Probably because it was Sunday, and fall break officially started on Thursday. I hadn’t seen Tristin once and had given up on the small sliver of hope that he would return home on his own.
Leo had told me not to worry about his father’s threats. That we’d figure something out. But time was running out, and as far as I could tell, there was only one option remaining. I had to go to Tristin again, and this time, I would plead. Beg, if necessary.
The thought made my stomach churn. I didn’t know how much more of his coldness I could take. Which annoyed me in and of itself. The Thea of this summer wouldn’t have given a shit about anything he thought or said. Now, merely remembering him telling me to leave him the fuck alone made tears well in my eyes.
Was it possible I’d really changed that much in two months?
The sound of the garage door opening caught my attention, and I watched as a sleek, black Mercedes backed into the driveway. Instead of peeling away, it stopped. I held my breath as I realized that Vincent had paused to peer up at me through the windshield. Though his face was a mask of indifference, I wasn’t fooled.
He was sending me one last warning. Four days, the space between us seemed to whisper.
When the car started moving again, I finally released my breath in a loud whoosh. I was annoyed but also a little grateful that he’d gone for subtlety this time rather than an outright confrontation.
“Hey.”
I jumped and looked up to find a sweaty Leo standing over me. “Where did you come from?”
“I just got back from a run.” He took the chair next to mine, and I couldn’t help but notice the way his long-sleeve shirt hugged every muscle and his damp hair glistened in the sunlight. Did he ever not look frustratingly sexy? I didn’t think so. “Was that my father I saw leaving?”
“Yes.”
His hands tightened on the arms of the chair. “Did he say anything to you?”
“No, he just gave me the look.”
“What look is that?”
“The one reminding me I only have a few more days until he makes me disappear.” That sounded more ominous than it was. I didn’t actually fear that he would hurt me. But he could run me out town. Of that, I had no doubt.
“That’s not going to happen.”
“Leo—”
“Nope. You need a break from all of that.” He stood and held a hand to me. “Let’s get out of here.”
I glanced down at my yoga pants, ratty sweatshirt, and bare feet. “And go where?”
“It’s a surprise. Go grab shoes while I take a quick shower.”
Not caring where we were going, so long as it was away from here, I let him pull me to my feet. “Should I change?”
Careful to keep me away from his sweat-soaked body, he kissed the top of my head. “You look beautiful no matter what you’re wearing.”
“And you’re full of shit.”
After gathering the books and notebooks I’d hauled outside, I returned to my bedroom and dumped them on my desk. Then, I stripped off my sweatshirt, replacing it with an emerald colored long-sleeve shirt. I hunted for my black hoodie, but it was nowhere to be found.
That was strange.
I thought back and couldn’t remember wearing it in the last few weeks, so it shouldn’t be in the laundry. And it wasn’t like I had so many clothes that it could get lost. My entire wardrobe only took up one measly bar in the oversized closet.
Next, I searched through my dresser drawers, in case I’d folded it up and then promptly forgotten. But there was no sign of it.
My mind drifted to Detective Dyck asking me if I owned a black hoodie. I’d said yes, and now it was missing. That had to be a coincidence, right?
Leo stuck his head in my door, which I’d left cracked open. “You ready?”
“Just a second.” Seeing that he was dressed as casually as me, I grabbed my “like the game, love the player” sweatshirt and quickly slipped on socks and sneakers. I stuffed my phone and wallet in a small crossbody purse and met him at the door. “Ready.”
He grinned at my choice of sweatshirts. “I approve.”
“I thought you might.”
Taking my hand, he didn’t let go until I was settled in the passenger seat. I didn’t bother asking where we were going again, but I didn’t have to wait long to