Page 90 of This Stays Between Us

But where do I go?

If I go back to the Royal, the police will be there to meet me. And I have no evidence to prove I didn’t kill Phoebe. They’ll simply think that I’ve been holding onto the phone this whole time. And it’s not like the others will support me, especially after I’ve accused most of them of the same crime. And Declan, well, he’ll undoubtedly throw me under the bus to save his own ass.

I think of the rental cars downstairs in the parking lot, their rubber tires slashed. The mechanic that Adrien talked to won’t be here to fix them until later this morning, which will be too late.

I consider Phoebe’s plan all those years ago. To walk fifteen or so miles to the next town. To use it as a chance to start over as someone new. But she had money, a backpack of belongings at least. I have nothing.

Still, it’s my best bet.

I take off down the hallway, pulling my shirt over my head as I go, a fierce determination lighting in my stomach.

My head pokes through the fabric just as I’m about to turn onto the stairs, but something—someone—walking up the staircase stops me short.

The shock of it causes me to drop everything in my hands, andfor a moment, my mind stops.

Randy, I think immediately. But when my eyes focus on the figure on the stairs, nothing makes sense.

“What areyoudoing here?”

43

Claire

Now

“I feel like I’ve heard that before on this trip,” he says with a joking smile. “It’s enough to give a guy a complex.”

“Shh,” I say fiercely. “Randy could be here and—”

“Relax, he wasn’t at the front desk.”

Josh looks at me pointedly, and I feel my cheeks flush.

“I’m assuming Declan’s up there?”

I don’t know how to answer, so I don’t bother. Instead, I brush past him, pulling at his arm to follow me down the stairs. “Come on, let’s talk outside.”

***

The sky is foreshadowing its first sign of sunrise as Josh and I enter the parking lot. As soon as the Inn door closes behind us, I feel a rush of relief, but it’s quickly replaced with curiosity.

“So, whatareyou doing here?” I ask again. “You should be asleep.”

He rubs his hand over his face. “I was, earlier. I woke up and realized Dec never came back to the room. After what happened with Kyan, I got nervous. I went to your room. I’ve noticed how close you two have been getting.” My cheeks flare again. “But no one answered. Everyone else was asleep, so I started looking around, couldn’t find y’all anywhere. Thought maybe you came back here for something. It’s dumb luck that I ran into you when I did.”

“Oh wow, that was really nice of you,” I say, feeling a pulse of affection towards him.

“Yeah,” he says, looking down at his shoes sheepishly. “There was actually another reason too.”

“Okay,” I say skeptically.

“This, uh, this trip, it really got me thinking,” he starts awkwardly, and now it’s his turn to look embarrassed. “I know we agreed to keep things back at home pretty casual. But seeing you and Declan getting closer, it’s made me feel a certain type of way.”

“What kind of way?” I ask curiously.

“I think we have something here, Claire. I think we could really be something.”

It’s the last thing I expect him to say, and in my shock, I take a small step backwards. Josh quickly closes the gap.