Cry all the tears I have? Mope. Sleep. Scroll my phone watching videos featuring me as the face of mock horror and then sink into the Earth’s core?“I don’t know. Try not make stupid, hasty decisions?”
Mom chuckles. “Good plan. You’re welcome to stay for as long as you like, but know that I’m moving back south over the summer.”
So much for my Alaska plans. Maybe it’s for the better. “These winters getting to you?” I tease.
“They’re killing me.” She pours two coffees as I spread Nutella over my hot toast. Comfort food at its best. “I’m looking for a position back in New Orleans and will spend spring break over there.”
“You are?”With Dad.My heart expands at the thought. Mom’s right. Forgive and forget. It’s time, and who am I to hold a grudge? With what I’ve done, I’m a chip off the old block. “Can I come with and see him?”
“Of course, sweetheart. He’d love nothing more in the world, and neither would I.” She raises her coffee cup in toast. “It’s time for us to go home.”
Chapter Forty-Four
TRISTAN
The taxi pulls up to Evan’s house. It’s just like that day months ago now when I came to Miami and Lexi was here. I pull in a deep, cleansing breath of relief. Just through that door and I’ll see her again. The thought is enough to propel me out of the taxi and up to Evan’s house.
I’m exhausted but traveling for forty-eight hours straight without a phone or a laptop does things to you. I had a lot of time to think, and I had to arrange my thoughts one way or another, as I couldn’t shop for a new phone or laptop while traveling. Every airport duty-free has endless booze and jewelry, but if you want to shop electronics, you’re mad. I ended up asking for paper at the Heathrow business lounge. That was a novel experience on both ends, but the receptionist finally handed me some sheets of printer paper.
At least I could write, and the process was eye-opening. Honestly, it was cathartic.
I ring the doorbell and start digging for the house key, but I can’t find it. The taxi driver carries the rest of my luggage to the door, and I hand him a tip with a quiet thanks.
My heart sinks. What if nobody’s here? It’s nine in the morning on a Saturday. Surely they’d be here? I finally get hold of the house key, squashed in my carry-on bag’s side pocket.
The door jerks open. Evan blinks, confused, giving me a split second to take him in—boxer shorts, hair disheveled, and a wonky line of hickeys leading the eyes south.
“Bro!” Evan’s eyes go wide. “What the hell? What’re you doing here?”
“Lexi’s here?” I’ve been worried about her, but now the anxiety fists my stomach with a nasty twist.
“No.” Evan shakes his head as he steps closer to look outside. “She’s supposed to be with you.”
“She left Ne’emba four days ago.”
“What the actual…? Dude! Have you lost my sister?” Evan’s tone rises with a flash of panic. “What do you mean she’s left Ne’emba?” He steps aside to let me in and rakes his hands through his hair, his eyes wild.
“Things went down, man, and she left.” My hands curl into fists. “I don’t have a phone, and?—”
“Jesus Christ. You don’t have a fucking phone? You got mugged or what?”
I shake my head. “No, someone else needed it more.”
“Fuck me.” He rushes away and up the stairs.
Yep. I’m an idiot, that’s what I am. When I was so generous with Roger before I left, I didn’t think very far. My head was too full ofLexiand getting back to her. I didn’t for one moment consider she wouldn’t make it home. Jem confirmed that she’d booked her a plane ticket straight through to Miami with all the easiest flight connections. Lexi was hopping from one airport to the next. But now…
I drag my things into the house and close the door. Evan comes down the stairs, his face flushed and his phone glued to his ear. “Fuck. Her phone is off.” He glares at me. “I’m goingtohave to phone my mom. Tristan, if something happened to Lexi, it will kill her.”
Andhewill killme.
“Maybe she went to Anchorage?” I’m praying so hard now, the words shake my core. Where else could she be? In LA with her old roommate?
“I’m sending Mom a message. Testing the fucking waters. She may actually be up already. You’re dead fucking meat.”
I walk to the living room and collapse onto the sofa, broken. How can I lose her when I haven’t even told her I love her yet?
Evan sends his message and paces the room while I stare at him, nuked with worry. After a few minutes his phone pings, and as he reads, he physically deflates. “She’s in Anchorage. Has been there for two days already. What the fuck, dude? And why the hell does nobody let me know!”
