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