“You better believe your ass it is,” Rick says. “I hate to see you go, kid, and I hate even more that you’re going to miss your big chance, but…”
“It’s for the best.”
“It really is.” Silence hangs between us for a moment. “You’re going to love Hazel.”
Hazel Doyle is Rick’s sister. Well, half-sister. Same mom, different dad, and two very different last names. She’s also going to be my new roommate... in Virginia Beach.
Tonight, Ember’s Escape goes into effect.
The plan is to sneak out of the house, grab the bags I have hidden, and run to the car that will be inconspicuously parked around the corner.
From there—I drive. I drive until I reach Virginia Beach.
“You okay?” I can hear the concern in Rick’s voice.
“Just nervous, that’s all.” Fully dressed, I tell Rick he can turn around. When he faces me, the emotion on his face is undeniable. We’ve become close over these past couple years. Aside from leaving my music career behind, he’s what I’ll miss most.
His hands run up and down my arms. “If anyone can do this, you can.”
“You have more faith in me than I do.”
“That’s because you had it beaten out of you.”
I appreciate the reassurance, but it does little to calm my nerves.
He pulls me in for a hug. “I’m going to miss you, Ember.”
I squeeze him tightly. “I’ll miss you, too.”
Our embrace ends abruptly when Devlin enters the room.
“Hands off, asshole.”
Rick holds his hands up like he’s in a hostage situation. Which he is, but I’m the hostage—not him.
“We were just saying goodbye,” I tell Devlin as I make my way over to him. I wrap my arms around him and snuggle in. “Let’s get out of here.” My stomach begs to revolt, but I hold it in. I’ve been playing this game for months. One more night won’t kill me.
Without another word, Devlin ushers me out the door.
The entirety of our ride home is filled with him conversing with someone on the phone. Who, I’m not sure, and frankly, I don’t care. This phone call allots me the time to mentally run through the plan one last time. Bringing only the necessities, I check off each item I placed in the bag. There were a few things I was able to sneak into the Rusty Nail that Rick tucked away in the car for me. Knowing all this, I still don’t feel ready.
I glance over at Devlin, the man I used to love, and wonder what changed. Or had he always been this man, and I was just too blind to see it?
We still haven’t spoken when he pulls into the driveway, even though his conversation ended minutes ago. He allows me into the house first, only because he needs to secure the doors. The key slides in, and the lock clicks. Trapped on the inside. Prisoner in my own home.
Still silent, he ascends the stairs and retreats to the bedroom. I know the routine and had hoped to avoid it, but it doesn’t seem like the case. Every concert night ends the same—silence, sex, sleep.
When I step into the bedroom, he’s already on the bed, his body naked. I look him over as I walk toward the bathroom. His light blonde hair is cut short and styled perfectly, lean, toned muscles outline his body, and a smile, if he ever used it, that could melt the panties off any woman.
How can something so attractive be so evil?
As I exit the bathroom, I let out an exaggerated yawn.
“I’m exhausted. I can’t believe we have to be up in a few hours to head to New York. Are you excited?”
Devlin looks at me through narrowed eyes before sliding under the covers.
“What are you doing?” I ask, feigning sadness at him rolling over to sleep.