Page 151 of Stay with Me

Mom’s house.

I don’t even know how I got there, because I didn’t remember the drive. The house was silent, warmer than normal because I hadn’t been around to turn the air on. I dropped my tote on the couch and then dug out my cell.

There were no calls or texts, and I don’t know why I thought there would be. My heart was racing superfast, the insides of my stomach twisting, and I started to call Teresa, because I needed to talk to someone, but she didn’t know Jax.

I made a couple of rounds around the couch before I hit Roxy’s name on my contacts list. She answered on the third ring.

“Hey,” she said, voice throaty with sleep.

I cringed. “I’m sorry. It’s early, right? I can call back.”

“It’s okay.” She cleared her throat. “Is everything all right?”

I almost said yes. “No.”

“Is it your mom or Clyde?” The sleepiness was gone from her voice.

“No. It’s not that. It’s ...” I wetted my lip. “I think Jax and I broke up.”

There was a pause and then she shrieked, “What?”

I plopped down on the couch. “I mean, we were together. I guess. We didn’t call each other boyfriend or girlfriend. Like we didn’t have that talk.”

“Girl, I don’t think people have that talk. It just sort of happens. You two are totally together.”

“He did say he was my man, so yeah, but then last night ...” I trailed off, feeling sick again. “I don’t know. He’s gone.”

“What do you mean he’s gone?”

That sick feeling traveled up my chest. “When I woke up, he was gone and he didn’t sleep with me last night.”

“Where are you?” she asked suddenly.

“I’m at the house.”

“Jax’s?”

“No. My mom’s house. I just couldn’t stay in his place. I don’t even know if he wants me there and I didn’t want to be there when he came home if that’s the case.” My hand tightened around the phone. “So I’m ... I’m at Mom’s house.”

“Do you think that’s a good idea?” she asked, and her voice changed like she was moving around quickly. “With everything going on?”

My heart turned over heavily. Holy crap. “I’m an idiot. I’m like more than just your normal idiot. I’m your uber-idiot. I didn’t even think about that.” Holy shit, I really hadn’t thought about that. I jumped to my feet and then raced to the front door and made sure it was locked. “I’m seriously too stupid to live.”

“Okay. You’re stressed. Not thinking clearly. Not too stupid to live. Or maybe just a little,” she replied, and then her voice sounded farther away. “I got you on speaker. I’m getting dressed. Stay where you are. I’m coming over. Text me the address.”

My eyes widened. “You don’t have to do that.”

“Yes I do. I’m your friend. You’re having boy problems and you were almost kiddie-napped a few days ago. This is total friend duty and I’m so coming over. So stay right there, lock your doors, and hide the kids. I’m coming on.”

I giggle-snorted. “Did you just quote Antoine Dodson?”

“Maybe.” Roxy drew the word out. “I’ll be over in like fifteen minutes tops. Okay? I just need to brush my teeth and maybe my hair.”

“All right. I’ll be here.”

I didn’t even think twenty minutes passed, which made me wonder where she lived exactly, because I didn’t know, and how fast she was driving, but she rolled into the house wearing cutoff jean shorts and an oversized tank top that barely covered her sports bra, and her hair in a messier knot than mine. She looked unbelievably cute, in a way I couldn’t hope if I dressed like that.

She was also carrying a white box that she plopped down on the coffee table. “I brought doughnuts. We need fat for this conversation.”

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