Page 12 of Follow Me to Your Heart
“You’ve checked your phone at least twenty times within the last ten minutes, and I haven’t heard it go off or anything. What’s bothering you, Korren? Is it your mom?” Taylor asked as she curled my hair.
We were getting ready for the party. Taylor was doing my hair while Sienna fixed us shots and mixed drinks. I’d never been big on drinking, but I desired one night to be stress free. I desired one night to let my hair down and not care about anything. My two closest friends were with me, so it was the best time to do so.
I tossed my phone on the sink and huffed. My lips twisted as my mind went rampant with different thoughts. Briefly, I closed my eyes to gather myself before explaining, “Cage hasn’t been himself, and I don’t know what it is. He’s not really talking to me, which is unusual for him. He goes hours without texting me.His responses have been short, and I haven’t heard his voice all week. I don’t know what’s going on, but I don’t like it.”
“Even I know that’s unusual, but I don’t want you overthinking it. You and I both know the type of work Cage does can be extremely demanding. Things can happen out of the blue that requires all his attention. Did you reach out to his sister or anything?”
“No.” I shook my head. “I don’t want to make anyone else worry. It could only be me he’s acting like this with.”
“Well, you won’t know unless you ask, Korren.”
“Ask what?” Sienna questioned, carefully coming around the corner with a tray. She set the tray down before handing Taylor and me our shots. We toasted and threw them back. My throat burned like hell.
“Where are the chasers, Si?” I all but yelled, hopping up and doing a little dance.
Sienna giggled. “No chasers all night. Take it to the head and feel all the effects.”
Taylor grabbed her mixed drink and raised it in the air. “I’m with it. See, I like how you think, Sienna.”
“So what were y’all talking about?” Sienna inquired again, taking a sip of her drink.
Taylor mumbled something inaudible underneath her breath as she took a gulp of her drink and started back on my hair. I shot Sienna a knowing glare, only for her to wave me off as if it was no big deal. She acted as if I didn’t know her. She was being shady toward Taylor. I didn’t want to ruin the night, but I made a mental note to talk to her about it later.
“I was telling Taylor I haven’t really talked to Cage in the last few days.”
Sienna’s head jerked back. Her dark honey-colored irises almost popped out her head. She raked her hand through hershort boho braids and expressed, “That’s not normal. Is he okay? Did y’all have a fight or something?”
“No, we didn’t, which is why I’m worried.”
“You want me to call him?”
“It’s fine. If things aren’t normal by Sunday, I’ll reach out to Symone and see what’s up.”
“Good idea,” Taylor spoke, curling the last piece of my hair.
The music in the background stopped playing as my phone rung. I danced to the tune, excited to talk to my brother. He was one of the few people who had a special ringtone, so I automatically knew it was him.
“Hey, Kase. What are you doing?”
“Not much. I was thinking about you and wanted to check in. What you up to?”
I looked over my appearance in my full-length mirror and answered, “Nothing much. About to go to a party with Sienna and Taylor.”
“Aw, shit. I can’t believe Sienna came that way.”
Sienna playfully rolled her eyes. “Hey to you too, Kasey.”
“What’s good, Si? Hey, Taylor.”
“Heeeyyy!” Taylor sang, blushing. She’d never met Kasey in person, but from the pictures I showed her, she swore she was in love.
Kasey chuckled, then his tone turned serious. “I talked to Mom.”
“I don’t have anything to say to her right now, Kasey. What did she say? Blame everything on me?”
“You know how Alana is. She’s always the victim, so I need to hear your side of the story.”
While Taylor finished getting ready, I ran down everything that happened to Kasey. He listened intently, never interrupting which was one thing I loved about him. He was the type ofperson who made sure you were heard. A simple but great quality he got from our father.
