Lauren (Keegan's Chronicles Spin Off) (16 page)

“Why not? If we’re wrong, then it’s no big deal. If we’re right, you could save countless lives,” Anna remarked.

Lauren leaned up on one elbow to argue, and then plopped back down on the bed, her eyes on the ceiling. They had a point. And when she told Tristen she was going out of town, she should be able to gauge his reaction—if he got oddly upset about it, it could mean something. Something she didn’t want to believe. He always seemed to be upset lately, though, so maybe that wasn’t a good indicator.

“I think we should leave right now,” Keegan said eagerly. “Just throw some things in a bag, and we can jump in your car and hit the road.”

“I’m not leaving without seeing Tristen,” Lauren said hotly, then felt bad when Keegan cringed.

“Why?” Anna asked, her arms crossed over her chest.

“He would know something was up if I did that,” Lauren answered. They weren’t going to get her to budge on the issue.

Anna and Keegan exchanged a worried glance.

“Don’t worry,” Lauren said with a harried sigh. “I won’t mention your crazy accusation of him causing mass destruction. I need to see his reaction about me leaving for Lake Tahoe so that I can prove you guys wrong. This is all
beyond
ridiculous.”

Anna leaned her head against the bedpost. “Calvron said you shouldn’t be alone with him.”

“Calvron is getting on my last nerve. Why did you even talk to him about this? This is just what he needs—more ammunition to hate Tristen.” Lauren flopped over and buried her head in the bed covers. She wished everyone would just leave her alone. It was her life.

“Can you tell him on the phone? Or have him come here so at least we’ll be with you?” Keegan pleaded.

Lauren mulled it over for a few moments. “I guess I’ll call him, but you guys need to get out. And don’t listen at the door either.”

Keegan’s weight disappeared from the bed, and Lauren turned to watch as they made for the door.

“You’re doing the right thing.” Anna gave a sad half-smile before she walked out. “Honestly, I hope we’re wrong, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

Chapter 18

L
auren picked up her phone and stared at his name for what seemed like forever before she finally hit the call button. The phone rang three times and, finally, Tristen’s deep voice came over the line. “Hello.”

Lauren’s heart dropped to her toes. She had no idea how to approach the subject. His attitude lately had just been so…

“Lauren, are you there?”

She cleared her throat. “Yeah, sorry. I dropped the phone.” That excuse sounded better than,
I’m sorry, I was terrified of your reaction.

Lauren braced herself, weighing her words.
Please let this all be a huge mistake.

“How was your day?” She groaned inwardly. Could she sound any lamer?

“The usual. How about you? I can’t wait to see you.”

“I miss you, too.” Lauren bit her lip. She just had to say it. There was no way to tiptoe around it. “The girls want to take the rest of the week and spend it at Lake Tahoe,” she said in a rush. She hoped her voice didn’t give away her nervousness.

Tristen line was quiet for a moment. “I see.”

Lauren took a deep breath before she continued. “I know you’re busy at work, so I didn’t think you would mind too much. Keegan’s never been. She really wants to go.”

There was another beat, and then, “Okay.”

“You don’t mind?”

“Of course I mind. I’ll miss you like crazy, but if that’s what you want to do, then you should go and have fun.”

Lauren’s face lit up and excitement filled her body. Keegan and Anna were wrong. He had no intention of using her for anything. She couldn’t wait to tell them.

“When are you leaving?”

“They want to leave today.”

“Today?” There was long pause on the other end of the phone. “Well, you can’t go without saying goodbye. Can you sneak away for a bit? No offense to your friends, but I’d like to have you to myself before you leave.”

Lauren felt her face flush. “I’m sure that can be arranged.”

“Come to my place as soon as you can. I have to leave you with a good impression so you don’t run off with some other guy.” Tristen chuckled.

“That’s ridiculous.” Lauren laughed. “I’ll be there soon.” She clicked off the phone and grabbed a sweatshirt from her closet, and then slipped into the bathroom and applied a bit of mascara and blush. Her hair was a mess, but it would have to do. She didn’t have time to do anything with it.

Now she had to convince the girls it was okay. Or…she could just tell a little white lie.

Keegan and Anna were sitting on the couch waiting for her when she came out. They both looked up expectantly.

“You were wrong,” she said smugly, giving them a bright smile as she zipped up her hoodie. “He told me to go and have a good time with my friends.”

“Really?” they said in unison.

Lauren raised an eyebrow, daring them to say something negative about Tristen. “Yep. You must have misunderstood. I know you’re only looking out for me, so I’m not mad at you. But you really shouldn’t jump to conclusions so quickly.”

Keegan reached up and scratched the back of her head. “So we can leave now?”

“Yes, but I have to run to the drugstore and get my allergy medicine before we go. Why don’t you guys pack? I’ll be right back.”

Anna jumped from the couch, striding across the room. “We can go with you or grab it on our way out.”

“No, seriously, it’s fine,” Lauren said, holding up a hand to stop her. “I need to get there before they close, and we know Keegan takes forever to get ready.”

“Lauren, I hope you’re not going to see him,” Keegan said quietly. “Why don’t you take Anna with you? I’ll get ready while you’re gone.”

“News flash,” Lauren said angrily. “I’m not a child. I’m going to the store without a chaperone, and when I get back, we will take off on a road trip.” Lauren turned on her heel and grabbed her keys from the table by the door. “I’ll be right back.”

Lauren ran to her car, glancing back to make sure she wasn’t being followed. She wouldn’t put it past Keegan to use her powers of invisibility to sneak out behind her. She listened for the door closing, but met just the hum of the street lights.

Convinced she was alone, Lauren slid into her little car, and it came to life with the turn of a key.

As she pulled away from the curb, she glanced at her building one last time, searching for any sign they were watching. She felt a quick surge of guilt, but shook it off. She felt too elated—Tristen didn’t plan to use her to hurt people. For a brief moment, she had really believed Anna and Keegan. She was disappointed that she had let her friends cause her to doubt the man she loved. She was an emotional mess.

She worked on calming herself down on the drive. Tristen had always been able to read her so well, and she didn’t want him to think something was wrong. If he pressed the issue, she would probably spill the beans.

Lauren groaned when she realized she was still in her sweaty workout clothes. She was so flustered that she hadn’t even been thinking straight. It was too late to turn around—no way could she get past her friends if she went back to shower and change.

Oh well. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t seen her sweaty before. At least she thought to put on a sweatshirt.

Lauren made the drive in record time, so excited to see him that she might have pushed the speed limit. She couldn’t wait to hold him, to feel him against her, real and perfect. Pulling into her usual spot, she cut the engine and hopped from the car into the hot sunshine.

At the door, she hit the bell and listened to it
gong
inside. She nervously fidgeted with the hem of her sweatshirt as she waited.

Tristen opened the door and gave her a once-over.

“Snuck out?” He grinned his crooked grin.

“I was in a rush,” she told him sweetly, aching to cross the space between them. “I wanted to see you before we left. And yes, if you must know, I snuck out. I couldn’t tell them I was running off for a booty call.” Lauren’s face turned scarlet.

Tristen grabbed her hand and pulled her inside. “How long do you have before they send out the cavalry?”

Lauren shrugged and smiled up at him. “As long as it takes, I guess.”

“I like the sound of that.” Tristen led her down the hall to his bedroom, his hand warm and solid. Lauren was so glad everything was okay. Her best friends were crazy, but that was nothing new.

“Why don’t you jump in the shower?” Tristen said, giving her a peck on the forehead. “I’ll be out here waiting.”

Lauren raised an eyebrow. “You don’t want to join me?”

“I have to make a quick phone call. Hurry up—don’t make me wait too long.”

Lauren pulled off her top on the way to the bathroom. She thought for sure he would follow, but he didn’t. Her body felt gross because of the hard run, so a shower sounded good. She’d just jump in and clean up real quick, and try not to worry about how long it would take for Keegan and Anna to start to worry.

After her shower, Lauren tucked a fluffy white towel around her body and headed for Tristen’s bedroom, her heart pounding. She couldn’t wait to kiss the man she loved—she realized she hadn’t had a chance when she first arrived.

But when she walked through the doorway, she stopped in her tracks.

Tristen sat in a chair in the corner of the room with Garret, Connor, and Galen standing near him. Four pairs of eyes lifted to look at her.

“Um, what are they doing here?” Lauren eyed Tristen angrily, wishing she had put a robe on.

Tristen kicked his leg up and crossed it over his knee. “I’m sorry, love, but we can’t let you leave.”

Panic rose in her chest. Her gaze darted to each of the men in turn. “What do you mean?”

“Please don’t make this harder than it has to be,” Tristen said arrogantly. “We just need you to do a few things for us, and then you can be on your way.”

Oh my gods. Keegan and Anna were right.

“What things?” Lauren’s heart hammered in her chest. Why hadn’t she listened to her friends?

Tristen grinned. “What you do best, of course. Nothing major. A piece of cake for you.”

Lauren clutched the towel around her breasts, shooting a glance at Galen. His face was passive, his body relaxed as he leaned on the wall slightly behind Connor and Garret. All three were eerily silent.

“You need me to fix something?” Lauren asked quietly, turning her eyes back to Tristen.

The guys all laughed.

Tristen nodded. “Sure, that’s one way to put it. We need you to fix a
problem
we have.”

Lauren didn’t reply.

“Get dressed,” he ordered. “Unless you like having men stare at your half-naked body. Which I suppose you do. You always were an attention whore.”

“What?!” Lauren inhaled sharply. He’d never spoken to her that way, and especially not in front of his friends.

He waved his hand dismissively. “You heard me. Put some clothes on.”

Anger well up inside of her. How dare he talk to her like that! She glared at him. “Tristen, I don’t know who you’re trying to impress talking down to me like that, but you better knock it off.”

Tristen chuckled. He tilted his head towards the guys. Garret and Connor crossed the room, grabbed her by the arms, then pushed her forward.

The jolt caused her towel to drop. Mortified, she instinctively tried to wrench her hands free to cover herself, but the grip on each wrist was just too strong.

“I told you she had a nice ass.” Tristen laughed loudly, and the guys joined in.

Galen disappeared into the bathroom, returning just as quickly with her clothes in his arms. He pushed them towards her chest. “Change, and don’t try anything stupid. We’re right here.”

They were all crazy, Lauren realized. And whatever went down next wasn’t going to be good.

Lauren looked into Galen’s eyes, silently begging for this all to be some sick dream, but his expressionless face left no hope. She clutched her clothes, devastated.

So much for thinking he was her friend.

Chapter 19

T
hey wouldn’t let her close the bathroom door to get dressed, so Lauren turned her back to them and quickly pulled on her sweaty running shorts as her mind raced.