Lilly and Rhysstay for another hour before I kick them out. Even if their sitter has everything handled at home, they need to be with Audrey. Ethan remains back per Lilly's orders, and I'm glad not to be alone. My mind has been all over the place. I was drugged.Roofied.Why? By whom? Was it a mistake? Was someone else the target?
"You look like you're about to lose it." Ethan steps closer, holding something out to me. I drop my gaze from his face and trademark grin to his hand. My phone. "I figured you might want a distraction. I also grabbed your purse when I had the cars picked up." He drops himself into the chair Rhys had pulled over earlier and props his feet on the mattress.
I tilt my head, taking in his profile. His eyes are trained on the TV on the opposite side of the room. "Ethan?"
"Mhmm." He glances at me from the corner of his eyes.
"Thank you." The lump in my throat makes it hard to speak.
He gives me a tight smile and holds his fist out toward me. "Anytime."
I bump his knuckles, laughing. "You're a dork."
"Nicest compliment I've ever gotten," he mumbles, and I scan his features. Ethan always has a joke on his lips, but something tells me a lot is going on behind his pretty face that not many people know about.
It's clear that our conversation is over, so I swipe my phone open. One text from Oli, informing me he is on the next flight out and will be in LA by morning. A pang of guilt spreads through me. I hate for him to have to fly across the country again—a day after he just left San Diego.
I scroll to my call log and see the four outgoing calls to Lilly earlier in the day. Above her name is a number I didn't have—until now. My phone shows one accepted call and then several unanswered ones. I save his number to my contacts and then stare at the name. Why did he stay with me but then leave? The question reverberates through my head until I could scream. It's not like we are in a relationship or even dating. Fuck.
I place my phone on top of the covers next to me and focus on whatever Ethan has playing on the TV. My nail picks at the case of my phone, itching to send him the question. Not once in my life has a guy made me feel this…nuts. And I have enough mental baggage that should do it for me. No, Marcus Baxter makes me feel powerful and insecure at the same time. The urge to hurl the device across the room in a temper tantrum makes me twitchy.
Letting go of the phone, I cross my arms over my chest and close my eyes. My frustration toward Marcus distracts me enough from today's events to relax and eventually drift off.
CHAPTERTWENTY
MARCUS
Lilly and Rhysenter from the garage as I push through the door coming from the gym. I've spent the last several hours exerting my body (and mind) in every possible way to not think about…her. My stomach was demanding nourishment after what I had just put myself through, but seeing them home, my nonexistent appetite turns into a wave of nausea.
Who is with Denielle?
Why do you care? You couldn't leave her side fast enough.
"Hey!" Lilly smiles when she spots me rooted in the hallway.
Rhys scans my face, claps my shoulder as he passes me, and heads straight for the stairs. "Hey." His greeting is less enthusiastic.
Lilly stares at me with her head slightly tilted. "You okay?"
Ignore and avoid.
I turn toward the kitchen. "Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"
"Marcus, stop," she raises her voice just slightly, but enough to make me halt.
I don't face her. A hollow sensation spreads through me. I know where she's going, and I don't want to head in that direction. I'm not ready. Will I ever be?
"Can we talk?" She's giving me an out.
I should take it.
"Sure." I start moving again and aim for the fridge. I get busy with my original plan and suppress the gag the inside of the fridge causes.
Lilly pulls herself up on the counter, sitting next to me as I crack eggs into a bowl. I breathe through my mouth to not smell the yellow-orangey substance, or I may throw up. I've never experienced such uncontrollable turmoil. I don't like it.
"She asked for you."
I roll my lips under. How am I supposed to respond? "How is she?"