Page 94 of Creed

“Umm….”

I’m not sure if he’s stalling or actually trying to remember if he had.

“Zac, this is important.”

“Why? Is Soph okay?” He’s back to sounding a bit more coherent.

“I don’t know,” I answer honestly and pace our small dorm room. “She texted saying she was going off the grid for the weekend, and then I get all these messages about some guy on a motorcycle grabbing up a girl who some say kinda looked like Sophie, who had another two men chasing her.” I catch my breath after my long-winded ramble.

“What?” he asks, then the fucker starts to laugh. Hysterically, like a goddamn hyena. “Ollie… Fuck, that’s a good one.” He laughs again. “This isSophiewe’re talking about.”

“Yeah, I know,” I grind out. “I thought the same. But then I noticed her suitcase, duffel bag, phone charger, and phone are still here.”

“Shit,” he sobers instantly. “She’s never without her phone. Sylvie has been having trouble with—”

He shuts up suddenly, and I narrow my eyes.

“How close, exactly, are you two?”

“Focus, Ollie. That’s not important. Sophie is.”

“Did you just…gaslightme, you dick?”

He sighs, mumbling something I can’t make out. Then, there’s a loud thump, and he grunts, “Fuck, I really am too high. Can’t even stand up.”

Christ, he’s going to be no help.

“Focus, Zac. Did you talk to Sophie earlier? Do you know who she was seeing these past few months?”

“So many rando questions,” he mumbles, then chuckles. “But no, she won't say jackshit about her mystery love.”

I bite my lip, trying not to scream. “What about earlier? Did you talk to her?”

“Yeah, I talked to her but she didn’t say anything about going away.”

“Okay, so either that’s a new development or… or someone took her.” I swallow down my panic.

“That’s wild, Ollie. No way. Why would anyone kidnap Soph? She’s sweet and innocent as fuck, and she doesn’t come with a trust fund. And her mystery love isn’t gonna be some biker guy. Totally not her type.”

“Oh, and rich, athletic assholes who can’t keep it in their pants are her type?” I snark.

“No,” he grunts. “An asshole like that would never deserve her.”

Not for the first time, I wonder if there’s something between Zac and Sophie besides being partners on a project and the odd-time study partner. But he’s right; Sophie would never be into someone like him. However, maybe he pines for her.

Either way, that isn’t the focus here. Sophie is.

“She never said anything to you about her ‘mystery love?’” I push.

“No. She was tight as a nun’s—”

“Don’t even say it,” I snap. “Focus, you douche canoe.”

“Fucking douche canoe.” He half-chuckles, half-groans. “She’s not wrong, you know.”

God, this is like trying to herd rabid cats.

“As her roommate, Ollie, I thought she might’ve said something to you.”

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