“It has to be Elliot.”
My eyes widen. I’d almost forgotten Elliot was even there that night. I search my brain, trying to remember the details. “Oh my God,” I say, when it comes to me. “You’re right. My purse spilled out. You told him to leave, but he must have grabbed my room key first.”
He nods, like he came to the same conclusion, his hand rubbing up and down my thigh.
“But why?” Just because we were an easy target and had money? I’d never expect that from him.
He shrugs. “I don’t know, but I’ll find out. I promise.”
I shift my body to lie on top of him, looking down at his beautiful face, that stubbled jaw, and the scar beneath his lip. “I believe you.” Then I kiss his scar before trailing my mouth up to his. He licks at the seam of my lips, and I open for him. Squeezing my ass, he angles his hips just right to slip inside me once again.
“It’s about fucking time.”
I sense his absence before I’m even fully awake. I smooth my hand across the mattress without opening my eyes to confirm my suspicions before stretching, my body sore and stiff from last night. God, it’s never been l
ike that, and I can’t wait to do it again. I blink one eye open, checking the time on the alarm clock on the bedside table, but something else catches my eye. I sit up, my eyebrows pulling together as I pluck it off the nightstand, turning it in my hands. Underneath it is a note that reads:
For you. Taking care of the truck. Don’t go anywhere. -Seb.
A music box.
Except this one isn’t like the one from Anastasia. This one is a carousel, complete with tiny horses. Turning it over, I find the little silver winder and twist. The pretty tune fills the room, and I cover my mouth with my hand, my heart splintering wide open at the sentiment.
AFTER HAVING THE TRUCK TOWED to the nearest auto shop, I went to ask the front desk lady—turns out her name is Lou—if they had some kind of cab service or preferred list of local companies. She laughed me off and told me Earl would be my chauffeur. I folded myself into his Oldsmobile and thanked him when he dropped me off. An hour later and two hundred bucks later, I’m on my way back to the motel.
I squeeze the steering wheel, hating myself for what I’m doing with Evan. I know this will end badly. The beautiful and the damned. That’s what we are. Every day that I get closer to my expiration date, I find myself on edge. Agitated. Nervous. Angry. Wondering how it’s going to happen. When it’s going to happen. And how Evan is going to feel about it. Bitterness is a new feeling for me. I find myself full of resentment, hating anyone with a future.
Every summer comes to an end. Does that mean we shouldn’t enjoy the sun?
Valeen’s words echo in my mind. But what happens when the summer ends, and Evan’s left alone with the fallout? It’s not fair to her. Even still, I can’t bring myself to regret it. I woke up early this morning and watched her sleep for a good hour, her blonde hair spilling over the white pillow case, the sheet pooled low on her hips as she lay facedown, one leg sticking out. I traced my fingers along the notches in her spine, trying to hatch some kind of a plan. Some way to make sure she’s set when I’m gone.
I dig my phone out of my back pocket and call Eros.
“’Sup, brother?” he answers.
“I need a favor,” I tell him.
“Shoot.”
“I need you to do some digging on Elliot. Check his truck to see if you can find any clues to who the fuck he is. If he goes anywhere, follow him.” I found Evan’s music box and the hotel key in his truck, but my search was cut short when Elliot returned and almost caught me. I know there’s more information to be found.
“What’s that squirrely little fucker up to now?”
“He’s the one who broke into Evan’s hotel room and robbed her parents.”
Eros mutters a curse, exhaling a loud breath. “Motherfucker. When will you guys get here?”
“Late. And don’t tell anyone else just yet. I don’t want to risk scaring him off before I get to him.”
“Ten-four.”
I hang up the phone, tossing it onto the seat next to me as I swing into the motel parking lot. Ignoring the designated spots, I park parallel to the walkway to fit the truck and the trailer. I kill the engine and walk toward room sixteen, pulling the copper key out of my front pocket. When I push the door open, Evan’s right there, still naked, looking up at me like I hung the moon.
She curls her little hand around the back of my neck, hopping up to wrap her legs around me. I catch her, holding her up with a hand on her ass.
“You greet everyone like this? What if I was housekeeping? Or Earl?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.
“Just my boyfriends,” she teases, but her smile falls when she sees the look on my face.