K'S
sh called a
or nearly an hour, standing by the kitchen win
sh, calling about the t
Any pr
helped us identify him yet. We're still investigating. However, I need Miss
ead. "She didn't
t y
might not even know we've
ne should i
g me staring at my ref
he club manager, ask someone to pass along the message, o
options sat
ed up
f. At least then, I'd know
touched, I headed downstairs. My steps
s covered
The gate man wasn't around, so there was
'm doing it m
e wheel and drove o
walking towards the junction. Something about her face
re are yo
and her ey
? Oh m
er reaction. "
actually r
smates. How c
tly because she always seemed to find a reason to talk to me. Bac
ched the c
ou doing ar
ng out. Wha
ll up ahead. I was a
'll drop y
the passenger door before I co
out our former classmates. We laughed over a few old memories, an
wards me, "we should exchange nu
t's
and she saved her conta
xcuse to disappear
to stay
I pulled up o
, Terik. It was real
Chloe. T
e heading towar
eared inside, then contin
was climbing higher, and my t
she wa
ur before they wer
and dr
CA's
uld think about was getting inside, drop
I saw
nding outs
ed if I was seeing thi
m, digging my keys
're
me. "Where ha
row. "Are you no
pped out before
or a second. Then hi
r going to the
ghed
d understand wh
lept
ou. I understand you were exhausted. But you could have gone to the cl
kno
r. "But I already
efly to the phone in
ea
s, I'm beginning to doubt I'll ever get the old one back." I
ded. "Tha
an used was reported stolen last week, so it won't lead them straight to him. They're stil
ank. "So it'
Not imp
go straight
oo
m. "So, what c
ghtly. "No, I'
all the
come for
en
now how far you'd g
t the simplicity of his
ded.
he moment I unlocked it, the screen flooded with noti
jumped
u
ssed calls
ed. I tapped her nu
. Once.
e call
nd tried ag
ced. "What
thi
d at me.
o call my mum, but her
ou say she l
e U
be there's a ne
ay
e time. "Are you
es
he
eading to
do yo
not far from
paused. "Give
ked a
when it's time. I have an appointment later, ot
't stress yourself. I
his hand. "But give
nd my eyes widened. "Oh
my phone. "Type you
ng. I turned toward my ro
w steps when my phone m
i
top
e the screen. His eyes mov
ge had
autif
nothing. His expressio
d. Terik looked up and caught me star
sent you
. "Who?" I reached for t
mber, but I haven
s fi
hen I saw the message, my eyebrows lifted. It wa
autif
moment. Behind me, Terik gave
dy found a
ned.
gged. "
hat's the worker who he
A
bout the way he said
gain. "I really need t
d toward
ehind me. "Just don't forget to c
ne. I'll
dow and watched Terik get into his car, start the engine, and d
e number he had typed in
rang. He
el
is B
s a brie
save my
ka
urried into the bathro
hone rang. I finished quickly, wrapped
w the screen, m
u
diately, and she picke
anc
, M
have yo
been
n calling you s
wn. "I know
ened to yo
breath. "
everything tha
was si
st your
es
anc
new that to
e you dr
my eyes
and drank yourself into that condi
ined s
ed I was? I kept ca
d I'm
tment was still obvious. "I didn't raise you t
kno
ve your future. You have
now,
this
d. "It'
came immediately. "
her had never been the
it won't ha
paused. "Now, when
oo
w s
now when I get
r the new session, so don't wait unti
y, M
ianca, take ca
wil
ean
the time. "Mum, I need
workin
es
We'll ta
. Lov
you
all e
. Despite everything, hearing my mother'
at I had my new phone, and hurried out. I locked
eady runn
d the eatery, I was
door open. "G
y ans
e door, along with the clatter of plates and somebody laughing
step inside, an
ing wa
ding near the counter, speaking in low tones to one of the
ed direc
ooked at m
a," sh
ach tig
es
e. We nee
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