I’m on my way! Unlock your door if you don’t want me to bang it down!
Your uncle and I are just doing some shopping. Want to come for supper again? We’re having ribs.
Ronnie says if you don’t answer this message in the next ten minutes, we’re coming over there.
Good morning, Sweet pea. Sleep okay?
Please just answer the phone so we can talk.
He frowned at the final one. His blood froze when he realized the number wasn’t Wanda’s or his aunt’s. And the message was the last in a very long line of texts, all from one number. It went on and on. Bits and pieces caught his attention as he scrolled down.
I can’t even tell you how sorry I am.
My sister’s bisexual.
Cancer. He doesn’t want treatment.
Please pick up the phone.
Troy has red hair. He kind of looks like you.
Are you reading these?
I’m sorry.
If you don’t hear from me again, Vasquez knows where my body is buried.
Are you okay?
Shit, Red. Vasquez finally told me what happened. I’m so so sorry.
There must have been forty. Read in the correct order, the whole sequence of events all appeared so clearly. Linc’s sister, the phone call. His genuine apology. The first few obviously came Friday night, proving Linc really had tried to tell him about not making it to the auction.
Linc’s voicemails made Avery’s eyes tear up.
“Hey. It’s me. Again. Look, I know you’re mad, but please. Did you read my texts? This is too important—we’retoo important—to end over a misunderstanding. I know you’re angry, but please, please call me.”
“Hi. Just text or something. I’m worried you’ve got another migraine, and no one is there to take care of you.”
“Hey, I’m working today, but I’ll have my phone on. Please, Avery. I’m begging here. Just send me a message so I know you’re okay.”
Avery stared at the phone until the screen went black again, wiping at his sniffling nose with the back of his hand. “Well, shit.”
He bounced on his toes, nervous energy thrumming through his veins.Shit, shit, shit. He’d—well, he was still right to be hurt. Linc’s explanation didn’t take away the almost thirty silent seconds on that stage. But he...Avery might have overreacted a bit. Okay, a lot. No, not a lot, but enough. Yeah, no, he’d overreacted a lot. But how was he supposed to know about Linc’s family?
“Maybe if you’d let him talk instead of kicking him out, genius.” Stomping around his kitchen, he muttered and cursed, but that didn’t solve anything.
He needed to fix this. He needed to talk to Linc.
