Page 42 of Need You To Choose Me

Blake:

She’s not home.

Becky:

Are you spying on her?

Blake:

I’m not spying. She lives right across the street. It’s not like I’m blind.

Becky:

Mm-hmm… Sure thing, buddy.

Blake:

Seriously, where is she?

Becky:

Probably working? You do realize teachers mainly do their work after school is done for the day, right?

I guess I never thought much about that, but it made sense.

Blake:

You should give me her number so I can check in with her. Just in case.

Becky:

I’m not giving you her number.

I grind my teeth, feeling the irritation rising.

I hate this. I hated the not knowing. I hated that I couldn’t help her. I hated the thought of her all alone in that big ass house. I hated feeling this useless.

Becky:

What happened to letting her come to you?

Blake:

It disappeared when she didn’t come home at her usual time.

“Dad, what’s for dinner?”

Locking my phone, I turn my attention to my son. “Mrs. Maxwell prepared tacos. You hungry?”

“A little.”

“Okay, I’ll go and get started on that. How does that sound?”

“Good. I’ll try to finish this before dinner.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

Pushing to my feet, I slide my phone into my back pocket as I make my way to the kitchen, just as there is a loud knock.

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