Page 6 of Merciless Wager
“Hey, Rory. What are you doing right now?”
“Right now?” I asked. “Nothing. I’m at home.”
“Oh, okay,” he said.
There was something in the tone of his voice that sounded off. And I couldn’t even say that it was due to him being intoxicated, as he often sounded prim and proper when drinking. Hell, he was one of those who sounded more sober when drunk, so his current tone had me arching my brow.
“Is there something wrong, Drake?”
“Ahhh, no, but I was hoping to see you tonight.”
“Sure,” I said to him. “I was about to go to sleep, but I’ll wait up on you if you’d like. You still have my house key, yes?”
“I do, but I wanted us to go away for a day or two. When are you due back at Mass Gen?”
Drake was never spontaneous, so this made me more concerned. “The day after tomorrow. Are you sure you’re okay? You sound?—”
“Pack some things up and meet me in the parking garage. I’ll be there in half an hour.”
“Does this have anything to do with your text from a week ago? The one where you said you wanted to talk to me about something?”
“Can you just do this for me? I’ll explain later,” was all that he said.
“Sure. I’ll meet you downstairs in a bit.”
The line went dead right after, and I pursed my lips together as I stared at my cell phone. Drake sounded different. It was almost like he was scared of something, which was crazy,because I had never seen him so much as worry about anything, much less be terrified.
Perhaps this was all a ruse. If he wanted to keep me off guard about a potential engagement, this would be an easy way to do it. I smiled in that moment. He wasn’t fooling anyone, least of all me. I got off the couch and washed my wine glass and spoon, then tossed the empty pint container into the garbage before heading to my bedroom.
I still had my suitcase out from my latest trip with my parents. It’d been their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, and we’d celebrated the occasion at a beachside mansion on the Jersey shore. While I hadn’t put the suitcase back in the corner of my large closet, I had at least emptied it out.
I tossed it onto the bed, unzipped the largest section, and started pulling things from my closet. I had no idea whether he’d intended to go somewhere cold or warm, so I made sure to grab some outfits for either, then tossed a few sets of lingerie into the smaller section of the suitcase, along with a few bikinis and a nightgown.
I found myself humming along as I zipped up the bag, then went into the bathroom to get all of my essentials. A total of fifteen minutes had elapsed by the time I finished packing everything. It was then that I forgot shoes. Grabbing a smaller suitcase, and one I could just stack onto my larger one, I threw in a few pairs of heels and a pair of sneakers before zipping it shut.
I needed to tell my bestie and my parents that I was going out of town because I didn’t want either to worry if they were to stop by and I wouldn't be here. Especially, Braelynn. She lived two floors down from me, and we’d made plans to grab lunch tomorrow. Those plans would obviously now be canceled.
Mom... Dad... I’m headed on a surprise trip with Drake. Will let you both know once I’m back in town. Love you guys
And remembering Braelynn, I pulled up her last message.
Drake’s surprising me with a last minute trip out of town. Will need to take a raincheck on lunch tomorrow.
She responded right away, unlike my parents, who were already in bed.
BRAE:
He’s probably taking you somewhere you’ll never be found.
Ha ha! I don’t know why you hate Drake so much, but this is romantic. No?
BRAE:
That man wouldn’t know a thing about romance even if Hallmark slapped him upside the head. Promise me you’ll be careful.
You exasperate me, but I love you so much. All’s good. Will fill you in on all the deets when I get back. I might even be getting ready to change last names.
BRAE:
