Page 32 of Wounded Dance
I know Denham is right about this part, but there has to be a way in the middle, where Gwen keeps Gabriella and nobody is upset or destroyed by this.
But I remember what Blitz said. Make him fight and keep it expensive.
“You won’t win,” I say. “We’ll fight you.”
“Interesting,” Denham says. “Interesting that you want to fight so hard not to see her.” He picks up his earbuds and slowly rolls them into a coil. “Unless, of course, just speculating here.” He winks at me. “You actually know where she is and get to see her all the time. So you’re just keeping my daughter from ME.”
I’ve said too much. Coming here was a huge mistake. I fumble with the handle and throw open the door. I can hear Denham’s laughter as I dash across the parking lot and around the building.
I’ve made things worse.
Chapter 13
When I get back to the hotel, I want to bury myself under the covers and never come out. I have the whole rest of the day and night without Blitz. We haven’t been separated since I left home, so this is actually the first time I’ve been alone, pretty much ever. I suffered through many years of being homeschooled and watched by my hawk-eyed father. Babysitting my brother. Volunteering. Dancing.
But never alone.
I drop my bag on a chair and head to the balcony, my happy place.
I sit on Blitz’s seat instead of mine and look up into the sky. The sun is warm, and for a moment, I can block out all the unhappiness of the past hour.
I remember meeting Blitz, and how we danced the first time. The moments in the storage closet. His first intense kiss. Ballet lessons. Waltzing. That movie we saw early on and what he did to me in the empty theater.
My body shivers. This is making me miss him more.
I stand up and lean over the balcony rail, looking out over the city. In the distance, the revolving restaurant on the top deck of the Tower of the Americas slowly turns.
Despite my efforts, my mind goes back to Denham. I gave up so information. I never should have gone out there. I’ve only made him more determined to find Gabriella.
I need company. Somebody who knows my situation and can help. There aren’t many, other than Irma up at the church, but I can’t exactly ask for her advice.
Then there’s Mindy. My best friend.
She wrote me after seeing me onDance Blitz. We had a flurry of conversations then. She tried to come up to me when I went to the church to see Andy, but her parents kept her away. Probably my father convinced them I was a bad influence.
I’ve been bad about keeping up messages with her since I’m always with Blitz. But I’m not now. I head back into the suite to find my phone. Maybe she can meet me at the park.
I could tell her about the baby. I’m not afraid anymore.
I scoop up the cell and tap out a quick note asking if she can meet today. That I’ve missed her and have so much fun gossip to share.
But almost as soon as I hit send, my phone beeps.
Message undeliverable.
That’s weird.
I go out on the balcony to get a better signal and try again.
Message undeliverable.
Strange. I’ll just call and leave a voice mail. I dial her number and tap my foot on the balcony floor. A brisk wind blows in and sends tendrils of loose hair into my eyes. I push them away. Another cold front, I guess. Texas weather is always unpredictable.
The phone never even rings. It goes straight to a computerized voice that says, “This caller is unavailable at this time. Thank you.”
Then hangs up.
What?
