Leo Maddox by Sarah Darlington Read Free Book Online

had everything she needed.
    But when I knocked on her door, there was no answer. I knocked again. Nothing.
    “Hey, Shelly,” I said, stopping a maid who was vacuuming on the other end of the hallway. “Have you see the girl staying in that room?” I pointed back to Clara’s door. The maids were the eyes and ears of this hotel. I knew because I used to be one.
    Shelly clicked off her vacuum and shook her head. “No. My shift started at noon, honey. No one has left or entered that room since I’ve been here. In fact, you’re the only other person I’ve seen on this floor all day. Is something wrong?”
    “Everything’s fine,” I told her. “Just wanted to check on the girl that’s staying here this weekend. She’s a friend.”
    “Okay, dear,” she said. “I can let you know if I see her.”
    “Thanks, Shelly.”
    She nodded and then continued vacuuming the carpet that was already immaculately clean.
    I walked away. But now I had an unsettled feeling in the pit of my stomach. It wasn’t because I was hungry either. New York City could be a dangerous place. Clara was smart but also very impulsive. “Dammit, Clara,” I cursed out loud, nervous as hell now.
    There was only one thing I could do. I had to call her.
    She was a big girl—she could do whatever the hell she wanted, but I needed to know she was okay. My heart raced and my stomach rolled as I pulled my phone out of my pocket, staring at it. I had her phone number. I’d always had her phone number. I’d just never used it before. It was only a phone call. I don’t know why this was making me so nervous. I hit the button and made the call.
    It rang and rang. Then rang some more.
    “Jesus Christ, pick up your phone,” I mumbled under my breath.
    Just then, at the last second, she answered. “Hello?” came her voice, muffled. Wherever she was, there was a hell of a lot of background noise there with her.
    “Hey Clara,” I said, trying to act casual. “It's Leo. What's up?”
    ‘What’s up?’ That’s the best you can come up with? Pathetic.
    “Not much,” she answered.
    “I just wanted to call to make sure you were okay. You're okay, right?” I was speaking a little too fast.
    “I'm fine.”
    Hell, now I felt like an idiot for calling. She sounded perfectly intact. She sounded like she was off somewhere have a great time and I was the jackass interrupting. “Well, if you need anything, call or text me. Okay?”
    “Okay,” she answered.
    And that was the end of our phone call. We both hung up at the same time—me feeling like a royal ass for even calling at all. But then, not one second later, my phone buzzed in my hand. It was Clara calling back. Holy shit! She’s calling you back. Answer it, idiot.
    I clicked to answer.
    “Leo,” she said, her voice so much more direct and sure than it had been a moment ago. “I'm in Brooklyn at this place called the Alligator Lounge. Steph works here and I'm just hanging out while she works. I know you said you were going to be busy and I'm sure Brooklyn is hardly your style, but if you're bored and want to—”
    Wait. What? “Are you trying to invite me to come hang out?” I interrupted, my voice barely above a whisper.
    “Yes,” she said softly back, “I guess I am.”
    Several long moments passed. I was in total shock. Clara and I had never done anything alone before. Was she inviting me to come join her out of some sort of obligation or because she sincerely wanted my company? Then I realized…Clara never did anything out of obligation. She did exactly what she wanted when she wanted. She was constantly getting in trouble with her father because of it too. This was a real, honest to God invitation.
    Holy shit.
    “Okay then,” I told her. “I'll be there in an hour or so.” Pressing the button to end our phone call, not wanting her to change her mind or anything, I let out a long sigh.
    This was it.
    For better or worse—tonight was going to be the night I told Clara how I