just wondering
I head down another dark city block, almost at Jake’s apartment.
Me
heading home from a pub
did you find Shane yet?
Hawk
working on it
you know, a woman walking alone down dark alleyways isn’t smart, even in a safe citylike Portland
I freeze in my tracks, heartbeat speeding up, and I look around me. There’s nothing except for shadows from the bare trees on piles of snow along the sidewalk.
Me
what the fuck? Are you following me?
Hawk
nah, just assumed
Me
how do you know where I’m walking
Hawk
I know everything
Me
except where Shane is
Now I put my phone away and start to jog, risking my life and trusting in the town’s salt treatments. Five minutes later, I’m slightly out of breath and tapping in the code to get into Jake’s apartment building. Up a flight of stairs and I’m inside, door locked behind me.
My chest is pounding. I try to convince myself that Wes wasn’t following me, nor was anyone else. Portland is such a safe city, I almost never feel uncomfortable.
I strip off my jacket and gloves and head to the kitchen to grab water before hiding in my bedroom. I plan to get in comfy pajamas and snuggle under the covers with a book. I’ll stick AirPods in so I don’t hear Jake come in later.
Then I see the pie plate sitting on the kitchen counter.
I approach it slowly, like it’s a sleeping bear I don’t want to disturb.
It’s an apple pie.
It must be a coincidence. Jake must’ve bought it at thestore, which is very uncharacteristic but not impossible. That is the explanation here. Or maybe someone sent us a pie.
It can’t be from Wes. Obviously not. But Jake would’ve mentioned it, right? And?—
Then I get close to the pie and realize it’s got the same intricate friendship bracelet-like top crust as the picture Wes sent, the one that disappeared in Gone.
Chapter 13
Bathroom Selfie
