Chapter 12
Harlow." Lizzie's low, irritated groan from across the room woke me. I rolled over, peeking out from beneath the covers, wondering what had set her off. Was she calling my name in her sleep? Then the room lit up and the phone on my nightstand buzzed as a call came through. "Harlow," Lizzie hissedagain.
I squeezed my eyes closed and moaned as I reached out and snagged the phone. Nearly blinding myself with how bright the screen was, I clicked the answer button and put the phone to myear.
"'lo?" Igrumbled.
"Get up and meet medownstairs."
"Grayson?"
"No, it's the muffin man—Yes, it's Grayson. Come on, I've got the car running," hesaid.
I pulled the phone away and checked thetime.
"Grayson," I snapped. "It's the middle of the night. Whatever it is, can't it wait until tomorrow? I am a normal person, you know. I needsleep."
"I promise, you can get your beauty rest tomorrow night," he replied. "Now, get your butt downhere."
"I'm hanging up, MuffinMan."
"You want to know where Erika is, don't you?" he stoppedme.
My thumb hovered over the 'end call' button and I bit my lip, wavering before putting the phone back to my ear. "Did Alexcall?"
"He may not know what to do," Grayson said. "We need to do somethingnow."
I groaned softly, sitting up in bed. "Grayson. Knix told us towait."
"Are you okay with that?" hedemanded.
Not completely, but I knew if I told him that, he'd take it and run with it. Grayson was just one of those people—give him an inch, and he would take a mile and never lookback.
"It's half past midnight," Iargued.
"I have coffee," hesaid.
"I don't likecoffee."
"Yes, and we will discuss that impracticality at a later date. Look, Harlow—I need to do something, and I have an idea, but I need back up. Please." After a brief pause, he sighed. "If you don't want coffee, I can stop and get you hot chocolate or something. What about one of those Frappuccino things fromStarbucks?"
"Starbucks isn't open," I pointedout.
"Then I'll get you something when it does open," he said. "Are you in orout?"
My head thunked back against the wall behind the low headboard of my twin sized bed. "You're gonna go whether I go with you or not, aren'tyou?"
"Without a doubt," he said, "but at least I asked youfirst."
"I'm going to tell the guys, you know that,right?"
"They're probably all sleeping and I'm leaving in less than five minutes. So, if you want to figure out where Erika is, my car is parked out front. I'll be waiting until the twenty 'tilmark."
"Fuck!" I hissed, throwing off the covers. "Fine. I'm on myway."
"See you soon, Babydoll." I hung up and dove off the bed for a pair of pants. I slid into dark yoga tights, grabbed a dark tank top, and laced up my sneakers in just under the time limit Grayson had given me. Lizzie grumbled as I shut the door behind me and sprinted down the hallway with just my phone and my keys inhand.
Outside, at the curb, an older, dark sedan waited for me. I slid inside and turned to Grayson. "Nice choice of sleuthing-wear," he said, taking a look down at my attire. I glanced down at the same time and noticed that he, too, was wearing darkcolors.