Page 30 of The Bad Boy Prince in Love

Chapter 14: He’s Gone Into Hiding

Hallie hurried to catchup with her date, hoping that he wasn’t trying to leave the party with some girl he just met.

“Luke, wait!”she called as soon as she made it out the barn doors.He was walking slowly along the side of the building, all alone.He turned around in an unhurried way.

“Relax, I’m not bailing on your party,” he said, “Just thought I’d be alone for a moment and get some air.”

Hallie tried to catch her breath, inhaling the warm scent of trees and scrub grass.

“You seem emotional tonight,” Luke remarked.“I guess talking with Terry didn’t help.”

“Talking with Terry is never good.”

“It’s probably none of my business,” Luke said, “but you’re sisters.Surely you must have something in common.”

Hallie let out a forceful sigh.“Believe me, I’ve tried.”

“What does she have against you anyway?”

“I always thought she was jealous because I was the cute younger sister.Everyone usually said I was the better-looking one.”Hallie didn’t want to feel guilty about that, even though she thought it was unfair.It was other people who designated those labels, not her.It was probably why Terry tended to wear so much makeup.“And I’m usually thought of as ‘the good one’.Terry was lazy and bad at school when we were growing up.”

“The prodigal son,” Luke murmured.“It’s no surprise your parents are nicer to her.”

“Anyway, I’ll leave you alone to enjoy the fresh air,” Hallie said, stepping back towards the doors.

“Oh, no no no!”he suddenly exclaimed.

Hallie spun back towards him, unable to believe that he was suddenly so strongly in need of her company.

“I know that car.”He pointed at a blue Mazda MX5 that was pulling into the parkade a few rows away.The fancy sports car stood out in a lot mostly filled with pickup trucks and old junkers.“Quick, let’s get inside.”

“What’s going on?”

Luke was in a panic as he hurried into the building.“You know this place pretty well.Can you find me a place to hide?”

“Are you in trouble with the law or something?”Hallie wondered.

“No, just please hide me.I’ll owe you a favor!”

“As if I believe you,” Hallie muttered.He looked so hunted as he cast about for a sheltering nook that she actually felt sorry for him.“Fine, let’s go.”

They hurried over to the DJ booth, Hallie leading the way.Luke kept glancing back to see if his mysterious pursuer was already inside, but so far no one else had made it through the front doors.

Hallie went up to her friend Perry, who was bouncing up and down to a song playing in his giant headphones.He was a tall, skinny guy with a bony face, and mostly all he cared about was music.

“Hey, is it okay if Luke hides in one of your speaker boxes?”she asked.

“Sure,” Perry replied, not stopping his bouncy dance and not even asking any questions.

“Okay, quick,” Hallie commanded, getting into the spirit of this hide-and-seek game as she opened up a giant black case that was used to transport the sound system speakers.

Luke sailed into the box, and she dropped the lid down, just as a young woman in a business suit entered the premises.