AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I felt dizzy with anxiety. I hadn’t slept in forty-eight hours and had barely eaten. I was running on fumes, and soon, it would catch up to me. Still, I couldn’t lose my job at The Dunes, so I dragged myself there, wondering if there was the smallestpossibility that Beckett was staying there. He was a member, and there was a hotel part of the exclusive country club, usually reserved for housewives doing spa trips or men on golf weekends.
I was just trying to get Sam at reception to check the computer for Beckett when I saw a tall figure stride into the foyer.
Soren.
He didn’t see me, engrossed in a conversation on his phone. He made for the brasserie, and I hurried after him.
He’d already sat and was being waited on by someone else when I got there. I hurried to the kitchen and chased Cassie, taking the ticket out her hand.
“Can I switch tables with you?”
“What? Why?”
“I just really want to wait on Mr. Anderson,” I said inanely.
Cassie narrowed her eyes. “You’re trying to steal my tips, right?”
“No! I don’t care about the tip. I’ll give it to you…whatever, I don’t care.”
Cassie considered me and crossed her arms over her chest. “What’s going on, Eve? If there’s something happening between you two, it’s not appropriate?—”
“No, there’s nothing going on. He’s just my roommate’s dad.”
“Beckett Anderson is your roommate? Isn’t a male roommate a boyfriend?”
“Okay, sure, he’s my boyfriend,” I blurted, saying anything just to make her stop asking questions.
She raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued, but passed over the ticket. “Fine, but you owe me the whole story sometime – and the tips.”
“Sure, whatever.” I nearly snatched the order from her and ran to get it ready.
Minutes later, I had Soren’s drinks and snacks on a tray and was making my way out to him. He was sitting at one of the tables in the orangery, which was otherwise deserted, so we’d be able to speak without being overheard.
I set down the tray and moved everything off it, while Soren ignored me.
He nodded when I straightened up, clearly dismissing me. I waited until he realized I hadn’t left. He glanced up, surprised to see me.
“Miss Martino? Can I help you?”
I took a deep, steadying breath. “I was hoping you might have an idea where Beckett is?” I crossed my fingers mentally.
Soren frowned at me. “Why would I know where Beckett is? That boy goes out of his way to avoid me and keep me in the dark about his life.”
Disappointment crashed into me. Sure, it had been a long shot, but still, it sucked to run into another dead end.
“Why? He’s not been in touch?” Soren asked.
“No. I haven’t seen him since yesterday morning. He’s not answering his phone, and he hasn’t spoken to any of his friends or Coach Williams. I’m worried about him.”
Soren considered my words and seemed to brush them off. “Don’t be. He does this. Goes silent. Goes off the deep end…is overly dramatic. It’s his MO.”
“Please – stop,” I heard myself say. Jefferies’ words from earlier were swirling in my head.His own father didn’t believe him. That boy’s never had anyone in his corner.
“I don’t think you really know your son, Mr. Anderson.”
Soren’s eyebrows climbed his forehead. “Excuse me?”
“I-I just don’t recognize him from the things you say.”
