“I need to take this,” I say, glancing at the screen.
With a nod, she reaches into her purse, retrieving the notebook as I exit the café, phone to my ear.
“Check your email,” Dante says as soon as I answer.
I deftly poke about my jacket pockets, searching for cigarettes and a lighter but Hailey’syou stinkfills my head, stopping me before I find the pack.
“What did Jackson find?” I lean my shoulder against the window, watching Hailey write something she can’t rationally explain with a pink fineliner.
“He’s still digging, but he got you the call log and text messages from Alex’s phone. Your sister’s the only contact.”
“Which means he had at least two phones.”
“Jackson’s on it. No luck yet. How’s college?”
“As you’d expect. Wild.”
A humorless chuckle rings in my ear. “Any progress with the girl?”
I glance at Hailey, who’s switched to a purple fineliner: things that changed about her. She stares at the page with a frown, blowing at the steaming coffee.
“She’s starting to remember. Nothing important yet.”
“The Devil hides in the details. Don’t dismiss any information no matter how irrelevant it seems at first glance.”
“You’re getting poetic with age, Boss.”
“Maybe I am. That philosophical mind of Layla’s is rubbing off on me lately. She told me to sayhi.”
“Right back at her. I’ll be in touch soon. Keep me posted on whatever Jackson digs up.”
“I will.” He cuts the call.
Hailey’s in the zone, scribbling furiously, so I give her a few more moments and call Broadway, checking how he’s doing in my absence. Once that’s over, I head inside, my temper leaping to attention when Hailey shuts the notebook as soon as she hears me approach.
I’m learning things about myself, like the fact my patience is not the virtue I thought it was. I’m beyond curious why she’s so protective of her words. She can’t hide her memories from me no matter how hard she tries. I’ll break into her dorm room and, once I’m in, her secrets are mine.
Twenty minutes later, we’re in my car, the ride back to campus mostly silent. The hum of the engine soundtracks our racing thoughts. Hailey worries her lip and I already know it means she’s deep inside her head.
And I... I’m itching to grab my laptop and read through every text between my sister and Alex.
Hailey stares out the window, her fingers gently tapping the notepad like she can’t wait to get writing again. It’s close to four in the afternoon when we make it back to Lakeside, the grounds dotted with students socializing in the afternoon sun.
“Thank you,” Hailey says as we walk across the campus. “Can I ask for another ride when I fill this?” She hugs the notebook to her chest with a content smile. “I didn’t realize how much I want to write.”
“Anytime.” I push the big, wooden door to the girls’ dorm building wide open, sensing the perfect opportunity to find out where her room is. “I’ll walk you up.”
“It’s okay. I know my way.”
Obviously... butIdon’t.
“Smarter,” I emphasize. “You almost took a dive in the lake last night. You think walking the stairs alone is smart? What if you have a flashback halfway up and fall?”
She parts her lips, but no words come. Clever little thing.
She knows I’m right. I bet she’s been thinking the same thing since last night and that’s why she’s not brushing me off. With a tight nod, she starts climbing and I’m three steps behind... the alluring sway of her hips in my fucking face.
I’m transfixed by the swing of her skirt and her soft thighs as we navigate the winding corridors. It’s a maze in here, the way to her room not as straightforward as the route to mine.
