It was quiet. Still. Then, my eyes narrowed as I spotted her. Ainsley was moving across the screen, a bag slung over her shoulder as she made for the front door. I frowned. She stepped out, locked up and started down the stairs.
What the hell?
I grabbed my phone, quickly pulling up the tracking app I’d hidden on her phone since day one. My jaw tightened minuteslater when I saw whose place she intended to crash at, ruining my plan.
Vincent’s house.
8
AINSLEY
It’d been a week since I slept peacefully. Every morning, I drank coffee to keep myself from knocking off mid-work. My face squeezed as the coffee maker stopped and a laugh from Vin’s boyfriend, Michael, echoed from their room.
They had sex every single night, and the walls were not soundproofed. They made noises and moans without putting the girl next door into consideration. Though that was a mistake on my part because I told them to act as if I was not around. So I’d been pretty much invisible and in agony for one week.
They did not hesitate to let me in when I knocked on Vin’s door that night and explained to him what happened with the locket, water, and suddenly, the electricity. I couldn’t stay in that house alone, knowing he could come in anytime while I was asleep. What I didn’t tell Vin was that I knew who owned the locket. He simply thought I had a stalker and needed to report to the police.
My phone buzzed with a message from Blake as I took the first sip of my coffee on the counter. I’d given him my contact hesitantly because he wouldn’t stop pestering me about it before he left that morning, and I didn’t want him asking around. I’d cut off everyone from high school on purpose. Including my friends.
Blake:Hey, how are you doing? I’ve been made to pass this poll across for a get together! How awesome is that? It’s been six years and honestly, what do you think? Shall we have a get-together/fun time in New Orleans?
I didn’t think. I clicked NO, cursing when I saw the vote. YES had 97% and NO, 3%.
I groaned. I wasn’t going. Confronting Blake was dangerous, and going to that get-together was the same as throwing myself in a den of lions.
“I’m going to miss you,” I locked my phone as Michael said to Vin, his bag on his back, both of them walking into the sitting room. They stopped in the centre, and I rolled my eyes and turned, not having the stomach to see my friend kiss after I heard him all night.
“You can stay. One more day,” Vin pleaded silently. My eyes roamed the kitchen in search of something to do.
“You know I can’t—”
“I know. I know. Fine.”
They were discussing very quietly, but I could hear them. My phone buzzed in my hand.
Blake:Ninety-seven voted YES. The location will be passed around tomorrow; the party is in six days.
I began to type.
Me:I don’t think I can make it. You guys have fun without me.
Blake:Why? Do you have something important fixed?
Me:Yes. Very, very important.
Blake:The party starts at 7pm. Sure you can’t make it?
“Bye, Ainz,” Michael said behind me.
“Oh, yeah. Bye, Mike.”
Me:I’m sorry.
I dropped my phone and coffee and followed them outside. Vin and I stood at the front door, waving as Michael turned to cross the road. He walked a little further down before hailing a taxi. Vin’s gaze stayed fixed on the car until it disappeared from sight.
“You’re going to miss him,” I quipped, flashing Vin a teasing smile.
He nodded, his expression serious. “So much.”
