder. "Nowhere."
"Yeah, well, see that you don't." She edged closer. "And I swear to God, if you start scrolling through my contacts, I'm calling the police."
Knowing her, she'd actually do it. I could practically hear it now. Hello Officer, I'm calling to report phone-snooping.
But this was no joke. For all I knew, she'd also report me as a trespasser and claim that I'd raided the safe or something. A place like this surely had one, right?
Trying to ignore her, I listened intently as the apartment's number rang once, and then twice. I held my breath. On the third ring, it went to voicemail.
Shit.
Probably, Allie was just sleeping, that's all. Praying that she'd get the message sooner rather than later, I said in a rush, "Hey, Allie, it's me. Um, Cassidy."
I gave a mental eye-roll. As if she didn't know.
I continued. "Anyway, I'm in a bit of a bind, but you probably knew that already, huh?" I tried to laugh. "After all, you did tell me I was making a huge mistake. But the thing is, I'm hoping – praying actually – that you might be able to come down here and get me." I paused. "Like now."
I took a deep, shuddering breath. "And just so you know, I'm really sorry to ask, and I swear I'll pay you back – for the time and the gas and everything. Just call me as soon as you get this, okay?"
These final words made me realize something, and I felt the color drain from my face. Oh, crap.
She couldn’t call me.
I blurted out, "Wait, forget that. I don't have my phone, so just come here and we'll talk then, okay? I'm at…" I looked to the redhead and asked, "Do you have the address? To this house, I mean?"
She gave an irritated sigh. "It's 432 Beachview." Frowning, she demanded, "And just how long will it take for your ride to get here?"
Oh, about ten hours.
I held up a finger and returned my attention to the phone. "In case you didn't hear that, I'm at 432 Beachview. Well, technically, I won't be here-here, because I need to get going, but I'll be around." In a burst of inspiration, I added, "I think there's a public beach nearby. I'll just hang out there 'til you get here."
If you get here.
I might've said more, but a familiar beep informed me that I was out of time. And I didn't dare ask the redhead for a second call, especially because I needed another favor.
As I handed back the phone, I said, "If you see Jax, could you please tell him to call that number, the one I just called?"
She gave me a good, long look. "Why?"
"Because I still need my phone and wallet. And my roommate can give him our address." I bit my lip. "I mean, he'll probably have to mail me the stuff, but I really do need it back."
She held up a hand. "Don't bore me with the details, alright?"
I wanted to throttle her. But that wouldn't help me get my stuff, so instead, I persisted, "But you'll tell him?"
"I guess." She looked toward the front door. "So, are you done?"
Oh, I was done alright.
With as much dignity as I could muster – which, granted, wasn't much – I turned and strode toward the front door. And then, heaven help me, I walked out.
And where was I going?
I had no idea.
Chapter 17
The sand was cold, and I was shivering. Turns out, I'd been wrong about a public beach.
But the house was beach-front, so like a thief in the night, I'd sidled around the estate and found a patch of private sand to call my own.
I was facing the water and hugging my knees tight against my chest. I'd been sitting in the same spot for at least an hour, maybe longer. Probably, my dress was already ruined, but I couldn't bring myself to care. I just prayed that no one spotted me as I waited – for what,
I wasn't even sure.
Even if Allie was already on her way, she wouldn't be here for at least several hours. And what if she wasn't on her way? In that case, I didn't even want to think about it.
Desperately, I tried to look on the bright side. Sure, the night was cold and damp, but at least I was hidden from sight – for now, anyway.
The morning, when it came, would bring warmth, but with it, a whole new set of problems, like the chance of being spotted.
Until then, I was hunkered down just beyond the mansion's rear patio – the second-story one that I'd spotted through the glass, back when I'd been on the inside looking out.
Already, that seemed like a lifetime ago.
Behind me, the house had grown dark and utterly silent, which was fine by me, because it lowered my odds of getting caught.
I leaned back against the cold sand and squeezed my eyes shut, trying to get some sleep – as if that were possible. My shoes were off, and I was using my own hands as a pillow, which meant that my bare shoulders and arms rested directly on the sand.
At that moment, I would've given almost anything for a blanket or beach towel. Hell, even a washcloth would've been better than nothing.
I was still lying there, praying for sleep, when I was startled by the sound of a door slamming shut. I tensed. The way it sounded, the noise had come from the second-story patio.
I held my breath and tried not to move. Was someone standing out there right now? And if so, could they see me through the shadows?
Silently, I waited, for what, I didn't know.
Soon, I heard voices – and not just any voices, the voices of Jax and his brother.
They were back.
Finally.
And yet, I still didn't move. It was true that I needed my things. But the thought of marching up to the front door, looking like a sandy street urchin was beyond mortifying.
Plus I didn't want to see either of those guys, Jax in particular.
Sometime in the last hour, I decided that I really didn't like him at all. I mean seriously, what kind of guy just takes off like that? Even if he'd gotten tied up or delayed, surely he could've sent me some sort of message.
But he hadn't.
He hadn't even thought to return my stuff.
No. Instead, he'd let me linger there, alone and uninvited, for hours, all the while being hounded by the Ginger from Hell.
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