“Fries are ready!” he’d declared. “I will call them the Amazing Chef Caleb’s fries!”
I’d laughed. He had looked so proud. He’d burned the fries, and they were really salty, but I ate them all.
I miss him. God, I miss him.
Later that day, we’d gone out on the balcony and studied for exams, but Caleb had gotten bored quickly. He’d started playing with my hair, twirling it around his finger and tickling my cheek with it. When I ignored him, he pulled.
“Ouch. What the hell, Caleb!” It hadn’t really hurt, but I’d glared at him.
He’d smiled at me cheekily, a naughty gleam in his eyes. Cupping my face, he’d turned me to face him and said, “If you blink, you want me.”
“Wait, wait!”
I had laughed and tried to pull away, but he held on to my face. I couldn’t help but blink.
“I knew it,” he’d teased, grabbing my waist and pulling me onto his lap. “I always knew you had the hots for me, Red.”
He’d held on to me so I wouldn’t fall off his lap as he leaned forward to reach for my book. “Here, pretend I’m your favorite chair while you read your book.”
I’d protested, but inside, I felt giddy. It was hard to concentrate on anything but Caleb when his strong arms were around me, his warmth and his scent filling my senses. He’d held me against him possessively, resting his chin on my shoulder and smelling my hair.
“I met an old friend the other day,” he’d said, breaking the silence. “I mentioned that you’re my girlfriend, and she said she wants to meet you.”
All I could think about was she. He’d noticed that I had gotten quiet and changed the subject.
I blinked and pulled myself out of the memory. I realized now that the friend who wanted to meet me was Beatrice-Rose. That was weeks before I met her. So she had probably been scheming even then.
Even before I knocked on his bedroom door and there was no answer, I knew Caleb wasn’t home. There was a charge in the air when he was in a room, and I always felt it. But this time, I didn’t feel his presence. I felt nothing, just emptiness.
I left the apartment and entered the elevator, wishing for it to descend fast. A quick check on my phone told me the bus was due in ten minutes, the next one in two hours. It took at least twenty minutes to walk to the closest bus stop, and there was no way I could make it. Maybe if I ran really fast…
I stepped out of the elevator and was reminded of Beatrice-Rose doing the same thing a few minutes ago. Had Caleb gone out with her? I didn’t see him with her in the lobby, but his car was in the garage basement and he would have taken the back exit. I saw her take the taxi, though, and if they were going out, Caleb would have given her a ride. I shook my head to clear my thoughts.
I need to find him.
I ran outside, almost tripping in my rush. I had to catch that bus.
I startled as a car behind me tooted its horn. I turned around and found Kara inside her car grinning at me. When she’d texted earlier, I’d told her I’d be at Caleb’s. Grateful and surprised that she’d come to pick me up, I felt tears prick my eyes as I walked toward her.
“He’s not home,” I told her, feeling dejected as I climbed into the passenger seat.
Kara let out a loud sigh. “Well, hop in, girlfriend. Detective Kar has all the skills you need.”
I grinned. I loved my best friend.
Chapter Two
Veronica
Kara started the car, reversing so quickly that I grabbed on to my seat belt. “Did you call him?” she asked.
“I-I can’t. What if he doesn’t want to talk to me?”
She stepped on the brakes, turning to look at me like I just spilled my brains on the floor of her car. “What?”
“I can’t.”
“Pussy,” she clucked. She held out her hand, palm up. “Give me your phone.”