Snake Eyes (The Masks Series Book 3) (7 page)

BOOK: Snake Eyes (The Masks Series Book 3)
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I scrambled out of the car and raced up to my room, the idea of seeing Eric helping to dull the buzz in my head. Yes, it was going to be hard to pretend around him, but I couldn’t let that stop me from seeing him. I just needed to come up with a good story.

Swinging my door open, I kicked off my shoes and rummaged in my suitcase for a bikini. I’d need to unpack again tonight. I rolled my eyes, hating the idea.

Pulling off my shirt, I unzipped my shorts and wiggled into my bikini. It wasn’t until I was tying the neck strap that I spun around and noticed the three Louis Vutton suitcases on Nicole’s old bed. My legs gave out and I slumped onto my mattress.

Those bags belonged to Quella Maria Mendez.

Holy crap, this shit was suddenly real and there was no backing out now.

Chapter 12

Eric

 

The waves were sweet. The sun was shining and my entire body felt relaxed as I bobbed in the water on my board. I could see a new set rolling in and watched them, eyeing up which wave I thought could give me the best ride. Spinning my board around, I lay flat, ready to paddle. The energy in the water flowed through my fingertips. It was like the ocean was talking to me, telling me what to expect.

Pulling in a breath, I paddled hard until the wave caught my board. Jumping fast, my feet landed on the board and I balanced quickly, twisting my body and bending my knees. I couldn’t help a smile as the ocean moved beneath me, the board flying across the wave. I banked up, hitting the top of the wave and spinning back down. My eyes caught the beach when I came down and I spotted my girl, her hand raised against the sun as she scanned the water for me.

It was a relief to see her. I’d tried calling a couple of times that morning, but her phone was off. I was glad she got my message.

I slipped from my board and dove into the water. Yanking on the leash around my ankle, I pulled the board towards me and slid on top of it, paddling for shore. The waves carried me in and I jumped up, snatching the board beneath my arm and running up the beach.

Caity’s sundress fluttered in the breeze, flashing her turquoise string bikini. She looked so damn hot in that thing, I could barely stand it. Her long legs were sun-kissed, the rich tan giving her an edible quality. I grinned as I dug the board into the sand beside us then gathered her into my arms.

Her breath tickled my skin as she laughed into my shoulder.

I squeezed her against me and kissed her face, then worked my way to her lips. They were a hot contrast to my cold, salty ones, but she didn’t seem to mind. Her fingers gripped a handful of my wet hair and she dove into the kiss with a fervor I wasn’t expecting.

Finally, I pulled back for some air. I kept her firmly against me, though; otherwise, the entire beach would be able to see the effect she had on me. I blushed just thinking about it.

She felt me against her and gave me a wicked grin. The little minx.

I cleared my throat. “So, how was your morning?”

“Good.” She shrugged, her nose wrinkling. “Just went for a drive to clear my head.”

“Did it work?”

“Sort of.” She nibbled at her lip. “How was Nicole?”

“Fine.” I tucked a lock of hair behind Caity’s ear. “The move went smoothly and when I left the house, she was pinning up posters in that third room...just in case you change your mind. As far as I can tell, no one else is going to be invited to live with us.”

“That doesn’t make you feel like a third wheel, does it?”

I grinned, hoping to ease her worries. “It’s okay, babe. We don’t have to talk about this again.”

She sighed, looking a little glum.

“Are you sure you’ve made the right decision? You seem really sad about it.”

She closed her eyes and pressed her forehead against my shoulder.

“It’s what I need to do for now,” she mumbled.

Placing my fingers against her chin, I gently forced her to look at me. Her dark look fled and she replaced it with a smile. “It won’t be forever and knowing there’s a place waiting for me feels good.”

I couldn’t help a niggle. Was she telling me the truth? She seemed so torn.

Caity’s blue eyes narrowed at the corners, went large for a second, and then suddenly brightened. She stood on her tiptoes, pressing her lips against mine before letting out a cheerful laugh.

“I need to stop worrying so much about letting you guys down. I think that’s what’s making me feel so unsettled.”

“You do worry too much about that.”

She drew in a breath. “I’ve made the right decision and I need to stick with it for a little while. If I change my mind next week or three months down the track, that’s still cool, right?”

“Right.”

She grinned. “So I just need to let go and not be so afraid of hurting everyone’s feelings. This is right for me.”

“And you’re happy?”

“Yeah.” She nodded. “Well, more peaceful, if that makes sense.”

I nodded.

Her smile seemed strained but then she chuckled again, erasing my concerns.

“And Nicole will forgive me.”

“She’ll probably make you sweat a little first.” I winked.

“And you’re not mad with me?”

My head tipped to the side. “Of course I’m not mad with you.” I squeezed her waist. “It’s more important to me that you’re happy. I just hope you get a decent roommate.”

I nearly said,
Or maybe I don’t, because then you’ll want to move in sooner
, but I bit my tongue. She didn’t need that kind of pressure.

Caity’s chuckle faltered. It had a nervous quality that I wanted to understand. Although she said she felt peaceful about her decision, she wasn’t really acting like it.

Was there more going on?

Caity cleared her throat, distracting me. Her smile was back. “There were suitcases on the bed when I went back to change.”

“What was she like?”

“I haven’t met her yet, but you know what...” Caity licked her lower lip. “I’m gonna make a real effort this year. She’s probably a freshman and feels nervous. I want to take her under my wing and make her feel welcome, you know?”

Her eyes were locked on the horizon over my shoulder as she spoke, her head bobbing robotically. I brushed her cheek with my lips.

“That sounds like you, Caity. Always looking out for those in need.”

“Yeah.” The word came out in a breathy laugh and then she swallowed, her eyes still gazing past me. I thought I saw a wave of sadness washing over her again, but I didn’t have a chance to look properly because she pulled me tight against her and wouldn’t let go.

Part of me wanted to pull back and figure out what was going on, but another part of me, the louder part, told me now was the time to be quiet.

So I kept my concerns to myself and held her, soaking in the feel of her perfect body clinging to mine.

Chapter 13

Caitlyn

 

“See you tomorrow.” I grinned again and planted a farewell kiss on Eric’s lips.

I stood there waving as he pulled away and waited until his jeep was out of sight before finally letting my shoulders droop. Usually, spending time with Eric relaxed and rejuvenated me, but this afternoon had been draining. I pulled my sundress straight and headed up the path to my dorm.

Wearing my game face around my boyfriend was the last thing I wanted to do. I’d never had to be anything but me around him and it was hard to keep my emotions in check. Every time I caught him trying to analyze my mood, I snapped into a brighter, fake version of myself. I tried to be subtle about it and I think I did an okay job, but talk about feeling like a schizo. Eric would tire of me quickly if I didn’t get myself together around him. He’d probe in that sweet, gentle way of his until I’d let everything spill...and then Kaplan would be super-pissed and I didn’t know if I was brave enough to face that.

Besides, letting my protective boyfriend in could jeopardize this investigation and I couldn’t do that to the girls.

They needed me to succeed and if Eric knew what I was up to, he’d do everything in his power to persuade me against it. And when it came to persuading me, Eric was a freaking Einstein.

I mean, yes I could probably argue my case and eventually win him around in my soft, gentle way, but Kaplan would have a hissy fit.

I placed my hand on the glass door entrance and sighed.

Was that so bad?

I closed my eyes.

Yes, that was so bad.

I didn’t think I had it in me to fight Eric on one side and Kaplan on the other.

“Just think about the girls,” I murmured. “What do
they
need you to do?”

They needed me to shut my trap and get on with finding their captor. If Kaplan’s hunch was right, which I got the impression it always was, then I had to stay the course.

Eric could live without the truth for a little while and then when it was over and the girls were safely back in their homes, I could tell him everything. Yes, he’d be annoyed with me, but after his rant, he’d calm down and let me explain...and then he’d forgive me.

Oh, man, I hoped he would.

He loved my compassion, my inability to turn my back on those in need, but he hated it when I put myself in danger. I’d just have to be extra careful not to do that.

I sighed. This was going to be harder than I thought.

Plodding up the stairs, I reminded myself of the girls and their plight. They would have to stay my central focus or I wouldn’t make it through this.

I reached the top of the stairs and turned towards my dorm. The door was ajar and I peeked my head in with a smile.

Quella was standing over her suitcases. They were flung open, clothes spilling out of them and over her shoulder.

“Hi, you must be Quella.” I slipped into the room, pasting on a sunny smile and instantly missing Nicole.

Thankfully I’d had lots of practice with forced enthusiasm this afternoon, so it was easy enough to hide my disappointment at being in this position.

I’d be a freaking smile expert when this was over, I could feel it.

Quella’s head snapped around, her dark brown eyes gauging me. Her head tipped to the side like a sparrow, assessing her surroundings.

“Hi.” She gave me a wave, her long, skinny fingers wiggling in the air.

“I’m Caitlyn, but you can call me Caity.” I stuck out my hand and she hesitantly grasped it. It was like shaking hands with a limp fish. I slipped my hand into my back pocket and bobbed my head. “So, welcome to UCLA.”


Gracias
.” She smiled and shook her head. “I mean thank you.”

Her Spanish accent was relatively thick. It was obviously her first language.

She tucked a lock of straight, brown hair behind her ear and began playing with the long strands, running her fingers over the ends.

I pulled her mask away to see how nervous she really was and had to press my lips together to fight my surprise.

Well, wasn’t that interesting?

This coy, little rich girl was anything but. I could see the spark in her eye. There was a wildness to her that was desperate to break free. She was just weighing me up, seeing if I was the girl who could make her college fantasies come true. She was ready to let loose, party, experience every indecent thing college had to offer her.

I could see her hunger for it.

This sheltered home-schooler was ready to unleash and with no Daddy around to stop her, she was going to do exactly that.

“So, um, can I help you unpack?”

“Oh, no, that’s okay. I’m trying to decide where I can fit all my clothes. It may take some time.” She was not impressed with the closet space. Lucky for her I wasn’t a shopaholic like Nicole. There’d be major closet wars if those two were rooming together.

I bit back my grin as I imagined the scene.

“I don’t have that much stuff, so feel free to take more of the closet.”

“Thank you.”

Okay - so she was totally expecting me to say that. Probably because she was used to getting everything she wanted.

Putting back Quella’s mask, I did a quick comparison.

She smiled sweetly and pulled out another shirt, draping it over her arm. “Are you sure it’s okay? I do not want to be a bother.”

“Absolutely. It’s not a problem. I’m here to help you with whatever you need.” I smiled.

Her mask slipped in time with my broad grin and I could see her disappointment. What’s the bet she thought I was going to turn out to be just like her sunny, over-helpful nannies. Someone else to mother her and lap at her feet like she’d had all her life.

I nibbled my lip. She was never going to open up to me if I was that to her. I had to give her what she wanted in order to break that sweet, innocent shell. I had to become that person she’d trust as a friend and confide in. I had to be her partner in crime. Damn it!

I wanted to step away so bad. Let her find someone else to cause trouble with. College partying was so not my scene, but I had a job to do and if this girl would open up around me then the chances of a little rhetorical faux pas were that much higher.

Sucking in a breath, I closed my eyes while her back was turned and screamed at myself to man-up and just do it.

 Think of the girls, Caity.

The breath whooshed out of me and as she turned to face me, I put on a smirk. “You know what, screw unpacking and closet space. We can do that any old time. It’s Saturday night; we should be out having fun. I know this great bar just around the corner. You’ve got a fake ID, right?”

Her lips parted with a silent gasp before growing into an electric smile. “Not yet.”

“Why don’t we go and do something about that.” I winked.

She let out a little squeal as I reached for my phone and did a quick search. I’d overheard two guys chatting in my class yesterday about a guy in Rieber Terrace who supplied IDs for the newbies. It cost eighty bucks and he’d do it on the spot if you paid more. I Googled his name and soon found his room and contact details.

I linked to his Facebook page and sent a message.

 

Got a newbie who needs a rush ID. Heard you’re the man for the job. You around now?

 

Grabbing my wallet, I flicked out the ID card Stella had given me two years ago — Martha Woodgrove. I cringed, still unsure why I’d kept it for so long. Maybe it was for such a time as this. Snatching my skinny jeans off the end of my bed, I wiggled into them and threw off my sundress, picking out my pink, low-cut tank top. I kept my bikini underneath, not feeling comfortable enough to change my underwear in front of Quella yet.

I shoved the ID into my back pocket along with a few twenty-dollar bills and turned to my new roommate who was wiggling into a tight black top that accentuated her breasts. I raised my eyebrows and nodded in approval.

She did a little shimmy and then covered her mouth, letting out a blushing giggle.

I grinned. “You’re gonna need some cash; these IDs can be pricey.”

“No problem. Money is never an issue for me.” Her smile was demure, but I could see the pride behind it.

Hmmmm, spoiled brat hiding behind a good girl mask.
I was going to have to play this one carefully.

My phone dinged.

 

In room for the next hour. Come over right now and I’ll set you up. $150 for a rush job.

 

“Let’s go.” I slipped the phone back in my pocket and reached for the door.

Quella snatched up her purse, her smile a mixture of jitters and sheer excitement. She’d never done anything like this before and she was loving it.

She followed close behind me, falling in step once we got outside.

“When I missed out on Rush, I was so worried I’d be lumped with some geeky roommate who wanted absolute silence so they could study all the time. It’s such a relief to meet you, Caity.”

“Yeah, you too.” I was desperately trying to think of my high school bestie, Stella, and how she used to behave. She was a party-chick to the max and always played it cool and casual with me.

Hard to get, that’s what she always harped on about.

Be mysterious and hard to get, Caity; it entices people.

Well, it damn well better work, because what I was doing right now went against every instinct in my body. My only comfort was that Quella seemed to be a party virgin. Her sheltered upbringing would do me a world of favors, because hopefully she wouldn’t notice what a total novice I was either.

My mind raced with all the things I needed to consider...

How to get her to open up, yet also keep her out of trouble.

How to keep this new act hidden from my boyfriend.

How to make this work while still keeping everyone around me blissfully unaware of what I was up to.

I rubbed my temple, quickly dropping my hand and shaking it out when Quella looked at me. She didn’t need to know my head was pounding. I was party-girl Caity right now and I needed to act like it.

I threw on a smile as we rounded the corner and headed into Rieber Terrace, silently crossing my fingers that I’d be able to claw my way out of this huge hole I was digging myself into.

BOOK: Snake Eyes (The Masks Series Book 3)
4.44Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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