Page 20 of The Lodge

“Alix?” Lauren says on the other end of the line.

“Oh, sorry—I’m here. But I actually have to go get ready for a work call.”

“A work call this late at night?”

“Time zone struggles,” I say. I don’t blame her for being confused.

Fortunately, she’s too caught up in her own life to ask any more questions about mine.

I drop my phone on the bed after we end the call, and it sinks into the snowy-white comforter. My stomach growls—and that’s when I realize I never got my room service delivery. The bedside clock reads 9:07.

Welp. Guess I’m going out tonight.

As long as I’m quick, I should be able to get back with plenty of time to collect myself before Sebastian calls. My list of questions is pretty thorough already, so I don’t have that much preparation to do, but I won’t be able to focus if I don’t get food first.

I throw on a thick hoodie and my yellow hat with the pouf, then tug on my UGG boots. It’s notthewarmest outfit a girl could throw together, but I’ll be fine. It’s not like I’ll be running a marathon in subzero temps, just taking a quick walk over to the mainbuilding, where I’ll hopefully be able to warm up by a fire before walking back with my to-go order.

Two steps out my front door, I realize I’ve made a grave mistake: my phone is still on the bed. In its case are my debit and credit cards—and my room key.

I’m a split second too late to catch the door before it clicks shut.

BEFORE

Storms on the Horizon for True North?

By Leif Mortensen //Starslinger Daily, Staff Writer, Arts & Entertainment

It’s another sunny day in Los Angeles—for everyone but Sebastian Green and Jett Beckett, that is. The infamous pair was spotted at Venice Beach’s Tipsy Elephant for a private happy hour.

Jon*, a bartender who worked the coinciding shift, reported the meeting between Green and Beckett was anything but happy.

“It was rare to see them out together without the rest of the band,” Jon said, “especially since they’re, you know, rivals. I don’t really follow them, but I don’t live under a rock; I knew enough to know who they were. I didn’t even recognize them at first, to be honest—they had an intense vibe, but it wasn’t as contentious as I expected. Not until later. At first, they just sat there talking, debating something. They were too far away for me to make it all out. Only thing I heard clearly was right before they left—well, right beforeJettleft. I have no idea what the context was, but all I heardwas Jett say the phrase ‘such a f—king puppet’ before storming out. Sebastian apologized to all of us who were working and left a five-hundred-dollar tip.”

It’s no secret that Sebastian Green and Jett Beckett have had bad blood between them for a while, but it sounds like things took a turn for the even worse this afternoon. We hope they’ll sort out their differences in time for their upcoming tour, which sold out within an hour of tickets going on sale. The tour will kick off early next year on the East Coast.

*.Name has been changed so as not to jeopardize the bartender’s employment

7

I try the door handle even though I’m certain it’s locked.

How could I have been so careless? This isn’t like me at all: I’m the girl who’s always prepared. I’ve never locked myself out of anywhere, not once in my life.

I guess there’s a first time for everything.

The guy who dropped me off yesterday mentioned an intercom system, but I was so confident I wouldn’t need it that I didn’t pay attention to where it was located.

If I at least had my phone, I could call the concierge and ask for help—

Or.

Maybe Tyler’s home. If so, I bet I could usehisphone to call the concierge.

I knock on his door before I lose my nerve.

It whips open only a moment later, and there’s Tyler—

There’sa lotof Tyler. Shirtless Tyler, with a light sheen of sweat, like I’ve caught him near the beginning of a workout.

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