Page 134 of The Incredible Ordinary

I pull out my own phone and call Milán, not really expecting him to pick up. He’s meeting his lawyer to finish some paperwork. It’s the whole reason we’re picking Rory up in the first place.

I’m frowning so hard that when Milán’s warm voice says “Hey” on the other end of the line, I jerk and almost drop the phone.

Another involuntary smile stretches on my lips. I waste time stupidly smiling at nothing in particular until Theo waves his hand in front of my face.

“Earth to Dad.”

I blink and clear my throat.

“Yeah. Sorry. Hi,” I say in quick succession. “Sorry.”

“For… saying hi?” Milán’s laughing voice asks.

I roll my eyes at myself.

“We can’t find Rory?” I wince. “That makes it sound worse than it is.” I take a calming breath. “We’re in front of your building, and he’s not here. Any chance he got tired of waiting and headed straight to the stadium? We’re a bit late, and he’s not answering his phone.”

“He should be there. I specifically told him to wait. Hold on. I’ll check his location.”

“There, Dad,” Theo says, pointing.

“You can call off the search party. We found him,” I tell Milán.

“Okay. We’re almost finished here, so I’ll leave as soon as I can. I have to go now though. Aiden’s giving me the stink eye.”

I laugh. “See you.”

“Not soon enough,” he replies, and I spend a few moments replaying those words in my head just because.

I hang up and look over at where Theo is pointing. Rory is on the other side of the street, in front of a crowded bakery that has a line snaking out the door, so it takes me a second to locate him.

I start to wave, but something stops me. He’s talking to some man. A dude dressed in sweats and a hoodie with the bill of a baseball cap pulled low over his eyes.

Rory shakes his head while he says something, and the guy takes a step toward him. Rory backs away, and it’s really starting to look like the guy is about to make a grab for him.

I’m already on the move.

“Wait here,” I throw over my shoulder at Theo.

I start to weave through the cars just as Rory turns to walk away. The guy grabs his forearm and yanks him back toward him.

“Hey!” I shout, and sprint across the street. Car signals blare, but it barely registers.

I reach Rory just as the guy gives his arm a sharp tug.

“…you little shit,” the guy snaps and shakes Rory.

It takes Rory approximately a second to kick the guy in the shin and free himself. The dude charges, but I push myself between him and Rory.

“Hey!” I yell.

He throws me a startled look from underneath the bill of his cap. He leans to the side and points at Rory before he turns on his heel and storms away.

I whirl around. “Are you okay?” I ask Rory.

“Fine,” he says.

I turn around again and scan the street while I wrestle my phone out of my pocket.