AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The churning slid up into Celia’s throat. “You’re so…” She closed her eyes, thinking about Trenton. She couldn’t even picture what he was going through for someone like him to not reassure his friend.
“Right all the time, I know,” Erin said with a wink. She held out her hand over the bar. “Give me your apron and get out of here.”
Celia’s hands went to the ties, pausing. “Will you be able to handle things here?”
“It’s not rocket science, and I’ve filled in for Kay before. I’ll manage.”
Celia untied her apron, handing it to her as she rounded the bar. “Thanks, Erin.”
Erin grinned at her. “You owe me twice now.”
Celia nodded, not able to deny it. As annoying as Katie’s friend could be, she did help, in her own way.
Celia turned, hurrying out of the bar. She saw the taillights of Malcolm’s truck. She was too late to catch them, but she knew how to get to the condo. The bus ride took longer than it would to drive there, and she tapped her foot as the familiar streets went by. She hadn’t seen them often at night, not with Trenton picking her up from work.
When the elevator opened onto the fifth floor, she found Malcolm and Blake in the hallway.
“Come on, man. Open up,” Blake said, pounding on the door.
“I still have a key,” Celia said, holding it up as she hurried toward them. Even when she’d known she was moving out for good, she hadn’t been able to leave it.
“I have one, too, remember?” Malcolm said. Yes, Celia recalled him unlocking the door when he’d come once before, back when he’d been worried about her not answering right away. He gestured to where the door was cracked open. “He put the chain on and isn’t answering.”
Celia frowned at it. Then Trenton was inside.
Malcolm moved closer to the door, putting his head near the crack. “Trent, we need to see for ourselves that you’re all right. One minute, and then we’ll leave you alone if that’s what you want.”
Celia’s fingers twisted her rubber band as she watched the two men continue to try. During the whole ordeal, Trenton never answered.
“What do we do?” Blake asked.
Malcolm frowned at the door, shaking his head. “We can’t just leave.”
“Can I have a few minutes?” Celia asked.
Malcolm looked toward her. “I know you want to help, but I’m not sure that’ll work, Celia. I have a feeling, well… never mind.” He sighed.
“You think it’s because of her, too, don’t you?” Blake asked.
Having someone say it out loud made Celia wince.
“Shut up, Blake.” Malcolm hurried over to her, taking her hands in his. “Look, Celia, he doesn’t mean—”
“This is about Trenton, not me,” Celia said, pulling away. “I’m not blind to what’s going on. I’m crazy, not stupid.”
Malcolm winced. “You’re not crazy, Celia. I never said—”
“No, I did,” Celia interrupted. “Now take a break and let me try something.”
Blake moved up to Malcolm’s side. “Let’s go get some air for a minute. It’s been most of a day.” He nodded at Celia with a smile. “We can give her a few minutes.”
Malcolm stared at her even as he was dragged to the elevator, their gazes only breaking when the doors slid shut.
Celia took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Then she approached the crack in the door. “Trenton? It’s Celia. I think I might have forgotten something here.” She winced at the white lie. “Can you let me in?”
She listened, but only silence followed.
She untwisted the rubber band from around her wrist. It was a long one, and she’d always had to wrap it around multiple times. That was part of why she liked it. When she snapped it, the multiple layers dulled the sting a bit. Besides, she’d always worn one like that, ever since she’d been a teenager, long before one of the counselors had recommended it to help calm her racing thoughts.
