Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 104239 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104239 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
I’ll bet he told his little girlfriend where he’s going. Red-hot jealousy races through me and warms my chilled skin. I’m surprised there’s no steam rising from me by the time I turn back, ready to hide in my room and lick my wounds.
“Thinking about heading into town?”
I’m barely able to bite back a scream at the sound of Ren’s voice. He’s practically on top of me, smirking, his eyes darting back and forth between the retreating helicopter and me. Like he knows something.
Well, I know something, too. And it’s remembering how I sort of have leverage over him that keeps me from shrinking back under his snarkiness. “It would be a shame if I was since the helicopter just left. Why did you follow me out here?”
“I don’t normally see you up here. It seemed worth learning more.”
“I’m sorry you wasted your time.”
“Did I?”
I can’t get a read on him. One second, he’s being cruel and threatening, and the next, he acts like this is all a big joke. “What do you really want? Because if it’s to make fun of me, we can do it inside where I’m not going to freeze to death.”
“If you would give me a chance, I would have already offered to get you another helicopter.”
I roll my eyes, nudging him aside and starting back for the doors. “Ha, ha. Very funny.”
“Who’s joking? I mean it. I could arrange to have a helicopter here in no time. You could go to Takotna.”
“And why would you do that?”
“Can’t you take a nice gesture and accept it?”
“Coming from you? No.” Now we’re back inside, and I can talk without my teeth chattering.
“Come on. I’m trying to be friendly. Do you want the helicopter, or don’t you? I don’t really care either way.”
On the one hand, it would mean being able to follow Lucas. It’s eating me alive, not knowing where he went or why he left. As far as I know, he doesn’t make a habit out of wandering off.
But this is not the sort of thing we’re supposed to do. “I don’t need to get into any trouble. I’m already high profile enough.”
“You’re not going to get into any trouble. What, do you honestly think nobody ever does this? Please. You’ll be fine.” He pulls out his phone. “I can make the request right now. You know, if you want to go back to your dorm, put on some warmer clothes. It’ll be waiting by the time you get back up here.”
I shouldn’t trust this person, but it’s too tempting. And somehow, he knows it. “Why do I feel like I’m making a deal with the devil?”
He chuckles. “I’ve been called many things, but that one’s new. Like I said, it’s up to you. I’ve already spent more time on you than I should.” Because, of course, he can’t let it go without getting one last dig in at me.
“Fine. I’ll run down to my room and get changed. You promise this isn’t a trick? For real?”
“For real. Now hurry.” He’s snickering as he types out a message on his phone. “I wouldn’t want anybody to see us together and get the wrong idea.” I have to remind myself he’s doing me a favor to keep from telling him how I feel about being seen with him. It’s not exactly complimentary.
I know Lucas will be angry once I find him, but right now, it doesn’t matter. So long as I know he’s okay and not doing anything to get himself hurt—or worse. I would never forgive myself if that happened, and I didn’t at least do something to try to stop him.
29
LUCAS
This is what I needed. Cheap booze and plenty of it, and nobody telling me I’m fucking with my responsibilities by enjoying it. Nobody pretending to worry about me when what they’re really doing is judging me.
And that’s all it is. They can put any kind of spin on it they want. It’s all judgment. Thinking they’re better than me.
“Hey.” I lift my empty glass, signaling for another. How many has it been now? Four, five whiskeys? What’s the point of counting? “You might as well leave the bottle,” I tell the bartender, but he pretends to laugh it off like I was joking. The man doesn’t know me.
“Maybe you ought to slow down, buddy.”
He definitely does not know me. “Maybe you ought to pour me another drink and enjoy that I’m a good tipper.” He scoffs—then pours the damn drink. Because at the end of the day, we’re all driven by very simple needs. Money is right up there at the top.
There are others, as it turns out. I thought I was beyond them. Stronger than that, better. I used to despise the weakness of needing others. What was the use of needing people when they’d only screw you over at the first chance they got? I still believe that for the most part.