He used to invite him home a lot during the school year, where Mom fussed over him and Cassidy flirted. But lately, the Ransom household wasn’t much better than Kidwell’s.
Slipping in behind the wheel, Caleb startled when Jumbo knocked on the passenger window. “Hey, just wanted to let you know my sister seen Cassidy out at a West End bar. Said she was pretty trashed. Could barely stand.” He glanced back as Crammer left, skidding and fishtailing in the dust between the palms and palmettos. “Didn’t want to say nothing in front of them.”
“Thanks, dude. Appreciate it.”
“Also, she was hanging on Coach Sanchez.”
“Sanchez? No way.” He was the offensive coordinator for West End High, their rival. “She’s not that dumb. Isn’t he, like, twenty-four? And engaged?”
“Just telling you what she saw.”
Caleb fired up the truck but sat there for a moment, wondering what had gotten into his sister. Drunk? Hanging on Coach Sanchez? If she was home, he’d say something. It’d lead to a fight, but so what?
But when Caleb parked in the driveway, the house looked dark. He hung his keys on the hook by the kitchen door and flipped on the light.
“Mom?” He yanked open the fridge for a water. “Are you ordering takeout? I vote for Chinese.” Mr. Po’s had recently opened by the Starlight Museum. “Mom?”
Caleb bounded upstairs two at a time, his footsteps echoing in a cold and ominous house.
He texted his parents.
Where is everyone?
Then he texted Cassidy.
You coming home for dinner?
Her reply came quick.
Um, duh, noooo.
Mom:
Sorry, Caleb, I had to work late.
Dad:
One of our biggest jobs got scrambled. Still not all the way there. Eat without me.
In his room, Caleb fell face-first onto his bed. His family was imploding. Maybe that’s what happened over time. Families changed. Traditions unraveled. He’d been naïve enough to think things would go on forever. That he’d bring his kids to Grandma and Grandpa’s for the traditional Thursday night dinner, along with Cassidy’s family.
He dug in his pocket for his phone and rolled onto his back. He started a text to Emery, then decided against it. Why dump on her?
He grabbed his iPod, plugged in his headset, and hit play on the EaglesTheir Greatest Hitsalbum. The music was smooth and melancholy, and the last thing he remembered was having a “peaceful, easy feeling.”
An hour later, he woke up from a deep sleep, grumpy and hungry, with sounds coming from downstairs, along with the living room’s light. Caleb grabbed his shoes, then headed to the bathroom to splash water on his face, an idea forming.
“There you are,” Mom said in her cheery, fake voice. “Did you eat?”
“Not hungry.” He took his keys from the hook.
“Caleb, look,” Dad said. “Your mom and I realize things have been—”
“Weird? Yeah, really weird. And where’s Cassidy?” He yanked open the door. “I texted her about coming to dinner and she said ‘Um, duh, noooo.’”
“What?” Mom went to the stairs. “Cassidy? Honey, we’re home. You hungry?”
“I’m telling you, she’s not here. Didn’t you see her car was missing?”
