Page 163 of Rock Chick Rescue

It was when Eddie was clearing away the pizza box that my mobile rang.

It was Indy.

“Don’t talk, just listen,” she ordered.

Oh no. Here we go.

“Okay,” I replied.

“At around ten, Ally’s gonna come to the door. Eddie’ll answer. You be in the bedroom. Leave a note for Eddie and crawl out the bedroom window. You don’t need anything, just your purse and you. We’ve got everything else covered.”

Dear Lord. This didnotsound like a good escape plan.

In fact, it sounded like a terrible, amateur escape plan that Eddie would totally figure out.

I heard Eddie walk back in the room.

I looked at the time on the DVD player. It was just after nine.

“Do you understand?” Indy asked.

“Yep,” I answered.

“Ten o’clock, bedroom window. See you then.”

“Sure,” I said.

She disconnected. I flipped the phone shut and put it on the coffee table.

“Everything okay?” Eddie asked.

“Yeah,” I lied, trying not to hyperventilate.

“You sure?” Eddie was standing by the couch.

I looked up and gave him a bright, false smile.

“Sure I’m sure,” I lied again.

He took one look at my face, his brows drew together and I was pretty certain he was going to tell me I was full of shit again.

I needed a reason to be in the bedroom in less than an hour.

I’d always been a good girl. I’d never been grounded. I’d never had a reason to be sneaky. I wasn’t out of practice. I’d never beeninpractice.

I stood up and did the best I could.

“I’m going to bed,” I announced.

Eddie looked toward the bedroom, then back to me, and his eyes narrowed under his drawn brows.

“’Night,” I said and walked right by him into the bedroom.

I yanked my pajamas out of my bag. They had a stretchy, peach eyelet camisole and lightweight cotton drawstring pants. They were cute. I bought them for myself for Christmas last year, but hardly ever wore them. I figured they were thin enough that I could put my clothes back on over them in a flash.

I was focusing on my pajamas and practicing deep breathing when Eddie walked in.

I headed to the bathroom.

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