My head spins. Maybe I’m overthinking. Maybe I’m paranoid. Or maybe I just found something I wasn’t meant to?
A knock on the doorframe makes me jump, nearly dropping the stack of papers.
Axl leans in. “Hey, bro. I ordered pizza. Seriously, we are starving, and I Venmoed it. Don’t sweat it.”
I try to smile back. “Cool.” Casually, I close the folder and place my hand over Koren’s big, bold name to conceal it from his view.
He nods slowly. “Yeah, so come on. We’re about to start a round of poker.” He disappears down the hall, leaving me in a room I suddenly feel I have no business being in.
I stare at the folder.
At her name.
What else don’t I know?
seven
Koren
Eucalyptus aroma tickles my nose as I shift in my seat again. My feet soak in a warm water bath while a very kind woman named Holly pumices the callus off my big toe with so much force I’m almost scared to speak, worried I might break her concentration. It’s completely insane to be on edge. It’s just us girls at the spa today, but every so often, I can’t help looking over my shoulder.
I’m not even sure what I expect to see.
Definitely not Elijah with some date.
Or even the same date.
Or even him without a date.
No, I don’t want to see him at all.
That would be horrible.
Yep, just as I thought.
He’s not here, and I’m glad. I sigh in relief, though the sound oddly fizzles into a whimper. Now I can refocus my attention back to my toes and being with the girls.
Across from me, Kaci relaxes in her white robe like the queen she is, her hair wrapped in a giant towel and cucumber slices covering her eyes.
I’m happy for her.
Really, I am.
I still toss another look over my other shoulder. I’m not looking for anything or anyone. The vibe just feels off.
Sophie, on my other side, catches me looking and waves. “I’m beginning to think you are up to something with how much you keep looking around. Please don’t tell me you snuck in some entertainment.”
“No,” I spit out, reaching for my champagne flute. “My, ah, neck is sore for some reason today. It must be left over from the long flight.” To prove my innocence, I leisurely grab the back of my neck, giving myself a little rub.
“Sooo,” Kaci says without bothering to remove the veggies from her eyes, “Elijah was with a woman last night.”
I’m not going to respond to that.
Not even with a flinch.
“Lauren’s actually Finley’s sister,” Sophie says, glancing around now too. “Where is Finley by the way? I gave her the schedule. She’s supposed to be here since she’s a bridesmaid.”
“I don’t know where she is, and this is my morning not to care about anything either,” Kaci says.
