Page 38 of All That Glitters
I got out, grabbed my small purse, and checked my pockets again. “I can’t find…”
“What?”
“I can’t find my phone. I thought it was in one of my pockets, but…” I opened my purse and rummaged around, my fingers curling around the device immediately. “It’s not in my purse, either.”
“Did you drop it on the floorboard?”
“No, I…”
“Did you leave it behind?”
“I didn’t think so. It’s possible, but I didn’t think so.” Was I convincing enough? It was all I could think of to use as an excuse to go back. “You know me, that phone is attached to my hand or my hip.”
“Yes, I do know. Do you want to use mine to call and ask?”
“I think I’ll just drive back. It’s not too late and Francesca is probably still cleaning up.”
“Let me take you.”
“It’s fine. Besides…” I reached into the backseat for the basket of leftovers Francesca promised us all, then handed it to him. “Someone needs to put this away. That lemon blueberry trifle has my name and midnight snack written all over it.”
“Why don’t I go then?”
“Because I don’t trust you and Ashton not to start throwing punches on the front steps. I’ll go. It’s fine.”
I turned my back on him and walked away. I felt his eyes follow me the same as I’d felt Ashton’s eyes on me earlier at dinner, only I this time, the feelings were very, very different.
I hated lying to Hale. It was like being a teenager all over again, sneaking out to meet friends or meet a boy. Hale caught me a few times and I always felt guilty, just like now.
I wasn’t doing anything wrong by going back to the Glitterati’s. I wasn’t doing anything wrong by seeing what it was that Ashton needed my help with.
God… That look in his eyes when he said please a second time. I’d wanted to say no again, but I couldn’t. Above all else, he was my friend, and I wasn’t going to stop being his. He couldn’t turn to Hale, and he wouldn’t turn to Brax, so I was the one left.
Hale was still standing outside holding the basket as I drove back down the driveway. I hoped he’d forgive me one day.
10
Ashton
“Ashton?”
“Here.”
Helen’s heels clicked on the polished floor as she advanced through the garage toward me. My heart rate hadn’t slowed down since I walked in.
And I hadn’t gone near any of the cars.
I stood staring out the rear windows toward the small building that housed what was left of my car.
“What are we doing out here?
She was still dressed the same as earlier. The only thing different was the way her hair now hung over her shoulder in a loose ponytail.
“Because this…” I waved my arm to encompass everything in the garage… “Is the reason I need…someone.”
“I… What do you mean? You’ve never been cryptic before.”
I hadn’t. “This is hard for me.”
