I yanked the curtains open. Dark clouds rolled across the desert sky, casting eerie shadows on the streets below. A weather forecaster babbled in the background, announcing in a cheery voice that the sun would be out later in the afternoon. It was going to be a beautiful day.
“Get over it already, Karenna, and have some of this french toast. It’s so good.” Jo licked her lips, washing away the syrup that she’d managed to get on her chin and fingers.
“What? I’m just looking outside,” I said, tossing her a napkin.
“You’re brooding.”
“Am not.”
She raised an eyebrow as she reached for some orange juice.
Ugh. I hated when she was right. I didn’t want to be in this mood. But the way Tristan shoved us out of the green room and told me to go back to Texas had pissed me off. Who was he to tell me what I should or shouldn’t do? The moment Jo and I had gotten back to the hotel room, I made a list of every single casino on the strip I wanted to visit. I even booked an extra two days stay at a competing hotel. No way I was going back home now.
I shouldn’t care. I should be relieved. I wasn’t another one of his nightly conquests. I couldn’t believe I’d almost bought his act of fake concern about a disaster in a country he’d probably never stepped foot in.
The problem was, I did care.
I pressed my forehead against the glass of the wall-length window. I’d tossed all night long, his sultry eyes haunting me. I couldn’t stop thinking how my body sang when he touched me. His breath, his scent, his feather-light kiss, the memory of the entire night was seared into my mind. He’d created a fantasy I longed to be a part of. Then in the harsh light of reality, it had been snatched away, leaving me reeling with the realization that it was only an illusion.
I bumped my head against the glass, over and over again. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Lesson learned. Don’t trust hot guys.
“Stop attacking the poor window and have a croissant. It has chocolate in it. Your favorite.” Jo waved the pastry at me.
My stomach rolled. I couldn’t even think about food now.
“Maybe later.”
“Come on. Last night wasn’t that bad. Admit it, you had fun.”
“I can’t believe you’re okay with what happened.” I plopped down on the seat next to her and poured myself some coffee.
“That’s because I talked with Calder last night, and he said there was an emergency.”
“You got Calder’s number?”
“Girl, don’t looked so surprised. I’m almost insulted.”
“I want to be you when I grow up.” Seriously, was there anything this woman couldn’t do?
Chuckling, she reached over to give me a hug. “Thank you for last night. I know it wasn’t your thing and you did it for me.”
“You know I’m there for you.” I rested my forehead against hers.
“Same here. And because you’re such an awesome BFF, if you want to hook up with Tristan, I can get a hold of Calder.”
My heart skipped a beat followed by my brain screaming, “Traitor!”
Before I could answer, my phone buzzed.
“No, it’s okay,” I said pulling back, taking the phone out of my pocket. “Let’s just enjoy the day without ridiculously hot guys getting in the way.”
Lucy popped onto the screen. She took one look at me and rolled her eyes. “Who pissed you off?”
“I’m not—”
“Hey, Lucy!” Jo leaned over my shoulder, chuckling. “Don’t worry about Miss Sunshine here. I’m getting her into the spa this afternoon before the frown lines become permanent.”
“Knock it off.” I pushed Jo playfully before turning back to Lucy. “Where are you? Aren’t you supposed to be with Aunt Marmie?”
“I’m in the treehouse. I snuck out,” she said, snapping her gum. “Guess what she plans to do today?”
“No. Not again.” It was a word we dared not bring up after the last disaster. I didn’t blame her for running for her life and hiding out in the old treehouse in our backyard.
“Yep. She wants to cook for me. Oh my god. I barely survived the meal she made last summer. I told her I was fine with nuking my food. I had to leave before she woke up. I’m headed for the skate park on the other side of town.”
“No, you’re not. That’s a dangerous neighborhood.”
“Hey, that’s my neighborhood,” Jo quipped.
“I rest my case.”
Jo stuck out her tongue, making me laugh. I could feel my spirits lifting.
“Get your butt back to Aunt Marmie’s,” I said. “She’ll drive you there if you ask.”
“I already left her a note telling her I was hanging out with friends for the day.” The video wobbled, flashing images of the sky and tree limbs as Lucy climbed down.
“If you see Old Man Flaco wandering the street in his boxers, just point him to the house with pink trim, he’ll find his way back,” Jo said. “Whatever you do, don’t let him see your phone. He’ll want you to record him doing his nostrils dance.”
“Hmm, I might want to see that.” Lucy chuckled as she plopped herself onto her skateboard.
“Stop encouraging her. Finish your breakfast,” I said, nudging Jo away. “I don’t like you going there alone, Lucy.”
“I won’t. I’m meeting up with a couple of friends. Seriously, Karenna, chill. I’ll be fine.” Lucy took off her beanie, brushing out her long hair before placing it back on. I couldn’t believe how fast she was growing up. Her baby cheeks were almost gone, high cheekbones taking their place. She was so pretty, and she looked so much like Mom. She was morphing into a beautiful young woman.
“You’re my little sister. I worry.”
“I have the pepper spray you bought me. See?” She dangled a pink key chain attached to a canister of mace. “Okay, so give me all the deets. Did Jo hook up with a hot guy? She said she would get you one.”
“Lucille Sara Morgan, I did not!” Jo cried. “You asked me to hook her up.”
I scowled into the screen. “Tell me you didn’t.”
“Maaybee.” She grinned devilishly. “I might have messaged Jo yesterday. But she said you’re gorgeous and didn’t need help.”
I laughed. “What am I going to do with you two?”
“Well, are you going to tell me what happened last night or not? You can keep it G rated if you want. Jo can tell me the rest later.” Lucy blew out a big bubble, then sucked it in quickly, smacking it.
“She will not,” I said, shaking my finger at a giggling Jo. “We went to a magic show. That’s all.”
“Ooh, did you go to the one where the guy sets the entire stage on fire? He gets the—”
The video screen rattled as a hand appeared out of nowhere, clamping over her mouth.
“Lucy!” I watched helplessly as blurry images whirled on the screen. Lucy gave a muffled scream as she clawed at the stranger’s hand.
“Oh my god! Lucy!”
There was a flash of pink and I prayed it was the pepper spray.
There was another muffled screech, and suddenly, it was quiet.
The screen went black.