Paradise Lost (Private 9)

They both giggled as they faced the partygoers, their backs to me and Upton.

"Who's that?" I asked.

"That would be Poppy," he replied with an amused look in his eye. "And it appears as if she's brought along a friend."

"Everyone, this is Sienna Marquez. Sienna, this is . . . everyone!"

"Pleased to meet you," Sienna said in a thick Spanish accent. She and Poppy both laughed as if sharing some private joke.

"Are you all enjoying the parry?" Poppy asked, lifting her free arm. Dozens of skinny gold bangles jangled down to her elbow.

The crowd answered with a general cheer of approval. Daniel Ryan broke away from his friends and was about to hug her when Poppy's eyes fell on Upton. She lit up like a sparkler on the Fourth of July, dropped her friend's arm, and clapped her hands together in glee.

"There's my yummy boyfriend!"

I glanced at Upton, whose face broke into a smile as he released my hand and the girl came sprinting across the room. She launched herself into his arms from about three feet away, wrapping all four limbs around him like a koala and sticking her tongue so far down his throat that she must've tasted his lunch.

I was so surprised I actually stumbled aside a few paces. I found myself staring at Daniel, who was standing directly across from me, his mouth hanging slightly ajar, looking as dumbfounded as I felt. Upton had a girl friend?

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CHAPTER 10 NOT A JERK

The next morning I woke up with a start, my heart sprinting. For a moment I had no idea where I was, and I was seized by the disturbing sensation that I was being watched. Then I saw the ocean outside my open windows and remembered. St. Barths. The Lange family's house. I was fine. I was safe. I must have had a bad dream. The sky was just starting to brighten, the darkness giving way to lighter shades of blue and gray. I listened for a moment to ascertain whether anyone in the house was up and about, but I heard nothing. No early risers in the Lange family. Not that I was surprised. Noelle had never been a morning person.

I lay back on the thick feather pillow. There was no way I was going to be able to fall back to sleep, because now I was thinking. Thinking of Sabine and Ariana and Thomas and Josh and Ivy. Lots and lots to think about.

Including Upton. Upton, Upton, Upton. My mind recalled the

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image of Poppy koala-bearing him, and my chest constricted. About two seconds after that little display I had fled the party, come back here, and had gone directly to bed. There was no way I was messing around with a guy who had a girlfriend. I had learned that lesson with Dash.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw something careening toward the window and I sat up straight, my heart in my throat. Just then a beautiful blue-and-yellow bird alighted on my windowsill and jumped from side to side, checking me out with its little black eyes.

"Hey there. You scared me," I whispered, letting out a breath.

The bird jumped back and forth, back and forth, and then started to sing. I blinked, surprised. It was almost as if he had done his assessment and decided I was worthy of a private morning concert. I was about to lay down again and listen to his song when suddenly someone stepped up to my window, scaring the breath out of me. The bird took flight with a squawk.

"Good morning," Upton said with a smile.

My hand was over my chest. "Upton! What the hell are you doing? " I whisper-shouted. My stomach was tied in frightened knots that relaxed only slightly now that I realized I knew my surprise visitor. I pulled up the blankets to cover my navy blue Easton Academy T-shirt and couldn't help wondering what my hair was doing.

But wait. I didn't care. He had a girl friend.

"So this is the Langes' new house, huh?" he said, leaning on the windowsill and looking around my room. "Nicely done."

"How many windows did you pop into before you found the right one?" I asked, my heart still pounding.

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"Only two. Someone should check on the housekeeper. I may have given her a stroke," Upton said.

"Upton!"

"Kidding! Kidding!" he said, lifting his hands.

I took a deep breath and silently told my pulse to calm itself. "What are you doing here?'