Page 22 of Hot and Bothered
The door to the bar opened wide, letting in a cool evening breeze.
“Sorry, we’re closed,” Mason called out.
“Alice,” said a familiar clipped voice.
My heart stopped. I felt the blood drain from my face. I turned around slowly.
My sister, Grace, stood in the entrance, arms folded primly over her chest, a single eyebrow raised in a condescending sneer. Her sleek trousers and perfectly fitted blouse were something out of some high-end fashion magazine.
“So this is where I find you?” she asked, looking around in disdain. “In some dive bar?”
“We’re not a dive bar,” Mason muttered, then raised his voice. “I’m sorry, but the bar is closed. You’ll have to come back tomorrow.”
“I’m not staying,” Grace said shortly. “I’m just here to pick up my sister and leave. I don’t intend on staying in this place one second longer than I have to.”
“Wow, rude much?” Lizzy said. “I don’t know who you are, lady, but you don’t come into someone’s place of business and start insulting them.”
My sister sniffed, ignoring Lizzy completely as she tossed her long hair over her shoulder.
“Come along, Alice,” she said impatiently. “You’ve got everyone worried.”
The blood had frozen in my veins. A loud rushing sound filled my ears. I hadn’t been able to make a single sound.
Evan came around the counter to stand beside me and murmur in my ear.
“We can kick her out if you want,” he said.
“Alice.” She said the word with absolute finality. “Come.”
“How—” My voice cracked. “How did you find me?”
“Our father had someone track down the location of the wifi signal when you sent me that message,” she replied.
Evan furrowed his brow.
“Can you even do that?” he wondered out loud.
I had no doubt someone with my father’s connections could, in fact, do that.
“I don’t…” I faltered, then tried to continue. “I don’t want to… I’m not going back.”
My sister heaved a put-upon sigh.
“Let’s stop this nonsense right here and now,” she said. “You’ve got nowhere else to go.”
“Yes, she does.” Evan stepped out to stand in front of me, like a knight protecting a princess from a dragon.
“And you are?” my sister asked with all the interest she would give a flea. “Never mind. It doesn’t matter who you are.” She turned her gaze back to me. “Alice, I’m getting tired of this. Our parents are furious, but if you come home now they’re willing to forget about it all. We can still hold the wedding and everything will be fine.”
“I—” My voice shook. I couldn’t continue.
I’d known my parents were mad, but hearing it from my sister’s lips only confirmed it. I hated incurring their wrath. I’d always been such an obedient daughter. I’d tried so hard to not do anything that would upset them. I’d been a good girl my whole life. Knowing my parents were furious with me made my stomach drop to the floor.
Evan took my hand and squeezed tight.
His previous words came back to me. That my own wellbeing came first. His warm touch gave me a kind of strength I didn’t know I had.
I squeezed his hand back.
