James squeezed my arm on the way by. “I’ll take care of her.”
I nodded, feeling helpless as the golf cart took off down the sidewalk we used to bring in food and product for the retail spaces. It was the fastest way out of the village.
And the safest.
The collective unrest finally started to lift, followed by the glee of gossip.
Small towns could probably power Destiny Street on it.
I could only imagine what was going to hit the Chronicle tomorrow. Especially with Valerie’s continued filming. I’d caught her a few times, using that stabilizer while the emergency was going on.
Not helping.
Just watching and feeding off it.
I knew she was more self-serving than I was comfortable with, but I hadn’t realized just how far she’d go.
Once Bill gave me the head’s up that Amber and James were safely tucked away at my house, I began the painful evacuation process. Without internet, the retailers could only do so much anyway.
I had a lot of calls to make.
27
amber
I pacedTate’s living room for what felt like hours.
James was sacked out on his couch. Her anger had cycled out hours ago. She was quick to blow her top, but she didn’t hold onto it for long.
My phone buzzed on the kitchen island. I ran over it, hoping it was Tate.
It was an unknown number.
“Hello?”
“Hello, is this Amber?”
The voice was vaguely familiar. “How did you get this number?”
“I have my ways. This is Noah Jordan, is James there?”
“Oh, hi Noah. Sorry, I didn’t recognize your voice.”
“She’s not answering her phone.”
I glanced over at James who was curled onto her side with a blanket up around her chin. “She’s sleeping.”
“That woman can sleep through a goddamn bomb.”
“No lies detected.” At Noah’s annoyed almost growl, I smiled for the first time since that morning. “Do you want me to wake her?”
“No. Tell her to stay put. I’m coming for the little thief.”
“Noah, she’s fine.”
“Not based on the videos I’ve been watching all fucking afternoon. What the hell were you two thinking?”
I collapsed against the stool at the island. “It’s my hometown, Noah. I don’t usually have a problem.”
