“Fantastic.” I rub at my cheeks and close my eyes, wondering how Tess could even think to send us all to school while her son is missing. Then again, it’s nearly the end of the school year; we can’t miss more than a few days without falling behind.
That, and she was probably foaming at the mouth to get rid of me. Can’t say I blame her.
I drop my hands to my lap before sliding my phone from my blazer pocket to check for messages. There’s still nothing. It’s infuriating. No matter how many times I text, it seems I’m not going to get a reply until the kidnapper is damn good and ready. The kidnapper … my father. I mean, it could be true, but it could also be a bunch of bullshit. It really could be one of Tess’ crazed fans; I know there are people out there who are like that.
Googling the number didn’t help me either. It’s likely a burner phone, so there isn’t much I could do with it. The next thing I looked up—with my phone under my desk in second period, mind you—was search for local wineries and houses with wine cellars that are or were for sale sometime recently. Nothing there either. But I’m just getting started.
I nibble on my thumb nail, pausing when Danyella and Lumen head back into the theater with food for the four of us.
“I bet Parrish is in Cancun,” Lumen muses, handing me my tray. I’m not hungry, but I force myself to unwrap the baked potato, dumping the butter and sour cream into it and taking a robotic bite. I’ll need fuel, right? Hit points. Hearts. My health bar. A life gauge. “Or maybe Saint Croix with Maria Cortez. I hear she’s vacationing there until her sister is found.”
I stop with my second bite halfway to my mouth, my eyes flicking to Chasm. He’s giving me a look like he thinks it’s a weird coincidence but nothing more. That influencer, Francisca Cortez, is missing … Parrish Vanguard is missing. Come to think of it, the Vanguard’s maid JJ is missing, too.
I set my fork down, my stomach twisting with nausea. There are coincidences, and then there are clues. These are clues. Francisca and JJ have very, very loose connections to me, but connections nonetheless.
“Wherever he is, I’m sure he’s—” Danyella starts, but I can’t take so much deceit dumped in my lap all at once. I’m not someone who enjoys keeping secrets. Honesty is refreshing as fuck.
“Parrish and I slept together the night he went missing.” There it is. It’s out there now. Chasm groans, but doesn’t comment. Lumen is standing there with a bottle of green smoothie in one hand, the cap in her other. She’s frozen with the cap halfway back to the bottle, like I’ve pressed pause on her.
“Pardon me?” Danyella begins, blinking heavily behind her pink-rimmed glasses.
“We slept together, and it was the first time. We never slept together before. I just … let people believe a lie.” I stare at my food and refuse to look at either of them. “I’m sorry for that now. Really, really sorry.”
“Babe, what?” Lumen starts, screwing the cap onto her drink. “You think I didn’t realize I’d made a mistake at the party? I was drunk as hell. Talking to you for five minutes sober, I knew you’d never slept with Parrish. I mean … until now.” She makes a face as I finally look up and catch her gaze. “I’m honestly not upset just … jealous.”
“You slept with Parrish?” Danyella repeats, leaning in toward me. “Is that why he left? I’m not asking to be mean, but … is it a possibility?”
“No,” I say firmly, thinking of that night, of how amazing everything was. Being with Parrish like that was fulfilling in a way I’ve never experienced before. “That’s definitely not it: trust me.”
Danyella and Lumen exchange looks as Chasm lets out a scoff.
“He wouldn’t do something like that: he’d know that I’d have to kick his ass if he did.” He stands up and grabs his tray from the stage. “Enjoy your girl talk. I’ll be outside in the hall.” He does what he says, leaving me alone with the girls. Somehow, he figured it out.
This conversation isn’t about the fact that Parrish is missing; it’s more than that.
He leaves me alone for the rest of the lunch period, so I can talk with my friends.
Just that act alone shows me that he’s just as much of one as they are.
The next message comes as I’m walking out of my last class of the day (one that’s being taught by a substitute as half the teachers have bailed to join the search party). As soon as I feel my phone buzzing, I tear it from my pocket and slip into the theater for some privacy. Danyella’s got a family thing today, so she’s given the entire production crew the day off.
