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Quickly, before my phone dies again, I send Mom his phone number and tell her to ask for me if she needs to talk, until I get my own phone fixed.
I barely manage to hit send before the phone dies again. Not even sure the text went through, I stare at my crappy phone.
Not a good start to this Sunday.
Suddenly I’m desperate to get out of the house. I’m not supposed to meet the guys at the park before noon, but I shower and dress quickly in a white sundress and sandals and head out. The sun warms my face and bare shoulders, the warmth slowly seeping deeper.
But I’m still cold.
I pass by Bella’s apartment, but nobody answers the doorbell. I wander the sleepy town and buy ice cream, because life without ice cream is plain sad, and I want to shake the sad off me.
Zane loves watching me lick popsicles. So I buy a chocolate cone instead. Doesn’t feel fair to eat a popsicle without him watching.
That’s it. I’m officially sick. Hooked. Smitten. Nuts about this boy.
Jesus.
‘Just call me Zane,’ I think I hear his teasing voice in my ears, and my body tight
ens down low just as my mouth tugs into a smile.
Yep. Officially in love.
The day drags. The picnic drags. Time drags. My cell is on, and I hope it stays on. I left it charging all morning. It says the time is four in the afternoon, and although the park is beautiful in the golden sunlight, the guys are talking about Dylan, and I want to go home. I cooked earlier, and I want to set up the table. Make it look nice for when he arrives.
I start when I realize what I mean by home is Zane’s apartment.
Get real, Dakota. You’ve only been staying with him, what, four days?
The next thought is even more absurd.
Home is where Zane is.
How crazy is that?
I get up and grab my purse. “Hey, guys, got to go.”
“Why so soon?” Tessa whines and makes a grab for me.
“Stay a bit longer,” Tyler agrees, his arms around Erin.
“Cut it out, guys.” Audrey gives me a shrewd glance from her perch on Asher’s lap. “Zane may be back by now, right?”
I let out a long breath, shifting from foot to foot. God, I hope so.
“How is he?” Erin leans forward, her dark eyes narrowing. “It’s like he fell off the face of the earth. I’ve called him many times to do something together, but he either doesn’t answer or says he’s busy.”
Torn, I look from her to Audrey. Erin is Zane’s friend, and maybe I should tell her about my worries—then again, if Zane doesn’t want to tell her, who am I to spill his secrets? Besides, I really want to go home in case he’s back.
“He’s okay,” Audrey says.
“His sister’s sick,” Asher says at the same time. “Dakota will tell us if there’s anything to be worried about. Right, Dakota?”
“Yeah, of course.” And I leave as fast as my feet can take me.
As soon as I enter the apartment, I know Zane is back. There’s a jacket thrown on the sofa, a bottle of amber liquid on the table and a half-empty glass.
I frown as I pad inside and close the door behind me with a soft click. I approach the sofa. Drinking already? This doesn’t look good.
