I nod, and I do believe that. But believing you should do something and actually doing it are not the same thing.
“I’ll take care of Sam, see what kind of info I can pull off this computer. You take care of Johnny Blazen and ask him what he needs to get that car location info. Maybe we need to pay off a judge or something. I don’t know. We need that info. Because that video of Grace, V, that was some sick fucking shit. And even though I sorta knew that’s what happened, it shocked the shit out of me. I never imagined he could’ve filmed her.”
I scrub my hands down my face and let out an exhausted sigh. How did my life go from dreams to nightmares in one twenty-four-hour period?
“Just go find that Johnny Blazen and get Grace back, OK? I’ll take Felicity with me and we’ll go work on the computer.”
Just hearing Felicity’s name snaps me back. “I don’t want her involved, Conner. I don’t want her hurt. She can’t be a part of this.”
“Fuck that, V. That girl is gold when it comes to hacking. We need her.” Conner grabs the laptop and tucks it under his arm and walks towards the door. “She’s gonna tear this computer apart and figure out if there’s anything we can use on here. And then she’s gonna set Sam up with a YouTube channel and have her make another video. One that shows a very composed and self-assured Samantha Asher talking candidly about her disorder.”
All the people I care about are suddenly a part of this fucked-up mess. Is this my fault? Did I invite all this hatred? Am I the reason why Grace’s abductor has resurfaced after ten years? Am I the root of all the pain and humiliation that is about to be unleashed?
“Vaughn!” Conner yells from the door. “Pull it together and go find that quarterback!”
I nod and follow him out. We walk back to my suite without words and before we even reach the door, Felicity is opening it for us. She scans our faces and frowns. “Oh, shit. Please tell me something good.”
I shake my head at her. “It’s worse than we imagined. I hate to ask you—”
“Vaughn, you know whatever you need, whenever you need it, right? I’ll do anything to help.”
Conner and I walk through the door and she shuts it behind us. I pull her close for a hug. “Go with Conner and help him. We’ve got a computer for you to look at. I’m just so glad you’re part of my life. Do you know that?”
“I know, V,” she says in a soft voice. “I’m the luckiest girl alive and it’s all because of you. I’d do anything to make you happy.”
I come from a level of privilege few can comprehend. I have a loving family and I’ve never wanted for anything in my life. And yet the day this kid hacked her way into my life I realized how much I was missing. I feel the same about Grace. I never knew how sad my intimate relationships were until I saw what they could be.
I can’t lose Grace. Not only that, I feel like it’s my life’s purpose to keep her safe and I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure that happens.
I watch Felicity and Conner leave, closing the door quietly behind them. And then I go back to the living room and call the concierge desk. “This is Vaughn Asher,” I tell the woman on the other end of the line. “I need Carl up here immediately.”
No time to dwell on consequences if we don’t succeed. There will be plenty of time for that if we fail. Right now, finding out where Grace went is the only thing that matters. And my best chance of doing that is making nice with a certain football player.
Chapter Six
#CallMeDontCallMe
IT TURNS out the past is a lot more difficult to avoid when it’s all around you. We look at the TV, and there I am. We check the internet, and once again, I’m the star of the day. They are talking about me everywhere. My face, my poor teenage face, is plastered all over the airwaves. Bebe is texting me. Her parents—my parents—are texting me. And even though I really need to call them back, I just can’t do it. They will want to whisk me away to a safe place. And I’ve been there, done that. I spent almost a year tucked away in a safe place after I came home and I can’t go backwards. I can’t.
News organizations are calling as well. I know what that means. They want interviews. They wanted interviews back when I was fourteen too, but they never got one then and they’re not getting one now.
The Big Guys are calling, hell, even the Little Ladies are calling. Although that might be about Kristi’s fucked-up wedding. I’m not one hundred percent sure about that.
Probably not though. That’s probably about my past as well.
But the one thing that surprises me the most is that Vaughn does not call.
Why?
Is he so disgusted about what happened in my past? He said we had a good time last night. And I honestly wish I could remember. I do remember the gambling. I remember him being there. I remember being so angry. And I know I walked out and then there’s a gap before we were in a restaurant together. He talked about… I don’t remember exactly. But I think it was personal stuff. I can remember being ashamed because he was weaseling his way back into my fairytale and I was giving in.
God, everything about my life since Asher came into it has been a mess. I’m a mess. This guy is not good for me.
So why do I care so much that he hasn’t called?
Maybe he figures I won’t answer?
He’s right, if that’s what he’s thinking. I won’t answer. I’m paranoid since my phone went missing and then reappeared the next day a few weeks back. Maybe someone hacked into my phone somehow? I don’t know how wiretapping works, I could be tapped, right? Who knows who could be listening on the other end.
But still, there is this emptiness inside me that craves to hear his voice. I take a deep breath and stare at my phone as it buzzes its way across the glass table. I could call him.
Jesus, Grace. Make up your stupid mind.
Right. I’m not calling him. There’s too much happening right now. The last thing I need is him making things more complicated.
“Earth to Grace?”
“What?” I look over at Kristi and her brother. They are staring at me. “What?” I repeat.
“Your phone?” Kristi says as she points to the buzzing tech on the table next to me. “It’s driving me nuts. Just answer it.”
I pick up the phone and check the number. “It’s Vaughn.” I smile before I can stop myself.
“I’ll take care of Sam, see what kind of info I can pull off this computer. You take care of Johnny Blazen and ask him what he needs to get that car location info. Maybe we need to pay off a judge or something. I don’t know. We need that info. Because that video of Grace, V, that was some sick fucking shit. And even though I sorta knew that’s what happened, it shocked the shit out of me. I never imagined he could’ve filmed her.”
I scrub my hands down my face and let out an exhausted sigh. How did my life go from dreams to nightmares in one twenty-four-hour period?
“Just go find that Johnny Blazen and get Grace back, OK? I’ll take Felicity with me and we’ll go work on the computer.”
Just hearing Felicity’s name snaps me back. “I don’t want her involved, Conner. I don’t want her hurt. She can’t be a part of this.”
“Fuck that, V. That girl is gold when it comes to hacking. We need her.” Conner grabs the laptop and tucks it under his arm and walks towards the door. “She’s gonna tear this computer apart and figure out if there’s anything we can use on here. And then she’s gonna set Sam up with a YouTube channel and have her make another video. One that shows a very composed and self-assured Samantha Asher talking candidly about her disorder.”
All the people I care about are suddenly a part of this fucked-up mess. Is this my fault? Did I invite all this hatred? Am I the reason why Grace’s abductor has resurfaced after ten years? Am I the root of all the pain and humiliation that is about to be unleashed?
“Vaughn!” Conner yells from the door. “Pull it together and go find that quarterback!”
I nod and follow him out. We walk back to my suite without words and before we even reach the door, Felicity is opening it for us. She scans our faces and frowns. “Oh, shit. Please tell me something good.”
I shake my head at her. “It’s worse than we imagined. I hate to ask you—”
“Vaughn, you know whatever you need, whenever you need it, right? I’ll do anything to help.”
Conner and I walk through the door and she shuts it behind us. I pull her close for a hug. “Go with Conner and help him. We’ve got a computer for you to look at. I’m just so glad you’re part of my life. Do you know that?”
“I know, V,” she says in a soft voice. “I’m the luckiest girl alive and it’s all because of you. I’d do anything to make you happy.”
I come from a level of privilege few can comprehend. I have a loving family and I’ve never wanted for anything in my life. And yet the day this kid hacked her way into my life I realized how much I was missing. I feel the same about Grace. I never knew how sad my intimate relationships were until I saw what they could be.
I can’t lose Grace. Not only that, I feel like it’s my life’s purpose to keep her safe and I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure that happens.
I watch Felicity and Conner leave, closing the door quietly behind them. And then I go back to the living room and call the concierge desk. “This is Vaughn Asher,” I tell the woman on the other end of the line. “I need Carl up here immediately.”
No time to dwell on consequences if we don’t succeed. There will be plenty of time for that if we fail. Right now, finding out where Grace went is the only thing that matters. And my best chance of doing that is making nice with a certain football player.
Chapter Six
#CallMeDontCallMe
IT TURNS out the past is a lot more difficult to avoid when it’s all around you. We look at the TV, and there I am. We check the internet, and once again, I’m the star of the day. They are talking about me everywhere. My face, my poor teenage face, is plastered all over the airwaves. Bebe is texting me. Her parents—my parents—are texting me. And even though I really need to call them back, I just can’t do it. They will want to whisk me away to a safe place. And I’ve been there, done that. I spent almost a year tucked away in a safe place after I came home and I can’t go backwards. I can’t.
News organizations are calling as well. I know what that means. They want interviews. They wanted interviews back when I was fourteen too, but they never got one then and they’re not getting one now.
The Big Guys are calling, hell, even the Little Ladies are calling. Although that might be about Kristi’s fucked-up wedding. I’m not one hundred percent sure about that.
Probably not though. That’s probably about my past as well.
But the one thing that surprises me the most is that Vaughn does not call.
Why?
Is he so disgusted about what happened in my past? He said we had a good time last night. And I honestly wish I could remember. I do remember the gambling. I remember him being there. I remember being so angry. And I know I walked out and then there’s a gap before we were in a restaurant together. He talked about… I don’t remember exactly. But I think it was personal stuff. I can remember being ashamed because he was weaseling his way back into my fairytale and I was giving in.
God, everything about my life since Asher came into it has been a mess. I’m a mess. This guy is not good for me.
So why do I care so much that he hasn’t called?
Maybe he figures I won’t answer?
He’s right, if that’s what he’s thinking. I won’t answer. I’m paranoid since my phone went missing and then reappeared the next day a few weeks back. Maybe someone hacked into my phone somehow? I don’t know how wiretapping works, I could be tapped, right? Who knows who could be listening on the other end.
But still, there is this emptiness inside me that craves to hear his voice. I take a deep breath and stare at my phone as it buzzes its way across the glass table. I could call him.
Jesus, Grace. Make up your stupid mind.
Right. I’m not calling him. There’s too much happening right now. The last thing I need is him making things more complicated.
“Earth to Grace?”
“What?” I look over at Kristi and her brother. They are staring at me. “What?” I repeat.
“Your phone?” Kristi says as she points to the buzzing tech on the table next to me. “It’s driving me nuts. Just answer it.”
I pick up the phone and check the number. “It’s Vaughn.” I smile before I can stop myself.
