Chapter 207
HANNAH
"Anything else?" I asked, sensing there was more to the story than Devin acting all controlling.
Although that was more than enough reason to call the whole thing off in my opinion.
"He acted really creepy most of the time," Willa said after another pause. A considering one this time.
"Explain creepy," I said.
"He would get these phone calls... I just told you about them, right?" I nodded. "He would excuse himself to talk on the phone. And he always made sure I never got close enough to hear what he was saying. Then he was always texting. I mean, I'm always online, but even I don't text that much."
"Maybe he was checking up on his bazillion followers," I said dryly.
Willa shrugged. "Maybe. Maybe not. A few times I left him alone in my room to get something, I caught him snooping around when I returned. It felt as though he was looking for something but he would quickly pretend he had been in one spot all along. The last time, after he left, I found out he had touched practically all my stuff and had done his best to make it look like he hadn't moved anything."
"Was he looking for something to steal, maybe?" I said.
Willa rolled her eyes at me. I was glad to see narrating all these had served to bring her back to her old self a little.
"The guy is stinking rich, Hannah," she said. "What could I have in here that he could possibly want to steal?"
"Creepy," I agreed with a nod.
"Yeah."
"Whatever he was and whatever he was up to, I'm just happy he's out of your life. I knew he was a walking red flag the moment I saw him and honestly, I thought he was having too much influence over you." I pulled her into a one-armed side hug. "Don't worry, Willa. You're beautiful, smart and popular. I'm sure other guys that deserve you will come around."
Willa blew her nose.
"Go on. Say it," she said in a foghorn voice. "I was stupid and you told me so."
I grinned. "Yes, you're stupid and I actually told you so," I said.
She caught her breath, laughed and mock-punched me in the arm.
I sat up straighter as an idea dropped into my mind. I suggested we go shopping to take her mind off things.
"I can't go," she said. "I feel miserable and... look at me."
She gestured to her tear-streaked face.
"It's nothing a shower and some makeup can't fix," I said. "Come on. I'm not taking no for an answer. I'm going to get dressed. Be ready by the time I get back."
"Yes mum," she mumbled.
An hour later we were at the shopping mall. When we got out of the car, Willa looked around, showing interest for the first time since the drive there.
We strolled to the entrance of the mall, watching people going inside, eager to buy stuff, people coming out laden with shopping bags, their faces happy and satisfied.
"What section do you want to start from?" I asked once we were inside.
Willa sniffed. "Shoes."
I duly led her to the shoe section. For the next quarter of an hour, I suggested different pairs of shoes. I asked her to try on quite a few I knew were no good.
"Seriously, Hannah!" she said, turning over a clunky shoe I had pointed out. "This stuff is ugly. You know what? Don't buy anything. I'll choose for you before you end up buying something like... this."
She gave a delicate shudder. I turned away to hide a grin.
I knew the shoes were ugly of course but pretending to be clueless had gotten Willa out of her head.
I was examining a pair of high heels in a showglass when out of the corner of my eyes, I saw something move. I looked at it, and saw Asher, reflected in the glass, looking right at me.
I gasped. In the time it took for me to blink, the image was gone. I tried to move. My legs felt cemented to the floor.
With a grunt of effort, I moved forward and then it got a little easier. The whole thing could not have taken more than a few seconds.
"Hey Hannah," Willa called. "Where are you going?"
"I want to check out something," I called back, hurrying now.
There was no one behind the showglass. No guy in the section, just a bunch of girls and women milling around looking at shoes, picking them up, dropping them and trying them on.
I walked back slowly to Willa and told myself it couldn't have been Asher I had seen. It was just my mind, picking up on my fears and playing tricks on me.
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