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I checkedmy cell phone again.
Nothing.
Becca had disappeared from school and hadn’t been in touch since. I didn’t like it.
Everything was fine. I’d met her on the way to class, and we’d talked. I’d kissed her. And then she’d doubled back to the bathroom and told me to go on ahead. Then she’d texted to say she felt sick and was going home.
I’d played the scene over and over in my head. She’d seemed a little upset about Lilly and Jay, about her mom, but that was all. Wasn’t it?
Things between us were good. Better than good. After dinner at her house, she’d come home with me and Eli and stayed the night. Laid wrapped in my arms as we slept. Eaten breakfast with us before sneaking home. I knew her mom had given her shit for staying out all night, but Becca had reassured me it was fine.
Everything was fine.
So why wasn’t she replying?
“Ev? Ev, come ons. I wanna play.”
I pocketed my cell phone and went into the living room. Eli had set up his game on the table, staring eager eyes at me. “Is Becca okay?”
Crap. I shouldn’t have said anything to him. I didn’t want him to worry. When I’d picked him up from pre-K, I’d just assumed she was sleeping it off, but now my mind was in overtime.
“She’s sick, buddy.”
“Aww, man.”
I ruffled his hair. “Scoot over. Remind me how this one goes.”
He launched into a detailed recital of the rules, but my mind wasn’t in it. Mom would be back in an hour, tops, and I’d already decided I was going over to Becca’s house. Maybe she really was sick in bed.But she seemed fine.Regardless, I had to know.
“Your turn.” Eli nudged me, and I scooped the dice from his little hands. One hour. And then I would get some answers.
When the front door finally opened, and Mom’s voice filled the room, I felt ready to burst. Somewhere during the second game, I’d contemplated taking Eli over there with me. But I didn’t want to alarm her mom any more than necessary. She already thought I wasn’t good enough for her daughter. I didn’t need to add possessive stalker to the list.
“What are my boys doing?”
“We played my new game.” Eli went to her, hugging her tight.
“That’s great, baby. Evan, a hand, please?”
I relieved her of the grocery bags and started to unpack the items into the cupboard. “I need to go out for a bit. You’ll be okay?”
“We’ll be fine, won’t we?” She glanced over at Eli who was tearing into a bag of chips. He nodded eagerly.
“Are you going to Becca’s? Can I come?”
Mom tensed, and I quickly said, “Not tonight, buddy.”
With the groceries put away, I grabbed my keys, said goodbye, and headed out, ignoring the feeling in my stomach.
The one that told me everything was not fine.
* * *
“Evan?” Mrs. Torrence’s brows furrowed. “This is a surprise.”
I raked a hand through my hair, feeling as awkward as fuck. Despite my gut telling me everything was not okay, it still could be. There might be a perfectly reasonable explanation for Becca’s radio silence. “I… um… is Becca okay? I haven’t heard from her since she left school this morning. I was worried.”
“Actually, she’s out.”
