Page 16 of The Breakaway

“Wait, is he leaving his toothbrush in there? You could dip it in salt or something.” Crystal took a drink of her shake.

My eyes widened. “I’m not going to mess with his toothbrush. He’d know exactly who did it, and who knows what he’d do to mine?”

“Rub it in the toilet.” Maddie grabbed a fry.

I pretended to dry heave. “Exactly. No pranks. I can’t afford that kind of anxiety.”

Crystal leaned over the table. “Plumber comes tomorrow?” I nodded. “I’ll pray he has the right parts.”

“Yes, please.” I crumpled up my trash and piled it on the tray, then let out a slow breath. “Thank you. This was exactly what I needed.”

Maddie grinned. “We know.”

We piled into her car, and she drove me back to my place, her car jumping and jolting with every pebble on the road.

I reached over the seats and squeezed their shoulders. “I’m slammed with rehearsals and recital workshops until Friday, but can we meet up then?”

Crystal nodded. “I have to submit my tracks by the weekend, so as long as I get them finished?—”

“She’ll get them finished.” Maddie grinned. “I’m in labs until four. Free after that.”

I drew a breath and exhaled. “Perfect. Thanks again.” I grabbed my violin and bag, then exited the vehicle and waved as they skidded off down the street.

Inside was blissfully empty. No Rob, which meant I probably wouldn’t see him at all for twenty-four hours. He’d be out doing whatever he did until all hours of the night, and then I’d be gone before he got up in the morning.

Perfect. This could work.

I wrote out more of my composition for my advanced harmonies class, finished a poetry assessment for literature, checked my email to see if I’d missed anything from Logan, then cleaned up and got ready for bed.

I took off Logan’s bracelet and set it on the thin glass shelf below the medicine cabinet in my washroom, then walked into my room and hopped into bed. I rolled onto my back and staredat the ceiling. And that’s when missing him became a physical ache.

Logan was already off the plane by now, but I didn’t blame him for not calling yet. He was probably overwhelmed. Getting to know his new coaches, checking into his hotel. He might even have practice tonight.Maybe if I stayed up a little later . . .

With a groan, I hauled myself off the bed and padded to the kitchen. I made some herbal tea and headed back to my room, then pulled out the novel I’d barely looked at since reading to page forty-two. It had been so long, I had to go back to the beginning and start again.

Finally, after re-reading the same page three times with zero comprehension, I turned off my lamp and tried to sleep.No call.

Logan was busy. He’d phone when he could.

I tossed and turned, imagining what he was doing at that moment. I ran through scenarios in my head. Mostly ending with him curled up in bed cradling the non-functioning phone to his chest as he longed to hear my voice.

I must have dropped off mid-fantasy because it was pitch black when I woke with a start.

A creak. The scraping of a door.

My heart seized, the sound far too close.In my room.I held my breath, my heart jumping into my throat.

No. Not again.

Chapter

Seven

Just like thosetimes in my Grandma’s spare bedroom, my entire body seized, fear sinking its claws into any rational thought and refusing to release. I couldn’t move. Couldn’t think.

I just had to be quiet, and then?—

Another creak and a whimper slipped from my lips.

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