Page 56

She points a finger at me. “Don’t disappear.”

“I won’t.”

I weave through the crowd, the music pulsing against my ribs, and push open the side door.

It’s quieter outside. The cool night air hits my flushed face and makes me suddenly realize I’m a lot drunker than I felt sitting at the bar. I lean against the brick wall and fumble my phone out of my purse. My vision swims, the screen blurring at the edges. I definitely drank a little too much.

I scroll through my contacts, squinting.

Dad…

Dad…

Where is—

I find the contact, smile to myself, and hit call.

It rings once.

Twice.

Then connects.

I blurt out before he can even say hello. “Can you come pick me up?”

No response, just breathing.

“Simon? You there?”

Chapter nineteen

Simon

For a second, I think I’m dreaming.

“Blaire?”

She giggles, soft and slurred. “Hi.”

“…Are you drunk?”

“No… Maybe.” Another giggle, like she’s proud of herself for the honesty.

I pinch the bridge of my nose, already pacing the length of my living room. “You okay?”

“I miss you.”

My heart fucking stops. The words land like a gut punch, knocking the air clean out of me. For a beat, all I can do is stand there, phone pressed to my ear, staring at nothing.

“…What?”

“I said…” She pauses, like the sentence slipped away from her. “Jamie’s being mean.”

In the background, Jamie’s voice cuts through loud and clear. “BLAIRE! WHO ARE YOU TALKING TO?”

Blaire just giggles again, the sound muffled like she’s trying to hide the phone against her shoulder. When she speaks next, it’s a conspiratorial whisper. “I’m being sneaky.”

“Blaire.” My voice comes out rougher than I mean it to. “Tell me where you are.”