“Do you mind if I go to the hotel gym for an hour?” I ask Jenna in the afternoon. “If you don’t want to be alone, I will stay or you could come with me.”
Jenna looks at me like she smelled something bad. “Me going to the gym?” She shakes her head. “I don’t think so. How about you go to the gym while I lay here and keep the bed warm?”
“Sound’s amazing.” I lean in to give her a quick kiss. Her sweet touch almost making me not want to go, but I really need to let off some steam. “If Jaxon or anybody else calls, I will run up here to tell you.”
I change into my workout clothes, grab a bottle of water and my phone before heading downstairs to the gym. I am about to open the door to the gym with my key card when I realize that I forgot my headphones. I hate working out without my headphones. I decide to warm up before my workout with running back up the four floors to our room instead of taking the elevator. I get back into the room and hear Jen talking to someone on the phone in the bedroom. My headphones are in the bedroom, so I sneak in there, not wanting to interrupt.
I wasn’t planning on eavesdropping, but she doesn’t hear me when I come into the room and I don’t want to disturb her phone call. She is turned away from me, looking out of the window. I lean against the doorframe and wait for her to finish talking. I figured she is on the phone with someone from the group home, but when I start to listen, it becomes very clear that that’s not the case. I am so angry, it takes everything in me not to lunge for her, grab that phone and smash it into a thousand pieces.
“I can’t wait to see you.” My blood starts boiling hotter the more I am listening to her.
“Maybe we can plan a weekend together, just the two of us.” Each of her words is like a stab in the chest.
She ends the call with, “I love you too, so much, and I miss you. Don’t forget that you are my better half. Okay, bye.”
She turns toward me, still a smile on her face. That smile falls from her face as soon as she looks up and sees me standing in the doorway.
“Hunter.” Her voice is small and apologetic. I know she is about to feed me some excuses and lies. I can’t listen to that. I can’t even look at her right now. I am so disgusted. After all the distrust she had for me, she has been the one lying the whole time. I turn and storm out, I need to get away from this place and from her.
How could I have been so stupid? I don’t think I have ever misread someone so much. I thought I knew her, now I am not sure I know anything real about her. I can’t believe I fell for her.
15
Jenna
“Wait! Let me explain!” Actually, I can’t explain but I need to tell him something to calm him down. I run after him as he is stomping through the suite, grabbing his key on the way out. He is almost at the door when I catch up to him and grab his arm. “It’s not what you think. Please, just let me explain.”
He turns around to face me. I freeze, my feet rooted to the ground. I have never seen him so mad. His eyebrows are drawn together, his nostrils are flaring and his mouth is twisted in something that looks like a snarl. I automatically let go of his arm and take a step back. “Don’t bother,” he growls and walks out the door.
The words are on the tip of my tongue. It was my sister. I want to yell it at him so badly, but the words are stuck in my throat. I have hidden my sister from everybody for so long, I can’t fail her now.
I slump down the wall next to the door and bury my face in my hands. I can’t believe he just left me. There is no way he will forgive me. He left me and now I am alone again. The first tear rolls down my cheek and that is the beginning of the end. The floodgates have opened and I am crying so hard that I can barely breathe. I sit here until my head feels like it’s filled with cotton. When I finally get off the floor and walk to the bathroom everything is blurry. I splash some cold water in my face and look in the mirror. My eyes are swollen and my whole face is red from crying. My hair looks like something nested in it and my clothes look like I wore them to bed. I look horrible. Just the sight of me like that makes me want to cry again but I don’t think I have any more tears left in me.
I get a bottle of water from the fridge. I don’t realize how thirsty I am until I take the first sip and the cool liquid soothes my dry throat. I finish the bottle and feel slightly better. My first coherent thought hits me. What am I going to do now without Hunter? I have no car, no money, no clothes and I don’t even know if the hotel is paid for yet. Oh god, I turned into my mom. The very thing I fought so hard against all my life has happened. I let it happen. I let Hunter take care of me and now that he left, I am helpless and alone. I am so stupid for letting it get so far. I should have stayed away. Screw Hunter and his good looks. Drawing me in with all his sweetness and cuteness. Making me laugh and keeping me safe. A loud sob escapes my throat and I am on the verge of crying again.
The phone rings, interrupting my pity party. Only two people have this number. Even though I have a pretty good idea who is calling me I still don’t give up hope that it is Hunter until the last second before I see the screen. It’s Jaxon. Disappointed I pick up the phone.
“Hello.” My voice sounds cracked and raw. He definitely knows I have been crying.
“What the hell happened?” The angry undertone in his voice takes me by surprise. I have to remind myself that Hunter is Jaxon’s best friend and that he will always take his side.
“It’s not what he thinks it is.”
“Hunter just called and told me that you lied to him. He said you called some guy behind his back. I don’t think I ever heard him so angry.”
“It wasn’t a guy.” I sigh. “I can’t really explain right now.” How can I make them understand that it wasn’t a guy without telling them about my sister?
“Why can’t you explain?”
“Jaxon, I just can’t.” He must hear the desperation in my voice. After a pause, he sounds much calmer and says, “I’m going to come and get you. I’ll call you when we are at the hotel.” He hangs up before I can say anything else. He is definitely mad at me. I just hope Eliza will understand and at least give me a chance to explain. It feels like forever until Jaxon calls me to let me know that they made it. I walk down to meet them in the lobby. Jaxon is talking to the lady at the desk and Eliza is standing next to him. She turns and walks towards me as soon as she sees me. There is no anger in her eyes and I feel like a few of the giant rocks in my gut are removed, only leaving half a dozen left. Knowing that my best friend is not furious with me even though I have been lying to her as well is what I need to survive this day.
She throws her arms around me and I lean my head on her shoulder trying my very hardest not to cry again. She just holds me for a few minutes, rubbing my back until Jaxon clears his throat next to us. Eliza lets go of me and I look up at him. I almost expect him to yell at me, but all he says is, “You look terrible.” Eliza jabs her elbow in his ribs, but he doesn’t even flinch.
“Thanks for pointing that out Sherlock. I feel just as amazing as I look.”
“I just don’t get it. Who were you talking to on the phone? Why can’t you just tell us?”
“It’s complicated. I know it sounds bad, but it really isn’t. Please just believe me. It’s not what Hunter thinks. I just can’t explain.” I sound like I am begging and maybe I am. I just want them to believe me. As if Eliza reads my mind, she takes my hand and says, “I believe you.”
For the next day, I am the epitome of a moping teenager. I don’t eat, I barely sleep, and I walk around with my head down and a permanent frown embedded on my face. I don’t even know in what city I am in right now. I just went along with Jaxon and Eliza without questioning anything.
“You need to eat something,” Eliza tells me. We are sitting on the couch in our hotel room watching a movie. She is nestled up in Jaxon’s lap. That’s the only time she is comfortable enough to say more than a few words.
“I’m not hungry.” I glance over at Jaxon, who has been giving me the cold shoulder all day. �
�Did you talk to Hunter? Just tell me he is okay and maybe where he went. I am just worried about him.”
“Then why were you talking to some other guy?” Jaxon snaps back.
“It wasn’t a guy I was talking to. There is no one else. I love Hunter.” I freeze when the last three words leave my mouth. I didn’t even think about saying them, they just came out at the moment. Now that they are out I realize that I mean them. I think I loved him for a while. First as a friend, but then it became more and now it’s too late. I’m completely, stupidly in love with a guy who hates me.
Jaxon raises one eyebrow, waiting for me to say more. Eliza breaks out into a wide grin. “You do?”
“Yes,” I admit. “I do love him and there is no one else.”
Jaxon rolls his eyes. “I’ll talk to him.” His voice is softer now, he believes me. I sigh in relief. Jaxon grabs his phone but instead of making a call he reads a message someone just sent him. “Shit.” He grabs the TV remote and frantically flips through the channels until he lands on a local news channel. We all gasp at the same time. Oh no!
This must be a bad joke. The news is showing a picture of Jaxon next to a picture of Hunter with the running banner “Wanted for the kidnapping of a young woman named Mindy Larson.” They show a picture of Mindy holding Simon and then a picture of her and Lacey.
“They are doing this to flush us out. Everybody in this State and all the surrounding States will be looking for us now. We can’t stay in this hotel. We need to go somewhere and lay low.
“I know a place we can go.” I blurt out. “It’s secluded and no one will be looking for us there. Give me your phone so I can text Hunter the address too.” I hold out my hand towards Jaxon and he put his phone in it. I text Hunter and then put the address in Jaxon’s GPS. We gather our stuff and head out. I feel like a bank robber walking through the hotel and the parking lot. Jaxon is wearing a hoodie, hiding his face a little bit, but I still feel like everybody is staring at us. I am definitely on the edge, sick with worry.
Two hours later we pull up to the lake house. Jaxon turns in the driver’s seat and looks back at me. “This is it?” The disbelief in his voice is as clear as day.
“Yes, hold on, I’ll open the garage, so you can pull in.” I try not to look at Eliza when I get out of the car. I don’t want to see the expression on her face right now. She is probably so mad at me. I type in the key code that opens the garage and walk in to disarm the alarm system. I close the garage as soon as Jaxon’s car is in. This house is pretty sheltered, hidden by trees. You can’t even see it from the road, but I still don’t want to take a chance. I lead Eliza and Jaxon into the luxurious lakefront home. I bring them to the spacious living room where picture frames of a happy family catches Jaxon’s eye. He picks up one of the fancy frames and shows it to Eliza who gawks at it wide eyes.
“Explain,” Jaxon orders.
“That’s my sister in the picture, with her adoptive family.” It’s so weird saying it out loud. I have never told anyone before. “Her dad is a politician and he wants to keep the image of his perfect little family. I am only allowed to see her as long as I don’t tell anyone about her.”
They both stare at me in disbelief. Jaxon talks first. “That’s who you were talking to on the phone?”
“Yes, we usually meet here because it’s so private.” Their disbelief and shock quickly turns into understanding and maybe a little pity. I know the whole situation is messed up, but I am just glad I get to have my sister in my life that I look past it.
Jaxon hands me the picture frame. “I’m going to call Hunter and see how far out he is,” he says before walking out of the room. I really hope Hunter will be here soon. I look down at the picture in my hand. It was taken a few years ago, right here at the lake. Josie is wearing a yellow summer dress. Her mom bought it just for that day. She is smiling in this picture, but if you look closely you can see that she is not looking into the camera. She is looking right past it, where I was standing.
Five Years Ago
I feel small and lost in the back of the car they always send to pick me up. The driver never talks to me, which makes it even worse. The first few times he came and got me, I ask him a few questions, but he completely ignored me. So, I just stopped talking to him altogether. I look out the window and see that we are getting close to the lake house. I am so thrilled to see Josie again. I didn’t get to see her last week at all because her family took her on some vacation in Europe.
We pull in the driveway and I am so excited that I jump out of the car before it comes to a total stop. The door flies open and Josie runs down the stairs to meet me halfway. We hug and jump and squeal and then we hug and jump and squeal some more.
“Girls don’t be ridiculous,” Josie’s mom calls from the top of the steps. “Come on in before someone sees you.”
We walk into the house hand in hand like we always do. When we are together, we have this weird need to be touching all the time. It became a habit quickly after we met. Josie’s parents hate it. Her dad says it’s just weird. They put a second bed upstairs in Josie’s room for me to sleep in. They could have saved that money because we always end up sleeping together in one bed. It’s the way we can both sleep the best.
“Tell me everything about your vacation,” I say once we are in Josie’s room.
“It was nice, but I missed you. I wish you could have been there. That’s all I can think of when I do something fun, you know. I just want to experience things with you. It’s no fun without you.”
“Once we are grown up, we can still do all those things together. You just go places first, so we know our way around when it’s time for us to go. Just imagine you are going on a recon mission, gathering information.” My words make her laugh and instantly brighten her mood.
“I’ll do that. I brought you something.” She pulls a bag out of her closet and hands it to me. The first thing I pull out is a teddy bear with a heart on its belly. “Push on the heart,” Josie tells me. When I do the bear says, “I love you,” In an electronic voice.
I smile. “That’s so stinking cute!” She always knows what I like. Next, I pull out different packs of candy from different countries. On the bottom of the bag, I find a small jewelry box. In it is a bracelet with a single pendant on it. It’s a simple half circle with the letter ‘J’ engraved on it. Josie holds up her hand and shows me that she is wearing the same one.
“My parents approved since it’s just a ‘J’. Everybody will assume that I am wearing it for my name, but we will know that it stands for your name.” She put her pendant to mine. Two halves making one whole circle. “Because you are my better half.”
I snort. “I think you got it wrong. You are my better half.”
“Josephine put on the dress that I bought you. The photographer is going to be here soon,” Josie’s Mom yells through the door. Josie rolls her eyes and begrudgingly puts the new dress on while I start eating some of the chocolates she gave me.
“Why don’t you put on this dress?” Josie asks, holding up a dress that looks a lot like the one she is wearing. “It would look super cute on you. I know, because it looks super cute on me too.”
“You are so funny,” I laugh and put on the dress, mostly to please her. When we are both dressed, we stand next to each other and look in the mirror. We rarely look like twins. I am an inch and a half taller and five pounds heavier than Josie. Our faces are pretty much identical but the biggest difference between us is our wardrobe. I wear second hand Wal-Mart clothes while Josie wears the newest most expensive designer wear. Now standing next to her in a similar dress, we do actually look like twins.
“The photographer is here.” Josie’s dad says through the door, accompanied by a knock.
“Come in Dad,” Josie announces cheerfully. The door open and Josie’s dad steps in. His face falls into a grim expression as soon as he sees us standing together.
“What in the world are you wearing Jenna? Put your own clothes back on at once, a
nd Josephine let’s go we need to take these family pictures.” With that, he turns around and walks out.
“I hate him so much,” Josie says through her gritted teeth.
“It’s okay. Don’t worry about it.” I take the dress off and put my ripped jeans and old t-shirt back on. Josie waits for me to change so we can walk back down together.
The photographer is all set up in the backyard with the lake in the background. When he sees us walking down together he looks confused. “Are they going to be one or two young ladies in the family portrait?”
Josie’s mom chuckles. “Oh no, she is just a friend from school. Come on Josephine, stand right here between us. Josie does as she is told and takes her spot in between her parents.
“Okay everybody, big smiles on three. One, two and three…” The photographer counts but doesn’t take the picture. “Okay let try this again. On three. One, two, and …” He looks up from his camera.
“What’s wrong?” Josie’s dad asks.
“Well Sir, your daughter is not smiling.” In fact, Josie is wearing the biggest frown I have ever seen. The corners of her mouth are literally pointing all the way south.
“Josephine!” Her mom yells in outrage. “Young lady, you will smile into this camera right now or I will have Jenna taken back to her house immediately!”
The Things We Hide: A Friends to Lovers Young Adult Romance (Pushed Aside Book 2) Page 7