He sighed, sitting back. “Nothing too exciting. I’ve been in a few relationships recently but they were all short-term.” He gave her a small smile, and then glanced at Zach. “I’ve been working at an architectural firm downtown.”
“That’s great.” So he’d gotten his degree, the job he wanted. It was another reminder of how she’d remained in one place while everyone else had moved on. But she wasn’t in the mood for a pity party. She was making strides, and now that she’d started, she knew she wouldn’t stop.
Another car c
ould be heard crunching over gravel in the driveway and Zach stood. “I’ll get it,” he said, glancing at Josie.
A minute later, Josie heard voices at the door and a second after that, Reagan and a man Josie didn’t know walked into the living room. Josie stood and Reagan let out a small gasp, moving quickly toward her on a small squeal. Josie felt a tidal wave of emotion slam into her as she hugged the woman who had been her best friend. She clung to her, some form of relief gripping her tightly. “Oh my gosh, Reagan,” she said, standing back and wiping a tear from her eye. “You look amazing.” And she did. It hardly seemed as though nine years had passed. She looked like the same bright-eyed college girl she’d been when Josie had met her.
“So do you. Wow,” Reagan said, wiping her own tears away. She turned, holding out her hand to the man who’d entered the room. Josie wobbled, feeling slightly off balance as she watched him approach. She knew him. How did she know him? “This is my husband, Evan,” Reagan said.
Evan approached, his eyes darting over her once before he met her gaze. “Hi, Josie.”
“I know you,” she murmured. “I’ve . . . met you before.”
Reagan bobbed her head. “I met him in geology class at UC,” she said. “We started dating right before . . .” She cleared her throat, looked away.
Right before you disappeared.
She stared at Evan. “Yes,” she murmured. “You were there that night too.”
Reagan nodded again. “Yes,” she said. “That’s the reason I wanted him here.” She smiled. “I mean, other than for you to meet the man I love.” Her smile grew as she gripped his arm. Josie looked back and forth between them, and then to Cooper who was watching them all closely.
Why did Josie feel so faint? As though she’d suddenly been shoved back through a time tunnel and she didn’t have a good grasp on the present? “I . . . ah, cookies.” She shook her head to clear her brain, giving them a small, embarrassed smile. “I mean, I made cookies. I’ll—”
“I’ll grab them,” Zach said. Her eyes met his, locking, and she suddenly felt more grounded. More . . . real. Present.
“Thank you.” Her muscles relaxed. “Let’s sit. Thank you all again, so much, for being here.”
Reagan and her husband, Evan, sat on the couch and Reagan smiled at Cooper. “Hey, Coop.”
“Reagan. Evan.”
Josie sat back. “Have you two seen each other much over the years?” she asked.
Cooper shook his head. “Not enough.” He shrugged. “Life, you know.”
Josie nodded. “Yes.” Zach put the plate of cookies in the middle of the table. “I know you guys reached out to me in the beginning, and I want to let you know how much I appreciate it.” Tears burned the backs of her eyes. “I just wasn’t in a place to reach back. And I hope . . . I hope you can forgive me.”
“Oh, Josie,” Reagan said, standing and taking the few steps to her, leaning over and hugging her. “There’s nothing to apologize for.” She stood back, taking her hand and squeezing it before letting go.
“We’re the ones who should be sorry, Josie,” Cooper said. “We gave up too quickly.”
Josie shook her head. “No. No. You tried for a long time. Too long considering I gave you no indication I wanted you to keep trying.”
“We’re just glad you reached out at all, Jos,” Reagan said, sitting back down. Josie felt an unexpected release of tension at the warm forgiveness extended to her. The understanding. It was as if she wasn’t . . . so alone. These people had known her, were from before. It somehow tethered her to both times. Before and after. “And we’re all here now.” She glanced at Cooper who grabbed a cookie and took a bite.
Josie looked back to Reagan. “Ah, so I told you guys on the phone the reason I hoped you’d be able to come here today. The case . . .”
They nodded. They’d both seen the news, knew about the copycat. Cooper had told her he’d wanted to call her, but had hesitated in doing so after all the time that had passed. She understood. “The police”—she glanced at Zach—“believe the abductions, both mine and the recent ones, might have something to do with Professor Merrick.”
Cooper sat back, chewing slowly, and Reagan’s eyes widened. “Professor Merrick?” she whispered.
Josie nodded. “You do remember him, right?”
Reagan swallowed. “Of . . . of course.” Reagan glanced at Evan.
“The guy you were seeing, right?” Cooper asked, glancing at Zach as though he might have just shared a secret Josie hadn’t wanted shared.