“Probably, then.”
“In that case, I’ll see you when you get home.”
When he leaves the room, I dab at my tears with my napkin.
Amidst the silence of the house, I hear Dad’s shower
running.
The sound of the Jeep horn signifies Cassidy is here.
I check my reflection in the toaster. It’s plain I’ve been cry-
ing, but at least my mascara hasn’t smudged. I don’t have time
to touch up my makeup.
“You turned your phone off,” Cassidy says before I even
pull the seat belt around me. “And it was such a crazy night that
I cannot
believe
I couldn’t get a hold of you.”
I glance at my phone. I’d turned the ringer off last night,
and I’d been so preoccupied that I hadn’t turned it back on.
“Did you talk to Zack?”
“Dad lied to you.”
My hackles rise in defense, even though it’s true.
“I looked her up,” she continues. “Trina Jordan. And you
wanna know what?”
“She was his girlfriend.”
Cassidy looks almost disappointed. “Yeah.”
“He told me this morning. But they haven’t been in touch
in a long time.”
“Did he tell you she’s missing?”
“I—”
“I swear, when you weren’t answering last night . . . God, I
don’t even want to
tell
you the things that were going through
my mind.”
“Sorry. I just couldn’t—”
“My mom was
freaking out
. I half-thought I’d pull up today
to an empty house.”
38
