Page 74 of The Other Side of Together

I stare at the rippling black pool, then tip the cup, the liquid scalding my throat, warming me for the first time in days.

“I’m sorry to wake you. I didn’t know where else to go.”

“You did not wake me. I have been waiting to hear from you for hours.”

My eyes hold hers, too many questions swirling in my head and jamming my throat to get words out, but Guo Mama answers. “Su Ling called your mama. Your mama called me.”

“She knows?”

“Yes. She is waiting for my call.” She closes her eyes. “Thank the gods you are here and safe, Xiao Mei.” When she opens her eyes again, she studies me, her jaw set. “What happened? Actually, no.” She waves her hand to dismiss hercomment and closes her eyes for a few seconds. “Never mind. I know what, and I am so sorry.”

I shake my head, then stop when it hurts. “I’m so, so sorry to put you in danger. I don’t know where to go.” The words scratch out of me. “I saw Su Ling in L.A. She helped me escape. I told the police where they can find her. Nick’s there, too. But if they don’t find him, he’ll come for me.”

“You are the one who told the police about Nick?”

I drop my face in my hands and shake my head. “I was too scared. I hope if they find her, they find him.” Bleeding on the hotel bed.

Her hand rests on my shoulder. “I will help you find a safe place.” She nods, her eyes searching my face. “But first, you need a warm shower. Then we can talk about where you will go.”

CHAPTER 28

Iskid around the corner and run past Guo’s shop. A car idles at the curb, the driver’s face lit by a phone screen. Guo’s security gate’s up, but I keep running until I’m standing below Mei’s window.

I lean over and catch my breath, my heart pounding an internal bruise in a chest full of hot anger and desperation. My phone buzzes incessantly in my pocket so I pull it out. Four missed calls and a text from Dad: I’m sorry, M.C. Come home. Let’s talk about this. You can’t just run at 2 AM. If you don’t come home, I’ll come to you.

No. If he can go wherever he wants with whoever he wants, so can I. I drop my phone in my pocket and turn back to Mei’s fire escape. Dad is not gonna ruin this more than he already has.

The ladder to her fire escape is still up but I’m so mad, I could probably scale the building. And if Nick’s guys are around, I’ll wreck them tonight.

I size up the garbage cans lined across the alley. If I stack them, I could grab the lowest rung. But when I dart toward them, the car in front of Guo’s drives off and my inner alarmblares. Guo’s shop should’ve been locked hours ago. And there’s a light in the back, one in her upstairs window.

Visions of her lying unconscious skid across my mind, and I sprint to the door, but it’s locked. I cup my hands around my eyes to look inside. The light’s coming from her back room and I don’t see any shadows prowling her shop, no Guo lying on the floor, but I dial her number, anyway.

The other end rustles after two rings. “Where are you, boy?”

“You okay, Guo? Why’s your gate up?”

“You need to come, now.”

“I’m right outside.”

“Stay.” The call ends and I stare at my phone, torn between going back to Mei’s and staying here. Guo’s obviously fine, but her voice wasn’t.

My cold, worried thoughts about her mix with my dad-anger and slosh around in my stomach, hissing and steaming. Shoving my phone in my pocket, I rub my hands down my face while I scan the empty street. A crosswalk sign blinks on and off like my anger got inside it and messed with its wiring, too. What’s Dad’s problem? None of this had to happen. Yeah, I’ve been lying to him, too, but my lies didn’t totally mess up his life. He still has his girl and whatever he wants. Because of him, I’m not going to Stanford, and I might never get Mei back. What else has he lied about? My mom? Maybe there’s more to that whole story.

I swear under my breath and scan my apartment windows up the street, hands on my head. I’m not gonna stick around to find out what else he’s keeping from me. Thirty minutes ago, I was afraid to leave him. Now…I don’t wanna be anywhere near him. After I talk to Guo, I’m talking to Mei, and after that, I’ll go to Johnny’s. Email Stanford. Like Dad told his girlfriend: I’ll hate him from there. If only I can still get in.

The shop door scrapes open, and I whirl around, scanningGuo in her robe, her hair matted on one side. She reaches for me and pulls me through the door.

“What’s going on, Guo…?” The mini fridge under the counter kicks on and hums, the cat clocks on the shelves tick, but she shakes her head and locks the deadbolt, pushing the button to lower the security gate.

I snap my head toward it, back to her. “Are you holding me hostage or something…?”

“I’m so glad you are here. So glad.” Her red, puffy eyes close slowly then open again.

“Is everything okay…?”

“NO! Everything is not.” Her words burst from her, and she bows her head, shoulders sinking. “Sorry. Not your fault. But now she must go away.”

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