Page 120 of The Silent Note

I offer a sheepish smile in apology and trail him.

“I guess you come here often,” I tell Zane.

He ignores me.

I quicken my stride to match his insane long-legged gait. “Is this where you bring the women you meet in bars?”

He stops and slants me an annoyed look.

My gaze narrows in response. “You didn’t say no.”

“Grey.”

“What?”

“Say one more word and I’m going to give your mouth something better to do.”

I scowl at him but I keep quiet.

Zane taps the button for the elevator and steps inside. I’m irritated to the point that my skin is burning like I have a fever. I’m feeling a very intense case of déjà vu.

The last time I was in an elevator with Zane, I didn’t know his name or his age.

I didn’t ask.

And in hindsight, I wish I did.

“Hey, dude who’s drinking in a bar with a very clear ‘must be 21 or older to enter’ sign, how old are you? By chance, do you attend Redwood Prep, the school where I’m about to go undercover?”

The elevator doors open.

I leave my regrets behind and follow Zane into a room.

There’s nothing I can do to change my past. All I can do is fight like hell to make better decisions now so my future isn’t as screwed as my present circumstances.

Chapter Thirty

ZANE

Grey is standing at the door, her purse held in front of her like a weapon. The overhead light paints an orange glow over her rigid shoulders. She’s still wearing her Redwood Prep teacher’s uniform, but the fabric is rumpled now. Her hair’s frizzier than usual. There are dark circles under her eyes.

She’s had a long day.

So have I.

I’mjuststarting to breathe easier now that we got to our hotel room safely.

It’s been a hell of a night and my head is killing me. In times like these, I have the overwhelming urge to do something—anything—to center myself.

Drums.

Sex.

Alcohol.

Strangely enough, just looking at Grey is a better antidote than any of my usual remedies. I was full of anger driving all the way here. My head kept running circles around all the bad things that could have happened while we were apart.

But now that the adrenaline is fading, I feel more like myself.

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