Page 78 of Castle's Cards

“Hello?” There’s a confused tone in Nate’s voice that causes me to pause. Carter walks past me, keys in hand.

“Equestrian center,” he mouths. I nod and direct my attention back to the phone.

“Hi, Nate. It’s Addy. I was wondering if Izzy’s with you. I know she’s upset and she probably doesn’t want you to tell me but…”

“Oh, I thought you knew. Izzy and I aren’t dating anymore.”

There’s silence as I process what he’s just told me. I guess I’m not the only one hiding things.

“Sorry. I didn’t… thank you.”

I hang up before he can ask any other questions. My phone lights up, and when I look down I see it’s Carter.

“Hey. I sent a picture of the license plate from my security camera to my friend, and he was able to get an address for the car owner. I’m coming by to pick you up.”

“Oh, my God, thank you!” I hang up and grab my shoes before running out the front door. The five minute wait feels like five hours before Carter pulls up. I jump in and he speeds off. I don’t miss the similarity between the way we’re leaving and the way Izzy left earlier.

Ten minutes later, we pull up outside of what looks to be a bumping house party.

“Come on, Izzy,” I mutter under my breath. I know teenagers go to parties, and I’m sure Izzy’s been to plenty; I’m not an idiot. But this is not the place to be when she’s upset.

When I get out, Carter follows suit, hopping out of the car and following me. I approach a group of girls smoking on the lawn, choosing not to think about how they definitely aren’t old enough to be doing it.

“Hey, hi.” One of the girls looks at me. “Do any of you know Izzy? Have you seen her?”

The girl gives me a look and giggles to her friends. I ignore them and continue down the path before stepping foot into the house. Teenagers are everywhere, leaning against the walls drinking in groups. There’s a circle of kids smoking a bong in front of a TV blasting music. Only a few look up as I walk in, and if they notice that I’m not their age, they don’t seem to care. I approach a couple of girls in the corner. One looks up and raises her brow at me.

“Have you seen Izzy?” I ask. Carter’s voice floats somewhere behind me, asking another group the same question.

“Izzy…?” The girl responds, shaking her head.

“She went upstairs with Corey,” a guy on the couch says. I look over and nod before heading upstairs. There’s a line of kids waiting at one closed door that I instinctively know is the bathroom. I pass them and head to the door next to it, opening it. The room is empty. I back out and turn around to the door opposite. I put my ear to it. Giggling. This has to be it. I throw open the door and a girl shrieks.

“It’s the purple monster!” she cries out, pointing.

“She’s on acid. You’re not Mrs. Jones, are you?” the guy on the bed next to her asks sheepishly. I shake my head and close the door.

One room left. I don’t hesitate to storm in.

The two teens kissing on the bed pull away, and one of them is Izzy.

“Addy!” she cries out, her cheeks turning pink with embarrassment.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing, Izzy?” I shout. The guy backs away and runs past me out the door. I storm into the room and close the door behind me.

“God! I’m at a party, enjoying myself and letting off steam. Why can’t you let me?”

“I would love to! But you can’t disappear into a strange car and expect me not to look for you!” I sit down on the bed next to her. “I’m sorry for not telling you about Dad. I wanted to. I planned to. I just didn’t know how. It wasn’t easy.”

“You told everyone else.”

“Not everyone else, no. And it was easy to tell the people I did tell because it didn’t mean anything to them. You’re the only other person who knows exactly how it feels to hear that your father is dying.”

Izzy looks at me and sighs.

“I know. After the anger went away, I felt bad.” Izzy looks down at her hands. “It just makes me feel left out when so many other people seemed to know before me. And now I find out you’re pregnant. We used to tell each other everything and now it’s like you don’t tell me anything.”

I laugh and shake my head.

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