“You can come to my place,” Noah says. “Both of you. We have the room. We are close and we can meet there in the event…”
He doesn’t say what we all know.
“I want to go to my house. I need to be there.” I say and look at Deja. “You can come there, you are welcome, but if you want to get a room or go to Noah’s…”
“I’ll come with you, Sam. We are in this together,” she says, and I am reminded that once I loved her fiercely. She will always be Kaces’ mom, and in the end, she is the only person on earth who has a fucking clue what I am feeling.
“Jen and I will cruise over too,” Cal says, not asking. He is making a point. “Want me to call Mya?”
Guilt assails me when I realize I had forgotten she existed in all this. Last night feels like it was twenty years ago… but I nod knowing I need her. “She calms me,” I say, not giving too much away.
“We are coming, too,” My crew says, and I turn to see Asa, Otto, CD and Kellen.
I nod, grateful for the support, and praying to God that they won’t see me at my worst.
Mya
Cal: Hey call me when you can. Urgent.
I read the text from Cal and hit call on my phone, assuming he wants me to babysit. “Hey,” I say with a chipper tone when he answers.
“Hey kiddo. I need you to meet me over at, Sull’s,” His voice sounds rough, troubled maybe, and my heart sinks.
“Did you guys fight?” I ask, bitchier than I have ever been to him. “I swear. I am finally happy Calvin-”
“Mya, they might have someone in custody for Kace’s disappearance,” He interrupts me, shocking me to the core. Now, all I can think about is getting to Sam as fast as I can.
“How did you know …”
“He told me he talked to you last night and you guys are official or whatever. Besides the point, Mya. I am sending you his address now.”
I hear my iPhone ping and look at the screen after putting his call on speaker.
I dress as I ask a million questions.
As he gives me the rundown, I grab my keys and head to my car, connecting to Bluetooth as I punch in the address he sent me.
“Jesus… how is he holding up, Cal?”
My brother sighs and I can picture him running his hands over his head like he does when he is stressed. “Well, he’s in denial, I think. He is holding out hope this guy’s confession is bullshit.”
“I would be too,” I say, knowing I would never be able to stop hoping until the evidence was clear in front of me.
“It doesn’t look too good, Mya,” He states all father figurey.
“I don’t give a fuck, Cal. If he needs to hope, then we all will hope with him.If and only if,all hope is gone, will we embrace it and hold him up. Do you understand me?”
I know my voice is raising as I chew his ass out, but we need optimism here. For Kace and for Sam.
“I do, Mya. I just think it is healthy to acce-”
“Shut it, Cal. Do not fucking say it,” I snarl, his words interrupted. “Would you accept it without proof? If, God forbid, it was Ry or Axe?”
“No, My, I wouldn’t.”
“Then, look at it that way and only that way from here on out. We all follow his lead, feel me?”
“I do,” he says and I wish I could hug him.
