Page 57 of Daydream

Henry is sitting on my porch, and like a bad fucking omen, Will’s name comes up on my caller ID again. Henry stands with his sketch pad and overnight bag, mouthing, “Are you okay?” when I don’t get out of the car.

Reluctantly, I press answer, rationalizing I’d rather get it over with now instead of having him potentially call all night. “Hey. What’s up?”

“Since when does it take calling you six times to get you to answer?”

“Since when do you call me?”

“Your sister is here,” he says flatly.

That gets my attention. “What do you meanyour sister is here? Where? Where are you?”

“You sure forgot my schedule quickly, Hallebear,” he says, and if I could reach through the phone and shake him I would.

“What the hell would Gigi be doing in San Diego on a Friday night? Are you trying to stress me out on purpose or are you just that oblivious?”

“I wouldn’t call me oblivious when one of us knows why your sister is in the wrong state and one of us doesn’t.”

I hate him. I hate him so much. “Will, put Gigi on, please.”

“She doesn’t know I’m calling you. She specifically asked me not to call you, actually. She didn’t think you’d be chill about it, and I’m inclined to agree with her. She’s safe, though. I’m looking after her.”

“I feel like you think I won’t drive to San Diego and murder you, but I will. Explain, now.”

He laughs, and the urge to get on the road increases dramatically. “I like you when you’re feisty. Gianna lied to your parents and said she was going on a campus tour with a friend and friend’s parents. Clearly nobody followed up with anyone’s parents because the friend is older than Gi and can drive, and they were actually visiting the friend’s older sister. Gi and her friend had an argument about sneaking into a party and the friend said bye-bye. I got a call after mygame—won by the way, thanks for asking—from your sister, asking if you were here, then when I said no, she asked for a place to crash. And because I’m a good guy, I said yes.”

Gianna’s sudden interest in college tours now makes sense.

“Where is she now?” I ask Will.

“She’s downstairs watching TV with the guys.”

“You left my baby sister alone with your roommates? For fuck’s sake, Will. Go get her! My mom is going to flip.”

“I think you should come down. We can work out a plan to return her and probably avoid telling your mom altogether.”

Henry’s looking really concerned by my front door as I look between him and my windshield. “Fine. I’ll leave in a second. Do not let her out of your sight. I mean it, Will. Make sure everyone knows she’s a minor. If I get there and they’re so much as looking in her direction, I will burn down your house.”

“Whoa. Jesus, Hals,” he says, and I’ve shocked myself as much as I’ve shocked him. I think I’m still reeling from finding out my friends had their drinks spiked, and I’ve never liked Will’s roommates. As not funny as this situation is, it’s funny to think that if Gigi had turned up on Henry’s doorstep, I’d have no worries about leaving her in the care of his friends. “I’ll make them all wear blindfolds if it makes you happy. Just get here.”

As soon as I climb out of my car Henry walks toward me. “I need to go to San Diego. It’s a long story, can I call you from the car to explain?”

“Do you need me to come?” Henry asks.

“No, no. It’s just little sister stuff, and you have a game tomorrow. Would you be able to feed Joy for me and hang out with her for a little while? If you can’t, I can ask Mrs. Astor to take her until I’m back.”

“Cat duty. Got it,” he says. His hands cup my neck and I instinctively gravitate toward him, his lips press against the crown of myhead. I want him to do it a million more times. “Call me if you need me. I’m pretty sure Aurora can charter a helicopter or a jet.”

I still haven’t determined when Henry’s touch became soothing to me, but I sink into him, resting my cheek against his chest. “I’ll call you from the road, promise.”

THE ONLY POSITIVE THING ABOUTthe drive to Will’s is getting a chance to catch up on my audiobook for book club. Literally theonlypositive.

When I called Henry to explain, his first question was how could a kid leave the state and her parents have no idea she was lying to them. My mom and stepdad aren’t negligent, although I accept that this isn’t their greatest work. I would’ve never even considered doing this at Gigi’s age, and Grayson had no reason to sneak around because he got away with everything anyway. They’re just inexperienced.

Henry’s second point was she’s lucky she was at a college where she knew someone, but the alternative is not something I can stomach right now.

There’s an unmistakable unsettled feeling in my gut as I pull up in front of Will’s place. I’ve been here so many times, and yet a little time away and a new group of friends have made me realize how not unwelcome, but not welcome I was. The reception I receive when I go to Henry or Cami’s house compared to here is so different. But I truly didn’t realize at the time.

Knocking on the door hard, I can hear laughter on the other side, and see Gigi and Will’s roommates when he finally opens the door. “Hi, baby,” he says, leaning in to kiss me. I don’t think he’s ever called me “baby” before.

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