Page 38 of Beyond Me

“Listen, I haven’t been able to reach Mac.She okay?”

Something flickered over his face, but he nodded.“Yeah.She’s been holed up in her room for a bit.”

The meaning of that was quite clear.Mac was having fun in more ways than one.Nice.“Got it.Can you just tell her to call me when she’s got a chance?I’m not at the hotel—I’m staying somewhere else tonight, so I don’t want her to worry if she comes to my door.”

His brows drew together.“With that guy?”He motioned toward James and his friends.“I may have to cut them off.Never went through so much tequila in my life, and they get a little over the top when they get together.”

Embarrassment shot through me.I hated that Austin assumed James was an idiot.“I think that’s a good idea.But don’t tell them I confirmed.”

He leaned in really far so he could whisper in my ear.“Smart girl.Thanks for the heads-up.”

I grinned.He really was a charmer.If I wasn’t so gaga over James, I probably would have swooned.“Welcome.”

“Listen, Quinn.About Mac.”

My heart dropped.“Is she okay?”

He looked uncomfortable, as if debating whether or not to tell me.“There was some trouble.Paps found out about us.She needs you.”

I cursed viciously.What the hell?My eyes narrowed.“Was it you?”

He glared right back.“Fuck no.But believe what you want.I don’t need this shit.”

He turned away, but I grabbed his wrist and stopped him.“I’m sorry.I—I believe you.Is she at the hotel?”

“Yeah.Surrounded by the press.We were on TMZ.Fucking shit.”

“Crap.Okay, I’m heading over there now to check on her.”

“Why do you believe me?”

I looked into his face and I didn’t know.Just a gut instinct.Maybe because it was the easiest thing to believe.Didn’t necessarily make it true.“Don’t know.Just do.”

“Thanks.Wait here.”He disappeared for a few moments, then came back with a Sex on the Beach.“Take one for the road.Mac said it’s your signature drink.”

“Thanks.”

He lowered his voice to an intimate pitch.“Thanks for believing me.”

Yep.Swoonworthy.I nodded and headed back toward James.I’d need to meet him at the house later maybe, depending on what Mac needed.Poor thing.She deserved to lead a normal life and not deal with this endless bullshit.

James had his back turned toward me and was hissing furiously at his friend.Whoa.He was really pissed, and didn’t seem to be fooling around.I tried to capture his words, but the music was too loud, so I got only snatches as I moved closer.

“—won the bet—fair and square—”

“cold fish—must’ve warmed her up—next conquest—”

“attached to a girl like that—”

“—fuck you—”

Worried, I hurried faster and had just reached the table when a flash of white caught my vision.Adam was waving it over his head, grinning, and Rich and James were going at it, cursing and arguing over something.Why did that thing Adam was holding look so familiar?Delicate, lacy?

Oh.My.God.

My thong.

The true dialogue swarmed around me in a world close toAlice in Wonderland.

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