Patsy:Where are you? Where did you go?
At about thirty-minute intervals after that, all of my roommates were texting.
Lindsay:Where are you?
Kat:We just got home and you’re not here. Patsy’s losing her shit.
Patsy: I’m going to strangle you. I’m this close to calling the cops.
Robbi: Jesus, fuck. We really don’t know this guy. Where are you?
The last one came at three in the morning.
Susanna: We’re going to bed, but we’re sleeping with one eye open in case you call.
“Shit,” I mutter. “My roommates are worried about me.”
“You didn’t let them know you were with me?”
“Oh, they knew I was with you, but they don’t really know you.” Neither do I, honestly.
As soon as we pull into the driveway, I sigh.
“Would you like me to come with you?” he nods at the front door.
“Nah. You go do….” I look at his nice clothes. “What are you going to do?”
“This and that.”
“Oh, you’re being mysterious. Well, don’t get lost.” He points to his fancy navigation screen that’s bigger than my laptop was. “Yeah, you’re good.” I’m about to lean in for a kiss, but I suddenly feel awkward. Are we doing that? You know, kissing each other goodbye and stuff?
Before I can overthink it, I lean in a little bit and he meets me halfway, giving each other a chaste kiss. I like it. “See you at eleven.”
“Have a good morning, love.”
I smile as I slide out of his vehicle. It sits extra low to the ground, so I have to grab hold of the door to push myself. I attempt to do it as elegantly as possible and only sort of achieve that. I wave as I take the steps up to the front door. Looking down at my phone, I note I only have a few minutes before I need to be back out the door or I’ll be late for ceramics. I’m going to have to wear the same clothes and grab my bag. When I open the door, the house is quiet, which is weird because we all have morning classes. When I start through the living room, I stop dead in my tracks. They’re there. All of them.
“Oh… hey,” I say weakly.
“Don’t—” Patsy starts, but Robbi raises her palm to stop her, then stands.
“I’ve been given the metaphorical talking stick.” Robbi gives Patsy the evil eye. “And please know this comes from a place of love.” She sighs. “We were worried sick about you. Although we know of Cooke, we don’t reallyknowhim, and for you to leave and not tell us where you were going was irresponsible and inconsiderate.”
Oh shit.Inconsiderate?That sort of stings. “But—”
Robbi raises her palm to me just as Patsy’s mouth opens and then closes. “We care about you, Quinn. Running off with a guy we barely know is incongruous with the Quinn we’ve gotten to know.”
Wow, a lot of I-words from Robbi.
Robbi moves a little closer. “Next time you leave with someone, be sure to check in with one of us. Okay?”
I want to say a lot right now. I know Robbi has gone home with people a time or two. Patsy and Kat have long-term boyfriends. Lindsay and Jack are going hot and heavy, and Susanna, well, she has a couple guys she sees off and on.
“Okay?” Robbi repeats.
“Yeah, okay.” I look at the girls. “I’m sorry. I honestly didn’t mean to upset you guys. My phone volume was off because of work, and I was too caught up in Cooke to remember to turn it back on.” Placing my hand over my heart, I add, “It won’t happen again.”
Patsy stands first, and then the rest of the girls follow her lead. I’m expecting words from Patsy, but it’s Robbi who speaks. “They need a day or two to get over it. Then”—she winks—“we want to hear about you and that hot piece of English ass.”
