Page 42 of The Perils of Pretending
Pulling my cell out of my back pocket, I read Princess on the screen. I chuckle. She must be tired of her family already. Scooting back my chair, I excuse myself and go into the kitchen.
“Hey, what’s up?” I say in greeting, leaning my backside against the yellow and white Formica counter.
“How are your grandparents?”
“Good. I’m glad I came.”
“Good.”
Sadie doesn’t say anything else. I’m not sure why she called if she isn’t going to talk. “Are you enjoying the fresh air, free from inversion?” I ask to fill the silence.
Because of the way the mountains formed in northern Utah, pollution gets stuck in the bowl-shaped valley between the two mountain ranges. Until a storm comes and blows the nasty air out, everything just sits. It gets bad enough, the usual mountain peaks aren’t visible and I often get sick, my lungs unused to the horrid air quality. Yet another thing I miss about Alaska.
Sadie laughs. “Yeah. My lungs have never felt better.”
I chuckle. “Fresh sea air will do that for you.”
Sadie clears his throat. “So…uh…I know you’re supposed to fly home in two days, but I have a major favor to ask.”
A pit opens in my stomach. I’m afraid to ask, but do it anyway because it’s Sadie and we’re supposed to be in a relationship. “What is it?”
I hear Sadie inhale a deep breath. In a rush, she says, “Come to Homer on Sunday instead of going back to Utah?”
I push off the counter, pacing the small area between the counter and the dining table. I’m saving my vacation time to see my parents for a full week at Thanksgiving, but I could shorten my visit if necessary. “Why? What’s going on?”
There’s silence on the other end.
This can’t be good. The pit in my stomach gets deeper. “Princess? What’s wrong?”
“It’s Dorian and my family.”
My gut clenches. “I need more details than that. What about him?”
“The guy’s a snake.”
The blood in my face drains to my feet. I get lightheaded and have to take a seat at the table. “In what way?” Why is she being chintzy on the details?
Sadie huffs. “The guy won’t leave me alone. I told him to stop talking to and touching me, but he won’t listen. Brody kept him by him all day yesterday, but when Brody went to the bathroom, he sought me out and tried talking to me. We’re trying to not resort to physical violence, but I’m about to snap. I need help. My mom’s keeping my grandma away as much as she can, but this guy is sneaky and shady, and Brody and I can’t do it alone.”
I flex my fist, ready to lay into the guy myself. Why does Alice want Sadie to be with this jerk? “Let me make a few phone calls and move around some meetings I had scheduled for next week.”
Sadie lets out a sigh of relief. “Thank you so much. I don’t like asking, but I wouldn’t if I wasn’t concerned. I owe you big-time. Oh, and do you need money to pay for a car rental?”
“No. I’ll see if I can borrow my grandma’s car. Can you handle another day and a half on your own or should I come tomorrow?” I don’t want to miss out on fishing with Grandpa, but the twisting in my gut also won’t ease until I see Sadie and can make sure she’s safe.
“Nah, Brody’s taking me hiking tomorrow. We’re leaving without telling anyone. We should be good until you can get here.”
“Okay. I’ll be there around noon on Sunday. One at the latest.”
“Thank you. Sorry again for asking.”
I shake my head. “Don’t worry about it.” I’d do almost anything for Brody and his family. And what kind of fake boyfriend would I be if I didn’t rescue my girlfriend?
“I appreciate it. See you later.”
“Bye.” I tap the red end button on my phone. Pulling up my calendar, I scroll through my schedule for next week. I make the necessary arrangements for me to be gone from work an extra five days, then go ask my grandparents to borrow a car.
“Will you bring her back here?” Grandma asks, too much hope brightening her tone and eyes.
