Chapter 33

The instant Jake walked out the door, the place felt utterly empty. For a long time, I sat silently on the sofa, hoping he'd come right back. But he didn't.

As one minute dragged on after another, the more miserable I felt. Tonight, he'd been trying to do me a favor, and how had I repaid him? By driving him away from his own place.

Earlier, he'd mentioned having me stay here for a week, maybe more. Somehow, I didn't see that happening. Tomorrow morning, I'd need to leave – if not for my sake, then definitely for his.

But where would I go?

I looked around my temporary home, feeling like a giant intruder. I looked down at Bianca's stylish little dress and heard myself scoff. I was an imposter too. I didn't bother going into his kitchen, because although I had eaten nearly nothing all day, food was the last thing on my mind.

I didn't have his cell phone number, so I couldn't even call him. Instead, I tried my sister. There was no answer. I gave up and just sat there on the sofa, putting off everything – a shower, changing clothes, eating, sleeping.

When my cell phone rang, I dove for it and checked the display. The number was unfamiliar, but at this point, I didn't care. I answered anyway with a breathless "Hello?"

"Hey babe," he said.

With a mental groan, I sagged back against the sofa. It wasn't Jake. It was Rango. And he sounded way too friendly, given everything that had happened between us.

"How'd you get this number?" I said.

"Friend of a friend."

The number was practically brand new. Only a few people had it. I gritted my teeth. "Bianca. Right?"

"Sorry, but I'm sworn to secrecy."

At this little statement, I did some swearing of my own.

Rango laughed. "Aren't you the dirty girl."

Ick. I mean, okay, the guy had been my boyfriend, but the creepy stalker routine had definitely taken its toll.

I didn't bother to hide my annoyance. "Is there a reason you called?" I asked.

"Aw, don't be that way," he said. "Did I mention you looked smokin' hot tonight?"

In the phone's background, I heard dance music and the buzz of voices. "Where are you?" I asked.

"I'm still at the rave," he said. "It's really slamming. You should come back, check it out."

"Sorry," I said in my snottiest voice. "I'm busy."

"With who?" He laughed. "Your 'boyfriend'?"

"What's so funny?" I asked.

"You. Trying to make me jealous."

I made a sound of disgust. "You really are full of yourself, aren't you?"

"Aw c'mon," he said. "It was cute. You almost had me there too."

So he knew it was all just an act? Thanks to Bianca, no doubt. God, how humiliating. Rango was the last person in the world I wanted to impress, but I hated looking pathetic in front of anyone, especially someone who had cost me so much already.

"I don't know what you mean," I said.

He gave a soft chuckle. "Sure you don't. Now admit it. You miss me."

"Yeah," I said, "like a hole in my head."

"You wanna mouth off?" he said. "Come on back. Do it in person."

I wanted to tell him that if I did come back, I wouldn't be coming alone. But of course, it would be a lie. I didn't even know where Jake was. And even if I did, I wouldn’t be dragging him any further into my problems. The way it sounded, he was fighting plenty of his own demons.

"Forget it," I said. "I'm not going anywhere."

"Fine," Rango said. "I'll come to you."

"Oh yeah? What about your girlfriend?"

"Aw lighten up," he said. "You were kidding. I was kidding. Let's get together, talk it out, alright?"

He was up to something. I just knew it. "Is this about that book?" I asked.

"Don't worry," he said. "We'll get to that."

"I heard it's not even yours."

"Well, you know what they say about possession," he said. "Nine-tenths of the law, babe."

"If that's your logic," I said, "then the book's more mine than yours. Right?" In truth, I didn't even want the thing. But I couldn’t resist goading him at least a little more after everything he'd done.

"We'll see about that," he said. "And before you get any funny ideas, I've changed all my passwords, so your little joke-fest is over."

"Like I didn't know that already." It was kind of a bummer too, because I'd come with some great new ideas for his personal Web page.

"Shit," Rango muttered, "what's he doing here?"

"Who?" I asked.

"I've gotta go." A split-second later, he ended the call without so much as a goodbye.

I stared at my phone, wondering what the hell had just happened. I was still wondering when I heard the telltale sound of a key card in the entryway.

Jake?

I looked toward the door just in time to see it fly open. I jumped to my feet. My heart sank. It wasn't Jake. It was Bianca in all her schoolmarm glory. And she wasn't alone.