Page 36 of Love at a 7-Eleven

I didn't have it on speaker phone so Caleb couldn't hear her.

"Yes, ma'am. But I'm not here with Mark. I'm staying at a friend's brother's house who's out of town. I have the place to myself. It's great in here. I'm all settled in."

"You're staying at someone's house?" she asked, sounding more aware and concerned.

"It's all good. Do you remember that guy who I showed you with the YouTube channel?"

"The one with the tattoos?"

"Yes, ma'am," I agreed.

"You're staying atthat guy'shouse?"

"No ma'am. It's his brother. That guy is Caleb, and I'm staying at Caleb's brother's house. He lives right around the corner from here. It's a nice neighborhood—great houses. The point of my calling was to tell you that I arrived safely in L.A., and all is well. I'm sorry I said I was meeting Mark. Mark's not here. I'm here meeting my friend, Caleb. It's all good, I promise. I'll just be a few days still. I'll text you his number right now so you have it. I know you know me and you can trust that I'm safe and making good choices."

"Is he in the house with you?"

"Right now, yes, but I'm staying here alone."

"What happened with Mark?"

"Nothing. He was never a thing. I lied. I'm sorry."

She let out a breath like she was going to say something but stopped, confused. "Are you okay, Lila?"

"Yes. I'm so good."

"You're comfortable and happy?"

"So much. I'm in a great house and really happy to see my friend. Everything is going as planned. I'm just sorry I lied about the details. I knew you didn't know him that well, and I didn't want you to worry, but now that I’m here I wanted to call and tell you the truth."

"And it's Caleb," she said his name like she was still uncertain.

"Yes ma'am. Like I said, I'm going to text you his number. He's standing right here next to me." He was sitting on the edge of a bar stool, and I held out the phone to him.

"Hello, Mrs. Decker," he said, leaning in toward the phone.

"Hello, Caleb!" my mom called. "He can't hear you," I told her, holding the phone to my ear again. "My mom says hello," I said, to him. "I love you, Mom. I'll text you and check in tomorrow."

"Lila," she said in a soft tone.

"Uh-hm? I asked casually.

"I'm thinking about this… I'm just making sure, one last time, that you're good and you're not being held there against your will. You can speak in some kind of code if you need to tell me something—mention football or peanuts on the plane, something random."

"No, no need for that. I'm actually so happy. I'll explain everything later, but I'm good. I promise."

"Okay," she said. "I love you."

"I love you, too. And tell Dad I said love you."

"Text me in the morning."

"I will," I said.

I hung up my phone and smiled at Caleb.

"Was she okay with it?"

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