Page 86 of Out of the Blue

“Fuck!” My scream bounces off the empty room.

I toss my hair over my shoulder. I have to find a way to make this up to him. It’s not like Braxton doesn’t want anything to do with him. No. He’s basically welcomed him into the family.

Lucky bastard.

My cell rings and I stare at it, reading Juanita’s name through the five rings. She calls right back. Tapping my foot, I answer. “Hola.”

“I take it you caught theIn the Knowsegment?”

“Yeah.”

“At least they gave your proper title. And a shout out to the band.”

Leave it to my sister to look for a silver lining. “Yee-haw.”

“I’m guessing Trent’s pissed.”

“You could say that. He kicked me out of his hospital room. I’m at his house now in Jersey City. I’m going to pack up my things and head over to you, I guess.” My voice trails off. Just what I wanted—to go crawling home to my mother. Again.

“Oh, Cordelia, I’m so sorry. I thought you two were the real deal. Maybe you only need a little time apart? I’m sure he’ll cool down soon.”

I laugh without humor. “I think our break is going to take the rest of my life.”

“Then it’s his loss.”

Her belief in me is cute. Too bad I don’t need cute right now. Or ever. “Listen, I can’t talk now. Can you let Mamá know I’ll be over there tonight?”

“Sure. I still believe in you guys.”

“Gotta go.” Without waiting for her to say anything else, I hit the red button and drop my phone onto the recliner.

Juanita’s belief in us consumes my heart. He told me he loves me. So did I! And I still do. He’s the full package for me—a beautiful, shattered heart wrapped up in a fascinating mind and a body that makes even tone-deaf me sing. Our month together was the best one of my life, bar none.

He made me believe. In myself. In his band. In the supposed better nature of the world. I don’t want to lose this, because if I do, I’ll never find it again. What did my sister say? She thought we were the real deal?

My shoulders push against the back of the puffy chair. Wewerethe real deal, dammit. So, I fucked up. It’s not like he’s never made a mistake before. After all, he was the one who ran his mouth off about Dwight’s having ADHD.

True, he didn’t blab some massive secret affecting two families’ lives to the entire world. But he did divulge a secret that was decades in the making whenhetold Braxton he was his father. I can’t be banished from his life so easily. I am Cordelia Hernandez.

I jump to my feet. In minutes, I’m on public transportation returning to New York City. Over an hour later, I stride through the lobby of the hospital and go directly to Trent’s floor. We can work this out.

We have to.

I stop outside of his room. Now I’m here, tremors take over my body. I shake out my hands and bounce from foot to foot. We’re good together. We can get through this … misunderstanding. After all, I didn’t affirmatively divulge his secret.

Taking one last deep breath, I fill my lungs with clean air. Preparing myself to beg, I let out my breath and push open the door.

To an empty room.

I blink away the mirage.

Nothing changes.

None of Trent’s things are here—flowers, cards, even his clothes in the closet, which stands open. And empty.

I rush out of the room and double-check the number. Yes. This is the right place.

Like a fool, I crouch down to make sure he’s not hiding under the bed. Where can he be? Did he have an adverse reaction? Did something happen while I was gone?

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