Chapter 2 Weird stuff is going on

I suck a deep breath in through my nose and let it out slowly. I should have known traffic would be redirected San Antonio has a Christmas parade on Main Street every year and unfortunately, my hotel's on the same road. After twenty minutes of redirection, I find the entrance to the hotel's parking lot and park the sedan I've had since high school in front of the registration office.

There's a cruiser behind me. I watch Sheriff Graystone talk's to a lady I went to high school with. I don't remember her much. She was in a different clique than I was. All jocks.

Miss popular. Captain of the soccer team... Or maybe it was Softball. I can't remember.

I grab my keys and wallet and climb out of the car. The faster I check into my hotel room, the faster I can get out of view of any potential bypassers. San Antonio is small. The odds of someone recognizing me are high. Especially with the reputation I had when I left. The office door dings when I walk through it. A kid, maybe nineteen, stares at me, his eyes wide behind his glasses.

"Hi. I'm trying to check in. Last name's Lawin." I dig through my wallet for my ID and debit card. When I look up again, the kid is staring at my chest. "My eyes are up here, Sonny." I look at his name tag. Jack. I must have gone to high school with him if am right about his age. I would have been closer to graduating when he started school but regardless, I'd have seen him around. And yet, Billy doesn't ring a bell. Bright orange hair, too much acne, freckles, pale white skin... Did I really dementia myself out of this town?

"Uh. S-Sorry. My bad. Yeah." He extends a hand to take my ID.

I don't hold it against him. It's probably the first time he's seen boobs that aren't behind a screen in "modest is hottest" San Antonio.

"Lawin, um. Like, Old man Frank's daughter?"

I force a frown down and replace it with a smile. "Is my room ready?"

The boy sputters an apology and starts typing away on his computer with such vigor I'm afraid he might strain his toothpick arms.

Jack smiles. "You're the only person who's checked in all day." He hands my ID back to me.

"Huh. Weird. How do you guys stay in business? Secret drug laundering operation?" I'm joking but the kid's face flashes pale if only for a moment before he lets out an awkward laugh and slides a room key across the desk.

"You're room four. We offer complimentary coffee." He motions to the coffee pot op a table at the other side of the room. "And we have a landline if you need." He motions to the other side of the same desk. "Next to the Christmas tree".

"Awesome. Thanks." I grab the keycard and start toward the door but Billy stops me.

"There's some weird stuff going on in town." He says it too loud. "If you need anything, just come get me, okay?" He chuckles awkwardly. "Faster than the sheriff, you know." He rubs his arm and looks at the ground before he can finish the sentence.

I laugh but Jack doesn't follow suit. He's... serious? He can hardly talk to a pretty girl. What's he planning on doing if someone tries to traffic me? I pull myself together before he manages to make eye contact again.

"Thanks, Jack."

He nods once and I find my way to my room. It's not hard.

The hotel's set up in a single row, doors with golden numbers facing the parking lot. I'll move my car to the spot in front of my room later. Right now I just want to get inside before anyone can stop me.

I do. I slam the powder blue door behind me, but someone's knocking before I can even flip the light switch on. It has to be zj. I didn't see anyone else who would be interested in talking. He must have followed me from the front office. I let out a slow breath through my nose, clutch my pepper spray, and open the door before I can overthink it. But when I open it, it's not Jack at all.

It's the lady from the parking lot, the one who was talking to Sheriff Graystone. The jock I went to high school with.

Blonde hair, cut short, shorter ste the sides and longer on the top. She's wearing a dorky smile on her face, too big, too excited to be talking to someone like me.

"Sophie Lawin," she says. "Is this some kind of Christmas miracle or what?"

I scoff. "That's not exactly what I've been calling it but-" I shrug. We're complete opposites. She has blonde hair, mine is black. Hers is short, mine is long and wavy. I have to look up just to talk to her and she's built. Not in a muscle builder kind of way but an "I play sports" kind of way. I wear makeup. She doesn't. She's confident, maybe even cocky. I'm... Not.

She laughs. I could listen to her laugh all day. It's charming. "Come on. It's not that bad, is it?"

I raise an eyebrow at her. "It's not that bad being home when you're the small town celebrity."

Her cheeks go pink. She looks at the floor.

"I'm the town slut. I better start sewing the red letter A on all my shirts." I say it as a joke but she's not laughing anymore.

When she looks at me, her blue eyes run a shade darker.

Almost unnaturally dark. "I never believed those rumors."

Maybe you should have

I don't say it out loud. It might be nice to have a friend while I'm in town. If only I could remember her name.

"I hardly recognized you without the letterman's jacket," I say, trying to change the subject.

The nameless woman leans against the door. She's tall enough to let her rest her arm against the top of the doorframe.

Something goes tight in my stomach. Maybe visiting San Antonio can be fun.

"Do you want to come inside?" I ask, motioning over my shoulder. I could use good carefree sex after the disaster I dealt with yesterday.

Her eyes flick to the bed and back to my face. By the time she looks at me again, I can tell she knows what I'm implying. Starting my trip here with a tall jock on top of me isn't the worst start to winter break after all.

She thinks for a long time. Too long. Her lips pull into a crooked smile and I think she's about to agree but she shakes her head. "I'd be late for practice if I came in to talk."

Oh...

Not the answer I was expecting but not a total rejection either. Still, I can't help the sinking feeling in my gut.

"You still play.." I leave the question unfinished.

"Soccer? Yeah. I play for the Texas University of San Antonio." She shrugs. "I know that's not impressive to city folk but-"

"I think it's impressive." I want to kick myself for flirting so openly. I never lay all my cards on the table like this but I've also never been rejected by someone before. Especially not someone from San Antonio. "I mean... I don't know anything about soccer but..."

"Maybe you should come to our Christmas game. It's just a charity game but we play against those assholes from Alamo Heights."

I laugh. I can't help it. "The town rivalry's still strong?"

The lady's expression falls. "Of course, Sophy." She stands up straight. "It'll never end. Those people are a bunch of-"

"Hazel," the officer shouts from his cruiser. Hazel. How could I forget? I remember always thinking her name was cute when we went to school together. "We need to get movin'." He motions her over.

She holds a finger up to him. "One minute," she shouts back. Facing me again, she asks, "What are you doing in town anyway?"

I'm still taken off guard by her use of my last name. Did she do it on purpose? A constant reminder of who my family is?

"I'm going to find Olivia," I explain. "I heard she went missing and she's my best friend, you know so..." I'm rambling. I know I am but I can't help it. I haven't let myself think about Olivia much since I got the call. When I do, I spiral.

Hazel grabs my shoulder.

"Let the professionals handle this, Sophie." She looks at my eyes, trying to make me absorb the severity of the situation. She steps closer and drops her voice to a whisper. "It's not safe in San Antonio right now."

Anger burns in my chest. Is she trying to scare me away? If she thinks she's going to talk me out of saving my best friend's life, she's wrong. Nothing she says is going to send me home. Not without Olivia. I force a fake smile.

"Thanks, Hazel. I'll let you get going." I move to close the door but she stops it.

"Sophie, you're not hearing me."

"I'm hearing you just fine. Have a good day, Hazel." I push on the door again and this time she doesn't stop me from closing it.

Once I'm alone, I lean against the door and suck in a long breath.

I don't know why I thought I could trust anyone from this town. Especially her. The goody two shoes, town celebrity.

The minute I told June why I'm here she tried to find an excuse to get me out of town. And why? Because she's worried about my safety? I doubt it. She doesn't know me.

She just wants me to leave so I don't stain San Antonio perfect reputation. And she'll get what she wants once I find Olivia. Until then, she can stay as far away as everyone else.