AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Honey, if you’re having money problems?—”
That’s laughable. I’m making more money than I ever have with the book, which has taken on a life of its own, and he thinks I’m gambling away my last pennies.
“You have it wrong. The guy on the phone was just trying to scare you. I promise. It’s probably a scam or something. I made a few low-risk bets that paid off, some that didn’t, but nothing major. And I did notriganything.”
He’s silent for a moment. Then, “Am I going to see you for Christmas?”
“I…”
“I ran into the Whiteshaws. Knox told his mother that you’d both be traveling back. She was surprised to find that I hadn’t heard the same from you.” Now his tone is hurt.
I’m going to kill Knox.
“Sorry, it’s, um… I don’t know. I need to talk to Knox about it, apparently. But yes, I’ll be home. We’ll celebrate Christmas.”
“Are you all right, Aurora?”
Am I all right?
Well,no.
“I will be,” I promise. Never mind that I didn’t call him about the heart scare. No need to freak him outthatmuch. Especially when I’m going to see him in a few weeks.
Something Knox could’ve told me about.
I hang up with him and hurry to the suite.
But in the doorway, I stop.
Melody is standing with three other girls, laughing about something. She looks at home among them.
And I’m a complete fish out of water.
I’m not a girl’s girl. I’m not anything other than someone who’d rather be in her own head than socializing. Beth has condemned me for that before, although she insists that she still loves me. Knowing she’s working at the bar while I’m here fills me with guilt.
“Aurora!” Melody waves me in. “Meet the girls.”
I swallow and nod, forcing a smile.
“Aurora, this is Aspen, Violet, and Willow. And Steele and Greyson are in the corner.” She hooks her thumb over her shoulder.
Two guys, familiar in a distant, weird way, are standing by the glass talking quietly. They both glance my way, brows furrowed, then go back to their conversation.
Shit. I shift my weight. “So, um, what has Knox said about me? Poisoning the well, I’m sure.” I cross my arms, then uncross them.
Damn it, I’mfidgeting.
Willow’s brows furrow. “Poisoning the well? He hasn’t said anything to us. He really only talks to the guys and Melody.”
They’re all so pretty. And they’re friends.
And I’m not anything, particularly friendly.
“Excuse me.” I hold up my phone, like it’s ringing, when really it’s never been so silent. Doesn’t stop me from rushing out and down the hall, into a stairwell, and dialing the first number that comes to mind.
“What’s wrong?”
I suck in air, but it’s hard to breathe. Hard to talk. I sit heavily on a step and put my head between my legs, but it’s not working.So he just listens to me gasp for a solid fifteen seconds, wheezing a little, before the line goes dead.
