want to face plant as he watches me until I'm safely inside.
I get in my room and turn on my laptop. While it's booting up I use the bathroom. As I exit the bathroom, I see the door to my room is open. I could have sworn I locked it when I came in. I go to the door and glance up and down the hallway lit by sunlight streaming through the window at the end of the hall. It is empty. I shut and lock the door, throwing the chain on as well for good measure. Why am I so suspicious? Last night I felt as though someone was watching me when I looked out the window, then the man on the bench, now this. I must have not latched the door.
The shrill ring of the room phone makes me jump.
“Ah, for crying out loud. Ellie, get your shit together,” I say out loud to myself, sitting on the bed to answer the phone.
“Hello?”
“Ms. Marks, this is Esther, the owner of the house,” she explains to me, which makes me think of Justin and his cuckoo comment.
“Yes, hi,” I say, knowing full well who she is without the explanation.
“I just wanted to let you know that there is a small tropical storm headed our way. It shouldn't be too bad, but I'm advising all the guests to stay inside,” she tells me in a motherly tone.
"Okay, thank you.” It hits me that a couple days ago she said I was the only guest. “Umm, wait. Did you say guests, is there someone else staying here?”
“Yes, just showed up this morning wanting to know if I had a room available. Very nice man,” she says, hanging up abruptly before I have a chance to ask her about him. I sit holding the phone in my hand. Now I know I'm being paranoid. I'm suspicious of a random tourist. I hang up the phone, and as if on cue, the sun shining through my window is gone as clouds move in.
Moving back, I sit up in the bed with my laptop on my legs. I barely get the internet browser open when my cell rings. I see it is a local number and I get butterflies thinking it's Justin.
“Hello?” I answer in the sweetest voice I have.
“Hey, it's me, Justin.” God, does he have a sexy phone voice. “I just heard that we are in a tropical storm warning.” The phone has a little static and I hear thunder in the distance.
“Yes, I heard that also.”
“I just wanted you to know that it should be fine, but close your curtains just in case the glass breaks. The curtains will stop the glass from flying in the room. Not that I think it will be that bad.” Oh my God, he is so cute. He is trying to keep me safe and comfort me at the same time. I'm surprised he hasn't offered to come over and protect me. I would like that very much actually, too much. So I'm relieved when he doesn't offer.
“I will, thank you,” I tell him, a little less enthusiastic. I don't want the temptation, but yet I do.
“If you get scared, or if you need anything, call me. You now have my number. I have to go get my boat ready, but can I call you later?” he asks, making me melt into the bed.
“Yes, please.” Geez, I sound like a fucking schoolgirl. I roll my eyes to myself. “Be careful,” I make sure to tell him before he gets off the phone.
I sit and stare at the phone for a moment, my emotions on a roller coaster. I try and shake him off before turning my attention back to my laptop. Crap, the internet is out, probably because of the storm. I shut it down and put it off to the side. With the darkness in the room and the rumbles of thunder, this is a great time for a nap. I settle in and drift off to sleep in no time.
Chapter 17
Justin
The wind is picking up as I tie down my boat with stronger rope, making sure that all sides are secure.
“Hey, son.” I look up to see my father walking at a fast pace down the dock.
“What are you doing here?” I'm puzzled as to why my father would be coming to the docks just before a tropical storm. He should be making sure that residents are aware and that people return to their homes.
“The
I get in my room and turn on my laptop. While it's booting up I use the bathroom. As I exit the bathroom, I see the door to my room is open. I could have sworn I locked it when I came in. I go to the door and glance up and down the hallway lit by sunlight streaming through the window at the end of the hall. It is empty. I shut and lock the door, throwing the chain on as well for good measure. Why am I so suspicious? Last night I felt as though someone was watching me when I looked out the window, then the man on the bench, now this. I must have not latched the door.
The shrill ring of the room phone makes me jump.
“Ah, for crying out loud. Ellie, get your shit together,” I say out loud to myself, sitting on the bed to answer the phone.
“Hello?”
“Ms. Marks, this is Esther, the owner of the house,” she explains to me, which makes me think of Justin and his cuckoo comment.
“Yes, hi,” I say, knowing full well who she is without the explanation.
“I just wanted to let you know that there is a small tropical storm headed our way. It shouldn't be too bad, but I'm advising all the guests to stay inside,” she tells me in a motherly tone.
"Okay, thank you.” It hits me that a couple days ago she said I was the only guest. “Umm, wait. Did you say guests, is there someone else staying here?”
“Yes, just showed up this morning wanting to know if I had a room available. Very nice man,” she says, hanging up abruptly before I have a chance to ask her about him. I sit holding the phone in my hand. Now I know I'm being paranoid. I'm suspicious of a random tourist. I hang up the phone, and as if on cue, the sun shining through my window is gone as clouds move in.
Moving back, I sit up in the bed with my laptop on my legs. I barely get the internet browser open when my cell rings. I see it is a local number and I get butterflies thinking it's Justin.
“Hello?” I answer in the sweetest voice I have.
“Hey, it's me, Justin.” God, does he have a sexy phone voice. “I just heard that we are in a tropical storm warning.” The phone has a little static and I hear thunder in the distance.
“Yes, I heard that also.”
“I just wanted you to know that it should be fine, but close your curtains just in case the glass breaks. The curtains will stop the glass from flying in the room. Not that I think it will be that bad.” Oh my God, he is so cute. He is trying to keep me safe and comfort me at the same time. I'm surprised he hasn't offered to come over and protect me. I would like that very much actually, too much. So I'm relieved when he doesn't offer.
“I will, thank you,” I tell him, a little less enthusiastic. I don't want the temptation, but yet I do.
“If you get scared, or if you need anything, call me. You now have my number. I have to go get my boat ready, but can I call you later?” he asks, making me melt into the bed.
“Yes, please.” Geez, I sound like a fucking schoolgirl. I roll my eyes to myself. “Be careful,” I make sure to tell him before he gets off the phone.
I sit and stare at the phone for a moment, my emotions on a roller coaster. I try and shake him off before turning my attention back to my laptop. Crap, the internet is out, probably because of the storm. I shut it down and put it off to the side. With the darkness in the room and the rumbles of thunder, this is a great time for a nap. I settle in and drift off to sleep in no time.
Chapter 17
Justin
The wind is picking up as I tie down my boat with stronger rope, making sure that all sides are secure.
“Hey, son.” I look up to see my father walking at a fast pace down the dock.
“What are you doing here?” I'm puzzled as to why my father would be coming to the docks just before a tropical storm. He should be making sure that residents are aware and that people return to their homes.
“The
Similar Books
