Page 37 of Lovestruck at Sundown
“Belen’s brother,” Liam said. “And I just did. Let me see if he has replied.” He grabbed his phone and unlocked it with a heavy sigh. “Ok, so apparently, she’s at Gemma’s.”
“Okay, Gemma’s her best friend, right?” This much I knew. Liam had mentioned Gemma in the past.
“Maybe she wants to be left alone,” William tossed in. I pulled his hair. “Ow!” He laughed. “I don’t want to be mean, but maybe she wants to decompress from the trip with her friend for a bit.”
“Try calling her one more time, and if her phone is still off, just wait for her to call you tomorrow,” I proposed. “At least you know she’s arrived and alive.”
He placed the call and stood. “It’s ringing,” he said, seeming hopeful about the situation.
But Belén didn’t take the call.
Liam sighed. “I think I should go.” He slipped his phoneinto his pocket. “I’ll talk to you guys tomorrow.”
“I should go too,” Tobias said, standing up.
“Me too,” Nina joined in. “It’s getting late.”
“Sure.” I got up. “I’ll walk you.”
“I had fun today,” Liam said. “Thanks for having us and for coming with me to Jersey to get the flowers.”
“Of course.” I opened the front door. “I had fun too. Let’s do this more often.”
William cleared his throat loudly. I shook my head with a snort. He could be such a grump sometimes, but I found it endearing.
“We took care of the dirty dishes, but there’s still a lot of food on the table if you’re hungry,” Tobias said.
“We?” Nina interjected. “Idid the dishes while you pushed up your sleeves, pretending like you were going to help me.”
“I was providing moral support.” He flashed her one of his charming smiles, and she hummed with suspicion.
Liam’s phone rang. “It’s her.” He fumbled with his phone but answered on the second ring. “Belén,” he said in a breath. “I’ve been trying to reach you. You turned off your phone. What’s going on? Don’t start shutting me out. Talk to me.”
We were all glued on our spots, eerily quiet, listening to one side of the conversation.
“Where are you?” Liam asked. “Are you at Gemma’s?”
Nina crossed her arms at her chest and stared at her feet, balancing her weight on her heels.
“I texted that son of a bitch a while ago, and he didn’t tell me anything about you going to a party.” Liam dragged an angry hand through his hair. “He said you were at Gemma’s. Just tell me what’s going on, Belén.”
More silence.
“But why wouldn’t you turn on your phone?” Liam’s voicesounded like he was feeling deeply hurt. “Or let me know you’ve arrived?”
Tobias was leaning against the doorframe and staring at Liam like he would freely donate his kidneys to know what was being said on the other side of the call. And by the look on Nina’s face, she probably felt the same way.
“Belén?” Liam’s voice went a tone darker. “Are you drunk?”
Uh-oh.
“I need you to tell me exactly where you are, Belén. Do you know where you are? I’ll come get you. I’ll take you home, and we’ll figure things out. Just give me an address.”
Liam pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes for a second. “I’ll be right there.”
I peeked over my shoulder and saw William either asleep or about to fall asleep on the couch.
“Robbie, is she okay?” He kept nodding and saying okay a few times. “Text me the address. We’re on our way to Jersey.” Liam ended the call.
