Don't Close Your Eyes (Don't Look Series Book 2), page 11
Underneath the nerves about this being a date, my body relaxes with each minute that passes. Noah and I have spent a ton of time together. We get along so well. Have similar interests and an ease to us that comes naturally.
“I’m so glad it’s you I’m with tonight.”
“I am so happy we’re finally doing this.”
We talk at the same time, laughing when we realize that we’ve said essentially the same thing.
“Go ahead.” Noah takes a sip of water, eyes sparkling.
A few strands of my hair have shifted from behind my ears, so I sweep them back. Pull all of my courage into a simmering ball in my chest. “I feel like I need to explain a little, all right? In the fall, when Taryn and I were pretending to be Megan, there were so many times I wanted to tell you who I really was. Because being with you is so effortless. More than that. I always felt like you knew who I really was, deep down. And the closer we got, as friends, the more I wanted to tell you. It hurt to hear you call me by another name, even though I couldn’t tell you mine. Because the circumstances were so, so bad.”
Noah huffs at my understatement.
“And it took some time for me to realize that it was because I liked you. I like you, Noah, a lot. With everything that’s happened to me in the past year, it shouldn’t scare me to admit that, but it does. Anyway, I am so glad that you stuck with me. And it makes me so happy when you say my name. Is that stupid?”
“Audrey. Can I?” Noah’s hand glides over the table and rests open, palm up.
Grinning at him, I mingle our fingers together.
Taking a deep breath, Noah forges ahead. “I don’t think anything you just said is stupid. I think it’s the best thing you’ve ever said to me. From the second I met you, I was interested. And not just because you were new, like Marisa said. I know you can’t see it, but even though you’ve been through so much darkness, you are a light. You’re a bright, pretty light, and I am so glad we’re finally doing this. I’ve wanted to be with you like this forever. And after the trial, it was such a mess…”
“It really was.”
Our waitress sidles up to the table and delivers our desserts with a wink. “Enjoy, you two.”
Neither of us is willing to sever our new connection, so we eat our dessert with our free hands. It’s a little tricky because I am hopelessly right handed, but I wouldn’t take my hand from Noah’s warm one for anything right now. Not even tiramisu that is so dang amazing I can’t even stand it.
I catch Noah’s eye between bites. “Did you know this is my first date?”
His fork clatters to the plate. “How is that possible?”
I shrug.
Dark eyebrows reach up to touch his curls. “But I wasn’t your first kiss.”
“Actually…” My teeth pull my bottom lip into my mouth as I give Noah what I hope is a flirty look.
Noah laughs, incredulous. “You really went for it. That kiss—Audrey, it was, wow.”
I chortle in pleasure. “You say that a lot.”
“Only when I’m around you.”
When our eyes lock, I feel the intensity in Noah’s gaze all the way down to the soles of my feet. I am totally, one hundred percent certain that if we weren’t sitting across from each other with a table between us, we’d be enjoying our second kiss right now.
It’s suddenly pretty warm in the restaurant.
Noah gives my hand a squeeze. “You still with me?”
I laugh, taking a drink. “Uh huh. Actually, I’ll be right back.” Springing out of my chair, I go into the bathroom. Once I’m ensconced in the black and red tiled room, I take my phone out of my pocket and call Taryn.
An ear-drum-rupturing squeal makes me yank my phone away from my ear. “Audrey! Why are you calling me? Is it going badly?”
“Is it awkward?” Marisa shouts into the phone.
“Have you seen them together? Of course it’s awkward, but in the best way,” Fiona chimes in.
“They’re adorable.” This from Viv.
“Guys! I’m in the bathroom, but it’s going so well. Like, so well. I’m pretty sure he was just about to kiss me.”
“Then why are you calling us?” Fiona snarks.
Cackling fills my ears. Hyenas. I’m talking to hyenas.
“I’m freaking out. Do first dates usually feel like this?”
The door swings open and a woman skirts around me to get to the stalls.
“Oops, sorry.” I lean against the sinks, trying to take up less space but not really caring. I’m practically high with giddiness at how well my very first date is going. It’s going so well because it’s Noah. Sweet, super smart, compassionate, quietly strong Noah.
“Audrey, dates are supposed to be fun—”
“If they’re with the right person!” Viv again.
“Try to enjoy it, okay?” Taryn prompts.
Thanking them, I hang up. A few sweeping breaths help bring my pulse down from a gallop to a trot. So, manageable. I had no idea that horse’s gaits had specific names until Esau told Taryn and me about them a couple weeks ago. The things I’ve learned since moving to Hacienda, I have to say.
The woman exits the stall as a loud flushing fills the room. Avoiding my eyes, she washes her hands. Turns to the paper towel dispenser to dry.
I’m straightening my hair in the mirror when my phone goes off in my pocket. Oops. Forgot to silence it. Taryn probably thought of something else she wanted to say. I pull it out and read the notification.
It’s not from Taryn.
Bird Cage Park. 30 minutes. No FBI.
CuteAshleeXOXOXO.
I hiss through my teeth. I don’t know if I can make it there in time. Don’t even know exactly where Bird Cage Park is, though I’ve heard of it. Noah would know. Dollars to donuts he’s taken the twins to every park in this town at least a few times.
My breath stutters on the last bit. I literally just promised Karen and Justin I wouldn’t ditch them since, you know, someone followed us to the vineyard and threatened us only two weeks ago. No FBI. Shaking my head, my resolve solidifies.
They’ll forgive me. I can’t miss this chance to unmask the copycat.
Silently, I slip the silver bracelet off my wrist. It drops without a sound into the woman’s purse as she brushes past to leave the bathroom. A peek out the door reveals Noah waiting at our table, reading something on his phone.
Justin’s attention is on the restaurant’s front door.
My thumbs fly over my phone’s keyboard, and Noah’s phone chimes. His eyes widen and his head snaps up to mine. A silent conversation passes between us. He’ll understand. He has to, because this boy with the big heart and breathtaking smile is my only chance. Without a sound, Noah slides out of the booth and leaves the restaurant. Stops to say something to Justin, thumbing over his shoulder in my direction. Then Noah is gone. He doesn’t look back.
My body sags as I close myself in the restaurant’s bathroom. Alone.
Chapter 17
Somebody should have told me that climbing out of restaurant bathroom windows is not as easy as it looks on TV. For starters, it’s so high up on the wall I have no idea how I’m going to reach it. Sending mental apologies to whoever is responsible for keeping this bathroom clean, I clamber onto the toilet lid. It flexes under my shoes, throwing off my balance. My arms pinwheel, grasping for something to hold onto. My palms hit the stall wall with a smack. Please, please don’t break, toilet lid.
The window is shut tight, but mercifully it unlocks and opens without so much as a low groan. Man, this is a small window. I don’t know if I’ll fit. Don’t have a choice, though. The copycat said I wasn’t allowed to bring my FBI friends to our meeting, and I can’t mess this up.
Praying it will take my weight, I gingerly rest one foot on top of the toilet paper dispenser. It jiggles, but holds. If I weren’t trying to hurry, this whole situation might be funny. Hilarious, even. I’m standing straddling a toilet in a restaurant bathroom, eyeing the window like an animal trying to escape from its enclosure in the zoo.
Okay, I’m really doing this. Hoisting myself up, I drop my purse out the window. It plops onto the concrete below.
The next question is, how am I going to climb out without landing on my head and doing the killer’s job for them? I pull my body up, trying to find leverage with my shoes against the wall. The rubber soles don’t find traction and I slip, banging my knees against the stucco. Ouch.
Stars spark over my vision, and when I blink them free, Noah is under the window. He positions an overturned milk crate under the opening and steps onto it. A half smile cocks his lips upward as he meets my eyes. I’m keenly aware of how close our faces are when he speaks. “Need a hand?”
“Desperately.”
Huffing a laugh, he reaches up and braces me under the arms. My own fingers curl around his shoulders, holding on tight. “Okay, here we go.”
Someone knocks on the bathroom door, making the sliding bolt rattle in its catch. “Audrey, you’ve been in there a while. Is everything all right?”
When I don’t respond, the knocking gets louder. “Making out in bathrooms is unsanitary, guys. Come on out.”
Disgust mixed with a tinge of fear forces my eyes wide. “Hurry!”
Noah pulls; I push. My jeans slide over the metal sill and we land in a heap on the asphalt. There’s no time to nurse our bumps and bruises, because Justin’s hollering ramps up in volume. It’s only going to take a few seconds for him to come after us.
I push Noah toward the mouth of the alley running behind the restaurant. “Run. Run!”
Our feet pound over the pavement. My heart thrashes in my chest, drowning everything out as we sprint around the corner to where Noah’s car is parked in the small lot. Glowing twinkle lights illuminate the sidewalk as we run past. If Justin sees us…
Our car doors slam. Noah ignites the engine and guns it, driving over the low curb, making our bodies bounce off the seat when the car’s back tires hit the road. Twisting around in the seat, I crane my neck to look back at the restaurant. A man’s black silhouette is outlined by the hanging twinkle lights. Justin’s running gait gives him away. I can’t see it, but I picture the anger and worry that likely contort his visage as he bolts toward the door. He bursts outside just as Noah’s car turns the corner, out of sight.
Sinking into my seat, I attempt to wrangle my breathing. Get my lungs under control. It’s no use. Fearful energy ripples through my body like static electricity, leaving my heart working too fast and my lungs too thin. That was too close.
My phone starts vibrating in my pocket. Justin calling. Karen calling. Then again. Next Taryn calls. I jab at it, turning it off so they can’t track me. When I turn it back on, I know what I’ll find. A bunch of voicemails. Probably containing a lot of yelling.
Noah shifts, sliding his cell out of his pocket and handing it to me. It goes off before I kill it, too. He breathes heavily as he navigates the car down the street. Driving carefully, he grafts our car into the evening traffic. It’s dark out, but there are quite a few cars on the road. It’ll be a challenge for Justin to catch up, even though he’ll use every trick in the FBI handbook. Hopefully we have enough of a head start to make a clean getaway.
Justin and Karen are going to be pissed when they discover that my tracking bracelet is in a random lady’s purse. I grit my teeth. I didn’t have a choice. I had only a handful of minutes to act. Taryn would be proud. I hope.
A green glow illuminates the digital clock in the dashboard. Only fifteen minutes left before the meeting time CuteAshlee named. Will we make it? “You know where Bird Cage Park is, right?”
Noah’s chin lifts. “It’s that big park next to where they’re building that resort. There used to be a giant bird cage on the playground you could climb inside. It was my favorite as a kid.”
I jump when a horn blasts behind us. Turn to look. It’s not Justin. He hasn’t found us. We drive in uneasy silence.
A couple of red lights later, Noah lets go of the steering wheel long enough to buckle his seatbelt. Realizing mine isn’t on either, I click it into place. Run my tongue over chapped lips. “Thanks for doing this with me. I know it’s a big ask.”
In the dark interior of the car, Noah’s eyes flick to mine before returning to the road. “You’re welcome.”
Closing my eyes, I picture Noah in the moment I texted him. Back at the restaurant. The way his brow furrowed as he read the words I’d sent. The slow rise of his eyes to mine. The tinge of doubt behind those pretty brown eyes. “I know it’s a lot. For a second there, I wasn’t sure you were coming.”
A beat passes. “Me either.”
“I’m glad you did.”
Noah looks at me for a long second. “Should we be doing this without Justin or Karen? Couldn’t they come along and hide or something?”
I chew the inside of my cheek, not voicing the fact that I was just thinking the same thing. Maybe… No. No FBI. “They’d never agree, but what if, when we get there, I call Karen? I can leave the call going in my pocket, and that way she’ll be able to hear us. They can track us that way too. Does that work?”
He nods slowly.
My hands wring in my lap. Eight minutes left. Tearing my focus away from the digital clock, I skim over the buildings as we pass. 7-Eleven. Grocery Store. Houses. Hotel. “How much farther is it?”
“We’re almost—”
“Stop. Stop!”
Noah slams on the brakes, throwing me forward into my seatbelt. The driver behind us honks loud and long before swerving around us, yelling something unpleasant. I cringe away.
Noah calls out an apology and looks at me. “What happened? Did they message you again?”
Shaking my head, I point. “Pull over, quick.”
Brow wrinkled in confusion, he does. Kills the engine. “Why are we stopped?”
I climb out and he meets me on the curb, hunching to meet my eyes. “I thought I saw something. Come look with me, please?”
“Lead the way.”
“How about we do it together?” Feeling brave, or maybe desperate, I take his hand. Noah’s fingers tighten around mine, and he lets me lead him up the sidewalk and into the hotel parking lot. Crouching to avoid being seen, I tiptoe between two cars. My eyes skim the lot, looking for— There it is. I point. “Look. Right up front. There.”
Noah’s mouth drops in surprise. “The maroon car.”
Mouthing the license plate on a whisper, I have Noah snap a quick photo. Whose car is it? Which room are they in? Most of the windows are lit, blinds drawn. No point in sneaking closer to peer in windows.
A peek at Noah’s phone makes me stop in indecision. Three minutes until I’m supposed to meet CuteAshlee at the park. I have a choice to make. Wait here and see if the owner of the car shows themselves, or hurry to the park.
A door on the motel’s second story opens and light floods out.
Thinking quick, Noah pulls me down so nobody sees us. I peer through a window, watching. A guy backs out of the open portal, talking to someone inside. My eyes narrow as I take in the tall, athletic frame. Short, dark hair. There’s something familiar about that back, the way he rolls his shoulders.
A woman’s voice answers in a murmur. Her blond silhouette appears in the doorway, pulling the man in for a kiss that turns heated quickly. I duck down, face hot. Noah does too. I avoid looking at him, feeling super awkward.
A door shuts and the lot darkens. I peek, and gasp.
The guy coming down the stairs is Nate Anderson. What is he doing here in Hacienda? Dumb question. I give myself a mental shake. It’s obvious what he’s doing here.
Nate climbs into a gray pickup and drives away.
Noah and I wait for another twenty minutes, but no one goes anywhere near the maroon car. Finally, he puts a hand on my elbow. “Maybe we should go to the park? See if anyone’s there?”
I don’t want to leave without seeing who owns that car, but he’s probably right. This might be my only shot at meeting CuteAshlee. I have to take it. Trepidation takes shape in my core, building until it looms large enough to drown out everything else.
Noah pulls into the parking lot next to the park and shuts off the car. His attention focuses on the tenebrous expanse in front of us. Lamp posts line the sidewalk around the perimeter of the park, but the center of the green space might as well be a black hole. “Think anyone will be here?”
It’s ten minutes after the meeting time the copycat specified. I squint, trying to see something, anything moving in the pitch black. Shadows flicker and ripple, but it could just be the night playing tricks. I can’t decide how to feel. Twisted hope that I’m about to put a face to the person who’s been tormenting me in the Gemini Killer’s stead, or dread?
Fifteen missed calls. Three voicemails. Strings of unread texts from my family. My screen shuts off as I shove the phone into my pocket. I’ll deal with all of that later.
We get out, lighting our phones to guide our way along the path to the middle of the park. There’s not a soul here aside from Noah and me. Lowering my butt onto a chilly concrete bench, I motion for Noah to take the spot next to me. “Let’s wait for a bit, see if anyone shows up.”
Minutes drag on in the stillness. Crickets sing eerie songs. An owl screeches. Somewhere nearby, sirens cut through the night. Within a couple of minutes, Justin’s truck pulls into the parking lot. Karen yanks her car to a stop next to it. The sheriff’s Bronco halts in the only entrance, blocking it off.
Three flashlights slice through the black, heading straight for the spot where Noah and I are sitting. His breath catches when a woman in blue scrubs gets out of a fourth car and jogs to catch up to the sheriff. Mrs. Lopez. Taking my hand, Noah holds on tight. We are in deep, deep crap.
Chapter 18
Day 321, Saturday
Taryn
Karen was very close to murdering Audrey after the park. Scratch that. Justin was the one close to committing murder. Normally, he reins Karen in when she gets mad at us for doing stupid crap, but seeing how livid he was when he brought my sister home that night, the low granite of his voice as he laid into her for sneaking out like that. The hurt that flashed in his eyes. Our guardian’s gregarious, people-loving fiancé was barely keeping his baser impulses in check.
