I collect them all in my hand and go to toss them out when I see her handwriting on the back. Flipping them over, I read over them all and curse when I read Viola’s name.
“Goddammit!” I firmly brush a hand through my hair, my jaw clenching at the thought of Viola seeing and reading these. Where the hell is she?
Reaching for my phone, I see there’s still no reply from her and decide to send her another text.
Travis
I’m home. We need to talk.
If I had known, I would’ve never sent that reply to her. Now I feel like more of an asshole than usual.
After fifteen minutes and not hearing back from her, I decide to call her. It rings once before going straight to voicemail.Hey, you’ve reached Viola. Leave me a message and I’ll call you back!
“Viola, c’mon, I know you’re there. Get your ass back home. We need to talk.”
I hang up and immediately text her again.
Travis
I saw the pictures. I’m sorry. Come back home.
I dig through the fridge and grab the box of cold pizza. I’m too worked up to really taste it, but I haven’t eaten in hours, so I take the last few pieces. I can’t even settle down enough to watch the ten o’clock news, so I just stand in the kitchen with a can of beer and an empty pizza box.
I check my phone again, still nothing. I call her again. Voicemail. I send another text, nearlybeggingher to at least let me know she’s okay. Pissed at me or not, she’s always been smart about letting Drew know she was safe.
Travis
Quit the shit, Viola. I had a long day and have an even longer one tomorrow. Get your ass home. We need to talk.
I grab another beer from the fridge and debate calling Drew to see if he’s heard from her. After another hour of silence, I break down and call him.
“Hey, man. What’s up?” He sounds genuinely happy, and I hate that I have to bother him. I hope he and Mia have reconciled their differences since the last time we talked.
“Hey, nothing. Have you heard from your sister tonight by chance?” I try to mask my voice, but he knows me too well.
“What’d you do?” his asks immediately.
“Nothing!” I say a little too harshly. “I’ve been at work all night, and she wasn’t home when I got here. She’s not answering my texts or calls.”
“Who’s that, baby?” I hear Mia in the background. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, everything’s fine. Travis pissed Viola off, and now he can’t find her,” he responds as if I can’t hear everything he’s saying.
“C’mon, man,” I groan. “Just call her for me, okay? I need to know she’s okay before I can pass out.”
“Fine, I’ll call her and let you know.”
“Thanks.”
I hang up and eagerly wait to hear back from him. By the time he messages me, I’ve already taken my slacks and shirt off, dreading having to put on the same attire again in the morning.
Drew
I called and texted her. No response.
Goddammit.
Travis