Page 38 of Hearts at War

“I don’t have anywhere to go.”

Nope. Not going to work. I won’t cave to a sob story.

“Go back to that cabin you claimed as your own last time.”

She smirked. “My uncle’s? No. He doesn’t want me there.”

“Well, that’s where you’re going. You’re not getting me involved with anything.” And you’re not getting me involved with him.

“Seriously?! What is with people today?” She shouted more curses, sharing any creative string of profanity she could manage as she spun away and flipped me off.

“Hey. Wait.”

She got on the bike to pedal away—in the opposite direction of Roarke’s cabin.

“For fuck’s sake.” I jogged outside, worried again. Guilt that I’d been too firm and harsh. I didn’t know he was her uncle. I didn’t know anything about her, but I was well aware it was cold and due to rain, and she shouldn’t be biking down a dark highway. “Wait.”

She pedaled faster, her chained necklaces and bracelets a jangle of noise I could track.

“Dammit. Wait. You can’t just run off like this and—”

She was gone. She didn’t slow. She didn’t look over her shoulder. Nothing.

Just up and left in a tiff.

I growled, regretting that I’d been so firm in protecting my boundaries. I didn’t want to get mixed up with whatever trouble she had in mind, but I didn’t mean for her to rush away.

Turning back toward my cabin, I hung my head and shook it, annoyed with her and myself.

Only when I set my foot on my front step did I realize that I should be mad at myself.

I put my hand on my door knob and turned it.

Nothing.

I repeated the action and shook the metal handle.

Again, nothing.

“No. No, no, no.”

When I rushed after her, the door must have had enough momentum to close firmly enough and lock.

I was locked out.

“No.”

Over and over, I tried to open the door. Nothing gave. I was screwed.

“Of all the damn bad luck I could get...” I scowled and got my phone out of my pocket.

I texted Eric, asking if he knew if Todd might still be up. When I worried that he might ignore a text this late, I called.

No answer. I left a message anyway, explaining that I was locked out.

I glanced at my car, irked that I couldn’t even rely on that. I couldn’t drive to his house and get help because my car keys were locked in my cabin.

“Fuck it.” I called the number I had for Todd and got no answer. After leaving a similar message for him, asking for a spare key, I paced and hugged myself.