Losing Me, Finding You(67)

I sigh and turn around, retreating back into my room with its grand, four-poster bed and its bloodred sheets. It's quite grand actually, probably one of the nicest places I've ever stayed, but then again, I don't exactly have much to compare it to. The one and only vacation I ever went on was when my father took us to his mother's funeral in Connecticut. We mostly stayed in chain hotels though, nothing at all like this, and if I said I had any fun on that trip, I'd be lying. Thinking about that makes me start to wonder about my family and how they're doing. No, I haven't been gone long, but I can only assume that something about this whole incident has affected them. Or at least I hope it has. My father has a very bad habit of erasing things he doesn't like from the family's collective memory. It's sad to think that he might try to do the same with me. I consider calling home to check, but I realize immediately that I'm not ready for that – emotionally, spiritually, or otherwise. I don't know how long it'll take, but a few days has not been enough. If I call now, I'll feel trapped again, and I can't have that, not when I'm just starting to realize what it's like to be free.

I tap my fingers on the windowsill and wish the clock on the nightstand would move faster, so I could call Christy. I'd call her now if I could, but I don't want to risk blowing it by getting us caught. It feels like she needs to talk to me about something, like if she doesn't tell me, she'll explode. Besides, it gets lonely sitting by myself for hours at a time. If I really could convince Christy to join me, I think this whole outlaw thing would be a lot more fun.

I stand up and stretch my arms over my head, moving over to the window, so I can peek out the curtains and get a good view of the city. To be honest, it isn't much to look at, so I'm not really sure why we're here. You'd think with the freedom of the road at our beck and call that we could find someplace better to park ourselves for a few nights.

With yet another sigh, I drop the curtains and climb onto the big bed, curling up into a ball and drifting off to sleep faster than I'd like to admit. I start off dreaming about Austin and the way his hands feel on my skin, but end up losing out to nightmares where men with feathered faces surround me.

I guess I wouldn't know a premonition if it bit me in the butt.



Chapter 47

I end up waking up in a heavy sweat and grabbing at my phone with frantic fingers. It's ten till. I made it just in time. I sigh in relief and stand up, stretching my arms over my head and checking out the room for signs that Austin might've come back. His duffel bag is untouched and there's still a bit of colored tape on the toilet seat that says I'm clean and ready for you that's unbroken. I push back my feelings of disappointment and clutch my phone tight, itching for someone to talk to. As soon as the clock strikes six, I start dialing Christy's number and wait with bated breath for her to answer. When she does, I get butterflies in my stomach.

“Amy?”

“Christy,” I say with a sigh of relief. “Can you talk freely?” There's a rustling sound from the other end of the line like she's nodding at me.

“Just for a minute. We have to be quick.”

“What's going on?” I ask as I sit on the edge of the bed and curl my fingers around the mattress. “Are you okay?”

“Amy, I'm sorry for getting mad at you. I just … I couldn't stand that you'd lied to me and that you'd left the virginity building without me.” I can hear a smile in her voice, but it also sounds like maybe she's tired, exhausted even. I'm guessing the past few days haven't exactly been the most fun for her. “But I … I didn't mean to snap at you. I was just so caught up in my own problems that I wasn't paying attention. Can you ever forgive me?” I smile and try not to get all teary-eyed at her words.

“Of course.” I pause. “As long as you can forgive me, too. God, Christy, I have so much to tell you.”

“Amy,” she says, interrupting me before I can launch into a ridiculously long and detailed account of my recent sexual encounters with a one, Mr. Austin Sparks. “I need to get out of here. Like yesterday. I should've gone with you when I had the chance, but I … God, I don't even know what I was thinking, but now they know somehow, too, and they've just been horrible.” I cut her off and ask her to slow down; she isn't making any sense.

“Who? Your parents?”

“Yes. Please, Amy, please, can you come and get me?” she begs, pausing and lowering her voice a notch before continuing. There's a knock at my door, but I ignore it in favor of my longtime friend. Whoever is out there can wait. “Amy, I need you.”

“I'll come, but I don't know how soon I can get there. To be honest with you, I'm not exactly sure where we are right now. I'll have to wait for Austin to come back, so I can figure this out. As soon as I get more info, I can call you back or text you or something.” I can hear that rustling again. I think Christy's shaking her head.

“Just come when you can. I don't know if I'll be able to get anymore messages from you. My parents took my cell away, and as soon as they see Crandle in church, they'll know I wasn't talking to him.” She pauses. “Amy, I know I could leave now, just walk away, but I don't think I can survive by myself. I need help, and you … I trust you.” My heart starts to pump faster, almost as fast as the fist that's banging on the door.