Page 51 of Asher's Assignment
And she couldn’t see around any of it. She didn’t plan to go look, either. At least here, she had the house to her back so no one could sneak up on her. But that didn’t stop her heart from beating a little too quickly or keep awareness from pricking her skin.
Eleven nerve-wracking minutes later, her dad rolled up in his black truck. Esther shot off a quick text to Asher, telling him she was headed home, then scurried away from the house and down the drive, climbing into the passenger seat.
“Hi, sweetie. I was hoping he’d be here when I pulled up.”
“Me too. I don’t know where he is.” She snapped her seatbelt into place.
Conner pulled away from the curb. “He didn’t say anything about leaving?”
“No. He came inside and helped me celebrate Leah’s birthday for a few minutes, then went back out to sit in the car. He’s never left me here alone.”
Her dad’s eyebrows pulled together. “Wait. What? Why wouldn’t he leave you here alone?” His gaze sharpened. “Is something going on?”
Esther sighed, knowing she either needed to think of some quick lie or just spill the beans.
A lie would just trip her up later, so she went with the simple truth. “So, Asher and I weren’t really dating when he came up. We are now,” she was quick to add. “But when he first arrived, it was to put Edie’s mind at ease.”
“Edie?” He paused, frowning, then quickly continued. “What does she have to do with this?”
“There have been a few—strange things happening to me lately. Nothing crazy. Just odd. Like Rob Tyler making me uncomfortable. He hasn’t done or said anything. He’s just—creepy.” Esther shrugged the uncomfortable feeling away. “Anyway, I’ve seen a man in a hoodie lurking around. Both at the Tylers’ and at my house. Edie was worried, so Asher volunteered to come up and check things out. That’s why he was my ride. He takes me to the Tylers’, then just sits in the car and keeps an eye on things until I’m done. Today shouldn’t have been any different.”
“Maybe you should call Edie. See if something happened there that needed his attention. He’s their computer man, right?”
“Yes.” She unlocked her phone and went into her contacts. “I guess I could try.” She found her sister’s name and tapped it, then put the call on speaker. Edie picked up after a couple of rings.
“Hey.”
“Hey. Have you heard from Asher?”
A beat of silence passed. “Asher? No. Why?”
“Because he left me high and dry outside the Tylers’ house.”
“What? He didn’t say anything? Not a text or a voicemail?”
“Nope.”
“That’s weird.”
“Right? I called Dad. We’re on our way back to my house.”
“Hi, Edie,” Conner said.
“Hi, Dad. Um, let me call Ford. See if he knows anything or can reach him. I doubt it, though. He and the others are out on a boat on a fishing trip. But I’ll ask. Hang tight. I’ll call you back.”
Before Esther could respond, Edie hung up.
Pressing her lips together, her jaw working, Esther set the phone down and leaned back against the seat. This was so weird. If Ford or one of the others didn’t call him away on something urgent, she couldn’t fathom what would make him leave without telling her.
Unless he didn’t go willingly.
The thought hit her like a bolt of lightning. Her breath seized in her lungs, trapping the air as they refused to work.
No.
Was Hoodie Man more of a threat than they’d realized? But why would he go after Asher? He’d been watching her. It would make more sense for him to take her.
Except he couldn’t get to her because Asher was always around.
