I know I can’t lie, not now. There’s no point anyway. Not if I need advice. “Yes,” I whisper.
“Oh wow. Okay.”
I glance up to see Clara pale. I’ve really screwed things up, I can see it through her eyes now and this is bad. Really bad. It might even be unfixable. I hope she isn’t regretting getting involved in this.
Bleep, bleep.
Before I can say anything else, there’s an unwelcome noise from my cell phone. I assume it’s going to be Zane, so I grab it quickly to see what he says, but it’s just another threat that has a chill creeping up my spine.
Unknown Number: I’m still watching you, wherever you go.
“Is that him?” Clara demands. “I can tell you’re all panicking now.”
“It’s him. He just wants me to be scared, that’s all.”
“You need to go to the police, this is getting silly.”
“That will make it worse. You know Jeremy only cares about his reputation.”
“So, you’re going to let him destroy you? Not under my watch.” She grips the steering wheel so tight that her knuckles almost turn white. Anger rolls off her in waves, I want to say something to calm her down, but I don’t think I can. Everything I say and do is wrong at the moment. “We have to stop this, Nova, it’s madness.”
“Okay. I will. I’ll do things your way. My way isn’t working for me.”
“Good. I’ll get this sorted for you, Nova, I promise you.”
I focus my eyes out the window, aimlessly watching the world go by, hoping someone can help me. I don’t seem to be any good at saving myself, and instead of my savior rescuing me, I destroyed him. Perhaps it’s time to leave my fate in the hands of my best friend who seems to have it all together. I don’t like relying on other people all the time, but something has to work. I’m getting really desperate here…
* * *
Knock, knock.
I lift my head up, wondering where I am for a moment. This is familiar, but it doesn’t feel right. I should be in Zane’s soft bed… but of course, I’m on Clara’s couch. I forgot about my run away. In my dreams, I was still with him, in his arms. I stretch upright, trying to shake that thought from my brain.
Knock, knock.
I wonder why Clara isn’t answering her door, but then I remember she had the start of a migraine before, so she’s probably asleep and Kem is working nights this week. The guest will have to wait.
Knock, knock. Knock, knock. Knock, knock.
They are persistent. Especially since it’s… ten thirty at night. People don’t usually call that late unless it’s an emergency. If Clara is ill, she won’t be up for hearing bad news, so I should just send them away. I don’t really want to move from where I am, but I force myself to get up and pad across the hallway to see who it is. I rub the sleep from my eye and fumble with the overcomplicated lock, the emotion keeping me exhausted.
“Hang on,” I call out, my voice hoarse. “Let me just…”
I finally pull the door and it swings back much too hard. It hits the wall beside me which causes me to wince. But once I’m certain that I haven’t woken Clara up with my clumsiness, I turn back to see who’s at the door.
Oh my God.
My heart sinks. It falls into my shoes and leaves my blood completely ice cold. I rub my eyes again just to check that I haven’t lost my mind, but unfortunately, I’m still very much sane.
“Jeremy… what the hell are you doing here?”
16
Zane
I read the note about a hundred times, my heart hammering in my chest as I do. Nova is gone, my one shining ray of hope in a hopeless situation has vanished, and she hasn’t said anything else to suggest she might ever come back.
I really wish she didn’t leave, my heart actually hurts, but I really don’t have the brain space to get her back here. I need to fix my business, it’s everything to me, and with everyone now thinking that I’m involved in some drug ring I don’t know how to get her back.