We pull up somewhere in the neighborhood where they originally picked me up, and I mutter a quick, “Thanks,” before practically bolting from the car. The air hits me like a slap, cooland biting, but it does nothing to calm the storm raging inside me.
I stand on the side of the road, my breath fogging up in the chilly night as I watch the SUV disappear down the street, the taillights a dull red glow in the distance.
Reaching into my pocket, I pull out my phone. My fingers tremble as I swipe my finger over the screen. It’s off again. My heart skips a beat. Did the battery die? Did Jaymin turn it off when I wasn’t looking?
A few agonizing seconds pass, but then the screen lights up. Relief floods through me, so palpable I almost sag against the nearby lamppost. It’s not dead. That’s one positive thing going for me, at least.
Ignoring the barrage of notifications that pop up on the screen, I scroll through my contacts until I find Felix’s number. He said I could call him.
I hesitate, biting my lip. Should I, though? It’s late. He’s probably busy.
Screw it. I need to call someone, and I’m not really coming up with a better option.
It rings once before he picks up.
“Cecilia? Is that you?” He rushes out as soon as the line connects.
The concern in his voice is like a punch to the gut, and I realize how much I’ve been holding my breath. “Hi. Yeah. Umm … sorry. I know it’s late. But, you said I could call?—”
“Of course you can.” There’s noise in the background—voices, the clatter of something heavy—but Felix hushes them, muttering out, “I know, I know,” before his attention returns to me. “Are you okay? Where are you?”
I rub the back of my neck, suddenly feeling self-conscious. “I’m fine,” I lie, my voice sounding thin even to my own ears. “But, uh, I’m not really sure where I am. Let me check.” Isquint in the dim light, taking a few steps toward the corner of the street. The shadows stretch long and ominous across the pavement as I strain my eyes to make out the street name. “Hold on.”
“Relax,” Felix murmurs, almost to himself.
“Huh?” I glance around, confused.
“Sorry, not you,” Felix says quickly. “The guys are being stupid.”
Oh. “Okay, so—yeah, I’m at the corner of Priest and Boone. Is that far from you?”
The line goes quiet for a moment, and then I hear him curse under his breath, followed by a rushed conversation with someone else in the background. My stomach twists. Why does it feel like there’s something more going on?
“Felix?” I say, voice wavering.
“We’re on our way,” he responds, his tone suddenly sharp. “Don’t hang up, though. Okay?”
I frown, staring down the empty street. “Yeah. Okay.” I shift on my feet, glancing nervously over my shoulder. I wasn’t planning on wandering off, but the urgency in his voice makes me uneasy.
His words suddenly register. “Wait—what do you mean, ‘we’? Who’s with you?”
There’s another muffled conversation in the background. It’s obvious I’ve interrupted something. Guilt gnaws at me. This was a mistake. He’s busy. I don’t know what I was thinking. “Actually, don’t worry about it,” I say quickly. “I’ll call a ride share. Enjoy your night?—”
“DO NOT HANG UP THE PHONE.”
The command is so sharp, so sudden, that I freeze mid-step. Felix has never spoken to me like that before. His voice is always easygoing, playful. This? This is something else.
“O-okay,” I stammer, unsure what else to say.
He exhales, the sound rough. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you. But, Cecilia ... the last few hours have been a shitshow trying to find you.”
My heart skips a beat. “You were looking for me?”
“Yeah.” He hesitates, and I can hear the tension in his voice. “I didn’t want to tell you over the phone, but?—”
I cut him off, already knowing what he’s about to say. “Austin’s out on bail.”
The silence on the other end is heavy for a moment. Then, quietly, “You heard?”
