Page 75 of Detour

Both he and Marc look up and I shake my head in answer. We could’ve missed her while we were at work, but something tells me she hasn’t been here. No, that girl’s running. She’ll return when she feels there’s no longer a threat. The chance that I might be considered part of that threat is killing me.

“Want me to get Kary?” The apartment manager. She and Marc have some kind of agreement that none of us question. He keeps her happy and in return we have free run of the place. Her having keys to all the apartments is a nice perk, if needed, but I’m not ready to violate Angela’s privacy. Yet.

I shake my head again. “Nah, let’s give her more time.”

Marc shrugs, appearing unaffected, but I know better. I take in his still form as he stares absently at the high school across the street from Creekwood’s pool area and glance over to Beck with his white knuckles around a beer, ignoring the girl squirming in his lap.

The garage was nuts today, thankfully keeping us busy, yet it didn’t keep my ass from checking my phone every few minutes, hoping for literally anything from Angela. A text asking for a ride. A call telling me I should fuck off already. Okay, I wouldn’t have liked that last one, but at least I would’ve known she was alive. Not knowing is fucking torture. Her last words continue to haunt me, and with the amount of times the guys asked about her, I know they’re concerned, too. Drew better be taking good care of her. The bastard.

Speaking of, what was that shit Rianne said about him having a thing for Angela? Angela said they were step-siblings at one point and have been close ever since. Was that just her mom running her mouth? Or is he really holding out for her? Thinking back to the day I saw him with his girlfriend, and how in love they seemed, I shake the notion away. Plus, Angela wouldn’t stand for those kinds of games.

That level of dumbfuckery reminds me of her shitbag boss all over again.

Damn, I’m losing my mind with the scenarios Angela could be caught up in.

“Who’s on the cards tonight?” I ask suddenly, earning a pair of stunned expressions pointed my way.

“Why? You want on?” Beck asks.

I shrug, crossing my arms across my chest. “It’s been a while.” And I could use the distraction. We all could.

“Are you sure, dude? It’s been a little-”

“I’m sure.” I’m well fucking aware what it’s been. I swing my gaze to Marc. “Set it up.”

He doesn’t respond immediately, just holds my stare, then finally sighs, saying, “Alright, I’ll make the call.”

Beckett stands, guiding the chick off his lap. “Let’s go.”

“You don’t have to.”

“Fuck that, I’m going. I wasn’t feeling this party anyway.” Ignoring the protest behind him, he moves toward the door. “I could go for a race right now, too.”

We watch Marc get to his feet. “I’m in, but,” his eyes land on the deserted pool, “what if neighbor girl shows?”

I blow out a breath and drop my gaze, watching the calm water like she’ll surface at any moment, praying she will. “Then maybe she’ll stay.”

She’s voiced her concerns about living next to each other enough for me to know that’s partly to blame for her disappearance. If me being here is keeping her away, then I can figure out somewhere else to go. I can’t promise I’ll stay away for good, but I can give her the space she needs to feel comfortable again.

I just wish she’d come home already.

Since she moved in, there hasn’t been a single night that I didn’t go to bed knowing she was asleep just next door. Tossing and turning last night, I realized how much that knowledge comforted me. Feeling her close calms me. If I lose that, I lose a piece of my mind, a piece of my sanity. I need it back. I need her back. And I’ll do anything to make that happen, even if it means leaving.

CHAPTER 26

Angela

I run my hands down the front of my gown, trying to smooth out the creases. Underneath is the outfit my sister helped me pick out—a peach crocheted crop top with ties at the neck and a mid-rise white skirt flowing over strappy sandals. It’s fancier than my usual sporty attire, but I love it. The eye-catching colors accentuate my deep tan and toned tummy flawlessly. With a braid along my hairline, I left the rest down to accommodate the required odd-shaped cap, the one I refuse to put on until the last possible second.

If only she were coming today to see it. Yesterday, after an hour of arguing, she confirmed she wouldn’t be attending. Our mom’s take on my “ungrateful attitude” swayed Kelsie to skip my graduation entirely and now I’ve been sentenced to quarantine as punishment.

Luckily, Drew and his dad don’t follow Rianne’s way of thinking so they’ll be there. Drew impersonating my personal chauffeur has been inconvenient, even more than when the neighbors did, so borrowing his car for the day gave me a chance to get ready at my place alone. Honestly, staying with him was a great chance to clear my head overall. Less boys occupying my doorway and headspace. More time to focus on my job search that’s becoming more important as the days pass.

While there, I also found out I was approved for the financial aid I applied for months ago. Once enrolled at the local college, I’d hoped to start general classes until I could decide what career path I wanted to take, but with all the shit that’s been going on at the wash, I’ve determined I want to become my own boss. I want to learn everything there is to know about running a business so I don’t have to work for a snake like Joe ever again.

I was able to put in a full shift yesterday, too, but with the added pressure of avoiding Joe at every turn it was long and tedious. Something it’s never been before he started his weird antics. Several times I stood from finishing tire polish only to find him licking his lips in my direction. I debated between punching him or quitting, but ultimately didn’t do either. I can’t give up the pay, at least not yet. I called my advisor during my lunch break about the possibility of starting night classes this summer but she didn’t have any openings on such short notice. To top it off, Joe insisted I stay late to clean the windows knowing full well I had graduation rehearsal. I offered Zoe, a part-time newbie, twenty bucks to help so I could make it out of there in time. I wasn’t going to miss out on my final high school event and I’d be damned if I’d let Joe catch me alone again.

I wasn’t surprised to find the complex quiet today but I didn’t expect the neighbors’ bikes to be gone. I thought they’d still be sleeping off their usual Friday night party. Ignoring Coty’s calls and texts has been hard, but necessary. I’ve been dealing with my mom’s bullshit for years—it’s nothing new to me—but having others see it was worse. The idea that Rianne could get her destructive hands anywhere near Coty, or Beckett, or Marc, that was downright unbearable. I’d willingly walk back into her noxious grasp before letting her poison touch the boys next door.