Page 5 of Come Back to Me

And that scares me.

now

VIOLET

“Goddammit,” I mutter under my breath. “Sage, have you seen my phone?”

I’ve been searching our apartment in a frenzy for the past fifteen minutes, and there hasn’t been any sign of my phone. I lose this thing way too often. I might have to implant a sensor into my brain, so I can find it faster.

Looking all over the bar counter and stools, I give up and search in the cabinets.

“Are you looking for this?” Sage asks in monotone, waving my phone in her hand. Her caramel skin glows from the streaks of sunlight coming through the kitchen window. Her black curly hair is fully down, landing at her ribcage.

I should’ve known.

Sage does this to me more times than I can count. Part of me knew she had it, but I didn’t want to believe it.

“I don’t have time for this right now. I have to meet Dani at Tidal Wave in twenty minutes. I’m tired of you stealing my phone.”

“Lighten up, Violet. It’s not like I stole your kidney.” Sheplaces my phone on the kitchen table with the screen facing up.

Walking over to grab my phone, I raise my eyebrow at Sage and slip it into the back pocket of my shorts. “We would be on our way to Sunset Cove Hospital right now if you did.”

My heart rumbles against my ribcage, threatening to explode out of my chest at any given minute.

Before I leave the apartment, I head into the bathroom to check my appearance. My tousled blonde waves frame my face, a nude pink lipstick hides the natural pigment in my lips, and gold hoops dangle on my ears.

I back up closer to the wall behind me, so I can get a better view of myself. I inspect the gray sports bra, ripped jean shorts, and pair of black and white Converse I’m wearing.

Feeling my butt buzzing, I take out my phone and see a text from Dani.

Dani

hey, i’m here. where are you?

Me

I’m on my way. Sage hid my phone again

Dani

you need to tell her to stop doing that!

Me

I have, but she doesn’t listen to me. It’s so annoying

Dani

typical sage. she never listens to me either. now that i think about it, she doesn’t listen to anybody

Walking out of the bathroom, I make it over to the front door. “Wishme luck.”

Sage doesn’t respond because she’s too busy typing away on her computer.

Last year, I stumbled upon an advertisement that was hanging on a bulletin board in one of the business buildings located on campus.

There was this girl who was searching for a roommate. Her phone number was included in the ad, so I didn’t hesitate to call it. I was basically living at Sweet & Salty, the romance-only bookstore, the place where I work because I wanted to get out of my parents’ house.