“It’s me,” I chirped, in the way I only did when I was around my friends.
“Where have you been? We need your advice,” called Goldie.
I stood straighter and sank down the corridor until I turned into the doorway and saw all three of them spread out across the room. Rory was sitting cross-legged on the armchair by the window, and Goldie and Daisy were lying on opposite ends of the three-seater. I hoped more than anything that they couldn’t tell I’d been crying. My eyes were usually bloodshot from my severe lack of sleep, but because I’d been sleeping better recently, I wasn’t sure if they’d notice.
I held my breath as I eyed them. “What’s up?”
Goldie sat up on her elbow. “Summer plans. What do you have in mind?”
I let my breath slip low. I was in the clear. For now.
I dropped my crossbody by my feet and made a beeline for the rocking chair draped in blankets that we’d pulled from the sidewalk a few weeks ago. “I’m not sure,” I sighed as I sat down, wrapping a lavender blanket over me. “I assumed if you were all going home again, then I’d head up to Nantucket to invade Harriet’s for the summer.”
And I had a feeling she’d love it.
I rarely saw my sister. Not only because she was in another state, but because she lived the quietest life imaginable. Not that I blamed her. After what we went through, running away to the beach, keeping herself at arm’s length from the world, seemed like a perfect way to live. And if I didn’t have Mum to take care of, I’d be doing the same thing.
“I’d give anything to visit there,” Daisy cooed.
I huffed a laugh as I wrapped myself up, the wool soft enough to ease me away from my other reality. “I’d take us all there if she had more than two bedrooms and one bathroom. What about you guys?”
Goldie sat up further, giddiness slathered on her smile. “Well, it just so happens that all of Tristan’s UK shows for his tour happen over the summer, so I think I’m tagging along.”
“No way!” I gasped, eyes bulging.
Daisy slumped, faux scowl in play. “Ugh, seeing the UK would be everything.”
“We’re staying at his townhouse in Kensington and then traveling for the shows.” Goldie bunched her fists and giggled, sinking into the cushions below her. “I’m going back to friggin’ London!”
Hearing my hometown made my ears prick up.
And then all I could hear was his voice—low, steady—spelling out everything about the hacking, how it traced back to London. How he might have to go there soon.
After everything tonight, I should’ve wanted nothing to do with Marcus. A sane girl would’ve bolted, slammed the door, locked it, thrown away the key and damanded a new bodyguard by morning. But apparently, I wasn’t sane. Because the second he said London, my chest tightened with something dangerously close to panic at the thought of him going without me.
We were tangled up now. Whether I liked it or not.
(Spoiler: I didn’t.)
(Mostly.)
So if London was where he was headed, then yeah, I’d go. Because the idea of him sticking me with some stranger in his place? Not happening. And God help me, maybe it wasn’t just stubbornness. Maybe it was the fact that—kiss or no kiss—I felt steadier standing next to him than I ever did alone.
And… if Goldie and Tristan would also be in London…
I sat up. “I might actually have to be in London, too.”
All of their heads turned to me.
“Really?” Goldie beamed.
I nodded, looking to my side as if I’d see Marcus out the window, hands cupped around his eyes and pressed against the glass.
I wouldn’t put it past him.
My eyes were back on the girls. “You didn’t hear it from me, but something’s happening at Marcus’ company. Files on really high-profile clients are going missing. And he’s tracked the activity coming from London.”
Before the girls could react, the door burst open, followed by the giggles coming from my three other best friends. But those giggles quickly turned into groans and what sounded like the photo frames in the hallways being knocked onto thefloor. None of us had time to get up before Tristan and Jess came staggering into the room, followed by Finn.
