I opened my eyes, clamped them shut, then opened them again. No change. The sight that greeted me couldn’t have been further from the cozy cabin with its low ceilings, distressed wood floors, and views of the forest. I craned my head around wildly, trying to make sure I wasn’t imagining things. There was no doubt about it; I had never been anywhere like this.
Judging by the dim gray light that washed over the room, I guessed it was early morning. I was sprawled out on a queen-sized bed with a dark iron headboard and footboard. The larger horizontal frame had curved edges; its thin vertical pieces created the effect of wide jail bars. My limbs were tangled in light gray sheets and a patterned blanket.
I was hit with a massive headache and an overwhelming sense of déjà vu. Why does this keep happening to me? For the second time in less than a week, I woke up in a new bed and a completely new place.
I moved my arms and legs, twisting and pulling, struggling to free myself. The sheets felt fresh, almost crisp even. I inhaled, searching for familiar scents. Nothing.
To my right was a large window with a white shade pulled down, letting in enough light to view the room in its entirety. I glanced around the room for clues. Large and well-furnished, each item contributed to the overall effect without cluttering the space. There were nightstands on both sides of the bed, each unique but somehow a pair. A leather arm chair was angled in a corner next to a vintage travel trunk with books stacked on top.
A plane flew overhead, drawing my eyes up the white walls to the incredibly tall ceilings. I noticed that the wall behind my head was covered in warm red brick, reminiscent of an old fire station. Framed photographs hung above me, but they seemed to be mostly landscapes. There was a large door on the wall in front of me. Where am I?
I racked my brain. Why couldn’t I remember anything from last night? Scanning the room, I saw my bag hanging on a hook near the closet. I wished my dad was responsible for this sudden relocation, but I seriously doubted it.
I bolted upright before realizing I had moved too quickly. My head felt heavy and the room was spinning. The last thing I remembered was watching Ethan, Knox, and Chase playing poker in the cabin. The fog was lifting, and realization was slowly dawning on me. The answer came slowly, turning like an old key in a lock. Did they kidnap me?
I limped over to the window and pulled up the shade. My mouth hung open at the sight. The view was of industrial-looking buildings, and I could see palm trees in the distance. If I wasn’t so angry with my newest predicament, I probably would have appreciated seeing something that was so completely different from what I was used to. Are you kidding me?
I wanted to stomp toward the door, but with my ankle still on the mend, I was forced to hobble instead. My frustration and anger grew with each step, and I grabbed my bag off the chair, but it caught on something. Focused on reaching the door, I yanked at it impatiently without looking. When it didn’t immediately give, I pulled harder. Finally, it was released and I stumbled forward. The books on the trunk crashed to the ground, and I swore as their impact echoed off the walls and floor.
The door swung open, and Knox stood in the door frame, ready to spring into action. When he saw me struggling to regain my balance, he relaxed slightly before shooting me a concerned look. “You okay?” He rubbed at his eyes.
Startled by his sudden appearance and full of pent up rage, I clenched my hands into fists at my side and raised my head defiantly. “Knox! What the hell is going on? Where am I? Did you kidnap me?” I was so furious, the words came spewing from my mouth before I could stop them. I angrily crossed my arms over my chest, waiting for a reply.
Knox slowly entered the room, his bare feet lightly padding against the wood floor. His jeans were rumpled, and in his shirtless state, I could see deep creases leading from his hips toward his beltline. I sucked in a quick breath at the sight of his muscular torso and the tattoo that snaked up his bicep and over his shoulder. His hair was disheveled; a lock of dirty blond hair fell over his forehead, partially covering one eye. Did he just wake up?
“I wouldn’t call it a kidnapping, exactly. More like an involuntary transfer of your person to an alternate location for the benefit of your personal safety and welfare.” His lips rose in a crooked grin, enraging me further.
I huffed. “You’re joking, right? And don’t think you can distract me with your clever response. Where. Am. I?” I seriously couldn’t believe this was happening. When the guys gave me a choice to go with them, it never occurred to me that they would end up taking me by force.
“You’re at my loft in Santa Cruz.” There was no apology in his gaze or tone.
“Well that’s just great. And how did I get here?” I thought back to my unexpected drowsiness last night and considered my blinding headache this morning. “Did you drug me?” I knew my voice sounded excessively outraged, but I couldn’t believe they would do that to me.
Knox remained stoic, seemingly unconcerned with my accusation. “Haley, I know you’re upset right now, but you really need to calm down. We did what we had to do.”
Well, that might as well have been a confession. I threw my hands up in the air. “What you had to do? So you had to drug me and kidnap me right after I told you that I didn’t want to leave? You said that you understood!” I didn’t recognize the girl who was yelling right then. It was so unlike me to even raise my voice.
Knox ran a hand through his hair, pushing the stray strands away from his face. “Look. I really am sorry that we had to take such drastic measures. But, it was for your own good.”
Knox reached in his back pocket and retrieved his phone. Looking at the screen, he scowled. “I have to go. We’ll talk about this later.” He started walking out the door before I could even respond. “By the way, we picked up a pair of crutches for you,” he said, pointing to the corner. “See you later.” I stood there open-mouthed, his loud footsteps echoing as he walked down the hall.
I blew out a quick breath. Holding my hands in front me, I realized they were shaking. I fell back on the bed and sighed loudly. As much as I wanted to throw a temper tantrum and demand answers, I knew it wouldn’t accomplish anything. I needed to go into this situation with a level head.
* * *
I heard the sounds of music playing and someone moving around in the kitchen. Did Knox return? I was tired of hiding out in my room, and my curiosity finally got the better of me. Hearing no sounds immediately outside the door, I stuck my head out and surveyed the options.
The door to my room was centered down a hallway; to one direction was a closed door with opaque glass panels, to the other was an opening that led to a large, light-filled room. The music seemed to be coming from the latter. I recognized the song playing as rock from the 60s or 70s, but I wasn’t sure of the band.
I grabbed the crutches and crept down the hallway past several closed doors. The music was getting louder, as were the noises coming from what I assumed was the kitchen. I could feel my heart beating in my chest. Maybe it’s Ethan or Chase? Inch by inch, I moved along the hall, holding my breath the entire time.
Quieting my steps, I peeked around the corner. The hallway emptied into a large, multi-storied room. Based on the size and materials, I realized it must have been an old warehouse that someone converted into a loft. I didn’t have much time to dwell on the furnishings or layout because suddenly, a man walked by.
I covered my mouth. That is definitely not Ethan or Chase, I thought. He looked a couple years older than me and was pushing six feet tall. His russet colored hair was cut short on the sides but long on top and swooped to one side in a kind of glamorous retro style.
I placed my hand against the wall to steady myself. The wall was cool and solid beneath my palm. At this point I was too far in; all I could do was remain still and try to avoid being seen.
Apparently I had been successful so far because the guy continued about his business. He walked toward an enormous wooden table; surrounded by eight chairs, I wasn’t sure it would fit in any other room but this one. He set a glass on the table before drumming on it with his index finger, keeping time with the music.
As he sauntered across the room toward the bookshelves, the song changed and he started dancing, clearly enjoying the song. His body moved with the rhythm of the music, and I was a little envious of his dance moves. He seemed like the kind of person that could just let go and have fun, not worrying about how he looked.
He circulated around the room as he danced, occasionally picking an item up off a shelf or the floor before continuing. His attitude was infectious, and I couldn’t help but laugh quietly as I observed him. I was so amused watching him, I almost wanted to start dancing myself.
Playing an imaginary set of drums, he really got into the music. Coming out of his drum solo to resume dancing, he knocked a record off the shelf and muttered, “frack.” I covered my mouth to stifle a giggle. After a rather impressive spin, he stopped suddenly. He shuffled back a few steps and did a double-take. When I realized he was staring at me, my heart started pounding.
Surprised, we both stood looking at each other. I cringed and wanted to look away, but I couldn’t. He tilted his head and smiled tentatively, the smile quickly building into a large grin.
“Well, what do we have here? You don’t have to hide in the shadows.” His voice was playful, almost like he expected me but was surprised by me all at the same time.
In spite of myself, I hopped the rest of the way around the corner on my crutches. Hesitant about meeting another new person, I edged into the room, unable to resist his friendliness and the warmth of his gaze. He walked toward me, and his eyes widened slightly as he got closer to me. His smile was captivating. “You must be Haley.”
I nodded, nervously running my fingers through my hair before glancing down at my mismatched outfit. Ugh, I look like a complete mess. Again.
He spread his arm out as if to take in a vast landscape. “Welcome to our home. I’m Theo, Knox’s younger, but smarter, funnier, and better-looking brother.” He flashed a mischievous grin, and it was obvious that, if nothing else, he was definitely the funnier brother.
Theo gestured toward a large leather sofa, inviting me to sit. Wanting to distract him from the fact that I’d been spying on him, I said, “I like this song. Who is singing?”
He walked over to built-in shelves holding what must have been hundreds of records and books. He turned the volume down on the record player and then returned, holding an album cover out in front of him. “You are listening to the Green River album by the incomparable Creedence Clearwater Revival. Take a good look, because you are going to get intimately acquainted with this album while you’re staying here.”
Theo’s teasing mannerism put me at ease almost instantly. The music continued to play softly in the background, adding to the inviting atmosphere. I laughed and said, “Good to know.” I glanced at the vintage turntable sitting in the corner. “I’ve never actually listened to a record before.”
He feigned shock. “What? Now that is just a crime.” He wiggled his finger back and forth. “You haven’t experienced a song until you’ve heard it on vinyl. That’s pretty much all we listen to around here, so you better get used to it.” As Theo was speaking, I noticed a sprinkling of freckles over his face and down his arms. I got a glimpse of a tattoo on his forearm but couldn’t see the full design.
He returned the album cover to the shelf, and I was able to take a good look at all of him for the first time. His body was lean but lightly muscled. He wore a vintage-looking T-shirt tucked into light-wash jeans that were rolled at the hem and funny brown and gray wing-tipped sneakers. His whole look was very retro but with a fresh and modern twist. I had never seen anyone that dressed like him, and I immediately liked how his style fit with his fun personality.
I glanced around, admiring the large bookshelves that stretched almost to the ceiling. When I saw the metal ladder to access even more books, I smiled, delighted by my surroundings. Theo must have noticed because he said, “You like it?”
I nodded. “Very much so. I love books and these shelves are awesome.”
He grinned. “Thanks! Knox and I designed them.”
I couldn’t help it, my mouth popped open. “Really?”
“Yeah. We searched for years for the perfect warehouse to turn into a loft. A few years ago, we bought this one and renovated it with the help of Ethan and some of the other guys.” He paused, reaching in his pocket. “Speaking of, someone’s calling me.”
He quickly peered at the screen before answering it. “Hey, Chase. What’s up?” After a few moments he looked over at me and smiled. “Sure, she’s right here.” He leaned across the coffee table and held the phone out to me. “Chase wants to talk to you.”
I looked at the phone and hesitated. I wasn’t used to speaking on the phone much, and I didn’t really know how to respond to Chase right then. I was relieved that he was maybe checking on me but also still upset about the kidnapping.
I finally took the phone from Theo and held it up to my ear. “Hello?”
“Hi, Haley. How are you feeling?” His voice sounded uncertain, like he was worried I was mad at him.
“Other than a headache, I’m okay.” I didn’t know what else to say, so I waited for Chase to speak again.
“I’m sorry; I’m sure Theo has something to help with your headache.” He paused, then, “I hope you’re not too upset with us. We really do want to keep you safe and didn’t know what else to do.”
Distracted by Theo, much of my earlier anger had dissipated, at least for the moment. And Chase’s voice sounded so sincere, it was difficult to stay angry with him. For some reason I didn’t hold Chase as responsible as Ethan and Knox. If anything, Chase seemed like the one who would have disagreed with the plan or want more time to deliberate. But, I also didn’t want to immediately roll over and act like everything was okay.
“I can’t say I’m thrilled that you guys decided to take matters into your own hands.”
Chase’s voice softened. “I understand, but I have to admit that I’m glad you’re here. It sounds like you already met Theo; he’s going to hang out with you today, show you around. He’s a really nice guy, and I think you’ll like him.” When I didn’t respond, he continued, “Are you okay with that?”
Not seeing another choice at the moment, I said, “It’s fine.”
“Great! I know you usually don’t get out much, so hopefully you’ll have fun.”
Chase and I ended the conversation, and I hung up the phone. I handed it back to Theo, our hands gently brushing during the transfer. Theo popped up from his chair, clasping his hands in front of his chest. “I’m being a terrible host. Would you like a drink or perhaps something to eat?”
He paused, and I felt like he was assessing my appearance. “Maybe a shower?” He scrunched his face. “What are you wearing?” He said it in such a way that I couldn’t help but laugh.
My cheeks felt hot, and I looked at the couch. “I don’t know how much Knox told you about me, but these are the only clothes I have.”
He grinned, mischief dancing in his eyes, and then spoke in a mock-stern voice. “Well that is completely unacceptable, and we need to go shopping. But first, you should probably shower; you can borrow some of my clothes in the meantime.” He walked toward the stairs.
I smiled despite my reservations about the proposed shopping trip. I wondered what shopping with Theo would be like. If nothing else, it had to be more entertaining than shopping with my dad at the few department stores in Carson City.
These guys were quickly taking over my life. But if I had to be honest, it was hard to be too upset with them considering I was finally getting one of my long-standing wishes fulfilled. I was in a new place with endless opportunities.