Page 75 of Spotted at Lighthouse Bay
She smiled. There was no way he was going to find her, but she appreciated the thought. She tried to send him a message in return, but it wouldn’t go through, spinning and spinning like a useless Ferris wheel.
She tried calling three times, but the ring wouldn’t start.
Addy was in a dead zone. A total dead zone. She would probably be here for the rest of her natural life.
Her plan was simple. When Julian and Sebastian came back, hopefully in the morning, she would leap from the van and run as fast as she could. It was ridiculous, but her only chance at escape.
The hours of waiting wore her down. She tried to keep herself awake by envisioning the moment they returned. How she’d spring to action. How the wind would feel in her hair.
Yet other ideas floated in her head. What if she just rested her eyes for a moment?Said no awake person ever. Her eyelids fluttered shut and she drifted off, snapping back awake and scolding herself, then quickly drifting back into dreamland.
This process repeated for what she thought was minutes – until light blasted into the back of the van.
“Addy? Are you okay?”
She shot up, eyes wide, heart thundering in her chest. The sun was blindingly bright. She squinted, holding an arm to block the view.
So much for being alert and ready to run. She blinked and squinted into the light.
Her voice cracked. “Rick?”
Within seconds, he was in the back of the van, lifting her up. “Are you okay?”
His voice was more pressing now, his hand delicately breezing over her arm, her leg.
“I’m fine.” She cleared her throat. It felt like she was floating, there in his arms, it felt like all the light was pouring out of her chest. She was more than fine, she was having a dream… “I’m not hurt.”
They stood on black asphalt. He still had an arm around her, holding her steady. Addy’s legs burned, blood rushing back like fire.
“I’m so sorry,” he said. “I’m so sorry about everything. This never should’ve happened.”
If it was a dream, she wasn’t waking up.
“It’s my fault,” she said, waving a hand. “I got myself stuck in the van.”
“I shouldn’t have left you.”
His eyes looked so pretty in this light. Addy grinned at him. “But you came back.”’
“Of course I came back.”
The terror of the moment was gone. She was safe again. Addy tripped, falling into him. “That’s all that matters.”
“It’s not,” he said, steadying her. “You must be exhausted.”
“I’m a little tired.”
“Hang on a sec.” He pulled out his phone. “Hey Mia, I’ve got her.” A pause. “Yeah. Meet us at the gate.”
Addy hobbled alongside him, letting her weight fall into his chest. This was far better than the plan she’d had. They worked better together. She closed her eyes for a moment, and it occurred to her she might still be asleep.
“Adelaide!” Mia shouted. She got out of her car, the engine still running, and threw her arms around Addy’s neck. “I am so sorry I sent you in there alone!”
“I’m fine,” Addy said. “Really. They took my phone, and when I tried to get it, I got stuck in the van.”
“I am going to destroy both of them,” Rick said quietly.
Mia and Addy exchanged glances.
