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“Seriously?”
She rolled her eyes and shook her head. “I know that isn’t true. I would’ve grilled your ass for full-blown details by now. I’m just saying.”
I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth, rubbing a hand over my temple. I’d considered that too, but what could Judas have said to him that’d warrant all this?
“Ugh. Screw it. Park the car, we’re going to get some answers.”
“Yess! That’s my girl.”
I hid my smile by dropping down the visor. I wasn’t dressed for a boat party and didn’t particularly care, either, but the hair on my head would.
It knew exactly how and when to frizz, and being near the ocean was a guarantee that it would. I pulled the long brown locks into a high ponytail and then smoothed down my sequined feather tank, glad I’d grabbed a hoodie.
Audrey claimed one of the two spots she’d passed minutes ago and cut the engine. Of course, she looked like she was ready for a party in a cute floral romper and gladiator sandals. But then she was the one who knew where we were heading all along. We got out at the same time and made our way to where the boats were docked, small at the front, big as hell at the back.
“Which one are we going to?”
“Gabby Dawson’s. Her daddy owns a few of them. We’re looking for something called ‘Mystikal.’”
I didn’t know who this person was, but if their father owned multiple boats out here, they had paper. Boys and their toys.
The boat was easy enough to find, big and all white with a pearl blue trim. Did I mention it was big?
We walked right on board with no issue. A few hellos were called to Audrey and me from a couple people who knew us, and that was it. I’d expected a doorman or something. I personally would have had some muscle manning the entryway.
There were two directions to go: left or right. And with maybe forty people on board, it wasn’t a massive crowd but large enough that I couldn’t instantly spot Dax.
“You go one way I go the other? Meet back here in ten if we don’t find him?”
“You want to split up?” I questioned. “Is that a good idea? This Gabby chick knows you, not me.”
“If someone knows me Rhia, they know you. You’re literally the moon to my sun.”
Aw. I liked that.
“If we hurry, we can make the second showing of our movie,” she continued.
I liked that even better.
“I’ll take right.”
She nodded. “Meet here in ten minutes or I’m coming for you.”
“Same,” I laughed, already stepping in the other direction. I felt strange being around this many people after what happened the other night. It hadn’t been bothering me as heavily until this very moment. I imagined more than a few had been in attendance, but not a single soul made a passing remark.
Had no one seen anything? Or was it that they didn’t care? Dax had been the one to get our drinks, after all. Did he not see someone put something in them? Did he know they had? I couldn’t picture him allowing that, but then again, people could always surprise you.
Suffice it to say, I would never take a red cup from anyone again unless Audrey made the shit herself. Last night could have gone so differently for us, so much worse. I’d heard a million horror stories about girls who had been drugged at parties.
I navigated around a couple kissing and made my way to the rear end of the boat. There were a few friendly smiles aimed my way and a redheaded guy watched me with interest in his eyes. He was pretty. I wouldn’t mind him joining me in bed. I just couldn’t do pretty for long-term; I’d tarnish it and make it as ugly as I was inside.
That had been one of the better things about Dax. He didn’t notice or care to know about the shit I kept locked up tight inside my head. Pretending tends to be easier when no one is searching for what’s underneath the mask you wear.
Speaking of Dax, I didn’t see him anywhere.
The boat was huge but not gigantic. I felt like I was playing a game of Where’s Waldo?
I rounded a corner and took a few steps before my feet froze in place. Right there, literally a few meters away, was Judas Barron. Two other guys and a girl were with him, the girl a dead ringer for Brenda Songs. All of them lifted their heads and looked my way.
“Rhiannon Clermont,” one of the guys announced as if I were stepping into a boxing ring, a wide grin on his handsome face. He had the bluest eyes I’d ever seen, a perfect shade of sky blue that popped against his brown skin.
