The curtains are drawn, the room smells faintly of popcorn and nail polish remover, and hardly anyone has slept. At somepoint during the night, Kym had surrendered and stayed, though now she probably regrets it.
The first thing I register is the sound of a phone buzzing against the wooden nightstand. The second is the fact that there’s a foot in my face. Lilia’s foot, to be precise. She’s star fished across the bed, snoring softly, one leg draped over Bea.
I shove at her ankle lightly, groaning, and blindly reach for the phone.
The name flashing on the screen makes me freeze. Naomi.
My stomach twists.
Why would she be calling?
For a second, I just stare at the name, my thumb hovering. Then, with a breath I don’t quite manage to steady, I swipe to answer. “Hello?”
On the other end, there’s only breathing.
“Naomi?” I whisper.
Her voice cracks through, shaky and frantic. “Addie?” Relief floods through her words, fast and jagged. “Oh, thank god.”
I sit up straighter, the duvet tangling around my legs. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
“It’s Mum.”
My pulse spikes. “What about Mum?”
Naomi’s breaths come quicker, sharper. “Just—just get here. Please. Now.”
“Naomi—”
“Addie, don’t argue. Just come. Please.”
The line goes dead before I can press her.
For a beat, the room is silent except for the soft hum of the laptop still open on Bea’s lap.
I shove the blankets off me and scramble to my feet, pulling on yesterday’s clothes with hands that won’t stay steady.
Movement catches my eye. Kym, propped up on one elbow in the beanbag nest, is watching me with that sharp, unreadable expression of hers.
“What happened?” she asks, voice low.
I tug my jumper over my head, trying not to fumble. “I have to get home. Something’s wrong.”
Kym pushes herself upright, legs folding beneath her. “And what—” she gestures toward the door, “—you’re planning to walk?”
I freeze halfway through tying my laces.
“Lilia’s parents aren’t here,” Kym continues, calm as ever. “So, unless you’ve suddenly developed a license and a car overnight, I don’t see how that’s going to work.”
I glance at Lilia and Bea. They haven’t slept a wink all night, and now they’re finally resting, I can’t bring myself to wake them up. Lilia especially—she has already done more than enough just by letting me stay here in the first place.
Kym must see the hesitation cross my face, because she sighs and says, “I’ll call someone.”
I just nod, standing there awkwardly while she pulls out her phone, taps a number, and holds it to her ear.
“Who are you—” I start, but she cuts me off without even glancing up.
“Sterling.”
