I shake the thought from my mind and start to walk back to the house, but not before picking up the book. Lord of the Flies. That explains a lot.
I set it back down and go back inside, sliding the screen closed, but leaving the glass open. The day is shifting into night,bringing a somewhat cooler breeze with it. I decide to go for a swim and with each lap I stop and look around. It’s quiet. Weirdly quiet.
It’s supposed to be quiet. There isn’t supposed to be a woman hanging from the rafters.
My internal monologue is loud tonight, and it doesn’t take long for me to be too paranoid to enjoy the swim, defeating its purpose entirely.
After I hop out, I towel off and turn on the shower. I’m not sure why I’m so tense tonight. I check my phone while the water heats up, and then go grab a banana. Maybe I’m hungry, or maybe I need more carbs. God knows I limit them. After eating the thing in three bites, I toss the peel and check my phone again.
Where is she?
Knock it off. It’s none of your business. You told her yourself she can come and go as she pleases.
I remind myself just how lame I sound. But then I look at my phone again. Nothing.
Text her.
No, it’s not my business.
What if she’s hurt?
Why would she be hurt?
What if her car broke down?
That could be possible, honestly. She drives an outdated hunk of junk.
What if she’s with another man?
“She’s not,” I say out loud. I sound insane right now.
Are you though? She could be with a man. You don’t know that.
Zane: Hey. Wyd?
I punch the text into my phone before setting it on the counter and hopping in the shower. Then I think about how that sounds. She’s either going to think I’m fishing for a hook-up or I’m being controlling.
She IS your girlfriend. It’s your business where she is and who she’s with.
Still. I need to get it together. I’ve never let a woman make me anxious and I’m not about to start n–
My phone dings twice, the universal sound of an incoming text, and I nearly slip and fall as I reach for it.
Ashlyn: New phone, who dis? See? She’s up to no good.
Zane: You’re funny. Seriously though. I’m at home and was just wondering
I stop, hesitating over what I should type next.
Zane: Whether or not you’ll be home for dinner.
Right. Because the two of you have a tradition of making dinner together.
Ashlyn: If you’re trying to low-key keep tabs on me, just say it. But if you’re really interested, I’m out.
Zane: I love the attention to detail.
Ashlyn: I’m at a bar.
