Page 79 of Only Be Mine

The phone rang four times before going to voicemail.

I didn’t leave a message.

Next was Jim.

He answered on the second ring. “Hey, Cate.”

Relief rushed through me so fast it made my chest ache. “Hi. Have you talked to John tonight?”

There was a pause. Too long to be casual.

“No,” he said slowly. “I thought he was with you.”

My grip tightened on the phone. “He’s not at home.”

Another pause. Longer this time.

“I haven’t seen him since earlier,” Jim said. “We were at the bar for a bit. He left before I did.”

“What time?” I asked.

“Four. Maybe a little after.”

I glanced at the clock on the microwave. It was nearly eleven.

“Okay,” I said, forcing steadiness into my voice. “Thanks.”

I hung up and immediately dialed Seth again.

This time he answered.

“Cate?” His voice was thick, distracted. “Everything okay?”

“No,” I said, the word slipping out before I could stop it. “Have you seen John?”

Silence.

“Seth.”

“No,” he said finally. “I thought… I mean, I assumed he was home.”

“He’s not.”

I heard him exhale sharply. “That’s… weird.”

“Yes,” I said. “It is.”

“I’ll come by,” he said. “Let me get my keys.”

“Okay.”

I ended the call and stared at my phone, thumb hovering over the screen.

My body shook as I tried to figure out what to do next. The only thing I could think to do was call my best friend.

“Amy?” I said as soon as she answered, “Amy I need you.” I was full on crying, the tears streaking my face and rolling off my chin in big drops, smacking against the cold tile floor.

“Cate? Cate, what’s wrong?”