Page 54 of Beautiful Prey

“That’s not…I-I don’t think that,” I stammered.

“Oh, really? You were too good to talk to my buddies in homeroom.”

“I was just shy.”

He laughed. “Yeah, right. You were an uptight bitch for no reason.”

I shoved him away and got in the car. “I didn’t talk to you or your friends because I thought you were losers.”

“Yeah, sure, alright, sweetheart.” He laughed. “Hey, drive safe. See you at work.”

I slammed the door in his face and started the car. He yelled something as I peeled out of the lot and drove off.

So much for convincing him to keep his stupid mouth shut.

I sped down the dark road, the engine roaring in my ears.

Fucking…asshole.

I screeched to a halt at a stoplight and smacked my hands against the wheel, screaming. The red light blinked on and off as I sat there, my head against the wheel.

I was too wired now to go back to my hotel. And with not seeing Emery until Monday, it was going to be a long-ass weekend.

If I even got to see Emery again. If Ethan didn’t rat on me first.

I lifted my head off the wheel and gasped as I caught someone standing in the middle of the road in front of my car. A big someone. Then in another flash of the red light, they were gone.

It almost looked like…

I glanced at the clock on my dash. It was only seven-thirty. I reached over and opened the glove box. I rifled through it until I found the set of keys to the warehouse.

If I left now, I could get there by nine-thirty.

My phone went off and I took the call, knowing right away who it was. “Hey, Jamie.”

“So who was the creep? And don’t think I’m not mad you didn’t mention you were going on a date.”

“It wasn’t a date.”

“Oh. So what was it?”

I put on the gas and slipped past the light. “It was nothing. Just some guy from high school.”

“Ah, that sucks.”

I took a U-turn. “How is Lena, by the way? I texted her but never heard back.”

“She’s okay. She was probably just napping. Don’t take it personal, but she’s getting a lot of attention right now, so can’t remember to text everyone back.”

“I get it.”

“Where are you headed now? Are you coming home for the weekend?”

“I don’t know yet,” I said honestly.

“Call me if you do. Is everything okay?”

“I don’t know that either.”