Page 12 of My Heart to Keep

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Maiken:We’ll talk tomorrow.

My mind spun. What the heck did he mean we would talk tomorrow?

Me:I want to talk now. Are you going to the hospital?

Maiken:Liam called me and told me not to.

Me:Please go. I have to make sure Celia’s okay.

Maiken:Liam will give us an update.

Me:I’m sorry about tonight.

He had to think I was a freak. He hated when Marcus drank, and now his girlfriend was falling into the same dark hole as his brother.

Maiken:Get some rest.

Me:I’m sure I’m grounded.

Maiken:Yep.

Me:I’ll come over tomorrow when I take Apple for a ride.

Maiken:I won’t be around.

Me:Where are you going?

My heart plummeted. Surely one mishap on my part wasn’t cause for not seeing me.

Maiken:My mom is taking me shopping.

I sighed.

Me:Call me afterwards, then?

Maiken:Sure.

Me:I love you.

I fixated on the bright screen, waiting for a response, but none came.

Me:Are you still there?

My heart punched my ribs like I’d punched Sloane, and it hurt.

After a few minutes with no response, I called Maiken again. The line rang and rang and rang until his voice mail connected.

I hiccupped and hung up. I was too much of a hot mess to leave a message. He hated me. I was sure of it.

I checked my text messages again, but there was still no response. I tried one more time to get him on the phone. Again, he didn’t answer.

Tears poured out of my bloodshot eyes. I’d ruined everything, including my party and my chances of having any more parties. I might have lost my boyfriend, and my BFF had been rushed to the hospital.

Sobbing, I slid down the counter until my butt was on the floor. Then I brought my knees to my chest and buried my head in my hands.

Footsteps pounded outside the bathroom door. “Quinn,” Carter said before he knocked.

“Go away,” I cried.

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