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We’re just worried.
Cam spent most of last night talking to Mali and getting her to calm down. I don’t know exactly what he told her, but I know whatever it was, it worked. She’s not in her normal upbeat, spitfire kind of mood, but she’s functioning—which is more than I can say for Laiken.
She won’t eat.
She’s barely even talking.
If I hadn’t forced her out of bed, she would probably still be lying there, staring at the wall.
“Lai, you have to eat something,” I tell her.
She shakes her head. “I’m not hungry.”
Even her voice is monotone. Like I’m not talking to the love of my life but a robotic replica of her. I can’t just let her stay like this, and she can hate me for it later, but she needs something in her stomach.
I pour her a bowl of cereal and place it in front of her. “Just a few bites, babe. Please. That’s all.”
By the grace of God, she gives in. I sit here watching her like some kind of parent, but I won’t be okay if she’s not. After she eats half the bowl, she drops the spoon in it and pushes it away. But I’m happy with it. I kiss her forehead, whispering a thank you, and bring the bowl over to the sink.
The sound of Mali’s phone ringing grabs my attention and all four of our heads turn to it. She steps forward and looks at it.
“It’s his mom,” she mutters.
Shit.I’m about to open my mouth, but Cam does it for me. “Hey, you can do this. It’s just like we talked about, right?”
He’s gentle with her, but firm, and she nods. After taking a breath, she answers the phone and puts it to her ear. We all stay completely silent as we listen to her tell his mom the same story we went over—that we were with Monty until they got into an argument, and then we left.
“I’m sure he’s just being Monty, but I’ll try calling him, and if I can get ahold of him, I’ll tell him to call you,” she promises.
A few seconds later she hangs up the phone, but before she can put it down, I stop her. “You have to call Monty now.”
Her brows furrow. “What?”
“It has to look believable if they check the phone records.”
She swallows harshly, grabbing her phone and scrolling to his contact. “This is so fucked up.”
The sound of the outgoing ring is a taunting one as she puts it on speaker. We all watch it, holding our breath as if he’s just going to answer, even though we know he won’t. And when it goes to voicemail, Laiken’s head drops.
“Hey. It’s me. Your mom called and said that she can’t get ahold of you. So, when you get this, call her. And then call me. We need to talk.”
It’s a nice touch she adds at the end, letting it corroborate the part of the alibi where they got into a fight. It slightly surprises me that his mom is looking for him already, but then again, my mom would probably panic if she couldn’t get ahold of me either.
“Cam, you ready to go?” I ask him.
Laiken looks up at me with fear in her eyes. “Where are you going?”
“Hockey practice,” I answer. “We have to make it look like today is just another day.”
“Can’t you just not show?” she pleads. “Your twenty-first birthday was yesterday. I think Coach basically assumes you’re too hungover to skate.”
It pains me to leave her, especially when she’s so fragile, but I at least have to show up and make it look like everything is business as usual.
I sigh. “Let me attempt to go. I’ll have Coach send me home, and I’ll be back within the hour.”
She wraps her arms around me and holds me close. I press a kiss to the top of her head.
“You’re going to stay, right?” I ask Mali.
