Page 16 of Chasing Lynda

He extracts his cell phone from his cargo shorts pocket and answers the call. “Carter Kent. What? A fire inspection at the hotel? Where’s Monroe, I thought—Whatever! No, no, can you tell them to wait? I’ll be there in a second, I just—”

I sigh, knowing that our moment is over. I feel a pang of sadness constricting my chest but I know I have to go. Whatever this moment was with Carter, I know it can’t evolve into anything else. Because I can’t fool myself that I’m a normal girl, a regular tourist here on vacation or a student on summer break. I’m still hiding from my ex and I’m still squatting in an unlocked cabana until someone notices and I’ll have to move on.

So with a heavy heart I take advantage of the fact that he’s turned his back to me, while he argues with someone on the other end of the line, and I walk away.

The only thing I’ll have to remind me of Carter, is the tingling feeling on my lips and a bag with two flattened croissants.

5.

Lost And Found

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Aaron

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SHELL COVE

Church of the Higher Self Compound

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“PASTOR AARON, I HAVE a question!” One of the women of the youth group stops me by grabbing my hand as I cross the compound courtyard, headed to my office.

I stop, looking at the girl and pulling my hand away from her grasp. She can’t be older than sixteen. Nothing more than jailbait. And yet ...

The way she flutters her lashes at me as she lowers her gaze in mock coyness tells me all I need to know.

Whore!

I bet every cent in the church’s accounts that she isn’t even a virgin. Her parents moved into the compound about a month ago and God knows what she must’ve been up to at school. With those tits, I bet she must’ve fucked the entire Shell Cove High football team. Not even the purity bandages the compound women are required to wear to ensure modesty, can hide those tits.

I saw the photos from her social media accounts in the background check I get on everyone who gets accepted to enter the inner circle and move into the compound.

She was a cheerleader, all big smiles and indecently short skirts.

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