Part 16 (1/2)
”No,” I said, trying to smile. ”No, we should head home now.”
”If you want to stay,” she said. ”You should. I can go home and have wine on my own for one night.”
”Actually,” I said, walking over to her. ”Thorne has to go. Right Thorne?”
”Right,” Thorne said.
”I'll see you,” I said to Thorne.
He looked a little lost. ”I'll talk to Cyndi and then go back to work.”
”Okay,” I nodded and then Penny and I walked towards Travis' car and Penny called Travis. While we were waiting for them to arrive, Penny started with her questioning. ”So?” she said. ”What was that all about?”
”She's a friend,” I explained. ”He was here to help her out.”
”How can you be sure?”
”I just am.”
”Do you want to find out more about him?” Penny asked. ”I'm sure Travis can help.”
”No,” I said. ”I'd rather find out on my own. Besides, I know he's not hiding anything. He's not Nick, I know that now. I think I just saw the two of them, and a.s.sumed the worst.”
”Anyone would have,” she said. ”To be honest, I still don't believe it.”
”But we have to.”
”If you say so.”
”We're fine,” I said, more to myself than to her.
My phone rang.
It was Thorne so I picked it up.
”Hi,” he said.
”Hey.”
”Can I see you tomorrow?”
”I don't know, Thorne.”
”If you don't then I'll feel like you haven't gotten over this,” he said.
”That's not true.”
”Then prove it,” Thorne said. ”I'll come pick you up and we'll do the breakfast ritual Lane has been avoiding for the past couple of weeks.”
”That's because of us,” I said. ”I think he's trying not to waste our time or something.”
”So can I pick you up from Penny's place?”
”Sure.”
”Great.”
”Yeah.”
”Elena?”
”Yes?”
”You looked hot,” he said. ”So hot I wanted to rip those clothes right off you.”
I couldn't help grinning despite myself. ”I'll try to take that as a compliment.”
”The next time I see you,” he said. ”Those clothes won't be there.”
”We'll see about that,” I said and pushed the end b.u.t.ton.
”What are you grinning about?” Penny asked.
”Nothing,” I said. ”Just nothing.”
THORNE.
It wasn't hard finding Cyndi's room once I was inside the club again. I had just gotten done with talking to Elena on my phone and it seemed like she was feeling better. After a good night's rest she would feel even better and the whole thing wouldn't look so bad to her.
I knocked.
Cyndi's voice from inside said ”It's open.”
So I entered and closed the door behind me. She was sitting on one side of the bed, still wearing that silly blonde wig. ”Everything okay?” she asked.
I loosened my tie and sat on the bed, facing her. ”She's going home,” I said.
”I didn't know she would be here,” Cyndi said. ”Was she here looking for you?”
”Some friends brought her here. I think it was just a coincidence.”