Page 168 of Finance Bros

He gives me a harsh look. “You made me skip my workout.”

“I didn’t make you do—” I shut up when I see my bedroom door open. “Hey,” I say to Deacon.

“You have a visitor.”

Calyx sits up and runs a hand through his hair. My heart thuds in anticipation of Malcolm. But Bailey slides past Deaconand comes in. She looks from Calyx to me, then at the empty beanbag. “Maybe we should send out a search party.”

“What?” I ask, trying to school my breathing rate back to normal.

“I was hoping Mal would be here, but if he’s not, and he’s not at his place?—”

“He’s not?” I ask.

She shakes her head and walks over to Calyx with her hand outstretched. “I’m Bailey.”

“I figured,” he says. “Calyx.”

“Oh, I know. Is that your given name?”

“No,” he says, and they shake hands.

“It’s not?” I ask.

He shakes his head.

“What is?”

He laughs. “Like I’d ever tell.”

Bailey asks, “Is it that bad?”

“In my opinion, yes.”

“Well Calyx was a good choice,” Bailey says. “Definitely suits you.”

“Thanks.”

“Anyway,” I cut in. “Malcolm. Have you talked to him at least?”

“I texted, but he didn’t text back,” Bailey says.

“He’s probably with Kaylin,” I say. The thought is a huge blow, but it’s logical. In theory, it’s possible he’s out with his guy friends getting drunk or something, but as pathetic as he sounded on the phone earlier, I can’t picture it. It makes more sense that he’d go to her—his safe place or whatever.

Yes. It pisses me off. I will kill the fuck out of him if they get back together—provided he was honest about them breaking up in the first place.

But Bailey dismisses my statement. “No way.”

“How would you know?”

“Because I was the one with him at lunch today while you were playing kissy face with that hottie.”

“Excuse me—I did notkissher. Are you sure he wasn’t home? Maybe he just didn’t want to come to the door.”

“I wasn’t subtle,” she says. “One of the neighbors told me to leave or he’d call the police.”

Calyx snorts a laugh. “I like her,” he says to me.

“Already? I think of her more like an acquired taste.”

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