Page 99 of Unbidden

“Maybe someday, Tins. Maybe someday,” I tell her before lying back on the bed next to her and listening to the music from downstairs.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Over the past week, I’ve settled into a comfortable routine. Go to school. Avoid Reed. Hang out with Victoria and Tinsley. Go to work. Toss and turn all night until the morning where it starts all over. Lather, rinse, and repeat.

Today is just another day. I left school early, avoiding finishing class and Reed, showing up at work early. Thankfully, Beth needed an extra hand, so I jumped in to help. While our end-of-the-year ball isn’t for another two weeks, the local public schools are having their proms. That means a lot of activity at the mall, including Momma’s House.

I’m more than happy to tap out when Beth tells me to take a break. I sneak off into the back room, grabbing my phone and wallet. I figure I can grab a soft pretzel from the food court before I have to rush back here.

Glancing down at my phone, I notice two missed calls and a dozen or so text messages. I see Reed has texted and my heart stops. He hasn’t tried to reach out to me at all since our breakup. If you can even call it that. He never really cared about me, so while his lips said the words, I feel the whole thing was a sham. An elaborate prank on the poor girl.

Sighing, I scroll past his without reading it and look at Victoria’s next.

V- Tinsley caught Finley fucking Ms. Wheeler. She’s a mess. Don’t rush home. I have her, but come right home after work. She needs us.

My heart aches. Tinsley might not ever fully admit it, but she’s given her heart to Finley and he doesn’t even know it. He’s so caught up in his life that he doesn’t realize what he’s doing to hers.

This is devastating for her. I bet she feels like her world is ending.

Kind of how I feel about Reed.

I push my negative thoughts away and focus on Tinsley. I click into her messages next, seeing three unread.

T - I need help.

T - I did something stupid.

T - Sage? I need you!

My heart stops. I immediately try calling her, but after several rings, it goes to voice mail. I call Victoria next, but her phone doesn’t even ring, just goes straight to voice mail.

I chew my bottom lip, thinking what to do next. After a moment, I suck up my feelings and call Reed. He answers on the first ring.

“Sage?” His voice washes over me, causing tears to prick my eyes.

I miss you.

“Where’s Tinsley?” I clear my throat when I hear the emotion in it.

He sighs. “I was hoping you would know. She took off from school. She won’t answer any of my calls or texts. She turned off the GPS on her phone. All I know is that she left with Victoria, but she turned off her phone after the third time I tried to call. What’s going on?”

I let out a humorless laugh. “She’s going through something. If she’s with Victoria, she’ll be fine.” I pause as I hear a message come through. Seeing it’s Tinsley, I continue on. “She just texted me. Give her space, Reed. She’ll come to you when she’s ready. For now, she needs some girl time. I’ll check on her and let you know if she needs you.”

I hang up before he can argue. He immediately tries to call me back, but I send him to voice mail. I wait for the inevitable second call, surprised when it doesn’t come.

Smart man.

I check the message Tinsley sent me.

T- I’m at a public party. I drank too much and don’t know anyone. Help me?

I don’t hesitate before I attempt to call again, but I’m sent to voice mail once more.

I text her back as I grab my jacket and head to find Beth.

Me- Where are you? Where is the party?

She sends me a ping showing her location.

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