flamingos.
“Do you know where Jordan is staying in Vancouver?”
Griff shakes his head. “No, my assistant set it up for her. You need me to find out?”
“Yeah. She left her phone at a bar.”
“A bar?” Griff’s eyebrows rise in surprise.
“I guess a bunch of the pro women went out together after the prelims today. She doesn’t have any friends with her so maybe she just wanted to connect, get to know people.” The guys have their prelims tomorrow, so she’s basically got a day off. I know she’s planning to use the day to watch the men, get a better feel for the course, and then do some homework so she doesn’t get too far behind. But I also get why she wouldn’t want to go back to an empty hotel room too early after the rush from competing. Besides, most of the pro women are pretty cool chicks. It just so happens she’s met the main exceptions – Sarah, Camila and Kelly.
Griff makes a call to his assistant but leaves a voicemail, and then sends a text. “It’s late, and it’s kind of shitty to hear from your boss on a Saturday night,” Griff tells me when I let out a sound of frustration.
“I’ll try the Marriott. Camila said it’s nearby and a lot of people are staying there.”
“Camila?” Griff sits up straighter.
“Yeah, she’s the one who answered Jordan’s phone.” I shoot him a look that says, See? My slight desperation is totally justified.
“Huh. Thought she and the Shred Live crew were at Apexx.”
I don’t answer him, as I’m already calling the front desk at the Marriott. I let out a relieved breath when they don’t tell me there’s no Jordan Slattery and instead transfer my call. But when no one answers her room phone, my relief is short-lived. Various scenarios circle in my mind. If she walked home and it’s only a block, she should be there by now. She could have been accosted on the way back. Or maybe Camila is up to something sinister.
Griff hops up to stand beside me. “Dude, calm down. I’m sure you’ll hear from her soon. I bet she’s on her way back to the bar right now to get her phone.”
I take a deep breath. “Five minutes. I’m giving it five minutes. Then we’re calling everyone we know at the competition and starting a search party.”
Griff gives me a wry smile. “Let’s not humiliate her in front of the people she’s just starting to be accepted by, all right? She’ll be really pissed if you overreact.”
I grit my teeth. “Fine, ten minutes. I’m starting a timer.”
Griff shakes his head, trying to look amused, but I see the flash of concern in his eyes too, and I know I’m not overreacting. Fine, I’m overreacting a little, but there’s definitely reason to be worried.
Chapter Fourteen
Jordan
It doesn’t hit me until I’m standing in my hotel room in a towel. I feel lonely. After taking a shower and using the hotel’s delicious-smelling complimentary lotion, I thought I’d enjoy relaxing alone before falling asleep. But despite the nice hotel room, some solid runs at the prelims earlier, and a refreshing shower, my mood is melancholy.
My body turns slowly in a circle and I sigh. A long, pitiful sigh. I miss Beck. He’s been at all my competitions, and not only is he not here with me, he’s not really accessible either. Sitting on the edge of my bed still in the towel, I think about how strange it is that my boyfriend is at a live taping of the Eileen Delarosa Show.
I’m sure even if it’s over now, he’s out with Griff and their sisters, but I figure I could at least text him, let him know how much I miss him.
My phone isn’t in any of the pockets of the clothes I was wearing earlier, or in the small purse I’d brought with me to the bar. I let out another long sigh as I realize I must have left my phone at the bar. I enjoyed hanging with the other women at the competition, but I’m not real excited about trucking it back there. My pajamas are looking mighty appealing.
The sound of a phone ringing nearly has me jumping out of my skin as I stand over my suitcase, contemplating if it’s worth the trip back to the bar to rescue my phone. It takes a few seconds before I realize it’s the room phone.
“Hello?” I answer with a frown.
“Jordan.” It’s Beck, and I can’t