Page 49 of Saving You

Liv: Of course. Let me know if you need anything at all. I’m always just a text or call away.

Bailey: Thanks.

Liv: Did you find the little surprise at the bottom of the basket?

Bailey: …

Liv: I’ll take that as a yes. Did a replay of that Friday night happen???

Liv: A girl’s got to know.

Bailey: More like a live remake of Friday.

I bite my thumbnail as I watch the bubbles pop up on the screen then disappear, then come back again. This continues for a minute before her message finally comes through.

Liv: We need a girls’ night.

Liv has added you to the group Badass Bitches

I chuckle at the name, assuming Hannah named the group chat.

Liv: Girls, we are in desperate need of a girls’ night. Bailey has some tea that needs to be shared.

Han: Happy hour tomorrow. Meet at the Clover, 5 p.m.

Zoey: Sounds juicy, I’m down.

Liz: I’ll be there.

Han: Welcome to the group chat, by the way, Bailey.

Bailey: Thanks. I’m guessing you named it.

Han: Of course I did ??

Just as I’m about to put my phone away, Lily responds.

Lily: Sounds good. Meet at the usual at 11.

Bailey: ????

I pocket my phone, head out to the reception desk, and get to work on my morning tasks. The office is pretty busy today, so time flies by. At 10:45 a.m., I grab my purse and start the walk to the corner deli to meet Lily.

When I get there, Lily has already gotten us a table in the corner for more privacy. I wave at her before going to the counter and ordering myself a sandwich and a cup of coffee and join her.

Taking a sip of my coffee, I relax in my seat. Lily picks at the muffin in front of her. When I don’t say anything right away, she leans forward.

“Okay, so you said you had lots to catch me up on. Catch me up.”

“Charlie and I are staying at Caleb’s,” I blurt.

She leans back in her chair, eyes wide and mouth agape. “I think I need my hearing checked, or are we living in some new crazy world? Did you just say that you and Charlie are staying at Caleb’s?”

“Yeah. When I got home yesterday, there was a note from Derek on my door. He said he tried to come see us and would be back. I freaked. The last visit didn’t exactly go well, so I called Caleb. He ran to us and stayed on the phone with me until he was standing right in front of me. He then insisted we were staying with him. When I said I could check with you, he refused. He said the only place he was comfortable with us staying was with him, so he could ensure that we’re safe. So, yeah, we’re staying with Caleb.”

As soon as I finish my rambling, I take a bite of my sandwich. Lily continues to sit there quietly, just watching me. I keep taking bites, trying to make sure my mouth stays full so I don’t share more.

She squints at me and leans forward. “There’s more. You’re hiding something, you’re doing that thing where you do whatever you can to ensure you don’t blab. So blab.”

---