The tension in my shoulders begins to drift away because I’m starting to think that maybe I forgot to lock the fucking door.
I mean, I have been pretty distracted.
And when I left here the other day, my face was buried in my phone, watching a video Evie sent of some phony pretending to be a chef while fingering food.
It was a disturbingly up-close shot of outrageous shit getting done to an orange before he chopped it up to use as a garnish. But the part I liked was the text. It said:Do this to me when you get home?
I was all fucking in. And to her surprise, I made it a fruity threesome. No orange or tangerine was safe. Even a grapefruit had stories to tell. So I can’t really blame myself.
My hand runs through my hair as I let out an audible breath, standing with my hands on my hips for a second as I look around.
It seems I’ve created my own drama.
Which is the kind I prefer, seeing as I’m far too intimately aware of the alternative. I walk to the wall that leads back to where the sinks and baking ovens are, only half thinking that I still haven’t checked there as I flick on the lights.
The fluorescents flicker slowly, turning on as I push through the set of double doors, this time not bothering to be quiet. Because nobody’s here, my paranoia just making me check.
But as I do, my feet skid to a stop as everything happens in slow motion.
A wrench hits the ground, and the sound feels like it’s happening in an echo chamber, pinging and clanging before the world speeds up again and I’m rushed by someone in a black hood holding a hammer.
And the world goes black.
Chapter Nineteen
Evie
I look down at my phone again, seeing there’s still no text back from Chase. It makes me wrinkle my nose before a half-frustrated huff whooshes out. He was supposed to be here. And I texted him hours ago to let him know I’d be off soon, but he hasn’t gotten back to me yet. He must still be caught up at the restaurant.
Truthfully, it’s not unlike him to get sidetracked by food ... or maybe Goldie and Noah got in already. I look down at my phone again to check the time. No, they should be landed or landing right now.
I’m about to send him another text when I’m interrupted by Derek’s voice. “Hey, boss.”
I look up and smile. “Hey back. Where’s your sidekick?”
He grins, hitching a finger over his shoulder. “Helping Erin with some lighting. He’ll be here soon. She’s actually had us doing a bunch of shit today. We didn’t want to tell her it wasn’t in the intern contract because, honestly, neither one of us read it.”
I laugh. “Well, if you had, you’d know chasing tail all day wasn’t in there either.”
He laughs, looking guilty. “Yeah, Devin said you caught us. He saw you see him.”
I shake my head, handing him my masticated brush clumped full of fake blood, and point to the tree I was decorating.
“When Devin makes it here, you guys finish that off. I need to grab a cookie and make a call.”
He gives me a thumbs-up before I chuckle, walking out just as the man of the hour comes running in.
“I was just talking about you. The orders are with your brother, Romeo.”
He shrugs in an excited, boyish way. “Just say I’m your favorite already. Don’t worry, I won’t tell the others.”
I leave my puppies behind, my phone already in hand, ready to call Chase.
I know I’m being ridiculous, but I don’t like that he’s not calling me back. It makes me worry. His number’s already ringing in my ear as I see Rick, the security guard, wave me over to his trailer. So I nod, taking a detour heading over.
Chase’s voicemail comes on, making me groan as I end the call at the same time Rick looks down at me.
“Uh-oh, bad time?”
