Chapter 14 He’s Gone Into Hiding
Hallie hurried to catch up with her date, hoping that he wasn’t trying to leave the party with some girl he just met.
“Luke, wait!” she called as soon as she made it out the barn doors. He was walking slowly along the side of the building, all alone. He turned around in an unhurried way.
“Relax, I’m not bailing on your party,” he said, “Just thought I’d be alone for a moment and get some air.”
Hallie tried to catch her breath, inhaling the warm scent of trees and scrub grass.
“You seem emotional tonight,” Luke remarked. “I guess talking with Terry didn’t help.”
“Talking with Terry is never good.”
“It’s probably none of my business,” Luke said, “but you’re sisters. Surely you must have something in common.”
Hallie let out a forceful sigh. “Believe me, I’ve tried.”
“What does she have against you anyway?”
“I always thought she was jealous because I was the cute younger sister. Everyone usually said I was the better-looking one.” Hallie didn’t want to feel guilty about that, even though she thought it was unfair.
It was other people who designated those labels, not her.
It was probably why Terry tended to wear so much makeup.
“And I’m usually thought of as ‘the good one’.
Terry was lazy and bad at school when we were growing up. ”
“The prodigal son,” Luke murmured. “It’s no surprise your parents are nicer to her.”
“Anyway, I’ll leave you alone to enjoy the fresh air,” Hallie said, stepping back towards the doors.
“Oh, no no no!” he suddenly exclaimed.
Hallie spun back towards him, unable to believe that he was suddenly so strongly in need of her company.
“I know that car.” He pointed at a blue Mazda MX5 that was pulling into the parkade a few rows away. The fancy sports car stood out in a lot mostly filled with pickup trucks and old junkers. “Quick, let’s get inside.”
“What’s going on?”
Luke was in a panic as he hurried into the building. “You know this place pretty well. Can you find me a place to hide?”
“Are you in trouble with the law or something?” Hallie wondered.
“No, just please hide me. I’ll owe you a favor!”
“As if I believe you,” Hallie muttered. He looked so hunted as he cast about for a sheltering nook that she actually felt sorry for him. “Fine, let’s go.”
They hurried over to the DJ booth, Hallie leading the way. Luke kept glancing back to see if his mysterious pursuer was already inside, but so far no one else had made it through the front doors.
Hallie went up to her friend Perry, who was bouncing up and down to a song playing in his giant headphones. He was a tall, skinny guy with a bony face, and mostly all he cared about was music.
“Hey, is it okay if Luke hides in one of your speaker boxes?” she asked.
“Sure,” Perry replied, not stopping his bouncy dance and not even asking any questions.
“Okay, quick,” Hallie commanded, getting into the spirit of this hide-and-seek game as she opened up a giant black case that was used to transport the sound system speakers.
Luke sailed into the box, and she dropped the lid down, just as a young woman in a business suit entered the premises.
This had to be the driver of the Mazda, Hallie thought. She wasn’t dressed for a dance, and she was looking around, searching for someone.
The woman’s hair was pinned to the back of her head in a tight bun. Her lime green suit was impeccably tailored. Although slender and short in stature, she had an intimidating way about her. She seemed very set on her goal as she crisscrossed the entire venue, her eyes ever alert.
Hallie thought she would soon give up, but the woman came straight towards her. It was too late to run away.
“Hi,” the stranger began crisply, “My name is J.D. Santer and I’m pretty sure I saw you out there with Luke.”
“Luke?” Hallie frowned, feigning complete forgetfulness.
“Luke Lorenzen. Tall, handsome, very annoying.”
Hallie crossed her ankles and rubbed her hands together awkwardly, not knowing how to answer. “Oh, you mean Luke. I don’t really know him that well. Yeah, he was here, but I think he left.”
“It’s strange, I didn’t see his car when I arrived,” the woman said, “Maybe he traded in his Porsche for something more local in order to blend in. Do you know what car he was driving?”
“No idea,” Hallie said with a shrug. She hoped she wasn’t over-acting. The woman was looking at her with more and more suspicion.
“Okay, if you see him again, tell him to call me right away.” She handed Hallie a business card with the name J.D. Santer written on it.
“My name is J.D. Santer, and I get results,” she said sternly before leaving.
Hallie waited a few more minutes to open up the case. Finally, she thought it was safe and released Luke from his hiding place.
“That was a very driven young woman,” she said, “Who the heck is she?”
“My assistant,” Luke said irritably as he climbed out, smoothing his long hair back.
Hallie burst out laughing, something about his tone and the situation was too hilarious. “Why are you hiding from your own assistant?”
“She must have tracked my phone. She wants me to get back to work. I like it here, though. Everybody’s so friendly and fun-loving. I think I’ll stay on. Don’t get your hopes up, though. I’m probably not going to stay on with you.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Hallie said in indignation.
“I’ve already met a number of people here who would probably be happy to take me in, so I don’t have to be your dedicated boyfriend anymore.”
“You wouldn’t dare quit on me now,” Hallie said, although she was growing less certain of that. It seemed her worst fears about the dance were coming true. “I helped you hide and everything.”
Of course, that kind of argument would work on a moderately decent person, but not on him.
It was a relief when a familiar upbeat song came on, and everybody started line dancing.
“Come on, Hallie, Luke, dance with us,” her girlfriends shouted.
“I don’t really know this dance,” Luke said, trying to step back against the wall.
“Go on,” Hallie said with a mischievous smile, hoping that he would embarrass himself on the dance floor. For once, she didn’t mind letting the women drag him away.
Stacy and the others insisted that she join in too, so Hallie stepped into the line. It was comforting to do the familiar steps and not have to think too much about it.
Everyone stepped forward, shuffled, then turned around with a clap of their hands. Then there were some kicks and more turns, but Hallie knew this dance off by heart, and it was easy and fun.
She expected Luke to fail miserably at keeping up with everyone, but he was copying all the dance moves and even adding some of his own with great poise and perfect rhythm.
His body flexible and loose, he moved with a confident swagger, and Hallie’s eyes were drawn to every motion of his hips.
If he was going to be so popular with everyone, her chances of keeping him were dwindling like sand running through an hourglass.