“I had some extra time this morning.” It is kind of the truth. I didn’t have to drop Oz off at the field, since he left early this morning without speaking to me, plus I’ve been up for hours. I didn’t sleep much at all actually.
As I’m rounding the table to take my seat, my phone chimes with a text. Hilbrand looks up at me with interest. She’s never heard my phone make a peep because I always have it on vibrate, but I wanted to make sure there was no way I would miss Waylynn’s response if it ever came.
The text isn’t from her, it’s from Oswald. He probably just got done with morning lifting.
Oz:Did you talk to her?
Me:No. She didn’t go home last night.
I know the information is going to worry him, but he should know the truth. The shrill ring of my phone cuts through the room next. He doesn’t even wait for me to say hello before demanding, “What do you mean she didn’t come home? How do you know?”
“How do you think?” I answer cryptically so Hilbrand won’t know what we’re talking about.
“You went there. What time?”
“Eight to twelve.”
“You stayed there until midnight and she didn’t come home?” He sounds suspicious.
“Yeah. No car, nothing.”
“Did you check yet today?” Oswald questions.
“No, I’m in the office.”
“Is that why you sound like a fucking vague robot with those short-ass answers?”
“Yes,” I admit, realizing his assessment is accurate—my voice is dead and flat.
“Whatever. I’m going to head over there now. I’ll catch her before class,” he tells me.
“Good, tell her…” My throat tightens. “Tell her I’m sorry.” I don’t care if Hilbrand overhears me. This is more important.
“I will, see you in a bit.”
“Bye,” I mumble out of habit because I’m pretty sure he already hung up on me. I can feel Hilbrand looking at the side of my face, but I don’t acknowledge her, nor do I owe her an explanation.
I check my phone over the next hour more than ever, but I don’t get any messages or calls from Oswald. I’m hoping that’s a good sign, until I see him slink through the door alone one minute before class starts.
He doesn’t even have to look at me for me to know, but when our eyes connect, he shakes his head in denial before finding an open seat.
I think about walking out of the room right then, but I know there’s nothing I can do to find her right now if she doesn’t want to be found. It takes me a few seconds to regain my composure so I’m not completely disengaged from the class, but focusing on something else actually allows my mind to rest for ninety minutes.
As soon as the class is over, I make my way over to Oz. “She still wasn’t there?”
“No, do you want to check with me again?” He gathers his bag from the floor.
“Yeah, meet me at the truck.” I hustle my ass back to Hilbrand’s office to get my bag. The professor lowers her glasses and looks at me.
“Everything all right, Gravlin?”
“Yeah, just headed to lunch,” I lie smoothly.
“Okay,” she says slowly, making it clear she doesn’t believe me, but I don’t really care at this point. “I got my first class drop over the weekend. We can sort it when you get back.”
“Okay.” I start to walk away until what she said sinks in. “Who dropped?” My hand is on the knob, preparing to leave, but my gut tells me I already know the answer.
“I forwarded the email to you earlier.” She’s already focused on something else.
