Page 20 of Twisted Fate

There’s a light knock at the door before it opens, and Oliver walks in. I shut my laptop, and my heart sinks. What am I supposed to tell him? He can’t know the truth. It’s too dangerous.

“Hey.” He walks over to Allison’s bed and drops onto it.

I smile, glancing over at him. “What’s up?”

“I’m looking for Allison.” He scans the room. “I tried calling her. I thought she’d be here.”

I swallow the lump in my throat before I say, “I’m not sure where she is.”

“Hmm, okay.” He shoots me a goofy grin. I want to scream at him for dropping it so easily, but it’s not his fault. “Want to grab some dinner?” he asks.

I catch my lower lip between my teeth and nod. I haven’t eaten since, well, I can’t remember, and despite the worry that swirls in my chest, I’m hungry. The constant upset in my stomach is only made worse by its emptiness. I need a break from all of the crazy. At least for a little while. “Let’s go.”

We walk to Taylor’s Brew and are seated at a booth near the back. I’ve been here a handful of times with friends, but Allison never wants to come, saying they’re too overpriced. While the pricesarea little high, their deep-fried pickles are the best I’ve ever had. The amazing food makes up for the lack of interior decorating. Nothing hangs on the wood-paneled walls, and the bar stools and booths look as if they haven’t been reupholstered in years. There’s a stage at the front of the room where people perform on occasion. I play piano and have been writing my own songs for years, but I have yet to make it up there.

Turning my attention back to our booth, Oliver pores over the menu, and I bite my tongue several times to keep from saying something that won’t make any sense to him.

“Aurora?”

Oliver glances up, and I turn my head when I hear my name. Grant stands a few feet away with a couple of other guys.

“Hey,” I say with a polite grin before turning to Oliver. “This is Grant. He’s in my elective class. Grant, this is Oliver.” Grant’s friends wave and head over to the bar.

When he sticks his hand out, Oliver leans over and shakes it. “Nice to meet you.”

“Likewise,” Oliver says.

Grant’s gaze swings back to me. “Have you started that research paper?”

I laugh. “Not even a little bit.” I’ve been a bit preoccupied.

He chuckles. “Sounds about right.” He looks over at the bar. “I should get over there, but it was nice to meet you, Oliver. And don’t worry about the bill. It’s on me.”

“No way, I’m not letting you buy our food,” I say.

He shrugs. “I own the place, Aurora. It’s no big deal.”

“Are you kidding? That’s crazy.”

“It was passed through the family, and now it’s my turn.”

“We’re not going to argue over free food,” Oliver chimes in.

He grins. “I’ll see you guys around,” he says before rejoining his friends.

Oliver and I order our food and talk about school. For the most part, I offer one-word answers and struggle to keep up. My thoughts keep going back to Allison and what’s happening at the Westbrook Hotel. I’ve decided to give it three days. If she’s not back by then, I’m going to strap iron stakes to every inconspicuous part of my body, and I’m going to charge that fucking building. I have to. Even though I still don’t understand why she lost her shit and attacked me, I have no doubt that Allison would do the same for me.

It’s been two days, and Allison isn’t back. To say I’m a mess is an understatement.

I leave class an hour before the lecture ends and sit in my room, where I go over what I know about the situation. I’ve made several lists, all of which would make any outsider think I’m a lunatic. I fist my hair, groaning as I shuffle over to my bed and flop onto it.

“You okay there?”

I sit up in a flash, barely escaping a wicked case of whiplash, and see Allison standing in the open doorway. She looks fine, not a hair out of place, no wrinkles in her clothes. Her face is free of makeup, which is unusual for her, but aside from that, she looks normal. “Are you really here?” I ask.

It takes her a moment to smile. “Yeah, I’m here.”

I launch myself off the bed and throw my arms around her.

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