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“I’m pretty sure it was. You used your key to get in.”
“What about the back door?”
“Yes. I saw you turn the lock when you went outside.”
He shoves his hand through his hair. “Where the fuck is she?”
“Let’s try not to get upset. I’m sure she’s fine.”
“Do you think she went out with someone? Who does she hang out with?”
I shrug. “Just me, as far as I know.”
“Who’s she always texting?”
A few weeks ago, she casually mentioned a guy she was talking to, but she was super vague about him, only telling me he was cute and had a fossil collection. I assumed she met him online, but I really don’t want to rat out my best friend if she’s on a date with him.
“I really have no clue. She’s usually pretty vague about things going on in her life, and I don’t pry,” I reply. “She talks when she’s ready to talk.”
“It’s almost midnight.”
“She is eighteen, Alex.”
He stops pacing to look at me. “What does that mean?”
“She’s technically an adult. Like me. She doesn’t have a curfew.”
“I know, but she’s never gone out without telling me before. She didn’t leave a note, and now she’s not answering calls or texts. Don’t you think this is all unlike her? Especially when she ditched the concert because she was sick.” His eye suddenly goes wide. “Do you think she called an ambulance and went to the ER?”
The fear on his face makes my heart hurt.
“Alex.” I touch his arm. “I think she’s fine. She only had cramps. That wouldn’t send her to the ER. She would’ve called us.”
That barely fades the worry from his face. “I told you I had a weird feeling.”
“You did, but I think we should just calm down and not jump to conclusions.”
Where the hell did she go? Seeing Alex distraught is agonizing. I can’t believe she’d just disappear like this. She knows how much he worries about something happening to her.
I manage to keep Alex somewhat calm for another hour and a half when suddenly headlights flash in the driveway. I grab his arm when he jumps up from the couch and pull him back down.
“Alex, let her come inside and explain. Don’t fly off the handle.”
He lets out a sigh. “I don’t know how to deal with this.”
Lily comes through the front door wearing the outfit she bought for the concert. My heart sinks at what this means, and I brace myself for the fight I’m sure is coming.
“Where were you?” Alex barks. “It’s almost two a.m. No calls, no texts. We’ve been worried out of our minds.”
The way he says we make me light-headed.
Lily shrugs. I notice her always-perfect eyeliner and lipstick is smudged. “I went out with a friend and lost track of time. I thought I’d be home before you.”
Alex’s brow creases with suspicion. “I thought you were sick.”
She looks down at her shoes.
“Did you lie to us?” Alex asks.
Us.
She nods somberly.
“What the fuck?”
“I called and texted you,” I remind her.
“I’m sorry. I had my phone on do not disturb.”
“What the fuck?” Alex repeats. “Why?”
“I just wanted some privacy.”
“Okay,” I reply, trying to stay neutral. “Totally understandable.” People don’t have to be connected to technology twenty-four seven. It’s okay to want a break.
“Why lie to us?” Alex asks. “Why pretend to be sick at the last minute? You could’ve just told us you wanted to go out and that you’d be home late.”
“I just didn’t want to talk about it.” Frustration rolls off her. “Why am I being interrogated?”
“Because I’m worried about you. Who dropped you off?”
“Just a friend.”
“What friend? The prom twin guy?”
Lily lets out a clipped laugh. “Hell no.”
Alex looks at me like I might have an answer. “I don’t understand what’s going on here,” he says. “Why all the vague secrecy?”
“Can you just drop it, Dad?”
“I’m not gonna drop it, Lil. I want you to tell me what’s up.”
“Maybe we should all just go to bed. It’s late—” I suggest, hoping to defuse them.
Alex ignores me. “I smell alcohol on your breath, too.”
I look at Lily in surprise. When we hang out together, we always drink iced teas, lattes, and water. She’s never hinted at wanting to drink alcohol.
“I had two beers and one shot. It’s not a big deal.”
I can feel Alex’s body tense next to me. “You’re not old enough to drink.”
She sighs and looks up at the ceiling. “I’m sure you drank before you were twenty-one.”
“That’s not the point. The point is you haven’t been yourself the past few weeks and I want to know what’s going on. You’re hiding something.”
“Fine.” She kicks off her boots. “I was on a date. Okay? Can we move on now?”
Ah. She must’ve been with the fossil dude, I conclude. But why didn’t she tell me? I thought we told each other everything.
