Page 105 of Rayna's Daddy

“Rayna, this is my best friend, Robbie.” He pulled Robbie over to me. My feet seemed to be glued to the ground. It felt surreal to be on the other side of the country, so far away from the last three months.

“Hi.” I waved.

“Nice to meet you.” He looked me up and down.

“Jasper’s going to take you to your place.” Tyler took my arm and pulled me toward the front car. “You can use him for the day if you want to get some groceries or something.”

“I could get an Uber.” I stepped away.

“Nope. Kyler insists.” He opened the back seat of the car. Jasper came back around the plane with two huge suitcases in tow. The flight attendant had my bag, and another rolling carry on. Tyler packed a lot for two days.

Jasper put the suitcases in the back of the SUV.

“Those aren’t mine.” I pointed to my small suitcase. “Just that one.”

“I’m pretty sure those belong to you, too.” Tyler grinned. “I’m a clothes whore, but even I don’t need two bags for a thirty-six-hour trip.”

Robbie giggled next to him. I wondered if Robbie knew Tyler was a little. It didn’t matter. I had more important things to worry about. Like what the heck was in those suitcases.

“Give me your phone.” Tyler held his hand out.

I searched in my backpack, found my phone, and unlocked it, hoping to find a text from Kyler. Nothing. I handed it to Tyler.

“I’m giving you my number.” He typed into the contact’s screen. “You need anything or just want to talk, give me a call.”

He had sent himself a text to get my number. He leaned in and kissed both my cheeks. “Take care, little Rayn Drop.” He winked and shut me into the car.

Jasper slid into the driver’s seat.

“Ms. Rayna,” He half turned in his seat. “Where to?”

I gave him my address, and we were off.

We pulled up in front of my apartment twenty minutes later. The place looked the same. Run down and kind of scary. I chalked it up to my new appreciation for the finer things in life.

“I have to get the key from the leasing office. Can you give me a minute?” I slid out of the back seat.

“Of course.”

I scampered up the stairs and into the building. The office was to the left of the entrance. I didn’t recognize the woman sitting behind the front desk.

“Hi.” I smiled. “My names Rayna Smith. I need to pick up my key for room 305.”

She barely looked up. She typed something into her computer.

“What was your name again?” She asked.

“Rayna Smith.”

“I don’t have a Rayna Smith moving in today.” She scrunched her face up and sucked her teeth.

“I’ve lived here for the last two years.” I tried to keep my voice strong. “305.”

She typed on her computer again and then turned the monitor to face me. “Nope. No Rayna Smith.” She pointed. “And 305 is not being rented this semester.”

“What are you talking about?” She turned the monitor back toward her, but I grabbed it and turned it back. I read down the list of apartments and my name wasn’t on it. “You rented out my apartment?”

“You know, when you move out for the summer, you have to submit a request if you’re returning the next semester.” She grabbed the computer again. “We don’t just hold the room open.”

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