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Getting back to the suite, I am prepared to head straight to Gwen's when Ryan calls for me again, his voice calmer than before, "Jen, I need to talk to you."
Gwen also turns to him, "What about?"
I can feel the tension build. What is going on?
Ryan sighs, "I need to talk to her about the case."
Gwen crosses her arms, "You can talk to her about the case in front of me. I am as involved as you are."
Ryan's sudden change in behavior confuses me as he hands me his phone, not looking at me, "Was this the bag Cale wore when he went to school this morning?"
My stomach drops. It was Cale's favorite blue bag with Bugs Bunny. It was completely trashed, torn, and covered in mud, as if animals had chewed through it and left it in the forest.
Feeling anxious about the same happening to Cale, "Where-where did they find it?"
Ryan takes back his phone, "Don't worry. Just stay here and wait for the news. Gwen will be here with you."
He turns, and I can't help grabbing his arm, "Please, Ryan. Let me come too, please."
Ryan meets my eyes with a guilty expression, "I'm sorry, Jen. You know I can't."
Gwen hugs my shoulders for me to let go of him, and I can only cry more in devastation when Ryan suddenly holds my hand. I look up at him, "Just believe in me. I promise to bring him back to you safe and sound. Don't torture yourself anymore. Just try and sleep, okay? Gwen will be with you."
Ryan pats my head, his warm eyes making me feel shy. But Gwen seems disgusted at his attitude, "Yeah. Take a hike now, bro."
I can't help feeling amused at their interaction as I nod to Ryan, "I get it. I'll wait for you."
Ryan smiles, "Also, you can keep my sweatshirt."
I realize I am wearing his clothes, "I'm sorry. I couldn't find decent clothes in my closet, so I wore yours."
Ryan seems confused, "That's weird. Before coming here, I had them fill the closet and the fridge with every necessity."
As the wheels turn in Ryan's head, I follow his gaze to find a very awkward Gwen, "Sorry about that."
Oh. Well, that's one mystery solved. Ryan shakes his head as he turns, leaving, "Things better be how they were when I return, Gwen."
Gwen seems defeated, "Yeah. Yeah. You focus on your thing."
Just as Ryan leaves, Gwen almost drags me to her room, but I don't feel like going there either. Gwen catches on to this, "Wait here."
I stand shocked when she brings out a whole mattress from her room, a couple of pillows, and blankets. She grits, "Any help will be appreciated."
Snapping out of it, I help her carry the stuff to the living room, setting up the mattress and pillows there. "How about we sleep here tonight?"
Looking at the brightly lit, warm, and expansive living room, I can't help smiling, "That will be nice. Thanks, Gwen."
I don't know how, but Gwen always makes me feel comfortable, but I still can't sleep when Gwen turns to me again, "How about we talk?"
I turn to her, "About what?"
Gwen shrugs, "Anything you want to talk about?"
I remember how she avoided telling me much about herself, "Will you talk to me about anything?"
Gwen rolls her eyes, "Of course, silly."
"Then can you tell me why you didn't tell me when your parent-like figure died?"
