Crushing (6 page)

“Your friend can join us.” He looked at me and raised his eyebrows at Gage.

“Uncle Nate, this is Rory Atherton. You remember Rory, our neighbor—”

“Nice to see you again.” I stuck my hand out to shake theirs.

“Of course I remember. Your shadow from across the street. You used to give me dirty looks anytime I showed up. Lovely to see you again.”

Now I was blushing. I really hadn’t liked him. Every time he came here, he took Gage away. Gage had always been so glad to see him, and I had been so jealous. Now I understood better. Gage had needed him. And I had been such a little brat.

“This is Wilson.” Nathan introduced the burly man standing next to him.

The friend just nodded as he shook my hand but didn’t speak. Okay. Weird.

“Rory tried out for the golf team too,” Gage told them.

“That’s great. How did it go?” his uncle asked.

“Good. The coach is cool.”

“Well, I’m sure you’ll both do well. Rory, would you like to join us for dinner? I feel like I need to win you over now that we’re back. You seemed to take such a dislike to me when you were little.” He smiled at me.

There were so many reasons right now for the squirrels to be tap-dancing their little hearts out to “Yankee Doodle.” I didn’t want this man to still think of me as a spoiled brat. I knew Dominic must have gone around the outside and was waiting by his truck right now, so having dinner with Gage couldn’t happen. I wasn’t supposed to even be friends with him, let alone getting to know his family. Not that I cared what my parents thought, but at this point I was certain Dominic would rat me out. And to add to the whole situation, Nathan was beautiful. I mean like heart-pounding, where-are-the-cameras-he-must-be-a-movie-star amazing. For heaven’s sake. Deep breaths.

“No, of course you don’t. I can’t believe you remember that. I was such a horrible brat.” I laughed. “I would love to have dinner, but my parents are expecting me at home. Thank you so much for the invitation. Maybe another time?” Inbred Southern manners came in handy in times of overwhelming panic and squirrel infestation.

The friend just stared but Mr. Elliott smiled.

“No apology necessary. Anytime, Rory. Gage and I will have to come over and reintroduce ourselves to your family.”

“That would be great. Lovely seeing you again.” I gave them a little wave. As I made my way out, Gage fell into step with me.

“I’ll walk out with you. I have to put my clubs away.”

“That was so embarrassing. I can’t believe he remembers that.” I was shaking my head. My face felt like it was burning.

“Well, it’s not like you tried to hide it. I think this was the first time you ever smiled at him.” He chuckled.

“I was such a bratty little monster.”

“Don’t feel bad. He thought it was funny.”

Somehow that didn’t make me feel any better about it. I noticed he didn’t argue about my brattiness.

As expected, Dom was sitting on the tailgate of his truck waiting for me when we came out the front doors of the clubhouse. He pushed off and stood up when he saw us.

“Your watchdog awaits,” Gage said.

“Please don’t start anything.”

“Now, Rory, why would I do that?” he said, not looking at me.

“Dom is my friend. He’s a nice guy. You might like him if you gave him a chance.

Gage looked annoyed.

“Even if I was inclined to get to know him, which I’m not, I think he feels the same way I do about it.” He split off from me to head to his car. “Later.”

Aaargh. Boys are dumb. Dominic grabbed my golf bag and didn’t say a word. His jaw was set. So much for his sunny disposition. I couldn’t wait to meet with the girls and get their opinion. I was in serious need of advice.

I pulled into Running Latte, having escaped without my parent’s knowledge since I wasn’t supposed to be driving anywhere alone. I told them I was going to do homework and snuck out the back door. I was so relieved to finally talk to the girls. It felt like it had been forever. So much had happened since Saturday night.

When I got inside the girls were already there with my drink waiting. They had our favorite corner in the back with the comfy chairs staked out. They really were the best of friends. Where would I be without these girls?

I threw myself down in the chair and grabbed my drink.

“Oh my gosh, I’ve needed this all day.” I closed my eyes, indulging in the beautiful experience that was coffee. It’s one of the things that proved there is a God. Who else could make something this fabulous? It certainly didn’t happen by accident.

“Okay enough with the coffee love. What’s going on?” Laken demanded. She was sitting forward on the edge of her chair. I cracked my eyes open. Hmmm. Yes, the coffee was pleasantly buzzing through my system and had revived me enough to begin.

“I’m in a bit of a situation, I think,” I said, trying to work up the right words.

Veronica looked incredulous.

“You think? Really, Aurora? I have gotten more than a dozen texts from Dominic today asking me if I knew what was going on with you. Of course I put him off, because first of all, I don’t know.” She gave me a death glare. “And second of all, I wouldn’t tell if I did. I don’t know why he even asked.” She waved her hand at me. “Go.”

Why did everyone feel the need to use my full name today? “So you saw what happened at the beach party?” Both gave head nods. “Well, after that Gage came to my backyard and threw pennies at my balcony door. He wanted me to come out.” I waited.

“And you went? He could have been a stalker, rapist, killer!” Laken was shocked.

“I’ve known him since we were five. I think it’s fine, Laken,” I protested. She could be so dramatic.

“You don’t know what he’s like now. He is obviously trouble. He got kicked out of school. He’s probably on drugs. What’s the matter with you?” Veronica looked like she wanted to smack me.

“He’s not a druggie, and he isn’t any more trouble than anyone else we know. I had already talked to him before the party, and he seemed totally normal.” I waited for more overreaction.

“When did you talk to him? You said at lunch on Saturday you didn’t even know it was him.” Veronica wanted to know.

“Yeah, well, I kind of got stuck in a storm drain by my house trying to save a puppy. And he pulled me out.” I proceeded to tell them the whole story, at which they laughed, but being as it was me, they weren’t shocked. I tended to get myself into situations.

“You landed on top of him?” Laken clarified.

“Uh, yeah.”

“How embarrassing.”

“Kind of, but I was kind of annoyed at the time, so I didn’t notice right away.”

“He’s really hot,” Veronica said with a sly smile.

“That I noticed.” When I heard myself tell them about it, it felt like I was talking about a stranger. This kind of exciting stuff didn’t usually happen to me. Getting myself into stupid situations, though, happened a lot.

“So where did you go when he came to your backyard?” Laken was back on the edge of her seat.

“We went out to the beach with the puppy.”

“Awww. He kept the puppy? That’s so sweet.” She sighed.

Laken and her whiplash emotional temperature.

“Uh-huh.”

“I still can’t believe you went out to the beach with him. You don’t know anything about him or what he’s like now.” Veronica was annoyed. She liked to pretend she didn’t care very much, but she worried. A lot.

“I brought my pepper spray.”

She relaxed a little.

“What did he say?” she asked.

“Well, not much. He did get expelled, like everyone is saying, but it was for fighting. No big surprise with his track record. We talked about what happened at the party.”

“Why did he start the fight?” Laken seemed confused.

“He doesn’t think a guy should ever put his hands on a girl like that. It made him mad that Dom was defending Holden, and he said Dom should have taken care of it with Holden even if he was just my friend.” I shrugged.

“He’s got a point.” Veronica nodded. “I think we all give Holden too much leeway.”

“He’s pretty harmless, Ron,” Laken pointed out.

“Doesn’t make it right,” Veronica argued.

“Well, anyway, my situation has gotten even more complex with my parents putting me under house arrest because of Lindsay. If they find out I was here, I’m sure they will freak, so don’t tell anyone—especially your mom, Laken.”

“Mine are freaked-out too. They’re making my curfew earlier, and I have to tell them where I am at all times.” Laken shook her head.

“My dad is clueless. No change for me.” Veronica looked away.

“Well, my parents, of course, included Dom in the very limited list of people I can be escorted by. They’re so crazy. I don’t get it. Dom’s great and all, but I don’t want everyone to think we’re together because he’s driving me everywhere.”

“You mean you don’t want hottie across the street to think you’re with Dominic.” Veronica laughed.

“Hey!” I threw my napkin at her. “Enough about me. I want a Laken and Walker update.” I wiggled my eyebrows at Laken. We hadn’t gotten to talk about what happened after I left the party since Laken had had to spend all of Sunday at her grandma’s.

“Well, as soon as the fight was over, Walker strolled up to where I was standing with Reese Porter and his friends. I didn’t even acknowledge him right away. Then when I did, he acted like everything was totally normal. He stood right next to me the rest of the night. He got me drinks and didn’t talk or even look at Regina the rest of the night.” Laken scooted back in her seat and perused her manicure. “He actually didn’t even speak to any other girls that night. He’s been texting me practically every hour since. I’m only answering every second one, and I’m not making any for-sure plans with him this week.”

The rules for IGIT dating were pretty strict once a boy started ignoring. We had discussed them at length as we watched other girls fall like dominoes to boys’ bad treatment. I had been worried that Laken was going to cave because I knew how much she liked Walker. But she hadn’t overplayed her hand, and I was proud. If I could be so smart in my personal life, I would be in good shape. Of course, it might help if I knew what I wanted.

“I think that might have been a test you passed,” I told her. “Good job.” We fist bumped. She had beaten Walker at his own game.

“I agree. You rocked it.” Veronica smiled. “Now, Miss Rory, what are you going to do? Dominic is practically foaming at the mouth, and I think hottie across the street wants you.” She raised her eyebrows at me.

“I’m not sure there is anything to do about it. Dominic is such a great guy, and it’s not like he’s missing anything in the looks and personality department. I like him, and it would be so easy. He knows me and likes me anyway, you know? On top of that, my family loves him, and I wouldn’t have to fight them all to date him.”

They both nodded.

“But…?” Veronica asked.

“I have no idea how Gage feels about me, but I know I missed him. And even though I knew him when we were kids, I feel like there’s a mystery there. I want to know what it is.”

“Yeah, all of a sudden there’s a lot of mystery on Wynter. What’s up with that?” Laken agreed.

“Speaking of, is there any news about Lindsay? I’ve been praying. Her poor family,” I said.

“Nope. Nothing. They’re sure she didn’t run away. Her family is frantic. They’re having a prayer vigil tomorrow night at church,” Veronica said.

“I’ll be there.” I sighed. “Do they need people to put out flyers or help with the search?”

“I’m going to check it out at the church tomorrow, and we’ll come up with a way to help out.” Veronica was really good at planning and executing. I knew she’d come up with something.

“Okay, that works. I better get back before they send out reinforcements. I hate this.”

As we walked out to our cars I thought about Lindsay and her family. It made me sick to think of her out there separated from her family. I didn’t even want to think about the worst it could be. I really needed to stop complaining about my life.

The next day had less boy stress, but I was busy with school responsibilities. I had a meeting before school with Student Leadership, and we had tons to go over. We had discussed the Lindsay situation and had agreed to promote whatever search effort was going to be done. We wanted to be sure the school was doing whatever it could to help.

I had to sell tickets at lunchtime for the upcoming Sadie Hawkins Dance, and I had a ton of homework to do after school since I hadn’t gotten anything done the day before. I was exhausted since I was having the nightmare almost every night now. I had only screamed loud enough to wake my parents once in the last few days. They’d been looking at me sideways ever since. My mom kept asking if I was taking my asthma meds, and my dad insisted on listening to my lungs with his stethoscope at random intervals. Annoying.

Thankfully I pretty much ran from thing to thing all day, so I didn’t have time to worry about people’s feelings or who was mad at whom or any other drama that might be happening. I did notice the list showing who got on the golf team, and it wasn’t a big surprise. Coach Cliff only took nine of us. Dom, Holden, Gage, and I all got on. He left off two freshmen, who I noticed spent the entire time fooling around and laughing anyway. I tried not to think about what might happen if the four of us had to play together. Wouldn’t that be exciting? Practice started after school tomorrow.

Dom dropped me home after school, and I raced into the house to do homework before the prayer vigil. I could not miss it. I needed to be there to support the Pattersons.

My mother came downstairs when I was finishing up.

“Are you ready, sweetheart?” my mom asked.

“Yeah, I guess so. What could have happened to her?” I didn’t really expect my mom to have an answer.

“I wish I knew. She’s a lovely girl,” My mom said, sniffling a bit as she searched her purse for a tissue.

“I feel so bad for her family,” I said as we got into the car.

“I know. Hopefully this will be good for them. I wish there was more we could do.”

“Are the boys coming?” I asked.

“No, they can’t make it with their classes. I know they wanted to. Your father’s meeting us there.”

I was fairly certain the entire town would show up.

When we arrived, the whole front lawn of the church was filled with people. Police and local officials were there, along with what looked like the whole student body of our high school. It wasn’t quite dark yet, so everyone was kind of just milling around talking quietly.

I went looking for my friends knowing my mom would find hers. I ran into some of the girls from Student Leadership and decided this was a good place as any to stay for the service.

I was chatting quietly with Ruby, when I felt something hard ram into the back of my knee. I had to grab Kelly, who was on my other side, so I wouldn’t go down in a heap.

“What in the . . .” I looked down, and Bailee was looking up at me with her head cocked sideways like she couldn’t figure out what just happened. I reached down and picked her up. I looked up and Gage was jogging over to me.

“She saw you and took off. She’s been so good off the leash, I didn’t think it would be a problem, but I should have known. She loves you.” He had this grin on his face, and my heart started beating faster.

“Well, she’s got a funny way of showing it.” I rumpled the fur on her head and took a deep breath. “I almost went down.”

“Yeah, she’s taken to ramming things with her head. Not sure what that’s about. Good thing my uncle isn’t home much. She rammed him in the ankle this morning, and he was hopping around shouting things not appropriate to repeat in a churchyard.”

I laughed. She was not making points with Gage’s uncle. First the shoes and now the ankle.

“Making friends and influencing people—our Bailee.” I got a weird little feeling in my stomach when I said “our.” Those squirrels had better be on lockdown. I handed her back to him.

He clipped the leash to her collar and put her on the ground.

“Yeah, just like me,” he said.

I had to laugh at that. “Well, if that’s what you want to call it.”

The basket with the candles for the vigil came around, and we each grabbed one and passed it on. Suddenly, I felt the weight of why we were here. Lindsay needed to be found. I got a lump in my throat that I couldn’t swallow away. Next thing I knew Dominic was on my other side.

“Hey.” He looked concerned. “You okay?” I nodded my head. He reached up and rubbed my back. I felt more than saw Gage stiffen up. I didn’t have the energy for the boy drama tonight. Thankfully, the pastor had just gotten on the microphone in front of the church trying to shush the crowd. I would be spending the prayer time standing between these two boys. They were going to have to get over themselves. This was not the time or the place.

I had to focus on praying for Lindsay. We lit our candles and the service began. We sang worship songs, and the pastor did a wonderful job leading prayer for Lindsay’s safe return. As we stood there with our heads bowed praying, I could feel both of the boys’ arms brushing mine. I felt safe and overwhelmed with how blessed I was to be with people I cared about when Lindsay wasn’t. These little petty arguments and drama just didn’t matter.

About halfway through I felt someone walk behind me and brush my back. The hair on the back of my neck stood up. Weird. Something dropped at my feet. Someone probably needed to go to the restroom and dropped their program or something. I refocused on praying and forgot about it.

When it was all over I had had a good cry, but I felt better, less helpless. I looked down and noticed something on top of my left foot. It wasn’t a program. It was something plastic. I picked it up, and my heart started pounding.

It was a school ID card. With Lindsay’s name on it. The picture had been gouged out with something sharp. It had deep grooves where the picture went. My breath left my body in a whoosh.

Dom looked at my face and must have seen something was wrong.

I held the ID like it was going to bite.

“What’s that?” he asked.

“It’s…it’s…Oh my gosh, Dominic—go get somebody. It’s Lindsay’s. I, um, think we need the police.”

Gage stepped closer to look.

“Don’t touch anywhere else on it,” he warned.

We all three stared at it for a second. Dominic and Gage exchanged an intense look. Gage nodded at him.

“I’ll be right back.” Dom took off pushing through the crowd.

What did I miss?

“Are you all right?” Gage asked.

“I don’t know. Why would it be here?” I had goose bumps all up and down my arms. Gage’s expression was grim. He was looking at the ID and then back up at me.

“Did you see anyone?”

“No. I just felt someone walk by and drop something on my foot. I didn’t look because I wanted to focus.”

Dominic was on his way back, pushing through the crowd with two men in suits. I was trying to hold the ID with just the tips of my fingers in case there was something on it that could be useful.

“Miss Atherton? I’m Detective Holbrook from the Charleston PD and this is Detective Summers. We heard you found something of Miss Patterson’s?”

“Yes, sir. I felt something hit my foot during prayer, and when I opened my eyes at the end, this was on my foot. I picked it up, and noticed it had Lindsay’s name on it.”

“We’re going to need to take that and analyze it.”

“Of course.”

The other detective pulled out an envelope and held it open so I could drop it in.

What if whoever took Lindsay was here? I was starting to get the shakes.

Into all this chaos my dad arrived.

“What’s going on, Rory?”

“I-I don’t know. I found an ID of Lindsay’s.”

“What? Where?” My dad looked angry.

“Sir, we are going to have to ask your daughter to come to the station so we can ask her some questions. And you boys too.” He looked at Gage and Dom. “You were with Miss Atherton when she found it?”

They both nodded.

“What are you doing here?” my dad barked at Gage.

“Good to see you again, sir.” Gage stuck out his hand, and my dad ignored it.

My dad turned to the detective. “I’ll make sure Rory and Dominic get there shortly, Detective.”

“Dad!” I was mortified.

Gage pulled his hand back and frowned.

Dominic spoke up. “I’m going to go let my parents know. I’ll meet you at your house in a few, Dr. Atherton?”

My dad nodded.

Dominic disappeared into the crowd.

“Mr. Maddox, we will expect you as well. If you’re underage, you can bring your parents,” the detective pointed out.

Gage just nodded.

What if his uncle wasn’t home? Who was going to go with him? At this point my dad started to drag me off by the arm.

“Dad, stop, wait. What if Gage’s uncle isn’t home? He’s only seventeen. He doesn’t have anybody else.”

“That is not our problem, Rory. He is going to have to figure it out for himself.”

“Why are you being so mean? I can’t believe how rude you were to him.” I was trying to slow him down. I wanted to go back.

“I can’t believe you disobeyed me so blatantly,” he said through gritted teeth. “I told you to stay away from that boy.”

“He’s a nice person. He’s on the golf team. Do you want me to just ignore him, like you do? I’m sorry, I can’t do that!” We were almost to the car. People were everywhere, and they were starting to stare.

“Aurora, you are making a scene. We have a more important situation to deal with right now. We will talk about this at home.”

I just huffed. I was ready to make a scene. A big one. But unfortunately that wouldn’t help find Lindsay or remedy the situation with Gage. I was shaky, nauseated, and angry all at the same time. I shut up. For now.