“Ah, yes. Lenny.”
I roll my eyes and groan. “She told you that too?”
She laughs. “No, I just heard the name and thought it was cute.”
“Cute.” So not cute.
“She called you that to irritate you, to invite your attention.”
I chuckle. “She certainly got it.”
“I just bet.” Ruthie takes a drink of her coffee. “I’m going to take a quick shower and finish my phone calls.”
I nod. “I’ll text Jillie’s friends.”
When she leaves the room, I look around and realize there’s a lot of Jillie in this space. So many photos. That blue color she likes. Caramel candies everywhere.
Again, I wish I could do more, but at least I can do this for her. I walk into her room, and she’s still sleeping soundly. I hope she sleeps a while longer. I think it’s the most she’s going to get for a while.
I use Jillie’s phone. I don’t have the phone numbers of her friends in mine. A mass text is my choice.
Jillie:911 Jillie needs you
Audrey:What’s going on? Who is this?
Jillie:It’s Becks.
Audrey:BECKS!??
I can’t help but chuckle.
Jillie:Yeah. She needs you. 911.
Audrey:Be there asap. I expect answers to the bazillion questions I have.
Jillie:Noted.
Isla:Be there asap… holy smokes. Becks.
I laugh again—softly so I don’t wake Jillie.
Elan:What the fuck are you doing with her phone, Becks?
Now I sigh. He’s going to be a problem. I can already tell. He’s not going to like Jillie and me together. He’s not going to like me taking care of her. He’s not going to like any of it.
Jillie:Now’s not the time, Ainsley. 911.
Elan:I’ll get answers if I have to beat them out of you. On my way.
He can try, but I’d be the one doing the beating—and I don’t want that. Not now. Not for Jillie’s sake.
* * *
“This is…” Audrey says, wiping tears from her eyes.
“I can’t believe this is happening to our Jillie,” Isla adds.
“What can we do?” Elan asks.
