“I saw—holy shit.”
Unfazed, she handed me an unlocked phone. “Call whoever you need. I’ll wait in the hall if you want privacy.”
Shock fluttered through me. A week of thinking she hated me, and now this?
“No,” I said. “You could get caught. I just need to tell Ash I’m okay and…” I trailed off, unwilling to say more. “You can stay. Thank you.”
Alba hopped down and strolled toward the glass door—her way of giving me space. I keyed in Asher’s number and pressed the phone to my ear, chewing my cheek.
One ring. Another. Then another.
My breath stilled as I waited. Finally, his voicemail greeting clicked on. I ended the call, disappointment souring my chest. He never checked voicemail, especially from random numbers.
I set the phone aside, eyes burning. It was late. Maybe he was showering. Maybe asleep after practice and qualifying.
Or maybe he was out with Ale and the crew at some glamorous bar, surrounded by beautiful women. Women old enough to drink. Women without fathers who treated them like prisoners. Women he wouldn’t have to keep secret.
I shook my head hard. No.
I trusted Asher, and he trusted me. Neither of us would betray that. Letting jealousy creep in would destroy us.
I had to survive this year at Willowbrook—survive being away from him.
IfI stayed. The backpack still stared. I sighed, grabbed Alba’s phone, and tried one last time.
More rings. Still nothing. My chest tightened until it was hard to breathe.
“Alba,” I called. “Mind if I send a text?”
She glanced over. “Sure.”
I opened the messaging app.
Alba:Ash, it’s Kaia. I was the one who called you from my friend’s phone. I’m okay, don’t worry. Good luck tomorrow. I love you.
I hit send, then deleted the thread. “Thank you.You can take it.”
Alba joined me on the windowsill. “No luck?”
I shook my head and set the phone in her palm.
“I’m sorry.”
I cleared my throat against the fresh sting of tears. “How come you still have a phone when everyone else gave theirs to Sarah?”
She popped off a corner of the fuchsia case, then snapped it back in place. “I gave her another one. But Dad told me to keep mine. After we lost Mom, it’s just been him and me, and…” She sighed. “Let’s just say he doesn’t handle not reaching me well. He doesn’t care about rules either.”
“Your dad sounds cool.”
She chuckled. “He is. I’m sorry yours sucks.”
“Teagan said he’s lovely, so maybe I’m biased.” I twisted the hem of my plaid skirt between my fingers.
Alba snorted, tucking the phone down the neck of her shirt. “Teagan doesn’t know shit.” She hopped off the sill, strolling to the door before pausing like she’d forgotten something. “It’s none of my business, and you’re free to bolt if that’s what you want. But if you stay—and if you ever want to talk—meet me here after dinner tomorrow.”
Willowbrook still held zero appeal, but exhaustion dragged me down. The escape plan would have to wait. Tomorrow was another day.
“Okay,” I whispered. “Alba…” Maybe it was too much to ask, but I couldn’t stand not knowing.
