Page 57 of Lost and Found

I climb off him and search around for my jeans, then dig into the pockets until I find my phone.

My stomach thuds at my feet. Nineteen missed calls since four o’clock this morning, all from Merritt. She calls again, and I answer on the first ring.

“Bea?! Oh my god, where the hell are you?!”

I blow past the question. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

She goes quiet before the sound crackles in a way that tells me she’s crying. I break out in an immediate cold sweat.

“No. I’m not okay,” she says, her voice warbling. “I was hooking up with Steven, andplease, BB, please don’t lecture me, but he—” She scatters into sobs again, and dread grabs me by the throat. “He found a lump.”

I fire off every platitude, every denial.We don’t know anything until you get it checked out. There’s no use worrying too soon, Mer. It’s going to be okay.

But the truth is, I know it won’t be. I know it won’t be okay.

CHAPTER 21

Now, June

Silas

BYrDs oF a fEaThER

Silas: Have you ever accidentally made out with someone before and had to go on with your regularly scheduled life like it didn’t happen?

Fisher: It’s 6:01am. Who is this meant for?

Ellis: No.

Silas: Sorry. Meant to text Ellis. But since I have you all gathered here.

Ellis: No.

Silas: It happened a week ago. We said we’d talk about it in the morning and then a week went by.

Sage: Silas what did I tell you about changing your contact picture to HEllmo? I don’t like it!

Wren: Aww, I think he’s sweet.

Sage: Also, yes, Fisher and I have. Sort of?

Ellis: NO.

Fisher: There was nothing accidental about our first kiss, Sage.

Sage: I mean, it *accidentally* got a little hotter and heavier than I think we meant, no?

(Ellis Byrd has left the chat)

(Ellis Byrd has been added to the chat)

Silas: I guess my biggest question is, how’d you move past the awkward?

Wren: Bring her a pastry and address it head-on.

Fisher: Food

Ellis: How does anyone accidentally make out with anyone?