Page 51 of Mr. Red

“You ready for tomorrow?”

No.“Where are we headed?”

“I’m not telling you, sweetheart. It’s part of the fun.”

“I’m not having much fun.” I grip the steering wheel firmer with my shoulders up to my ears.

“Take deep breaths for me.”

“I’d rather scream.”

“As long as it’s my name.”

I scoff. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Yep. Bright and early. I’m fixing to get you at six thirty in the morning.”

“Oh god! Why?”

“We’ve got places to be.”

“That’s before the sun is up.”

“It’ll be worth it.”

“It better be,” I mumble.

“I’ll fix your attitude tomorrow. See you soon, sweetheart.”

I hang up and let out a breath. “As long as I don’t have a heart attack before then.”

Chapter 29

Scarlett

I shuffle into the kitchen with my eyes half closed to get coffee. It’s dark outside and I’ve had maybe three hours of sleep. I hate the unexpected and it kept me awake most of the night. Once I have my coffee, I settle down in the living room, trying to wake up. I must’ve nodded off because a pounding on the door startles me awake from the couch.

I walk down the hall to answer it with a blanket wrapped around me and cold coffee in one hand.

“Hey, sweetheart.” He looks me up and down, then frowns. “You’re supposed to be ready.”

“You’re supposed to tell me where I’m going. We all can’t win.” I start walking towards the kitchen, muttering, “I’m losing sleep over this. You don’t want to see me without sleep.”

“This ready to go?” Matt calls from the entry hall where my suitcase awaits its destination.

I glance down the hall. “Yep.” Then I fill my cup with more hot coffee.

Matt loads my suitcase and comes back inside. He’s always up way too early. Vacations are for sleeping in; I wish he’d received the memo.

Since I can’t function this early, I’m glad Matt is doing the loading. My bag was heavy since I didn’t know what Iwould need. I filled it with my entire closet—just to be prepared.

“It’s time to get going, sweetheart.”

“Yeah, yeah.” I swish my arm at him as I go into the bedroom to put a bra on. I’m staying in my yoga pants, putting a hoodie on, and calling it a day.

Matt enters the room. “I know you’re not a morning person, but this is pathetic.”

I point at my chest. “I’m pathetic? I didn’t get any sleep because I don’t know what’s going on. Where are we going?”