Paradise Lost (Private 9)

Poppy was silent, and I knew I had her.

"He may not be mine yet, but he will be," she finally sputtered. "Stay away from him from now on, if you know what's good for you."

My jaw dropped. I had barely even spoken two words to this girl and she was threatening me?

"Or what? You'll steal my clothes again?" I asked sarcastically, hugging my dripping body. "What could possibly be worse? "

"We'll see how you feel in about an hour," Sienna said. "Come on, girls. I'm suddenly starving. Let's go join the others at the restaurant."

They giggled and started walking away. My heart skipped a beat.

97

Everyone else had already left the beach and gone inside? That meant no one was going to be walking by here anytime soon. I was already starting to shiver. Not good. I moved my feet back and forth and jumped around a bit, trying to keep warm.

I waited and listened, hoping someone would step into the next shower or walk by on their way to the beach, but I heard nothing.

"Hello?" I called out. "Is anyone there?"

Silence, save for the waves crashing into the shore.

"Anyone! Hello! I need some help in here!" I shouted louder.

Somewhere near the pool, a reggae band started playing some happy-go-lucky tunes over some seriously cranked-up speakers. Happy hour was starting. Great. No one was going to hear me now. My heart started to pound as my skin tightened and grew colder still. How long was I going to have to stand here? What if Noelle and the others never came back to the beach? I was sure that if anyone asked about me, Paige would make up some stupid story about how I went home on my own or something. I could be standing there naked for hours.

A stiff breeze rattled my little hut, and I stepped back against the wall for warmth, hugging myself as tightly as I could. I was really starting to hate the Upton Game.

98

CHAPTER 15 JEALOUSY

Goose bumps covered my skin. My whole body shook uncontrollably. I gritted my teeth and held my breath and tried to control it, but nothing helped. I had tied up my hair off my neck with the hair band I had kept around my wrist since I'd gotten to St. Barths, so the soaking strands were no longer hitting my shoulders. That was something, at least. But how long had I been standing there? How much longer was I going to have to wait? Every moment seemed like an hour.

And then, voices. Angry voices. Adrenaline instantly warmed me. It was Upton. Upton was shouting at someone.

"... stupid, immature, ridiculous thing to--"

"We were just having a bit of fun," Sienna's voice replied.

My blood boiled with anger. I was going to scratch those girls' eyes out the moment I saw them.

"You should be ashamed of yourselves," Upton scolded, his voice just outside now. "Reed! Where are you?"

99

"Right here!" I said meekly, lifting my arm so it could be seen in the space between the top of the door and the canvas roof.

"Are you all right?" Upton asked.

A towel appeared over the door and I whipped it down, wrapping it around my shoulders. My eyes closed in ecstasy as warmth radiated over my skin.

"I'll live," I replied.

"Here are your clothes," Upton said, folding my dress and bathing suit over the door.

Oh, thank God. I quickly stepped into my dry bathing suit and yanked the T-shirt dress on over my head. They felt so warm--like they had been tumbling in a dryer for an hour--but that was probably just in contrast to the frigid temperature of my skin. I took a deep breath to calm the trembling, and I opened the door.

"I'm so sorry," Upton said immediately, pulling me into his arms. I closed my eyes and pressed my cheek against his chest. The warmth of his body chased away the last of the shivers. "They said you'd gone back to the Langes'. That you'd come down with a headache."