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Chase: I just found out about it myself. The girls don't tell her. She'll speak up and they don't want to lose their jobs.
Levi: Start with Lon. She'll protect those girls at all costs.
I’m not surprised at my brother’s suggestion, considering where Lonnie is coming from. And if there’s a way to escape a threat, she’ll figure one out.
Chase: I’ll call her. Catch you up later.
I swipe out of the text and dial Lonnie. “Hey, got a few minutes?”
I send Charlie a text that I'll be back in town tomorrow and will stop by the library to catch up. Heaven knows we have plenty to catch up on. At least I do.
I’ve been keeping my fears bottled up as much as I can to keep Chase from worrying any more than he already is. He had to go to the arena early this morning. Something about a meeting with Coach and Lonnie before tonight’s game, but it gave me some alone time with my thoughts.
My options.
What would I do if…?
I'm still on edge when I step into the locker room to get dressed for the game. My hands are as shaky as they were on my first day.
When will I step into a room and not be afraid of who will judge me…know who I am…what I've done? What my father did.
When will someone see me…and not pity me?
Or more recently…see a giant dollar sign. I keep wondering how many more have made the connection between me and Penelope Walker…the missing bride.
Would it matter? How far has Conner gone with his theories? All he has to do is call that number flashing on the screen and say “I found her” and I'm on a plane back to Virginia.
Dropping my duffle bag, I search for knowing eyes in the crowd of girls in the room.
Most of them glance in my direction but look away quickly—or at each other. As if…
As if waiting for a cue.
There’s a quick knock on the door and Lonnie comes in. “Jess, Ruby, Bridget, come with me. I need you in my office for something.”
“What for?” one of them calls.
Lonnie shoots a hard glare. “Now.” She sweeps the room with her eyes and lands them on me, giving me a quick wink then follows the three girls out.
I turn back to the room. Now all eyes are definitely on me.
Lena comes up to me first. Her arms stretching, then taking me in for a tight hug. “I got you girl,” she whispers. “Your secret is always safe with me.”
I blink rapidly as she pulls back and hands me a piece of paper.
But I don’t have time to question it because M.J. is right behind her, offering me an equally tight embrace. “I can't believe that asshole would turn you over to a man who wants to hold you against your will.”
My mouth drops.
“It’s okay, Lonnie had to tell us, but we’d never turn our back on you.” She also hands me a folded piece of paper.
“Lonnie?”
“She’s one of the good ones,” Tracy says, coming up to me and handing me yet another one. “And so are you. We’re not giving you up without a fight.” Tray winks. “Oh, and I’m sorry about the magazine thing. Conner found out about it and told me I should ask you to be featured and see what you’d say. I didn’t even question it because I thought it was a great idea.” She shrugs.
I accept her embrace, too speechless to speak. I look down at the folded pages but don’t open them. “What about the other girls?”
“They…don’t know. Lonnie didn’t include them in our meeting last night.”
