Despite myself, a laugh bubbles up—small, breathy, surprised.
The sound seems to startle Derek more than it startles me. His gaze sharpens for a moment, relief flickering there before he smooths it away.
That should not matter.
It does.
I press my thumb to my phone and it unlocks, the screen lighting up with a flood of notifications.
Texts. Missed calls. Voicemails.
My stomach lurches—not nausea this time. Dread.
LEVI: AUDRA???
LEVI: ANSWER ME RIGHT NOW.
LEVI: I SWEAR TO GOD IF YOU’RE WITH SOME STRANGE MAN I’M CALLING THE FBI.
LEVI: (I WILL ALSO KILL HIM.)
LEVI: (LOVE YOU.)
Shannon’s name follows with three missed calls and a message that reads: I’M SORRY I LOST YOU. ARE YOU OKAY?
Jamie: WHERE ARE YOU?
Jamie: I’M GOING TO SET SOMETHING ON FIRE.
Jamie: TELL ME YOU’RE SAFE.
Jamie: (AND IF YOU’RE NOT I’M GOING TO SET DEREK ON FIRE.)
I close my eyes for a second, heart squeezing.
They were scared.
I was scared.
I still am, if I’m honest. Just quieter now. Like the fear moved into my bones and decided to live there for a while.
I type with clumsy fingers:
Me: I’m okay. I’m safe. I’m at Derek’s. Don’t freak out.
The second I hit send, I regret it.
Me: At Derek’s.
That phrase feels like a confession I didn’t mean to make.
Mark makes a gagging noise. “Ew. He’s got a possessive preposition now.”
Derek’s head snaps toward him. “Shut up.”
Alex grins. “He’s not wrong.”
My phone buzzes instantly—Levi calling.
