Chapter 3
As I watched, Bustier plowed into him and threw her arms tight around his neck. "Welcome back!" she squealed.
A split-second later, another girl – the one who'd been standing directly behind us – barreled into him from the other side. "Yeah, where have you been?" She wrapped her arms tight around his waist and didn't let go, even when he made to move to acknowledge her.
Watching through the milling crowd, I had no idea what to do. Unless I was willing to dive for his legs, there really wasn’t an open spot.
And it wasn't like Joel was shaking them off or anything.
In fact, he wasn't doing anything at all. He didn't move, and his face didn't change expression as he stared at me from across the distance. His eyes – dark and brooding – held me in that familiar spell. I could've move, and I couldn’t look away.
As if sensing Joel's inattention, both girls turned to follow his gaze. When they saw me staring, both of them frowned.
Like in a trance, I started moving forward. But I'd barely gotten two steps when Joel wrapped an arm around each girl and deliberately turned away, leaving me staring after them.
Was he leaving? With them? Panic surged through me, and I called out, "Wait!"
But he didn't wait. He didn't even look. He just kept on going, heading toward a small, dimly lit parking area on the far side of the building. As the three of them walked, Joel's scantily-clad companions gazed, star-struck, up at him, their earlier animosity apparently forgotten.
Ignoring the small crowd milling around me, I stood for a long, awful moment, watching their receding backs.
From a few feet away, a male voice said, "Looking for company?"
I didn't even look.Yes. But not from you.
I shook my head and kept my eyes trained on Joel and the two girls. Already, they were nearing that other parking lot. In the distance, I spotted Joel's car, parked next to a big dark pickup.
My mind – not to mention my stomach – was churning like crazy. What should I do? WhatcouldI do?
"Aw c'mon," the guy said. "So you didn't get your first choice. Big deal." He gave a low chuckle. "If you're nice tome, I'll put in a good word for ya."
Ick.
Reluctantly, I turned to look. He was a big, thick-necked guy in a shiny running suit. His hair was pale, nearly white, but shaved along the sides. Was he a fighter? He looked like a fighter. But I didn't care. He wasn'tmyfighter.
I wanted nothing to do with him – or any other stranger, for that matter. "I'm not interested," I said, turning, once again, to look at Joel. Obviously, they were heading to his car. If I didn't do something now, they'd probably soon be driving away.
To where? And to what?
The possibilities were too horrible to contemplate.
Before I knew it, I was scrambling after them, weaving my way through the small crowd until I was walking on my own, heading straight in their direction.
By the time I caught up, they'd almost reached Joel's car. Unlike the huge parking lot on the building's other side, this parking area was small and dark, with only a few vehicles.
Behind me, in the distance, I could hear people pouring out from the main entrance, laughing and talking as they made their way toward their cars, trucks or whatever.
But over here, it was just us.
From a few paces away, I stopped and called out, "Joel, wait! Please?"
He stopped, but didn't turn around. Unfortunately for me, the girls weren't so reluctant. Bustier looked over her shoulder and said, "What's your deal, anyway?"
"Yeah," the second girl chimed in. "Take a hint, will ya?"
Ignoring them, I focused all of my attention on the guy I loved. He still hadn't turned around, but hewaslistening, right?
"Joel, seriously," I said, "there's something I need to tell you, and it can't wait."
