Page 71 of Love Takes Home

“Lucas?” Aubrey asks quietly. “Are you alright in there?”

“Yeah,” I whisper back. “I’m okay. Can you have Aunt Ginny call Davis?”

“I can do that. We’ll get you out in a minute.”

“Aubrey, you need to keep playing so I can make a call, okay? Make them think we’re just practicing in here.”

“Okay, Ms. Mills. Any particular song?”

“Whatever you want, just make it loud.”

I don’t know how long I stay in this closet, but the walls are starting to close in on me. I hope Ginny called Davis, and he’s on his way. I have to get out of here.

Chapter 23

Ginny

Ginny: Need you. At the school. Can’t talk. Trying to find a way to reach Davis—Lucas needs us.

Joker: I’m on my way.

I send the messageas soon as I know Keith and those other kids are gone.

“Ms. Mills?” Aubrey asks, her voice trembling. “Wha—what do we do?”

I look around the room, at a loss.

“I don’t know,” I tell her honestly. “But you should call whoever is picking you up and tell them to come get you now.”

“I don’t want to leave you,” she whispers.

“I’m the one who’s supposed to be taking care of you, remember?” I smile at her.

“But we have to get Lucas out of here, too.”

“I know, sweetheart.”

I go to the cabinet and open the door. Lucas is curled up behind the cello case, a look of fear and determination on his face.

“Are they gone?” he asks.

“For now. We need to get you out of here.”

I help him out of his hiding spot and look around the room again. When I land on the wall of instruments, I get an idea.

“Aubrey, help me open the hard-shell case. The big one, for the bass.”

Her eyes light up, understanding what I want to do. It might not work, but it’s worth a try. I pull out my phone and text Joker again.

Ginny: Need the truck. Please tell me that’s what you have.

He responds immediately.

Joker: Two minutes away from school, in truck.

“Oh, thank goodness,” I whisper to myself.

Aubrey has the case open and is pulling out the instrument, placing it in a wall stand.

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