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I try to think of a lie, but I’m stumped. Surely there’s no way I can tell him I was sucked into a vortex and dropped into another universe. He’d never believe me.
“I just needed some time away from everything, so I went to a hotel.”
“And you couldn’t tell me that?”
“I just needed time, Garrett. I didn’t think I had to tell you or anyone.”
“Well, that’s seriously fucked up. I thought something happened to you!” He breathes hard into the phone, clearly agitated. “Anyway, I was worried about you, so I called Faye to see what was up.”
Shit.I avoid groaning.
“You should check in with her if you haven’t already, let her know you needed someprecioustime away.”
I roll my eyes. “I will.”
“Sure. Look, I have to get back, but I’ll call you on my break.”
“Kay.”
Garrett hangs up, and I walk back to my bed, sitting on the edge. I send Faye a heart emoji, and she repliesBITCH!and I laugh. I reply,I’m okay. I promise.
She replies,You better be but don’t think I’m letting it go that easily. After my shift you’re telling me what the hell is going on with you.
I debatewhether I should tell Faye the truth or not. Surely, she would understand—or at least try to. Then again, trying to explain that I was in another world full of guns and violence, with a sexy, broody man I didn’t know but made out with, sounds delusional. It sounds like something straight out of a book or movie, and don’t get me wrong, Faye is all for swooning over a fictional hero, but she knows the difference betweenrealityandfiction. For all I know, she’ll be telling me to go to a psychiatric clinic to seek help, not a small practice therapist.
Regardless, it’s nice to be back to normality, but as I look around my apartment, being back doesn’t feel the same. It’s all sosimple, compared to Vakeeli. Cars drive by outside my window, people going about their lives, not even realizing mine has been altered.
I lock my phone for a moment and close my eyes, hoping I’ll still hear Caz’s voice, but I don’t. I don’t hear anything but silence and the footfalls of the neighbors in the apartment above me.
Will I ever hear him again, or did that chant end everything? Maybe by returning to my world, we’re no longer Tethered. It’s a thought…but I have a feeling it doesn’t work that way.
Regardless, I can’t sit here thinking about it. Orhim. I have to get back to my life and forget all I went through. I check my phone again and have three missed calls from Lou Ann. Work will be a good distraction. It’s better than lying around here.
I give Lou Ann a call back, and she asks to see me. It’s a Sunday, but it must be important if she’s wanting to meet on a weekend, so I agree to meet her for lunch.
I shower, get dressed, collect my satchel, and then check the mirror. There is nothing left of Vakeeli on me. I cleaned up, refreshed my hair, and the bruises and scars have somehow disappeared. They were already fading after the kiss from Caz but…
The thought fails me.
That kiss.That damn man. I need to forget him.
I tip my chin—reclaiming confidence—and leave the apartment, locking up and heading to my car.
Fifty-Six
WILLOW
I meetLou Ann for lunch at a sandwich shop uptown. She’s already placed her order when I arrive (which doesn’t surprise me as she waits for no one), and she’s biting into her sandwich when I walk inside. A bit of avocado is on the corner of her lip as I approach, and she wipes it with a napkin, her eyes expanding when she sees me.
“Mmm, sorry!” she says, mouth full. “I didn’t eat this morning, too busy with emails and calls, so I’mstarving! And speaking of, why haven’t you been picking up your phone, missy?”
“Oh, yeah, it broke and I had to wait for a replacement.” The lie slips out without so much as a thought. I’m not usually one to flat out lie, so this lie takes me a little by surprise. Maybe some of Vakeeli has rubbed off on me. “But it was nice not having my phone for a few days.”
“I’m sure it was, yes, but you know I always need you on call, Willow. Do you know Townsend reached out to us again?
“Did they?”
“Yes!” Her green eyes light up. “They want us to host another event for them next fall! It’s also for charity, and they want it to be some kind of costume party, so we can have a lot of fun with this. Did you bring a notepad?”
