Page 47 of Wanting More
Pulling the phone from her pocket, Sapphire winced at the name on the screen: Joel.
For a few seconds, she just stared at the device, watching it vibrate and flash in her hand, before accepting the inevitable. Swiping the screen with her thumb, she reluctantly answered it.
"Hello?"
"Now, is it my imagination, or did I hear you trying to sneak out of the house a few minutes ago?" His deep voice rumbled beautifully over the line, and it made her want to close her eyes. Such depth and just the right amount of grit to it. She couldn't help but marvel at the capabilities of the male body. It was as if mother nature knew exactly what she was doing, allowing someone so tall, sculpted, and strong to have that voice as well.
Forcing herself to focus on his words, Sapphire quickly replayed them and froze. Damn! She had been so careful too. She hardly made a sound as she passed by their rooms. So how the hell did he hear her leave?
"I wasn't sneaking," she lied. "I just…I just decided to take the bus to Stardust today and go take one of their tours around the college." That wasn't a lie. She really was going to do that, and she had been planning on doing it for a while now.
"Not a problem. We'll take you," Joel countered affably. "Come on back and-"
"No!" she rushed out. "I mean, thank you, but no. I can go myself. There is no reason why you two have to go. So, it's fine. I'll just go."
"No," he replied firmly.
No?! What did he mean,no? "Joel, I'm serious. I-"
"Sapphire." The way he said her name brought goosebumps to her skin. The slow deep pronunciation of each syllable of her name felt like a threat and a caress all at once. "Come. Back," he commanded evenly.
Sapphire's heart began to thud in her chest at the warning in his tone. She could feel her feet begin to step forward almost immediately at the command. No dammit! She wasn't some trained dog. She had made plans to get away from their imposing presence for a day, and that's what she intended to do.
Changing tactics, she spoke brightly into the phone. "Oh, look, I think I see movement behind the curtains, so I’ll go now. I'll text you when I'm back later!" she crooned into the phone before jamming her thumb on the red end button.
Breathing heavily, she stared down at the phone and glanced dubiously back up at the café. Both were still. Letting out an exhale, she smiled. That worked. Turning around, her smile widened when the curtain behind the window was pulled back.
Just in time!
She promptly stepped up to the counter and watched the sleepy-looking man give her a welcoming smile as he pulled the plastic door open and greeted her.
"Hi, I would like one roundtrip ticket to Stardust Cove, please."
The man blinked a few times at her overly glowing smile before nodding. "You're sure up early. Going to go have some fun in Stardust, huh?" he asked as he typed the request into his computer.
Sapphire rocked back and forth on her feet impatiently, resisting the urge to look back at the café. "Yeah, I'm gonna go look at the university."
"Very nice indeed," he said as the whir of the ticket printer began to draft up the ticket.
Sapphire's stomach tightened in anticipation as the man reached for the dangling ticket from the printer. The sudden warble of a phone ringing made them both pause.
"Oh, that's my phone one sec, will ya?" The man asked as he reached to the side and picked up an old green receiver before bringing it to his ear. "This is Arnie," he answered.
Sapphire watched with held breath as the man's eyes widened and looked directly at her before looking away. The anticipation in her stomach knotted.
"Mmm uh-huh, yeah sure, ok then," Arnie said into the phone before hanging up. Reluctantly he turned his attention back to her with an almost sad smile. "I'm sorry, Miss Waters, it looks like Joel says you can't go."
Sapphire just stared at the man blankly. It was as if he had pressed her off switch, and her brain was rebooting itself. Did he just say that? Did Joel really just call him?!
Fully rebooted and outraged, she practically jumped up and down at the counter. "What? No." she shook her head and grabbed her wallet from her backpack. "Wait, see, here is my ID. I'm eighteen. He can't-"
"Oh, there he is now," the worried look on Arnie's face dissipated into relief as he looked and pointed over her shoulder.
Sapphire did not turn around. She heard the powerful motor from the other end of the street. Goddammit! She screamed in her head.
"This cannot be happening." She made sure to give Arnie her most condemning look. The older little man had the grace to at least look ashamed at least.
"He says him and Hayden will take ya," he offered feebly, with both hands out. "I really think that's best. If it were just people from Holter on that bus, I wouldn't worry too much. But…you know how buses are. All types of people can get on it. Just isn't the place for a young girl like you, sweetheart. And if something were to happen to you…well, I cannot imagine that would go down very well with Joel and Hayden."
