Page 161 of If Ever

I'm warmer now, my fever is kicking back into gear, so I wiggle out of my coat and glance around the room. There's an overturned crate on each side of the bed with an album cover on it serving as nightstands. A bookcase rests against one wall, closet doors on another, and two windows with shades pulled on the other. The walls are bare.

Dominic returns with water and a bottle of pain relievers. I take two and grimace each time I swallow. My throat burns.

Dominic frowns. "I hear the flu is really bad this year. Did you get a flu shot?"

"Of course not. That would have made sense." And I remember that Tanya was out sick. Did I get the flu because she was kissing Tom? That's just great.

"Are you sure I can't call Tom?"

"Don't! I just want it over. I can't bear to see him again."

Dominic frowns, but nods. "All right. You get some sleep."

***

I swept up the dead plant and once and for all dumped the remnants of Barbie into the trash. After a sleepless night worrying about Chelsea, I'm out of my mind. As of eight this morning, Anna still hasn't heard from her, but promised to contact the other girls to see if they know anything.

I wrack my brain to think of who she knows in the city, and other than a couple people in the cast, I can't think of anyone. I'm at a level of panic over her disappearance where normally, I'd call her parents, but with Chelsea that isn't an option. Maybe she just went to a hotel for a few days and will come back when she's calmed down. I hope. Please don't let it be the airport.

I can't think of any other bright ideas, so I head to the theater for the matinee. My mind is filled with images of Chelsea stranded in the cold somewhere, or at the Port Authority waiting for a bus. I pull up the collar of my coat as the wind whips. After talking with Anna, I understand why Chelsea freaked when I left. I'd had no idea my leaving with Barbie would dredge up her abandonment issues, which makes me an even bigger ass.

At the theatre, I check to see if anyone stopped by with a message, but nothing. Now's the time I need to pull myself together and put personal matters away, but until I know Chelsea is safe, I don't know how the hell I'm going to manage that. Everyone mills around going about their business as if it's a normal day. I duck into my dressing room unnoticed. There on my mirror is the snapshot of Chelsea and I from Celebrity Dance Off. Her twinkling eyes and exuberant face smile back at me.

"Chelsea, where are you?"

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