Total pages in book: 180
Estimated words: 176012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 880(@200wpm)___ 704(@250wpm)___ 587(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 176012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 880(@200wpm)___ 704(@250wpm)___ 587(@300wpm)
I check the clock again. 8:02.
I sigh, turning back to my reflection. Hawke was certain that removing the mirror would damage the brick, not to mention the nightmare we might find in the walls, like rats or mold. I can only hope he was teasing me. I want to be aboveboard and have a clean place, but a discovery like that could destroy my business.
And…I also feared finding something I couldn’t afford to fix three years ago when I opened the place, either. Like a structural problem.
I don’t really want to potentially damage a wall now that I’m open full time. Construction would hurt the traffic trying to come in here when I’m just getting going.
Fingerprints dot the edge of the mirror on the top right. I lean in, narrowing my eyes. It’s four fingers, minus the thumb. As if someone clutched it from behind. I frown, the images of various horror movies making me shudder.
I wipe the prints off too.
Moving into the kitchen, I toss the apron into the laundry and grab my backpack. Stepping into the bathroom, I change, slip my earbuds into a pocket, and push any long bangs back over the top of my head. But as I reach for the cap, I stop, realizing it’s not with me. He took it this morning.
I frown. I have others at home, but…that one was nice and broken in.
He still hasn’t given me my compass back, either. Does that mean the hat is still technically mine? I smile to myself and dash back into the shop. Maybe it would be warranted to go to the gym after all and take it back.
I charge through the door of the kitchen to grab my phone, but as I pick it up, I see the empty Lost and Found box again. I forgot to ask Hailey or Noel who came in for it. I thought I would’ve noticed—it’s a small shop.
Just then, ringing pierces my brain, and I gasp. Dylan appears on the screen, and I exhale, swiping. “Hello?”
“Are you coming?”
I switch off the kitchen light. “Maybe.”
“Well, I’m waiting.” Chatter and music play in the background. “And I have to be back by ten.”
“I didn’t ask you to work out with me tonight.”
This was her idea.
But she just goes on, not hearing me. “Can you bring some leftovers?” she asks. “Hunter snuck me away behind the archery range, and I missed dinner.”
I hang up on her. Unbelievable.
Then, it occurs to me I could’ve asked her if Lucas was there.
I’m glad I didn’t. I don’t want her thinking that would have made my decision for me.
A text rolls in. Hurry! she writes. I’m so hungry!
I growl. “This is stupid.” I slide my phone into my pants. “Go exercise so you can go to sleep.”
I start to leave, mumbling to myself, “Your brother paid for a membership. You’re allowed to use it.”
But then I circle back and throw some leftover croissants into a paper bag and stuff them into my backpack.
In three minutes, I walk through the doors of Astrophysics a block away.
Heading up to the counter, I tap the device with my membership card.
“Welcome.” The same young woman from last night greets me. “Towel?”
“Please.” She pulls one from under the counter, and I take it. “Thank you.”
After I secure my backpack and jacket in the locker room, I fit in my earbuds and climb the stairs to the track with the bag of croissants. I glance around for Dylan, but try to keep my shoulders relaxed so it doesn’t look like I’m looking for someone else.
Noah Van der Berg lies on a bench, pressing a bar up and down above his chest. He exercises with Dylan sometimes, part of their race training. Where is she?
Then, Farrow Kelly rises off a leg curl machine far to my left. He stares at me.
I glance back at Noah, who drops the bar back into his cradle and sits up, meeting my gaze too.
Unease settles into my stomach, and I stop breathing for a moment.
Oh, no.
Quickly, I tap out a text to Dylan.
Where are you?”
The hair on my neck rises. Darting my gaze up, I see Farrow and Noah walking straight toward me, one from the left, and one from my right.
“No, no, no…”
A notification pops up.
Oh, I’m at camp, she writes. I sent my associates.
My chest caves. “Dylan,” I whimper under my breath.
Trust me, she says next.
And just as both men close in, I spot Lucas breezing past on the track, his chin lifting in greeting. My heart thuds, and he almost looks like he’s about to smile, but his gaze flickers to the boys, and casually, he turns back to the track, disappearing.
I blink slow and hard. I’m gonna kill her.
I’m going…to kill her.
When I open my eyes, Noah is there, and I’m pretty sure he speed-walked to beat Farrow. “Hi,” he says, stopping in front of me.