Chapter 15
Lainey
“Come on, Zach,” I mutter under my breath, blinking back tears. “Where are you?”
Alone in the middle of an overgrown garden with a twisted ankle and no phone, I’m left to wonder if Clarissa’s “helpful” suggestion to search this area was anything but.
The garden grows darker, shadows twisting into shapes that play tricks on my mind.
I try moving again, dragging myself forward on my hands and knees, but the rough ground scrapes at my palms, and I barely make any progress.
Frustrated, I slump against a low, moss-covered stone, my ankle throbbing with each pulse of my heartbeat.
The ache in my chest isn’t just from the pain in my ankle—it’s the sting of being left behind. Clarissa, with all her smug superiority, had abandoned me. I clench my fists, anger simmering beneath my exhaustion. If Zach doesn’t show up soon, I swear I’ll—
Something catches my eye, glinting faintly in the dim light. I squint, my heart skipping a beat as I realize what it is. The golden compass token.
“Oh my God,” I whisper, crawling toward it despite the protest from my ankle. My fingers close around the smooth, cool metal, and I lift it to inspect it. “The grand prize,” I breathe, a triumphant laugh bubbling out of me.
I hold the compass up to the fading light, grinning like a madwoman. “Zach is going to be my slave,” I declare, laughing again. “I could kiss you, you beautiful piece of gold.”
Sliding it into my pocket, I lean back against the stone, suddenly too exhausted to care about the dark closing in.
I try to distract myself by singing softly, then counting down from a hundred, but the isolation presses heavily on me.
Tears spill over as the fear that they’ve forgotten me begins to creep in.
“Did they just leave me here?” I whisper, my voice trembling.
Then, faintly, I hear a voice.
“Lainey!”
I sit up straighter, hope sparking in my chest. “Noah?” I call back, my voice hoarse.
“Lainey! Where are you?”
Relief floods through me. “I’m in the garden!”
A few moments later, I hear footsteps crunching through the brush, and a beam of light cuts through the dark. Noah appears, his expression grim but determined, as he kneels beside me.
“Oh my God,” I sob, tears falling freely now. “Finally. Noah, you’re my hero.”
Noah furrows his brow, his voice gruff. “Lainey, what happened? Why are you out here alone?”
“I tripped,” I admit, wiping at my tears with shaking hands. “I hurt my ankle. I couldn’t walk. And Clarissa—she left me. My phone’s dead. I didn’t know what to do.”
Noah frowns, pulling out his walkie-talkie. “Zach, I’ve got her,” he says, his voice steady but loud enough to carry. “She’s in the garden.”
Zach’s reply is immediate, his voice crackling through the static. “I’m on my way!”
Noah looks back at me, his expression softening as he takes in my tears. “I’m sorry,” he says gruffly. “I didn’t mean to make you cry. It’s fine. We’re just glad you’re okay. Zach was worried.”
I blink at him through my tears. “He was?”
Noah nods, his grumpiness melting away for a moment. “Yeah. Kept going on and on about finding you.”
I don’t have time to process the flutter in my chest because a crashing sound comes from nearby, followed by the familiar voice I’ve been longing to hear.
“Lainey! Baby!”
Zach bursts through the overgrowth, flashlight in one hand, his face etched with worry. He drops to his knees beside me, immediately cupping my face in his hands.
“Lainey,” he murmurs, his voice thick with relief. “What happened? Why are you crying?”
I break down again. The floodgates open as I cling to him. “I thought you forgot about me,” I sob. “I tripped and hurt my ankle, and my phone died. I’ve been sitting here for hours, praying someone would find me. Why did you take so long?”
Zach pulls me into a tight hug, his hand stroking my hair soothingly. “Baby, don’t cry. I’m so sorry. We had a crisis back at the house. Clarissa said you ran off without her, and she got lost. She was a mess. Then, when you didn’t come back, I started to panic.”
“Clarissa left me,” I say through hiccupping breaths.
Zach pulls back slightly, his eyes scanning my face. “She’s not worth worrying about. I’ve got you now. Can you stand?”
I shake my head. “No. My ankle hurts too much.”
Zach doesn’t hesitate. “It’s okay. I’ve got you.”
Before I can protest, he scoops me up effortlessly, cradling me against his chest. I wrap my arms around his neck, burying my face against his shoulder as the scent of him—a mix of pine and warmth—calms me.
“Let’s go, Noah,” Zach says, nodding toward the golf cart parked nearby. “You drive. We’ll sit in the back.”
“What about your cart?” Noah asks.
“Leave it. Someone can grab it tomorrow.”
As we pull up to the house, the porch lights glow warmly against the night sky. Zach’s sisters are already outside, their faces lighting up with relief when they see me.
“Lainey!” Whitney calls, rushing over.
“What happened? Are you okay?” Blair asks, hovering as Zach carefully sets me down on a nearby chair.
Blair shakes her head, glaring. “I should’ve never trusted you with Clarissa.”
“I should’ve stayed,” Cora adds, her voice tight with regret.
“Don’t blame yourselves,” I say, my voice weak but firm.
Mr. Darling steps onto the patio, his expression stormy. “Where was she?”
Noah answers immediately. “In the garden.”
“The garden?” Mr. Darling’s tone is sharp. “That area is off-limits.”
“Clarissa told me about it,” I say quickly, sitting up straighter despite the pain.
Right on cue, Clarissa appears, tears streaking her face. “I never said anything about that!” she cries.
Her parents trail behind her, their disapproving looks adding to the tension.
“She knows better,” Mrs. Chambers says firmly. “Clarissa would never do that to Zach or this family.”
Mr. Darling adds, “None of the items were hidden in the garden.”
My fingers curl around the golden compass token in my pocket. Zach glances at me, his brow lifting in silent question, but I shake my head slightly, choosing to stay silent.
“I’m sorry,” I say aloud, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me.
Zach cuts through the tension, his voice commanding. “Dr. Chambers, can you take a look at Lainey’s ankle? She’s hurt.”
Dr. Chambers nods. “Of course. Bring her inside.”
Zach carries me into the house, his grip steady and reassuring. The warmth of his arms disappears as he gently sets me down on the plush couch in the living room, adjusting a pillow behind me for support.
“I’ll be back,” he says softly, kissing the top of my head.
I nod, too drained to ask where he’s going.
Dr. Chambers steps forward, kneeling by the couch. He carefully examines my ankle. His touch is firm but not painful, and after a moment, he looks up with a calm expression.
“It’s just a sprain,” he says, his tone reassuring. “You’ll need to keep off it for a few days. I recommend icing it regularly to reduce swelling.” He pauses, reaching for an ice pack nearby. “You can also take ibuprofen if you need something for the pain—it’ll help with the swelling, too.”
“Okay,” I say softly, nodding as he carefully wraps my ankle with a bandage. His movements are methodical, and I wince slightly when he tightens it, but the support feels better almost immediately.
He hands me the ice pack, his expression kind but clinical. “Keep this on for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Rest, elevate it, and let someone know if you feel any sharp changes in pain or swelling.”
“Thank you,” I manage, offering him a small smile despite the lingering ache.
Dr. Chambers nods and stands, brushing his hands off. “If you need anything else, don’t hesitate to ask,” he says before stepping out of the room, leaving me alone.
The room is quiet, save for the faint ticking of a clock on the wall. I press the ice pack to my ankle, trying to focus on the cool relief instead of the mess swirling in my head. But then, muffled voices outside break the silence.
Curious, I set the ice pack down and carefully move to the window, hopping on one foot.
Peeking through the curtain, I spot Blair and Clarissa standing near the edge of the porch.
Their body language says it all—Blair is stiff with frustration, while Clarissa’s dramatic gestures scream defensiveness.
I strain to hear, my heart pounding as their voices carry through the night.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Blair,” Clarissa says, her voice high-pitched and exasperated. “I would never do something like that over a man.”
Blair crosses her arms, her tone sharp and cutting. “I know you, Clarissa. You play dirty. And if it’s over my brother, you’d do anything.”
Clarissa hesitates, her shoulders tensing before she snaps back. “Fine. I did. I went out early this morning, found the item, and re-hid it in the garden.”
My breath catches.
Blair’s jaw drops, and she throws up her hands. “How could you? You know no one’s been out there in ages—it’s dangerous.”
Clarissa’s voice softens, taking on a tone that’s almost smug. “Because Zach is lying to you. To everyone.”
Blair narrows her eyes. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Lainey!” Clarissa blurts, her voice dripping with satisfaction. “Zach and Lainey aren’t even together. I overheard them talking about it in his room. They’re faking it, so your dad will get off his back. She’s nothing but a fake!”
I press a hand to my chest, the air in the room suddenly too thick. My mind races, panic rising as Blair doesn’t even flinch.
“What my brother and Lainey have going on is none of your business,” Blair says coolly.
Clarissa stares at her, stunned. “You knew? That’s why you’re not even shocked.”
Blair shrugs, her voice calm but firm. “Of course I know. I know my brother. But who cares? It’s his life. He can do whatever he wants.”
Clarissa’s face twists with disdain. “Lainey is no good for him. I didn’t let her have Drew, and I’m definitely not going to let her have Zach.”