Page 101 of When Love Is Unexpected

"Okay," says Katherine, "but are you okay?"

"No," I say, "I'm not okay. I'm confused, hurt, and angry, and not okay."

"I'm sorry, Sweetie," she says. "We love you."

"I know," I say. "I can't wait to get home."

I end the call and dial Loren.

"Laila," she says as soon as she picks up, "Adam called this morning to let us know you were coming home."

"I'm so sad, Loren." The tears start to flow, and I can do nothing to stop them.

"I'm sorry, Sis. I'm so sorry. Is there anything we can do?"

"I wish I had never met him."

"You don't mean that," she says. "There has to be some logical explanation no matter how bad it looks."

"It's pretty bad," I say. "He lied to me, Loren. How can I ever trust him again? He broke my heart."

Chapter 24

Sam

I keep replaying last night's events in my mind, wondering how something so perfect could go so wrong.

After my dance with Patricia, I returned to our table and waited. I thought Laila had gone to the ladies' room. When she didn't return after ten minutes, I asked Kim to check in on her, and I found out she wasn't there.

I called her, but there was no answer. The last time I saw her, she was with Jim, so I looked for him. He was gone, too.

"Kim," I said, "do you have Jim's phone number?"

"Murphy or Morris?" she asked.

"Murphy."

I called the number.

"Hello," Jim said.

"Jim, this is Sam."

"Sam, I just dropped off Laila at your folks' house."

"Why? I asked. "What happened?"

"She saw you and Tricia making out."

"What are you talking about?"

"I don't know, man," he said. "We all saw it."

"She kissed me," I said in my defense. "We were not making out."

"Well," he said, "you're going to have to explain that to her."

"Are you coming back to the hall?"

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