Page 39 of Inside the Penalty Box

I shook my head and stepped back.

“Come on, Aurora, get in,” Dylan demanded. “We have to get out of here before she comes out.”

When I didn’t move, Knox stepped forward. “Come on, he’ll explain once you’re in the car.”

I shook my head and pulled my cell phone from my back pocket, quickly dialing Lorelai. If she didn’t answer or if she or her brother couldn’t come to get me, I’d get into a cab and head to her brother’s place. I didn’t care, right now. I wanted to be anywhere but here. If he wanted me to stay, then I wanted to know what that entire situation was about and he’d better start explaining.

Chapter 11

Dylan

“Come on, Aurora, just get in the car and give me a chance to explain. Please hang up the phone and just hear me out,” I pleaded, reaching to take her phone from her hand.

She glared at me as she ripped her hand away and shook her head. “I can’t hang up now. Lorelai will worry something is wrong.”

“Just hang up the phone and get in the car,” I said, clenching my fists.

There was no telling what Carlie would do if she came over here. There was also no knowing if there were reporters inside the club either, or, for that matter, outside. I had to get out of here, not only to protect myself, but to protect Aurora. She’d never be able to deal with a group of swarming reporters.

She looked at me and then down at her phone, finally ending the call, shoving it into her back pocket.

“You didn’t win, just so you know. She wasn’t answering.” She crossed her arms in front of her.

It was then I heard my name being called, and I glanced over my shoulder in time to see Carlie step out the back door of the bar looking around for me.

“We’ll take care of it,” Knox said, pulling his phone out.

“Just call our lawyer and the police,” I said.

“On it.” Knox and Clay took off toward the back door of the bar together, leaving Aurora and me alone. Since I’d had issues with this girl before, a phone call to the police was all it was going to take. That and to my lawyer, which Knox was on top of so I could get out of here. It was then Aurora’s phone rang, and she pulled it from her back pocket and looked at the screen.

“Don’t answer it. Please. I’m begging you to give me a chance to explain,” I pleaded.

Aurora met my eyes and looked down at her phone, biting her bottom lip. “I’ve got to answer it. It’s Lorelai. She’ll worry if I don’t,” she said, bringing the phone to her ear.

“Hey,” she sang, sounding like there was nothing wrong.

She listened as she stared at me, while I continued to plead with my eyes that she’d give me the opportunity to explain my side of this nightmare. I watched as she listened. I couldn’t read her. I didn’t know what it was she was going to say. I just hoped it was what I wanted her to do.

“Oh goodness, Lorelai, no, everything is fine. I must have butt dialed you while I was in the club,” she said, meeting my eyes. “No, everything is fine.”

At those words, the fear of losing her left me, at least for now. At least I knew I still had time to explain my side of the story. After, if she wanted to leave, I’d have to let her, but I prayed she didn’t. I didn’t want to lose her already, especially not this way.

“No really, I’m sorry. I promise everything is okay. I know Phil will come if I need, but really it was only an accident. I didn’t even feel my phone vibrate or hear it ring until I got outside. I’ll call in the morning. Again, I’m sorry for scaring you. Okay, you too, have fun.”

I watched as she ended the call, and then she pocketed her phone and looked up at me, crossing her arms. Her eyes held so many questions, and I hoped I could answer them all.

“Well? Now is your chance.”

I nodded toward the car. “Get in. I’ll explain when we are back at the apartment.”

“This is ridiculous,” she grumbled as she shoved past me and climbed into my car.

* * *

Aurora stood before me as I sat on the couch in my living room. The drive back was silent, neither of us saying a word. I imagined that had driven her crazy to be quiet the entire time when I knew she’d wanted me to explain everything to her in the parking lot back there.

I sat on the couch as she paced in front of me. I was trying to decide where to start—the beginning, the middle or the end—but each time I looked at her, all I saw was impatience and irritation lining her pretty face as she stood there waiting for me to begin.

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