Series: Webs We Weave Series by Krista Ritchie
Total pages in book: 167
Estimated words: 162520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 813(@200wpm)___ 650(@250wpm)___ 542(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 162520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 813(@200wpm)___ 650(@250wpm)___ 542(@300wpm)
I suck in a tight breath. “If Trevor did something—”
Sidney sends me a sickening glare that stops my sentence dead in its tracks. “Trev is helping me. He’s the reason I called you.” Her eyes ping to Hailey. “He said that his sister is really good at solutions and getting people out of trouble. And if I ever needed someone, I should talk to her.”
Trevor. He might actually really love this girl after all.
Wow…I didn’t think…I honestly didn’t think he had it in him. I feel proud, even though I had nothing to do with this growth. I am proud of him, nonetheless, and I think Rocky would be even more so.
Sidney scowls at me again. “So don’t drag his name through the mud over this. He doesn’t deserve that.”
I hold up my hands in defense. Glad to know Sidney hasn’t lost her bite even though she’s asking for our help. If I wasn’t the one being chewed out, I might even respect it.
“What happened?” Hailey asks her. “Who are you hiding from?”
“My dad.” Sidney laces together and unlaces her fingers, fidgeting at the mention of him. “He called me tonight and told me I’ve been unenrolled from Caufield University and transferred to some school in London. A school I’ve never even heard of. He’s moving the entire family to England tomorrow.”
Weston Burke really is a piece of shit.
“You’re nineteen,” I remind her. “An adult. You don’t have to go where he tells you. Just tell him to fuck off.”
“I did. Before I called you. He froze my credit cards and locked me out of my bank accounts. He threatened to take away my trust fund if I’m not on the plane tomorrow morning.” She shakes her head, her hair frizzing around her face. “I’m broke, and I don’t have anywhere to stay. He already sold the house.” Her eyes flash to Hailey in panic. “I can’t go with him. Overseas? My college is here. I have friends here. Trevor”—her voice tremors—“Trevor is here. If I go to London with my dad, he controls everything I do and I’m…” Trapped. Her eyes well with tears, and she glares up at the sky while she rubs her face with the backs of her hands.
Hailey nudges my shoulder, and I can see in her eyes that she’s already mentally mapped out a strategy. “The Reynoldses still haven’t rented out their boathouse since Rocky moved out.”
“I don’t have money for rent,” Sidney interjects with a hoarse voice.
“Worry about that later,” I tell her. “We can front you. Just get away from your dad first.”
Sidney swallows hard. “I…I can’t take your money. You don’t even like me.”
I roll my eyes. “Do we have to like each other to look out for each other? I do actually know how disgusting your dad is. We agree on that at least.”
I don’t ask why she hasn’t gone to her friends. They’re all college students living off their parents’ money. I’m sure she’s worried they’ll say no, or she’d have to tarnish her reputation by begging them. Hailey and I—we’re not going to judge her as harshly as her peers.
“The boathouse is a longer-term solution,” Hailey says more to me. “Until then, we should get her a hotel room down at the harbor. Under your name. Her dad won’t think you’re helping her.”
“Good idea.” I pull out my phone to book her a room and see a missed call from Rocky. My gut drops. I must not have heard the phone ring while we were near the DJ.
I know he’s worried about us, but we’re okay. We’re on the beach. No one’s even around us. Trent is probably already having a three-way in his pool house.
Sidney rubs at her watery eyes when I email her the room confirmation. She thanks us a million times. “What happens if he cuts off service on my phone tomorrow?” Real fear drains the color from her face.
“One step at a time,” Hailey says before Sidney’s phone rings.
She glances at the caller ID. “It’s Trevor. Maybe he can give me a ride to the hotel.” She answers the call, thanking us again, before she heads toward the stairs.
Hailey and I watch her disappear up them. We’re both silent. Moonlight shimmers across the rippling ocean, and rough waves lap angrily against the sand.
It’s quieter here.
“Was that the only good deed we’ve ever done?” I finally ask, my throat swelling at the thought.
“It might have been.” Hailey lets out a weighted breath.
I sweep the desolate shoreline, the umbrellas fallen and chair cushions blown toward the water, and I pluck my phone from my crossbody purse so I can call Rocky back. But when I dig my feet into the cold sand, I feel floaty all of a sudden.
Brain fog gradually rolls over me, and I stare at my drink. Did I pour more than a couple shots’ worth?