Jaz: Hello?
Jesus. I need to be better at checking myphone. I scroll to James’s thread, but there’s nothing new there. I go back to the group chat.
Alexandra: I’m alive. I’m at James’s penthouse…
Ashlyn: WHAT!
Jaz: Details?
Ashlyn: How did that happen! I need information!
I bite my lip. There’s way too much to text. I leave the bedroom and check the rest of the apartment, but it’s quiet.
Alexandra: He’s not here. Top floor of the Gatlyn, ask the doorman to let you up. I’m sure you can tell Ryder to add you to a list.
Ashlyn: Talk no further. We will be there.
Jaz: Stoked.
I go back to the bedroom and look through the small duffel bag I packed. I pull out fresh yoga pants and a sweater before going to his master bathroom with my toiletries.Ugh.My hair is sticking out all over and my mascara is running under my eyes.
I really should have cleaned my face before going to bed.
I do a rush job washing my face and brushing out mywild tangles, so I look somewhat presentable and not freshly rolled in the sheets.
A banging at the front door has me running out of the room and sliding on the slick marble floors in my socks. “Shit.” I barely catch myself on the kitchen counter when I round the corner. “Coming!” I yell as the banging ensues. This apartment is huge. I lightly jog the rest of the way, then flip the locks, so I can whip the door open.
“Oh, good. You look normal.” Ashlyn is holding a breakfast pizza in one hand and a tray of coffees in the other. I tilt my head at her, but she just shrugs before handing me the drink tray and walking in. “What? I was hungry. Also, I need something to entertain my mouth while you tell me how the fuck all of this happened.” She waves a hand at the massive apartment.
I hold the door open further, so Jaz can enter without running me over. “I honestly don’t know what’s happening right now.” I groan into my hands.
“No offense, babe, but it kind of looks like you’re with James now.” Jaz also motions to the apartment we are all standing in.
“Maybe we should go to the couch. This is a much longer conversation,” I say as I look over to Ashlyn who is half a slice in. Jaz grabs the box from her and follows me into the giant living room.
“Okay,” Jaz drags out, looking at the screen taking up the wall. “What does James do again?”
“Umm. He’s in marketing,” I say. “He works for thelargest company in the industry, and him and his cousins are in charge of setting up this location in Shadowbrook.”
Jaz narrows her eyes at me. “Right.”
Ashlyn taps her hand on my leg. “Alright. Spill. What is happening?”
I curl my legs under my butt, getting comfortable. “It all started when I went to that cabin …”
I quickly fill them in on the PG-13 details of my vacation and then everything with Taylor up to now. “So … yeah. He wants me here to keep me safe.”
Jaz just blinks at me. Ashlyn sits quietly which is very odd for her.
I twist my fingers around each other. “Say something.”
I swear Jaz’s brown eyes roll to the back of her head. “I could literally slap you sometimes, but that’s Ash’s job.”
Ash chuckles as Jaz comes to sit in front of me, placing a hand on both of my cheeks, holding my attention. “That man does not want you here just to keep you safe. You know that, right?”
“But I just got out of a relationship. I know he says we are inevitable sometimes, but is this smart? Am I just being a relationship hopper again? Where is he?”
“Did you text him? You said there’s drama with Taylor, so maybe he has to do something with that for his job?” Ash shrugs. “Why else would he leave you in this massive apartment? A sex suite, if you will.”
