Dark Shadows (Gia Santella Crime Thrillers Book 11) by Kristi Belcamino (best motivational novels txt) 📗

tightly from her face was Sabine. She was hanging on an equally emaciated boy with short black hair sticking up everywhere and thick black glasses named Clint.

I noticed something odd. Even though Owen and Amanda were making out, Amanda was sitting closer to Lucas than Hannah was—much closer than the packed booth required. It was fishy. If I had to guess, I’d have said their thighs were pressed up against one another’s. And maybe his one hand under the table was doing something they didn’t want the others to know about. It was something about how stiffly they both were avoiding looking at one another.

There was a pause in the music. Hannah smiled at me. “Thanks for the drinks.”

I lifted my own glass and held it up. “My pleasure.”

“Yeah, thanks,” Conner said. I met his eyes for an extra-long time and gave him a slow smile, raising my glass to his. He got the hint and smiled back.

Then Amanda drew away from Owen’s mouth and turned to Lucas. He immediately ignored Hannah, who had been asking him a question, and turned to Amanda. I glanced at Hannah. She was looking down at her phone. I couldn’t tell if she had noticed or was upset.

“Can I have a cigarette, bunny?” Amanda said to Lucas.

He reached for the pack on the table, well within her reach, and took out a cigarette, lit it, and then handed it to her. She inhaled prettily and looked over at me smugly.

It was so fucking obvious to everyone. I snuck another glance at Hannah. Now, she was looking morosely down into her drink. Amanda was fucking two of the guys at the table, and one of them was her friend’s boyfriend. I felt so bad for Hannah but reminded myself it was none of my business. I wasn’t here to get caught up in the drama among a group of friends.

“Want to dance?” I said, looking at Conner.

He didn’t answer; he just stood and grabbed my hand, leading me to the dance floor. I was glad the it was crowded because it gave me a chance to throw my arms above my head and press myself against his body. He ran his hands down my sides, and I closed my eyes, swaying to the music and allowing myself to feel my body and escape my thoughts for once.

When the song ended, though, I was ready to sit down. I’d been drinking too much.

I needed water.

Conner was sweet and held my hand as we walked back to the table.

I saw Amanda’s eyes flicker to our intertwined hands as we returned and could tell she was not happy. She was obviously used to being the girl who held all the boy’s attention within her orbit.

Oh, well.

We slid into the booth, this time with Conner next to me. Hannah and Lucas must’ve been on the dance floor because they came back to the booth right after us.

Hannah slid in next to Conner, but Lucas sat across from her, next to Amanda.

Hannah looked down at her phone again.

But Amanda was ignoring Lucas. She kept staring at me and Conner.

He had his head turned toward me and was playing with my hair. Pretty soon I’d tuned out everyone and everything else except him. He was telling me a story about how they’d all met in college several years ago—except for Sabine and Clint—who they’d met recently. I was caught up in his voice and touch…

But then Amanda made her move.

“Hey, bunny,” she said to Conner. “Will you walk out to the car with me? I’m cold and want my sweater.”

It took me a few moments to realize she was talking to Conner. But she reached over and touched his sleeve.

It took him a few moments to realize she was talking to him, as well. He blinked and slowly turned his head toward her.

“I will,” Lucas said suddenly.

Hannah looked up at him in surprise.

“Um, I mean, I’m closer to the edge,” Lucas said. “It’s easier for us to get out of the booth, right?”

It was true. Amanda and Lucas were sitting at the edges of the booth.

Without answering, Amanda slid out.

I watched Hannah’s face sink as they walked away.

They didn’t return for a very long time.

When they did, Amanda’s lipstick was gone. Her skirt was twisted, and her hair was mussed.

Even without Lucas looking like the cat that had eaten the canary, it didn’t take a fucking detective to figure out what they’d been doing.

And still, Hannah gave him a bright smile when he slid into the booth next to her.

I hated it. I wanted to kill both of them: Amanda and Lucas.

Conner and I exchanged a look. He knew I knew.

Suddenly, Owen, who seemed to be the only one oblivious to what had just occurred, swore loudly. He was staring at his phone.

“Motherfucker. I can’t believe this. This is total bullshit. They fucked up our reservation.”

They all started talking at once. The music started up again so I only caught tidbits of the conversation, but it soon became apparent that they had just got to town that afternoon and were killing time until their rental house was ready. Owen had just found out that the reservation had been fucked up. There was no reservation. There was no rental. There was no place for them to stay.

The tension at the table was sky high.

“I think we need another round,” I said to the waiter. “And a few pitchers of water.”

After downing some water, I sat there nursing another tequila as they all bowed over their phones, searching for a place to stay locally.

After about forty-five minutes, Amanda threw her phone down on the table and said, “We’re fucked.”

Conner nodded. “There’s not another available hotel room, VRBO, or flop house within two hours of here.”

Hannah sank back into the booth.

To my surprise, Amanda reached over and hugged her. “I’m sorry honey. I know it was your dream to be here, but I don’t think it’s going to work out.”

I lifted an eyebrow. Conner