“One of them was probably running late,” Piper says.
I snort. “Probably Rowan,” I say weakly.
My reaction is not normal.
Normal people don’t lose their minds when someone is late to pick them up.
Normal people don’t assume the worst.
But the twenty minutes comes and goes, and there’s no sign of the pack.
Finally, I call them.
Piper and Maeve pretend not to watch me while I pace across the cat playroom, trying Travis’ number.
He doesn’t answer.
Neither do Ryland or Rowan.
Pure panic, paralyzing fear, and nausea wrack my body.
“They’re not answering,” I choke out, bursting through the door to the reception area.
Piper nods calmly. “Okay. We wait a little bit then try again.”
“There’s a section of the freeway where I always lose signal,” Maeve adds. “That could be it.”
By now, they’re an hour late picking me up.
I can’t help but compare what’s happening right now to two years ago.
Justin promised me they would text when they got home.
But he never texted me.
Neither did Aaron or Cody.
Damn it. This is not the same thing.
This isnotthe same thing.
Suddenly, Piper is in front of me, her eyes swimming with concern.
“Blair,” she says softly, “breathe. Inhale and count to four.”
She does it with me.
“Exhale, and count to four.”
I repeat the process, and Piper gently takes my face in her hands.
“This is not the same thing,” she says quietly. “You’re right.”
I must have been speaking out loud, earlier.
“We’re going to find out where they are, and exactly what the fuck is going on, though. No one stands up my bestie,” she says, nodding. “Alright?”
I nod weakly. “I’m sorry.”
