I’ve sent her a million messages since then. Updates. Pictures of Cami. Requests to video chat. And she hasn’t seen any of them.
“She probably just wants a break from us,” Seb mutters, for the fiftieth time. “Seriously, Cyrus. Drop it.”
I scowl. Seb has been sulky for days, ever since he texted Beth to ask for advice about calling Cami’s mum. She ignored him, so now he’s convinced that she hates us.
“This isn’t right,”I insist. “She wouldn’t just cut contact. It’s not like her.”
“I messaged hermultiple timesabout our upcoming call with Anisha. She didn’t respond.”
I bite my lip. That’s another thing to worry about. We’ve scheduled a Skype call with Cami’s mum for this evening. I’m absolutely dreading it. I don’t know what to do. I can’t stand the thought of Anisha changing her mind and trying to take her back.
As if she shares my sentiment, Cami suddenly shouts and knocks over her plastic bowl. Orange goop spills over the table and splatters my sleeve. I pick up a napkin and wipe off my cuffs as Sebastian scoops baby food off the tablecloth.
“Beth’s our employee,” Seb continues, his voice flat. “She’s on holiday. She probably just wanted to turn off her phone, and not talk to us for a few days.”
My hackles rise. “Even if she was just an employee, which she’s obviously not, you fu—friggin’idiot, there’s no way in Hell that she wouldn’t try to check in on Cami.”
A muscle tics in his jaw. “The last time I knocked on her door on her day off, she was very unhappy with me. I don’t want to keep hounding her.”
“Yeah, because you were being an entitled prick.” I shake my head. “Something iswrong—”
Sebastian snaps. “What’swrong,is you’re falling for our bloody nanny, after she very clearly said she didn’t want to date you.”
I scoff. “Oh,I’mfalling for her? And I’m the only one?”
His eyes narrow. “You’re the only one blowing up her phone like a teenage boy who’s been stood up. If she’s not interested in dating one guy, why the Hell would she want three?”
“At least I’m not so emotionally constipated I cantellwhen I’m falling for someone. You two are pathetic.” I shove my phone in his face, showing him the chain of text messages I’ve sent Beth. “Lookat this!”
Sebastian scans the messages silently. I’ve reread them so many times, I know them all by heart.
Beth?
Are u ok?
Why aren’t you answerring??
Do u want to speak with Cami?
The panel went well today. Jack nearly pissed his pants on-stage when a member of the audience asked him a question. It was great
BETHIE
Youre freaking me out, has something hapenned??
Beth, you’re scaring me
Please answer.
“She would have responded to these,” I insist.
Jack sighs. “Cyrus—”
I slam my hand on the table. All of the cutlery rattles. “I’m not overreacting!” I shout.
My voice echoes around the swimming pool. Several women in bikinis look over from their sun loungers. Cami pouts, covering her eyes with her chubby hands.
I take a deep breath. “Look,” I say, turning to Seb, “I know that you think no woman would ever love you, because you’re the Incredible Hulk, or whatever,” I jab my thumb at Jack, “andyouthink your app is the most important thing about you. But can you please get over your stupid issues and actuallythinkfor a second? That girl practically climbed into the taxi when we left for the airport.She likes us.She cares about us. She wouldn’t do this to us.” I run a hand through my hair, stressed. “What if she got really sick? Or—or she fainted in her apartment and cracked her head open? She could have slipped in the shower. Someone could have broken in. She lives alone, no one would know if she was hurt.”