Page 76 of Plot Twist
“Do you happen to have Chris’s phone number?” Sophie asked.
“Chris?” Poppy said, maybe annoyed. “Who are you talking about?”
“Dash’s best friend, Chris.” Sophie was also getting annoyed. She understood Poppy was still mad with her, but did they really have to play these games, especially when Dash was MIA?
“Never heard him mention a Chris before,” Poppy finally said as she eyed Sophie.
Sophie sucked in her bottom lip. Dash had kept so many secrets from everyone around him, so she wasn’t surprised he’d kept Chris from Poppy, too.
She just needed to find Dash to let him know she would be there for him, no matter what.
Her Lyft was ten minutes away, which felt like a lifetime. She scratched the side of her head as she went into her texts and tried Dash again.
Dash, please, just tell me you’re okay.
I’m coming home and we can talk about this.
Text me back.
She spotted Kitty out of the corner of her eye—smiling and making small talk with people in the room. William, however, didn’t seem to be able to plaster on a smile, the way his wife had.
“This day is so messed up. First my mom intentionally hurting Dash, and then you not only keeping the fact that you’re dating my brother a secret from me, but also that he has a drinking problem.” Poppy crossed her arms.
“Could you not make this about me and you right now?” Sophie’s nerves were wrapped as tight as a rubber band, and she was about to snap. “Your brother, who is a recovering alcoholic, just experienced a traumatic event. He’s sensitive about his sobriety, and I’m worried that this whole thing pushed him too far. He’s just trying to stay sober.”
Poppy frowned. “Too far?”
“I don’t know, but he’s not answering my calls or texts. I’m worried about him, and you should be, too.”
Poppy licked her lips and studied her. “Okay, I’ll drive you to his place, but you have to tell me everything,” she eventually said.
“Dash is the only one who gets to tell his story. I’m sorry.” Sophie hoped that Poppy could put aside her feelings and see the bigger picture before it was too late. “But, please, let’s go. I want to make sure he’s okay.”
Without another word, Poppy tucked her purse under her arm, grabbed Sophie, and led the way to the exit.
When they got to the house, Dash’s car wasn’t there, and Sophie’s concern mounted when she spotted Chris sitting outside the gate.
“I saw the livestream,” Chris said by way of greeting, and a worried line worked its way between his brows. “He’s not with you, then?”
“No,” Sophie said. “Do you know where he’d be?”
“We can check the AA meeting we used to go to, but I want to go to his old spot first.” Chris dug the toe of his shoe into the dirt, exhaled, and waved for them to follow.
The Viper Pit was a bar that smelled exactly as Sophie imagined, stale and smoky. Dash was hard to miss as he relaxed against the seat of a booth with his rumpled blond hair and button-down shirt. He had a drink in one hand and looked up when they came in.
His eyes were glassy and red, as if he’d been crying. And when he caught sight of them, his jaw clenched. He wouldn’t look at her, but Sophie kept her eyes locked on him, because she needed him to know she was there.
“Let me get him,” Chris said.
But Sophie wanted to help, too. “Is it okay if I talk to him first? If you think it will make things worse, I won’t.”
“Sure,” Chris said. “But, Sophie, you’ve never seen him intoxicated. He might say or do things he wouldn’t normally. Don’t take anything personally.”
“I won’t,” Sophie assured him.
“I can’t believe I didn’t know any of this,” Poppy said quietly.
“It’s not your fault,” Chris said. “All we can do is help him through it.”
