Before I could do any of that, I had to do the hard thing first.
* * *
Landen estate
Marc
As soon as George pulled up in front of the carriage house, I hopped out of the car and jogged towards the main house. The back door leading to the kitchen I knew would be open, so I started there. I was still in the jeans and T-shirt I’d worn yesterday, so I hoped I wasn’t too gross for what I figured would be hours of groveling.
I made my way through the kitchen, to the living room, and up the massive staircase and swung left down the hall toward Ashleigh’s door.
“What in the hell areyoudoing here?”
I swung around only to find Mr. Landen himself, in a robe and slippers, coming out of what I assumed was his bedroom. His face was bright red and his nose looked a little swollen. The bags under his eyes were dark and puffy. He didn’t look like the sophisticated gentleman I’d always thought of him as. Instead he looked wrecked.
“Sorry, Mr. Landen. I was coming to apologize to Ashleigh.”
“What for?”
He didn’t know. He didn’t know Ash had asked me to go to prom. Given I wasn’t his favorite person, I considered lying, but something told me it was time for him to get over whatever issues he had with me being around his daughter. Especially now that she was almost an adult.
We were going to be at college together next semester.
“I was supposed to be her escort to the prom last night, but I got detained. Car troubles.”
Because I was not going to tellhimI spent the night in jail.
“Just as friends, of course,” I added. “But I’m sure she was disappointed. My phone battery died so I didn’t have a chance to explain what happened.”
His eyes narrowed and I felt like he was struggling to think. Then he nodded gravely, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Ah, so you were the reason she was so upset. Beside herself, really. I couldn’t reason with her. In fact, she was so distraught I thought it made sense to send her away.”
The upset part I bought. Distraught? I’d finally read her texts. Listened to her voicemail. She’d sounded more resigned thandistraught.
“I’m sorry,” I said, feeling like I’d just missed something important. “Did you say you sent her away? Because she was upset?”
“Somewhere she could clear her head. Given how muggy it’s been here, I thought someplace she could breathe easier would be good for her, too. George was unavailable, so I called for a cab and sent her to the airport a few hours ago.”
Ash wasn’t here.
She was gone because her father had the kind of money that purchasing a last-minute trip, including airfare, meant nothing to him.
I was feeling something. Something turbulent. Like something that had been in my control was suddenly out of my control, and I didn’t like it. But I knew well enough not to show that emotion. Any emotion. Not with Landen.
“Well, I’m very sorry I upset her. I’ll come back and apologize when she returns. Do you know when that will be?”
“Couldn’t say. I told her to stay as long as she wants.”
I didn’t mention the semester started in a few months. I didn’t mention her birthday was in just a couple of weeks. I simply nodded and started down the hallway toward the massive staircase.
“Oh, and Campbell,” Landen said as I passed him. “Don’t ever enter this house uninvited again.”
“Yes, sir,” I said in my most respectful tone. The one I’d used growing up to hide the angry monster inside me.
As soon as I was out of the house, I pulled out my phone. I’d read her texts and listened to her voicemail on the car ride from the police station. To give me a sense of what I was walking into.
Ash:Hey, getting a little nervous. Are you close?
