“If that’s what’s needed.” He walks into his office and sets me down in the chair at his giant desk. I watch as he opens one of the drawers. I peek inside to see a bunch of phones are stacked in there. He grabs one, powering it on before he plugs it into his computer.
“What are you doing?”
“Making the line secure. What’s your number?” he asks. I ramble it off. His fingers gracefully move along the keyboard. A bunch of things I don’t understand start popping up. “Your brother’s?” he asks next before handing me the phone. “Don’t tell him where you are.”
“That’s easy. I don’t know where I am.”
Mateo smirks. “Good girl. If he knows you’re not at your place then say you’re with a friend.”
“He’ll know I’m lying.” As soon as I admit that, I wish I could take it back. Mateo’s eyebrows pull together. Great. Way to make yourself look even more pathetic, Milly. The last thing I want Mateo to feel toward me is sympathy. Why can’t I ever come off as cool or something?
“You don’t have any friends?”
“It’s a new school and–” I lick my lips. “I’m kind of odd. I’m not great at reading social cues.”
“You’re not odd, Milly. You’re different.” I flinch at his words.
“Shit, that didn’t come out how I meant it to. Maybe I’m not good with people either.” His smile makes me smile back at him. “What I meant to say is normal is boring and the last thing I’ve been since you entered my life is bored.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.” I could melt into a happy pile of goo right now. “It’s ringing.”
“Ringing?” I ask, confused. That is until I hear my brother's voice come through the phone. “Oh.”
“Mills?” Henry repeats.
“Hey, I was checking in.”
“Checking in? It’s after midnight.”
“Right. So—” I pause when I hear a giggle in the background. “Tell Tara I said hi.”
“Who is Tara?” the woman huffs. Oops.
“Knock it off,” he tells the girl. “Told you to be quiet.” I hear him shuffle around, and a few seconds later I hear a door close. I never understand how he keeps all these girls around or keeps them straight, for that matter. He can be a bit of a jerk to them. Then again, I think most know what they are getting when they decide to mess with Henry.
I was shocked when he told me he had a girlfriend. Normally, they are all flings or whatever you call them. I guess he and Tara are over.
“Tara is studying for a test. We’re headed out to Fiji after she takes it tomorrow.”
Is he cheating on her? That's terrible, I debate telling him that, but then again, what if he and that girl are only friends? Boys and girls can be friends. This isn’t the Stone Age. Though if Mateo was my boyfriend, I wouldn’t want him hanging out with another girl. Especially after midnight.
“You there?”
“I forgot you’re going away.” He always gets to do fun things like that. I never get to do anything. Then again, I don’t have anyone to do anything with.
“Are you going home for spring break?”
“No, why would I do that?” I ask, making Henry laugh.
“I hear that. So what’s up? Why the late call?”
Mateo leans up against the desk, watching me talk.
“Something happened tonight. I think someone tried to kidnap me.”
“The fuck? Seriously?” he half-shouts through the phone. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine. Someone saved me. They got my backpack, though.”
“So it was a robbery?”
“I think they were trying to kidnap me. Not just thieves.” In fact, I’m sure of it.
“Shit, you tell Dad? He’s going to make us come home. Fuck,” he grumbles, the line going quiet for a long moment.
Mateo looks to be getting angry.
“I didn’t tell Dad.” I’d kind of forgotten that maybe I should. Heck, I forgot to call my brother when it first happened. I’d been so caught up with Mateo rescuing me. He’s rather distracting.
“You’re okay?”
“Yes, I’m great.”
“Great? That’s a weird reaction to have after being robbed and almost kidnapped.”
“I made a friend.”
“That’s good, I guess.” I don’t have to see Henry to know the face he’s making right now. It’s the puzzled one he gives me a lot.
“I was just worried and wanted to check on you.” I feel better having heard his voice.
“I’m fine, but if you tell Dad, he’s going to make us both come home.”
My stomach sours at that. I hate that house. I don’t want to spend any more time there than I have to.
“Let’s not tell him,” I suggest. “You go on your trip, and I’ll stay with my friend where it’s safe.” It’s spring break after tomorrow. I’m out of classes for the next week.
I peek up at Mateo when I realize I’ve pretty much invited myself to stay at his house without asking. His face is unreadable, but he hasn’t said I can’t stay, so I’m taking that as a good sign.