She gave me a good, long look. "Why?"
"Because I still need my phone and wallet. And my roommate can give him our address." I bit my lip. "I mean, he'll probably have to mail me the stuff, but I reallydoneed it back."
She held up a hand. "Don't bore me with the details, alright?"
I wanted to throttle her. But that wouldn't help me get my stuff, so instead, I persisted, "But you'll tell him?"
"I guess." She looked toward the front door. "So, are you done?"
Oh, I was done alright.
With as much dignity as I could muster – which, granted, wasn't much – I turned and strode toward the front door. And then, heaven help me, I walked out.
And where was I going?
I had no idea.
Chapter 17
The sand was cold, and I was shivering. Turns out, I'd been wrong about a public beach.
But the housewasbeach-front, so like a thief in the night, I'd sidled around the estate and found a patch of private sand to call my own.
I was facing the water and hugging my knees tight against my chest. I'd been sitting in the same spot for at least an hour, maybe longer. Probably, my dress was already ruined, but I couldn't bring myself to care. I just prayed that no one spotted me as I waited – for what, I wasn't even sure.
Even if Allie was already on her way, she wouldn't be here for at least several hours. And what if shewasn'ton her way? Inthatcase, I didn't even want to think about it.
Desperately, I tried to look on the bright side. Sure, the night was cold and damp, but at least I was hidden from sight – for now, anyway.
The morning, when it came, would bring warmth, but with it, a whole new set of problems, like the chance of being spotted.
Until then, I was hunkered down just beyond the mansion's rear patio – the second-story one that I'd spotted through the glass, back when I'd been on the inside looking out.
Already, that seemed like a lifetime ago.
Behind me, the house had grown dark and utterly silent, which was fine by me, because it lowered my odds of getting caught.
I leaned back against the cold sand and squeezed my eyes shut, trying to get some sleep – as if that were possible. My shoes were off, and I was using my own hands as a pillow, which meant that my bare shoulders and arms rested directly on the sand.
At that moment, I would've given almost anything for a blanket or beach towel. Hell, even a washcloth would've been better than nothing.
I was still lying there, praying for sleep, when I was startled by the sound of a door slamming shut. I tensed. The way it sounded, the noise had come from the second-story patio.
I held my breath and tried not to move. Was someone standing out there right now? And if so, could they see me through the shadows?
Silently, I waited, for what, I didn't know.
Soon, I heard voices – and not justanyvoices, the voices of Jax and his brother.
They were back.
Finally.
And yet, I still didn't move. It was true that I needed my things. But the thought of marching up to the front door, looking like a sandy street urchin was beyond mortifying.
Plus I didn't want to see either of those guys, Jax in particular.
Sometime in the last hour, I decided that I really didn't like him at all. I mean seriously, what kind of guy just takes off like that? Even if he'd gotten tied up or delayed, surely he could've sent mesomesort of message.
