“What happened?” Bexley asks over my shoulder.
Rachel holds up her phone. “It’s from Demi. She’s—they’re—gone. Her and Tad and Chrissa.”
“What do you mean, gone?” Biba demands. “They were with us at the casino until we left to go back to the room.”
“They were doing the counting cards thing,” David adds. “I think they won some money.”
“Sounds like it.” Rachel’s gaze flies across the screen. “But sounds like they won it off some bad dudes. Demi says they rented a car and headed home because things were getting a little intense.”
“With Tad?” Mase looks from Rachel to Biba. “Tad’s with them?”
“I think so.”
“I knew I shouldn’t have let him go,” Mase bursts out. “He’s got a record. It’s not good if he gets in trouble.”
“Tad?” I demand. “A record in what?”
“For hacking. It’s why he was cut off.”
“Tad?” Shae laughs with disbelief. “The cute, quiet guy who can’t dance?”
“That’s the one,” he says ruefully. “He’s just as smart as you guys, only his brain gets him into trouble. I can’t worry about him now,” he adds with a shake of his head. “Can you let me know when you hear from them again, and I’ll try and get them home in one piece? But I really have to go.”
“I’ll go pack my things.” Just like Mase’s sister, I’m not issuing a request.
Mase shrugs. “Suit yourself.” He tells me to meet him in the lobby in half an hour and then he leaves.
Leaves me there.
“I’ll go and pack,” I say into the awkward quiet Mase leaves behind.
“Wait for me,” Bexley says. Shae and Rachel are coming too, with Biba trailing along,. Biba has to open the door for me because I forgot my key card.
I feel like I’ve forgotten a lot.
“What just happened?” Shae asks in bewilderment as I lead the way into my room. “We were talking and laughing and it was all good and then, pow. Mase gets weird.”
“It’s his family,” I say, pulling my suitcase out of the closet to set it on the bed. The bed Mase and I were so happy in, only minutes ago.
What happened?
And why do I insist on unpacking everything when I’m in a hotel? “At least I think so. I found him in the bathroom FaceTiming his sisters earlier. They seemed upset.”
“Families like that suck,” Rachel announces. “I know—I come from one like that. We’re not as made of money as the Stirlings, but it’s enough for my parental units to think they can direct my life into the path they want me to take.”
“This—” —Bexley waves her hand, taking in the blue streaks in Rachel’s hair, the new tattoo on her wrist— “—is the path they want for you?”
“Oh, hell no!” She laughs. “I barely talk to them now. I make an effort at Christmas, but there’s usually a fight about how my life is going nowhere, my mother drinks too much and tells me it’s my fault, and my father usually tells me to leave before I make it worse. It’s fun.” She smiles wryly. “Don’t expect a cakewalk with Mase’s family. There’s a lot more at stake for him.”
“Thanks,” I say weakly. “I think.”
Bexley pulls open a drawer and takes out the handful of underwear. “Why don’t you have a shower and I’ll pack for you?” she offers. Without waiting for my reply, Biba heads to my closet and begins taking my clothes off the hangers.
I watch for a moment, wanting to protest because people touching my things… There’s a precise way I like to fold everything—
Biba glances up at me. “I’ve got this,” she assures me, folding my dress in the exact way I would.
“Thank you.”