Page 22
She hoped Aiden wasn’t against it. Riley’d had a thing for Seth since they were kids but didn’t know Seth felt the same. Even with how little Charlotte knew of them when they met, it was obvious they wanted one another. It would break Riley’s heart if her big brother opposed.
“Not at all. It’s about time those two got their heads straight.” He chuckled. “I just meant that now that he’s gone and I’m in this room by myself like I used to be the last school year, I’m bored out of my mind. I’m kind of the fifth wheel.”
“What about Layla?”
“She and I aren’t really close. Plus, she isn’t always around. She’s more Blaire and Riley’s friend anyhow.” He shook his head.
Her phone alerted her to another call.
Unknown.
“Nope.” She pressed the button to end the interrupting call.
“Nope?”
“Wrong number.”
She wasn’t about to tell Aiden about the man who called her. She didn’t even know if he was the caller, but she doubted telemarketers called at nine at night.
The phone alerted her again, and she groaned, ending the interfering call.
“What’s going on?”
“They’re just calling back. No big deal.”
“Maybe it’s important.”
“Doubt it. God, it’s hot.”
Again, her phone interrupted their FaceTime call.
“Oh my god, hang on.” She sprang up and accepted the call, snapping, “What?”
The familiar deep voice from before tsked and said, “Is that any way to answer a call?”
“What do you want?”
Humidity made her top stick to her skin. She hated it and it made her irritable. Irritable enough she didn’t register the danger on the other line—or at least didn’t care.
“I want you to answer me when I call you.” The man’s voice rumbled through the phone, angry and harsh. He didn’t appreciate her tone. Too bad.
“And I want you to never call me again.” She pressed the end call button to reconnect to Aiden. “Sorry about that,” she said, flopping back on the bed again. She rubbed her eye with the heel of her hand.
“Everything good?”
“Huh?” She waved a hand. “Oh, yeah, it was nothing.”
“You look frustrated.”
“I’m just hot and uncomfortable. I can’t do much else other than walk around naked or live in a cold shower.”
When he chuckled, she grumbled and sat up, and her clip popped off her hair. She put the phone against the pillow so she could fix it. If the humidity didn’t ease up soon, it wouldn’t be long before she resembled a shorter-haired version of Merida from Brave. She couldn’t imagine having hair down to her hips.
Maybe it was time for a haircut.
Over the last year, she let it grow out until the curls reached her bra line. It was the longest it’s ever been. The added weight from the length kept her hair from becoming a super poofy riot of curls—but in high humidity, frizz was unavoidable.
A loud crash on the other side of the apartment made her startle and look away from the phone still propped against her pillow.
