It hits me when I glance at Sam's chair. It's empty.
She excused herself to use the bathroom "real quick" a few minutes ago.
...Was it really just a few minutes? Or longer?
A weird, uneasy tug twists in my gut.
I lean closer to Caroline and whisper, "I'm just gonna check on Sam."
Caroline's brows knit, her voice a soft whisper. "Is something wrong?"
I shake my head, offering her a small smile. "No, babe. Just making sure she's okay."
"Do you want me to go with you?"
"No, it's okay." I kiss her forehead. "I'll be right back."
I slip out of my chair and head toward the hallway.
I knock on the bathroom door.
"Sam?" Silence.
I knock again. Nothing.
The knob turns easily. It's empty.
I exhale, confused.
Okay... where the hell did she go?
I'm about to check upstairs when I pass the sliding door to the terrace. Light spills across the patio from the string lights overhead, warm and soft against the dark.
And there she is.
Sitting on the outdoor sofa, shoulders curled in, clutching her phone like it contains her entire world.
She doesn't even notice I'm there until I open the door and sit beside her.
She startles a little. "Hey, Zachy..."
Her voice is small. Too small.
"Hey, angel," I say gently. "Everything okay?"
She nods, still not meeting my eyes. "Yeah. Just... needed some air."
Her phone lights up with a ping.
She checks it so fast it hurts to watch — and her whole posture deflates when she realizes it's just her class group chat sending Happy Thanksgiving messages and memes.
My jaw clenches.
"You waiting on Elijah?" I ask quietly.
She goes still.
"No." She says, then she exhales... and it sounds like defeat. "Maybe."
