Page 46 of Hunting Little Hope
It belonged to a version of me I wasn’t sure I wanted to be anymore.
My throat tightened.
I glanced at Perry’s message first because I needed something warm before I opened the cold.
Perry:
Did you survive the glitter mission??? Did the room look sparkly??? Did you get caught???
A tiny, helpless smile tugged at my mouth.
I could almost hear his voice, bright and breathless, like he was bouncing on his toes waiting for me to tell him everything.
I typed back before I could think too hard.
Hope:
Mission successful. The room looks like a fairy platoon attacked it.
Three dots appeared instantly.
Perry:
You’re the bravest girl I know. Proud of you.
My eyes burned.
I swallowed hard and looked back at Troy’s name. Somehow, the phone felt heavier now.
Should I open his text, or ignore it? Could I pretend for one more night? My thumb finally tapped the notification.
And for a second, before the message opened, before the words could rearrange my night again?—
I wished I were back on the picnic blanket with Tyrell putting sunscreen on my shoulders and Perry laughing at the ridiculous descriptions I gave the clouds. I could almost feel the phantom touch of their lips across mine if I thought hard enough.
Was this the answer I’d been looking for?
Troy:
Hey, want to meet Archie and me for breakfast before the workshop tomorrow? We missed you tonight.
Well damn. That was a shot to the heart. What on earth was I going to do?
Chapter Nineteen
Lee
In my limited experience with Hope, not once had she been late.
At times, she might have come across as reluctant or unsure about pushing her boundaries into the unknown. But nothing about her had me thinking she’d be the kind of woman—or Little for that matter—who would play games by showing up late or bailing on a date altogether.
That, however, didn’t change the fact that she was supposed to meet up with us for breakfast fifteen minutes ago, and she wasn’t answering her texts or phone calls.
Worry churned in my gut as I tried ringing her once again.
Tyrell checked his watch. “You think she overslept?”
Perry was wiggling in his chair, his leg bouncing up and down anxiously. “I can go knock?—”
