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“You’re just jealous.”
“Of what?”
“Me flirting with Nick.”
A laugh burst from my lips. “Jealous? That isn’t the word, Leash. Appalled. Embarrassed. Those words make more sense.”
“You just want me out of here so you can have him to yourself. I know you were out with him last night! I remember you were with him when you found me.”
“I’m shocked you remember, considering you were drunk off your ass and stumbling around so bad that you almost got run over!” My body trembled from the anger radiating through me. “You’re lucky we got there when we did!”
“Yeah, you’re my hero. Whatever.” Alesha started for the front door. “I’m out of here.”
“Where are you going?” I demanded, chasing after her with hurried steps.
“Why do you care? In twenty-four hours, I’ll be someone else’s problem!”
“Because for now, you’re my problem!” I shouted, unable to keep my tone level.
“I’ll be fine. You don’t have to worry about me, Carly. If I end up just like you and Mom, I promise I won’t blame you.” She stormed out the front door and the heavy glass door whipped back in my face. I stopped it from bashing my face and hesitated, watching Alesha stalk across the parking lot.
I started to push forward, but then stopped short and turned away from the door. It wasn’t worth chasing her down. She wasn’t going to listen to me. And, like she’d said, in twenty-four hours, she’d be someone else’s problem.
I hadn’t called my dad yet, mostly because of the time difference, but after locking the front door and flipping the CLOSED sign around, I stomped back to my little office and threw myself into my chair to write him a long email about Alesha’s antics. Before I hit send, I read it back through and was struck with an echo of Alesha’s words, “Dad already hates me.”
How could she think that? I shook my head. It didn’t make sense. She was and always had been his princess.
He was a workaholic and when not working, did a lot of traveling with Kelli, but that was to be expected. Wasn’t it? What did Alesha want? Surely she wasn’t pining for the days where her and Dad would go to the movies on the weekends or take camping trips. Seventeen-year-old Alesha wouldn’t be caught dead camping. How would she do her hair and makeup without a bathroom full of supplies?
I stared at the screen, reading the message once more, and flicked the pointer to save the email as a draft instead of hitting send.
I’d make my decision once we’d both cooled down and had a chance to talk like adults instead of scream at each other in an empty coffee shop. Decision made, I pushed away from the small desk and went back to finish breaking down and scrubbing the espresso machine.
Hours later, night had fallen, but Alesha hadn’t returned to the coffee shop. I’d cleaned the entire shop from top to bottom, taking the time to go through the master checklist of chores for the first time all month. It was better if I kept busy. Otherwise, I’d sit and obsess over the argument and get myself worked up again.
But I’d finally run out of things to do and knew I needed to go to the grocery store and get some stuff for the house. Maybe I’d get the ingredients for Alesha’s favorite dinner as a way to initiate a peace treaty. I made a mental grocery list as I shrugged into my light sweater, grabbed my purse, and went to the back door. The small alley behind the row of shops was lit by a series of security lights at each back door, but as I stepped into the alley and turned back to lock the door, an eerie feeling crept up my spine. I turned to look up and back and didn’t see anything out of the ordinary but still felt like someone was watching me.
I locked the door and tucked the keys back in my purse before starting down the alley where the sidewalk would lead me to the beginning of the small shopping center. It was too small to be considered a strip mall, but there were three shops all next to each other, with The Siren on the end. A gust of wind kicked up and howled down the alley and I popped the collar of my sweater up to protect my neck from the chill.
Footsteps sounded on the gravelly alley behind me and I froze in place.
“Where’s the other girl?” A low, rumbling voice called to me.
I whipped around and found myself staring up at a large man with a broad chest and a mean snarl on his face. His eyes were fixed on me and my heart stopped beating in my chest. “Who are you?” I demanded, trying to keep my voice from quivering.
