Page 308 of Hide and Keep

“What are you looking for?” my dad asks from the table.

“My girlfriend. Have you seen her?”

“She wasn’t in your room?”

“Nope.”

“Did you check the bathroom?”

I give him a flat look. These are not helpful suggestions.

After an apologetic shrug, he unfolds his newspaper, letting the bottom half fall open. When he opens it, something inside makes his eyes bulge.

“I think I might know where she is.”

“Where?” I ask, getting closer. Without waiting for an answer, I take the paper right out of his hands.

“I don’t know how to tell you this, son…”

Staring up at me is a large black-and-white picture of Mallory Larson and tucked against his side is Ever.

“I recognize this picture,” I say. “This was at a gala last month.”

“Did you read the headline at the top of the page?”

My eyes find it, but my brain refuses to believe it.

“They’re not… That’s… She…”

“It says the wedding is today.”

“No.” I shake my head. Fuck no. She’s not getting… Married? Today? To fucking Mallory?

“Ever?” I bellow and drop the paper. She’s here. With me. She has to be.

“She didn’t tell you she was engaged?”

“Dad!” I warn as I tear through the house, checking every nook and cranny, even behind the couch because if her mom made her play hours of hide-and-seek, she must be pretty goodat it. That’s all this is. She’s just…hiding. Once I find her, I’m keeping her. She’s mine.

She’s…

Not here.

“Fuck!”

“What’s going on?” my mom asks, rushing out of her bedroom with a towel wrapped around her head and wearing a robe.

My dad tilts the paper in her direction and I watch her eyes do the same thing his did.

“Mom, did you see Ever this morning?”

“No, but…honey…”

I put a hand up to silence her. No. No. It can’t be real. This is an elaborate prank. Ever loves to get one over on me. She’s just a funny girl, pulling a funny—

“She looks like she really loves him if that’s any consolation,” my mom says.

“What? She doesn’t lovehim. She’s not marryinghim.”

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