28. Pepper
The sound of a blender comes from the open kitchen behind Charlie and me. We’re settled on Lonnie’s oversized couch. I’m flipping through Netflix while Charlie is on her Kindle, not quite grasping the idea of a girls’ night in.
“Charlie, put the book away. We’re about to get sloshed with frozen margaritas, a hilarious romcom and talk about our feelings.”
Charlie glares at me from across the couch, her knees pulled up to her chest, her reading glasses on and her Kindle, which never seems to run out of battery, partially covering her face.
“Are you scowling at me behind that thing?” I ask.
“I’m trying to get through this chapter. It’s been the longest slow burn ever, and I think they’re about to do it.”
“What’s a slow burn?” Lonnie asks, coming around the couch with a tray of margaritas.
I sit up eagerly. “I think it’s some form of a dry spell the main characters go through,” I say, since Charlie isn’t keen on conversation right now.
But I have to hand it to her, when I showed up at her doorstep on Sunday morning asking her to come with me on a little girl getaway, she silently packed a bag and hopped into Levi’s truck.
She hasn’t said much since we left. Chase told me that she lost her job at the library and is pretty upset about it. I’d worked up enough courage to ask her why, and she told me if I didn’t drop it, she’d tell the cowboy to turn the car around.
Levi was pretty quiet too.
Things certainly seemed odd the last twenty-four hours. Levi’s usual laidback and flirtatious demeanor was suddenly reserved and edgy. I wonder if he was just annoyed at being the one driving us out of town since Noah and Chase had to run some mystery errand for Aiden.
“Not exactly,” Charlie corrects dryly.
Lonnie shoots me a glance and holds out a margarita for our quiet friend. “Lighten up, Blondie.”
Charlie reaches for it and slurps on the straw like lemonade on a hot summer day.
“Slow down, you’re going to get a brain freeze.”
Charlie settles back into the couch cushion. “Got any barbeque chips?”
Lonnie smirks. “Coming right up.”
Charlie sits up. “Sorry, I’m just trying to figure out what I’m going to do for work now that I don’t have the library. I’ve been there five years.”
“They had to give you a reason,” I insist. “Hey, why doesn’t Noah help you? He’s a lawyer. I’m sure he can—”
“Noah’s the one that got me fired.”
“What?”
She sighs. “He reported me for stealing books. They didn’t even question me about it. They just said ‘a trusted citizen reported you for theft suspicion’ and one of my colleagues texted me later to tell me who it was. Can you believe that?”
I feel like the question might be directed at me, but I’m on my feet. This is the third unexplainable event since Jackson’s party, and my intuition is spiking. My fear.
Chase leaving town. Sending me away. Insisting I take Charlie with me. “Something’s going on,” I mutter.
“Hey, how about more margaritas?” Lonnie chirps uncharacteristically. “Blondie here is going to leave us dry if we don’t supplement her quickly.”
I narrow my eyes across the room. “Good idea, Lon. Start some more and we’ll find something to watch.” I click play on a random selection under holiday romance.
Charlie frowns and picks up another margarita. “Oh good, more coming. You wouldn’t mind if I grab yours here.”
I turn up the volume on the television, even with the blender going behind us, and stop Charlie from drinking.
She jerks forward. “Hey, I thought you wanted me to loosen up.”
“Shh. Something’s up and I have a feeling Lonnie’s in on it.”
She glances back. “What makes you say that?”
“Because Lonnie’s not a girls’ night in hosting kind of gal. She’s distracting us.”
“What do you mean? It was your idea to come here.”
“Well, that wasn’t exactly true. Chase kind of suggested I get out of town and insisted I take you with me. He also failed to tell me how you lost your job at the library.”
“He was there when I confronted Noah.”
“Last night?” I ask, barely posing it as a question.
She stares for a moment and nods. Then rises off the couch. “You know what? I’m going back home. I need to check on Mom, anyway. You should stay; I’ll call an Uber.”
“No,” Lonnie calls, stopping the blender.
Charlie glances at me. “It’s really no trouble. I’ll just be a party pooper.” She turns and starts for the door.
“Charlotte, sit down,” Lonnie snaps. The hardcore, no-drama mama is back.
Charlie turns with a smirk—or is it more of a snare. “Tell me why and don’t you dare feed me any bullshit, or I will walk out that door and take Pepper with me.”
“You’ve…been compromised.”
“What does that mean?”
She throws her arms up in defeat and walks around the counter. “It’s what Levi called it. There’s a picture of you and Pepper that leaked through to the search party.”
“What?”
“Someone snapped a shot of the two of you at the library and sent it to Troy Mayfield’s people.” Lonnie releases a breath, her shoulders sagging. “The library is the first place they’re going to look. Since you’re now a direct link to Penelope Walker.”
My breath catches. “They’re on their way…”
Lonnie turns to me, her tone softening. “They’re probably already there.”
Chase knew this.
And…left?
“When did this happen?” I ask.
“Noah found out the other night and took action. Including…”
“Keeping me away from the library,” Charlie concludes.
Lonnie sighs, dumping her margarita. “Now can we please turn off this garbage, drink some hard liquor and talk about how men will never be as good at manipulation as women?”
“The guy’s a wuss. I mean he’s pretty, but he doesn’t know how to handle women,” Lonnie comments. She’s on her third glass of scotch and somehow not slurring her words.
“Like Levi does?” Charlie argues. “I’ve seen the way he treats Tessa.”
Lonnie’s eyes widen with interest. “Whooose Tessa?”
I tune out the rest of that conversation and stand, restlessly.
My mind whirls trying to make sense of it. Why would Chase keep such crucial information from me? He’s been promising to keep me safe. Stay by my side. Hell, he even made me an Ice Girl just to keep me close in case “Mr. Politics” came looking.
How could he just leave?
I’ve barely got through one glass since Lonnie sat down with us. I can’t drink. I can’t eat. I want to scream. I want to…run.
My hands shake and I look for any logical reason he’d leave me right now. “What’s this errand they’re running for Aiden?”
“Hmm? Oh, I don’t know. When I asked Levi, he said Noah’s been working on a case and Chase wanted to tag along.”
My heart sinks. That can’t be right. “I’m going to get some fresh air.”
“Whoooa.” Lonnie stands, wobbling. “I’m…uh…not supposed to let you out.”
“You’re joking.”
“Fraid not, honey. Come. Sit. Laugh with us.” That last command was a little forceful and I’m convinced that Lonnie—although pretty hammered—is babysitting.
Rage starts to build, but I keep my cool. “Oh, well, you’re the boss.” I laugh. “I’ll just go make another drink.”
Lonnie gives me a thumbs-up and returns to explaining to Charlie why all men are filth.
I move into the kitchen, feeling like a prisoner.
How did it come to this?
My only two friends in the world are completely sloshed and I have no place to go. No one to turn to. The one man I trust with my life abandoned me when I needed him the most.
But I can’t focus on that.
I can’t crumble right now.
I won’t have another episode. I just need to breathe. Long. Deep. Breaths.
The laughing in the background is not helping. I start up the blender with ice and leave it as I move to the door. I lift my shoes off the floor and leave my purse. I’ll only be a minute.
I don’t need a man to keep me safe. I never did. But now I have people like Lonnie thinking I’m a danger to myself if I step out without one by my side.
Well, she’s wrong.
I got myself into this mess and if I could just have some space to think…I can figure out a way to get myself out of it.
It’s after nine p.m. and cold outside. But at least it’s busy. A busy neighborhood is ideal right now. Less chance of being spotted if I’m mixed in with a crowd.
I wrap Lonnie’s wool coat around me, since it was the closest thing to the exit when I snuck out. I keep my hair tucked inside it and lift the collar.
After a few minutes of wandering, my mind is blank. I’m too emotional to think straight. My heart hurts. But not from Chase’s lies to get me here. It’s the sense of abandonment I’ve never been able to get past. Not knowing what happened to my parents.
The guilt of wishing each time…that they were, in fact, dead.
Because they’d never have the strength to leave me.
It’s stupid that these feelings are hitting me so hard right now.
When it feels like the man that I’d fallen for left me with the next best thing because he couldn’t change his plans.
He didn’t choose me.
No one ever did.
Not even Troy. Who already planned our divorce before our wedding day.
I spot a bar across the intersection and head toward it. There’s a car that starts moving the moment I do, but I’m sure it’s just me being paranoid. Troy’s people are searching Hideaway for me.
Not some side street in Denver.
Hideaway. Someone in town had taken that photo and sent it in. Who could have done that?
I might never know.
I step into the warm bar, relieved for the large crowd. I weave through and settle myself on a corner of the square bar.
The bartender hands me a menu and walks away. I don’t look at it. I don’t have my wallet, so I’ll be ordering a glass of water.
“This seat taken?”
I look up at the friendly gentleman holding his coat. His head is slightly cocked and lowered, and there’s a flirtatious smirk playing on his lips that brings one out of me.
“Go right ahead.”
He nods and takes a seat. “I’ll take a club soda. With lime.”
I perk a brow. “Can you make that two please?” I ask the bartender.
“In that case, put hers on mine.” He smiles and turns his head. “You’re a cheap date. I’m Doug Phil.”
I laugh. “They say never trust a man with two first names,” I say, not intending on sharing my name in return.
“I have a different saying. Never trust a man whose socks match. Big red flag.”
“Is it?” I ask with intrigue and peek under the table. He lifts his slacks, indeed revealing a patterned red sock and a blue one.
“Oh well, you’ve got my trust. But I also once gave my bank information to a Nigerian Prince, so take it for what it’s worth.”
He laughs. “So, absolutely nothing.”
I wince and nod.
“Fair enough.”
We sip our non-alcoholic beverages and make fun of the bar scene on a Sunday night. The football game on one screen. Hockey on another. The Denver Kings aren’t playing another game until Wednesday, so it must be another state. I squint for a better look.
“You a hockey fan?”
“I’m starting to appreciate it more.”
“Who’s your favorite team? And by that, I’m secretly asking where you’re from because everyone always chooses their hometown team.”
“Well then you’re still out of luck because I don’t have a favorite team.”
“You’re a smart girl.”
I jerk my head. “Thank you.” Biggest compliment I got all day. “I should get going. This smart girl realized it’s time to get home.”
He nods once and gives me a small wave as I slide off the chair.
I slip outside into the cold, wrapping my coat around myself.
“Sure I can’t buy you a real drink? You barely got through the soda,” Doug asks, coming out behind me.
I turn and he smiles warmly.
“I’m good. I’m just trying to keep a clear mind tonight.”
“Ah me too. I’m driving. Plus, I’m…kinda working.”
“Oh.” I look around, wondering what kind of work a man in a suit does after hours. “What are you a bodyguard or something?”
He laughs. “No. I protect no one but myself.”
I lift my brows. “Can you teach me how to do that?”
“It’s simple.” He steps closer like it’s a secret. “Don’t talk to strangers.”
I frown as he grips my arm. “Come with me, Ms. Walker.”
“Wh—hey. Let go.” Another man steps out of a dark vehicle and opens the back passenger door.
“Watch your head,” Doug—or whatever his real name is, mutters as he slips me inside and settles next to me.
“I’m not supposed to lay a finger on you so please don’t try anything.”