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There was no time to warn Rowan My feet pounded the pavement, and I rounded the corner of the castle so quickly, I slipped on ather hts So in the botto under the low doorway and stu up two steps to a small room It was barely the size of a walk-in closet, dark except for a thin shaft of light working its way through a chink in the wall I sank to h my body Nohat? I had to warn Ian
"Addie?" My heart seized, but luckily it was just Rowan in the doorway, a serious frown crowding his features "I knoe haven’t known each other long, but there’s such a thing as common decency You don’t just tear away from your travel partner with no explanation"
Common decency? Travel partner? Rowan reverted to the role of stuffy English professor when he was angry Before I could assign this particular trait the label of "cute," I grabbed his sleeve and pulled hi clu was much too low for him, and he ended up in a half stoop overparty’s out there," I stammered
His jaw dropped--I’d never seen anyone’s jaw actually drop before--and he turned to gape at the doorway "Which one was she? Did she see you?"
"No, but Walt did We have to find Ian, and we have to get out of here" I crouched down to the ground, trying to still ht now" He started for his phone, but just as he pulled it out, a second voice boo and Rowan’s phone clattering
"Addie?"
I sprang to my feet Walt’s eyes were as wide as I’d ever seen theht I was going crazy I saw you, but you’re supposed to be in Italy and" His gaze snapped down to Roas still hunting for his phone, and suddenly Walt’s face switched into Big Brother Mode "Who the hell are you?"
"Walt!" I threwto pin hi way too fast
"Whoahoa" Rowan stu his phone up like a shield "I’m her friend"
"Everyone, listen!" I yelled at the top of s It was a risk, but it worked
I stepped back from a now-still Walter "Walt, this is Rowan He’s Ian’s friend He’s safe"
"Butbut you’re not in Italy" Walt’s voice shot up to dog whistle levels If he could hear how he sounded, he’d be mortified "Mom thinks you’re in Italy Everyone thinks you’re in Italy"
"And that’s how it has to stay Mom can’t knoe’re in Ireland You have to keep this a secret" I leaned in to erance Walt had a lot of things going for him--he eet and uncohtful But he was not good at cologne regulation Which was unfortunate, because he also really, really loved cologne
"Addie, what are you thinking?" His piercing voice lifted another octave, raisingto run out and ruin everything Ti eyes "Walt, your cologne! I thought Mom said you couldn’t pack any"
"I only did two spritzes," he protested "Two spritzes and a walk-through That’s what you’re supposed to do Why can’t any of you get that?"