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CHAPTER 23
Laura
The moment I answer the phone, there’s a burst of noise.
It’s so loud and frantic that it takes me several seconds to actually place what I’m hearing. When I register the sound of a child weeping and Jessi’s voice, I’m immediately on alert.
“What? What?” I can’t actually make out any of the words on the phone. I lurch up in bed, hands on my knees like I’m going to push off and start running.
“Laura! Thank God! Can you come to David’s? Right now? Please?”
“Of course!” I struggle up, looking around for clothes. Damn, my decision to wear pajamas today. “What’s happened?”
“I think Angie has broken her arm,” Jessi says, sniffling, and I feel a pang of sympathy in my chest. “It’s… not that bad…” she hesitates, and I know it’s for Angie’s sake. “But David’s in some big meeting that I can’t interrupt and, wouldn’t you know, Lewis is in it, too! But Benji is all alone…”
“I can be there in ten minutes,” I promise.
“Okay, great. He was at a friend’s, so he just got dropped off and I was supposed to meet him there but, you know.”
“I won’t be long.”
“Thank you,” Jessi says. She sounds relieved, and I’m glad to have helped. “I don’t know how long I’ll be, but?—”
“It’s no problem. Honest.” I find my shoes and shove my feet in. “Tell Angie… sorry?”
Jessi laughs. I shake my head at myself, but she seems to be feeling better by the time we get off the phone, so I don’t mind.
The drive to David’s is one I know by heart now, though usually, Damon is the one driving me to and from. Still, the winding of the road and the tricky turns are ones that I’m as familiar with as the way to my own.
When I get there, there’s no car in the driveway. I park my car as far out of the way as I can, and then jog up to the front steps.
It’s only when I get to the front door and it’s locked that I actually stop to think about what I’m doing.
I responded on instinct—like, it didn’t even occur to me not to come. I don’t know how to name this feeling in me. I don’t know what it was that spurred me into action. A sudden altruistic approach to children? My budding friendship with Jessi? Lewis’ connection to the kids?
I know none of that’s true.
It’s David.
I ignore the feeling the thought brings to me. Instead, I try the door again.
Nothing.
I ring the doorbell, wondering if maybe I somehow beat Benji here. Then I hear him shuffling around. He must be right on the other side of the door for me to hear him.
“Benji? It’s Laura. Your mom called?—”
“Go away!”
I blink in surprise. “Your mom called and told me to come over. Didn’t she?—”
“Yes, she called!”
“Okay…” I fidget awkwardly. I wasn’t expecting resistance. “It’s, um, pretty cold out here?—”
“Then go home!”
I’m surprised by the vitriol. I wrap my coat tighter around myself, trying to think. I don’t spend much time around kids, so I don’t have a good plan. I consider texting for backup, but who even would I text? I can’t bother Jessi or David with something like this, not when they’re dealing with more important stuff than my incompetence. And Lewis is apparently at some big meeting. My own mom? Jesus, then I’d have to tell her I’m dating David, and, no. Just no. I’m going to figure this out.
