Acting Ladylike | On Hold

✩ S E V E N T E E N ✩

  I flinch, nearly dropping my clothes as I hear a pounding on the washroom door.

  "Yes?" I call, quickly trying to slip into the dress.

  "Miss Davenport, open the door!"

  "I'm not decent yet!" I call back, scrunching my nose when I hear Mr. Ashworth's voice.

  "Damn right you aren't! What? Did you just forget to tell me about the map!"

  "You went through my things?" I shriek, rushing to tie the ribbon in the front of the dress.

  "That's besides the point! You have a lot of explaining to do!"

  I quickly run my hands through my wet hair a few times before yanking open the door about to take a step out the doorway before realizing if I move any further I'll run straight into him.

  I immediately take a few steps back.

  "What do you want?" I ask crossing my arms and regarding him with narrowed eyes.

  "I don't know." He shrugs exaggeratedly. "Perhaps an explanation of why you have a map with the name Clark written in huge letters at the top?"

  His eyes are stormy, and he's leaning against the doorframe in a way that suggests he'd be likely to pounce any second.

  I swallow before taking a few more steps back. He doesn't make any moves towards me, but he also doesn't make any moves away.

  "I was going to tell you. I just...forgot." It almost sounds stupid coming from my mouth. The truth is just that he was irritating me so much, I didn't feel like bringing it up.

  "How could you just...'forget' this?"

  "I just found out only about an hour ago."

  "And you forgot in such a short span of time?"

  "Yes."

  He scoffs at my reply.

  "I'm sure. I thought we had already established that you weren't part of them, but now I'm beginning to have second thoughts."

  By 'them,' I suppose he's referring to the Elmer Clark Organization.

  His voice is low and hard—calculating, almost. Does he really think I could pass as an undercover spy?

  "Why would you care if I was? What's the importance of the Elmer Clark Organization to you?"

  In a split second he's so close to me that I can feel his unbearably minty breath fanning across my face and see the faint freckles across the bridge of his nose again.

  "I don't believe you have the authority to question my motives, Miss Davenport."

  "And I don't believe you have to authority to question my actions or lack thereof."

  "Don't use that tone with me."

  "What are you? My father? Back off."

  "You are traveling with me. You'll obey my orders."

  "Well, I must say you're a hell of a tour guide. I just love risking my neck to save myself and you multiple times because you can't get your act together."

  "Oh yes! Because getting shot at multiple times, jumping out a train, and persuading a bull to run me over was definitely on my traveling agenda!"

  By now his voice is about double the volume of mine as he furiously slams his fist against the door frame, baring his teeth like some wild animal.