Page 76 of Collins
His phone is off.
After digging through my bag, I pulled on a pair of my shorts and swapped out Collins’ T-shirt for one of my own.
I explained everything to Campbell as best I could, skimming over the worst of it. But he understood enough.
“I need to call Crandall,” he says, already pulling out his phone. “Go get yourself a cup of coffee, hon.”
Collins told me to drink the wine.
And right now…that honestly sounds more fitting for the way my nerves are unraveling. Maybe I’ll add something stronger to the coffee. Surely there’s a bottle of liquor around here somewhere.
“He’s not answering his damn phone,” Campbell mutters a moment later, frustration in his voice. “No wonder Collins got a hold of me first. That fuckface never answers.”
A quiet huff of laughter slips out of me as I pour coffee into a Combs Landscaping mug, steam rising.
“I can’t just sit here doing nothing,” he adds, his leg bouncing rapidly, the movement sharp and restless. He’s just as wound up as I am.
“Why don’t we try calling Lou?” I suggest, glancing over at him. “Maybe she’s with Crandall.”
His eyes snap to mine, a metaphoric lightbulb hovering above his head, and he points at me.
“Great idea, why the hell didn’t I think of that?” He’s already dialing, fingers moving fast. “Lou, hey. Are you with Crandall? Do you know where he is?” His voice fades as he pushes open the sliding door and steps out onto the patio, letting it shut behind him.
I watch through the glass, anxiety amplifying as he paces back and forth. Every so often he throws a hand up, frustrationin every movement, but I can’t hear a word he’s saying. The silence on my side only makes it worse.
Turning away, I start opening cabinets, one after another. There has to be something, anything, a bottle tucked away somewhere.
I crouch down, leaning into the cabinet beneath the sink, when the door suddenly slides open again.
I jolt upright too fast…and smack my head hard against the edge.
“Ouch, dammit.” Bringing my hand to the top of my head I stand up, looking for Campbell.
“You okay?” He’s already beside me, smirking ever so slightly.
“I’m fine. What did Lou say?”
“I explained everything,” he says. “She’s on her way over to stay with you so I can go look for Crandall. She gave me a few places he might be, but I’m not wasting time. Whether I find him or not, I’m tracking Collins down and making sure he doesn’t do something he’ll regret.”
“I don’t need a babysitter.” The words come out sharper than I intend.
“Shit—no, Johnnie,” he says quickly, stepping closer. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. I just…I don’t want you here alone. And Collins doesn’t either.” He softens, running a hand over the back of his neck. “Besides, Lou offered before I even asked.”
That pulls a small smile from me. “I really like Lou.”
Campbell huffs out a quiet laugh. “Yeah, we all do. Crandall just needs to get his head out of his ass long enough to make it official so we can keep her and Billy in the family for good.” He shakes his head. “He better not screw that up.”
My phone dings, and I jump, grabbing it off the counter too fast and fumble, sending it clattering to the floor at my feet.
“Shit.”
Campbell bends down and picks it up for me, but I’m already reaching. I can’t look at the name on the screen fast enough.
Lou. A small flicker of disappointment settles over me.
Lou:
I’m almost there, babe. I brought a bottle of Baileys for coffee. Thought you might need something to take the edge off.
