Chapter 15
When I get back to the apartment after school, I rush to my bedroom. I rummage through my drawers until I find a pair of black gloves. Slipping them on, I look on my bed for the journal. I need to find out more about Onika.
I stare at the rumpled comforter, confused. Where is it? I left it right here. I begin yanking off the sheets, checking under the bed. But it’s not here. It’s gone.
I spin around, looking from the side table to the dresser, but nothing. Where is it?
“Alex?” I call out. A few seconds later he appears in my doorway, a sandwich in his hand.
“You rang?” he mocks, his hair pulled back into a ponytail.
“Did you see a journal on my bed?”
He laughs. “Since when do you keep a diary? I would have certainly read it by now.”
“Did you see it or not?”
“Nope.”
My heart is pounding. I hadn’t finished reading it.
“Do you think Mercy would take it?” I ask.
Alex takes a big bite of his sandwich and talks through the food. “Probably. But when I got home she was walking out with Monroe.”
I freeze. “What?”
“You know, the superhero Doctor Swift? He was here when I got home. Then he left with Mercy.”
“Why?”
“Charlotte.” He waggles his food at me. “Do you think I know? Holy hell.” Alex exhales and turns to go back down the hall toward the living room.
I stand there, thinking this over. Monroe. He must have seen the journal and taken it back. Is he mad that I stole it from him? Quickly I check my phone to see if I have any missed calls, but I don’t. Not from him or anyone else.
Just then the doorbell rings. I think it’s Monroe and swallow hard, smoothing down my hair (because that would help?) before walking toward the door.
Alex is on the couch flipping through the stations as I walk past to the door. I brace myself for a fight with Monroe, but when I open the door and see who’s standing there, a whole new feeling comes over me. Harlin.
“Hey,” he says quietly. Folded over his arm is a gray cover on a hanger, holding his suit. His face is clean-shaven. His normally shaggy hair is combed smooth, sleek. Sexy.
“Hi.”
In his other hand, Harlin’s holding a white paper bag and holds it up for me. “It’s from Frankie’s. Thought maybe you’d be hungry?”
“You read my mind.”
“I’m hungry too,” Alex says from the couch, poking his head over the side. Harlin nods at him and reaches in the bag, pulling out a wrapped burger.
“Bacon and cheese,” he calls, tossing it to him.
Alex smiles. “My man.” He unwraps it and bites into it before wandering over to the kitchen. “Mmm...” he adds, looking over at us. “Bacon cheeseburger is so good.”
I take the bag from Harlin and set it on the counter as Alex breezes past me, grabbing his jacket.
“Where are you going?” I ask.
He curls his lip. “God, nosy. Can I spend time with my own boyfriend? Oh, and tell Mercy I’ll be home for dinner.”
