Page 90 of Bad Run

A smile tugs at the corner of my mouth. Californians and their thinking that any town above Manhattan is upstate. “Something like that.”

“You’re coming back to LA with us tonight, right?” Blake asks.

“That’s the plan. Just gotta check in with my mom for a bit.”

Cam gives me a look, silently asking about my dad. I shake my head, and he tips his chin.

Reed pulls out his phone and scrolls. “You better hurry your ass up. It’s already ten, and the plane leaves at six.”

“Where’s Romero?” I ask.

Blake snorts. “Trying to ditch the lingerie model. Turns out, she’s clingy.”

“Ah.” I nod, unsurprised by this.

Nico has an aversion to relationships, and from what I saw last night, the woman he was with wanted way more than a night of fun.

“Heath with Gracie?” I ask.

“Yup.” Reed pops his P, looking disgusted. It will be interesting if and when a woman comes into his life and flips it upside down. “They went sightseeing or some shit. Fucking gross couples.”

My mind goes to Gwen, wondering what happened between the time we fell asleep, spent from the last round of mind-bending sex in the shower, and when she snuck out of my hotel room.

Did I do something to make her leave?

There’s nothing that stands out. If I had just told her I wanted more than one night, then maybe she would still be here. I thought I would have the morning to take her to breakfast and talk.

Fuck. I drop my head back against the headboard.

I open my eyes to Cam watching me. A silent conversation ensues, and he tips his chin in understanding. We’ve been friends for a long time, and with that comes his ability to read my emotions. “We’ll leave you to get ready.”

I return the chin nod. “’Bout time.”

Ignoring me, Reed slaps his stomach. “I’m hungry. Breakfast?”

“I could eat.” Blake pushes off the wall and marches to the door, Reed hot on his heels. In the distance, I can hear Reed teasing Blake about wearing pink, and the guy whining about ruining his hoodie.

Cam stops at the door and turns to face me. “You coming with or what?”

The idea of food makes my stomach churn. I’ve got too much going through my head to eat. Between wondering why in the hell the girl I spent the night with snuck out while I was sleeping and worrying about my trip north, I’m not the best company.

“Nah.”

“Quick trip?” Cam asks, referring to my previous arrangements.

Today, I planned on meeting my mom and grandmother at their flower shop to check in with each other. They have been my strongest supporters, but I have my limits. The last thing I want to do is stick around my hometown long enough to run into my father. He relishes in finding new ways to ignore me, and I want no part in it today.

“Quick trip,” I confirm.

With a salute, Cam follows our other friends, leaving me to get cleaned up.

As I pick up the trash and grab my clothes off the floor, packing my suitcase, my confusion over Gwen’s disappearance turns into anger. By the time I’m done showering and dressed to leave the hotel, I’m fuming.

How could she leave without a word? The audacity.

I worshipped the fuck out of her body. Showed her with my mouth, hands, and cock what my voice could not say alone. She felt it. There’s no fucking way she didn’t. Especially the last time I buried myself deep inside her body and moved in and out of her, slowly, with intention, hoping that she would understand how I was feeling.

Is a part of my ego bruised from her ditching out?