I don’t know what that means, and I want to go back to like it was but maybe that isn’t possible. I miss talking to you, Sage. I miss the way you joke about Cash and him always overhearing you and pretending to yell at you.
I smiled at that. Daisy paused for another long beat.
I guess that’s it. Just… stay safe, okay? What?
The last word was spoken in a way that had me thinking she was talking to someone else while leaving the message. It was confirmed a moment later when she said,Hang on, Dylan, I’m on the phone. Sorry about that, I’ve got someone staying with me.
My eyes met Sage’s and I saw the same thing mirrored in his eyes that I was feeling.
She had amanstaying with her.
What the ever-loving hell?
Anyway, I have to go. I just wanted to… I don’t know, hear your voice, I guess. Hear both your voices.
Another long pause.
Stay safe, Sage. Cash too. I’ll… I’ll see you later.
Sage settled the phone in his lap and looked out the window.
I snagged his hair and gently turned him so he was forced to look at me. “Call her back,” I said firmly.
It pained me that he looked both relieved and ashamed by the command.
He did as I said, leaving the phone on speaker. It went to voicemail.
“Fuck,” Sage muttered. “She always answers her phone.”
I settled my hand on his thigh and he instantly linked his fingers with mine. His hold on me was tight. I watched him for a moment, then pulled his hand up to my mouth and kissed his knuckles. I released him so I could put the car in gear.
“Let’s go check on her,” I said. “We’ll take the long way home,” I declared. “Through Columbus.”
“We’re in Chicago, Cash,” Sage said with a smile. “Ohio is like four hundred miles out of the way.”
“Like I said, the long way.” I gave him a wink and got the car moving.
“You don’t have to do that.” Sage’s voice was low and embarrassed.
“Yes, I do,” I said simply. “You’re not the only one who misses her, Sage.”
I felt Sage’s eyes on me, but didn’t look at him. I’d be too tempted to pull the car over again and drag him into my arms – anything to finally make him understand that I wasn’t angry or upset with him.
I’d just have to show him.
Besides, I had ulterior motives. “We’ll just pop in and say hi,” I said calmly. “And introduce ourselves toDylan.”
I glanced at Sage and saw that he was staring out the window again.
But he was smiling.
He was finally fucking smiling.
Thank God.
“Daisy,honey, can you open up, please?” Sage called through the door. “We know you’re in there. We just want to make sure you’re okay.”
He knocked once more, and waited, but when nothing happened, he threw up his hands. When he looked at me I asked, “Can you use your computer to track her phone?”
