Despite the early hour, she actually responds, triggering a wave of relief.
Mar:No prob. But I expect all the deets later. And I mean ALL THE DEETS. Or I’ll rat you out.
Me:Deal.
I shove the phone in my pocket, groaning. “This is so bad.”
Chase moves in front of the door, blocking my way. His voice is rough as he asks, “Do you regret what happened last night?”
After a long beat, I shake my head. “No.”
One corner of his mouth quirks up. “Me neither.”
Pressing my lips together, I force myself not to let a big, stupid smile surface. “I still have to go.”
I put my hands on his chest, trying to nudge him out of the way, but he wraps his hands around my waist and pulls me toward him. I try to stand firm, but one look at him and I give in, smiling as he kisses me.
Everything outside these doors is messed up. I wish I could stay here forever. But I have to face the music sooner or later, because the real world always invades. Chase and I might not regret what we did, but that doesn’t negate the fact that we both betrayed Everett.
With that thought in my head, I manage to tear myself away. He drives me home, letting me off at the end of the driveway. As I sprint toward the Shipley house, reality sets in.
Inside, I find Maggie on the phone, and my uncle pacing. “Yes,” my aunt says, gnawing on a thumbnail. “Ryan. Yes. Auburn hair. That’s what I said.”
She suddenly notices me, and her eyes go wide.
“Officer, she just walked through the door. Thank you.” Maggie ends the call and runs over to me, yanking me into a hug. “Ryan! We were so worried about you!”
“I’m sorry,” I say as Dan joins in on the hug. “I went to Mar’s house to watch a movie and we ended up falling asleep. I woke up to find my phone totally dead. I’m so sorry.”
Dan sighs. “Connor said that’s where you’d be. But the twins didn’t have her number.”
“I’m so glad you’re safe,” Maggie says, smoothing my hair and looking me over. “Don’t ever give me a heart attack like that again.” Before I can respond, she turns toward the hall and shouts for my cousins. “Con! Jazzy! Ryan’s home!”
My cousins emerge from the hall. Although it’s barely seven in the morning, they’re both wide-awake. Jasmine stumbles toward me.
“Wherewereyou?” she snaps. “Do you even realize how worried we were?”
“I’m sorry,” I say. “I didn’t mean to worry everyone. I was at Mar’s house, and we fell asleep.”
Jasmine studies my face. “Someone said they saw you leaving with Chase.”
My heart stops. “Oh. Yeah. I did. But he just gave me a ride to Mar’s.”
It comes out so easily. Too easily. Another lie. Tangling the web ever further.
One day, I’m going to be so trapped in all these threads, and I’ll have no one to blame but myself.
I keep my head down for the next week, concentrating on school because I have several assignments due before Thanksgiving. Forthe third night in a row, I go over to Mar’s house to hang out and do homework together.
“Is that him again?” Mar teases when my phone vibrates for the third time.
I crane my neck to peer at the screen.
Chase:I’m starting to think you’re avoiding me.
“Yeah. It’s him,” I confirm, and I can’t stop a smile as I grab the phone to text him back.
Me:I’m not avoiding you. I just need to finish this Government paper for tomorrow. I swear.
