“I’m sorry. I left a note.”
“Oh, she left a note. Dude…do you know how many crazy ass people are out there in the world? There are killer clowns on the loose. You can’t take off like that and not tell anyone where you are.” She caught her breath then continued, “Where are you? I’ve reported you missing you know and your aunt is going nuts.”
“Well, I haven’t been murdered by killer clowns.”
“Very funny, asshole.”
“I can’t tell you where I am. I’ll call my aunt when I get off the phone with you.”
“Why the hell not? Are you in some kind of trouble?”
“I’m sorry, Max, I wish I could tell you everything. But I just can’t right now. Please understand, it’s for your safety.”
She blew out a long breath. I knew she was pissed at me and rightly so. “Jesus. Are you safe?”
I looked over at Reid, eyeing me from the kitchen. “Yeah, I’m safe. Listen, are you at your mother’s?”
“Seriously, Cass? Please tell me what the hell is going on.”
“I can’t. Just trust me, okay? You’re not at the house, right?”
“No, I’m not. Does this have anything to do with your brother?”
“Max, please. I promise to tell you everything when this is all over.”
“Shit. Okay, I’m gonna trust you on this, but I expect answers soon.”
“I’ll call back in a few days to check in.”
“You better.”
After I disconnected with Max, I called my aunt and spent the good part of fifteen minutes trying to evade all of her questions. But she was satisfied I was safe, and while I didn’t disclose to Max where I was, I did tell my aunt I was with Reid.
Once I finished my phone call with her, I went in search of a shower. I wanted to wash the last few days of grime off of me. Standing under the hot spray, I hung my head, allowing the water to pound my tense shoulders. My body ached from lack of sleep and all the stress. But being back in Reid’s arms had been exactly what I needed. I knew seeing him again would resurrect all of my old feelings, but I wasn’t prepared to feel this. This overwhelming sense of peace and security. Something I hadn’t felt in a really long time.
I shut off the water and stepped out to dry off. I hadn’t seen or spoken to Reid since he flew down for my high school graduation, and I could tell when he left he had no intentions of ever coming back. He’d told me he was going to the police academy and had planned on moving to California. After that, I never heard from him again except for the same day every year, when he would send me a birthday card.
I knew he cared about me, but not in the way I’d always longed for. Not the way I’d dreamed about night after night. I’d had a few boyfriends but no one had ever made me feel the way Reid did.
And we’d never even shared a kiss.
But the way he looked at me, he might not have ever said it out loud but his eyes screamedwant. The very samewantburning inside of me.
After I dressed, I gathered my backpack and walked into the kitchen where I found Reid on the phone, staring out over the ocean. The sun had just begun to rise, casting glorious light out onto the water.
“Thanks, Dad. I’ll keep you posted.” He ended the call and slipped the phone into his front pocket before pressing a hand to the window and dropping his head.
Placing my bag on the table, I walked over to join him, the muscles tensing in his back as I approached but he kept his eyes trained straight ahead. “That was my dad. He’s making some calls for me to find out if Vinny’s been released.”
I nodded, folding my arms over my chest at the sudden chill in his voice. “Beautiful view.”
“Yeah.” That was all he said before walking away.
He opened the refrigerator and pulled out two bottles of water.
I took a moment to look around. The place was homey but not personal. There was nothing besides that photo of Bodie and Reid that made me feel like this was a home he’d made for himself. It felt like it belonged to someone else.
“Nice place.”
