Page 13 of Missing Linc
I turn the tap off and bring the toothbrush to my lips, but…
I can’t do it. I can’t brush my teeth. I can’t erase his lingering taste in my mouth.
“For fuck’s sake.” I roll my eyes at myself and get the job done, but when I spit out the paste, I feel guilty.
I must be going crazy.
I switch the light off in my en suite and lay down in bed, staring at the dark ceiling. I don’t mean to, but the conversations from earlier on play out like I’m at a cinema and I’m watching a flick and not my own life.
Was I flirting tonight?
No, it can’t be. I’m pretty sure I kept it friendly, conversational. Unless it’s been so long since I last flirted that I didn’t even know I was doing it.
Did I give Cam the wrong impression? Did I lead him on? Was that why he kissed me? Or was it simply a drunken slip-up?
Whatever it was, I know I need to apologize to him and hopefully we can move past it. I mean, we’re meant to be working together tomorrow. We’ll have to get over it and be professional.
I have to be professional, instead of… whatever the hell this is.
Maybe Makayla screwed me up way more than I thought.
Eventually I nod off. It’s a dreamless sleep, but I do wake up a few seconds before my alarm. I need to be at the studio at nine. I’ve got two hours.
I get up, drink my mandatory bottle of water, and step into my home gym for some much needed exercise.
Is Cam going to make it today? Is he going to wake up on time? Will he even have a mind for rehearsals or is he going to have to sit out for the day and just observe?
What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I stop thinking and worrying about him?
“I’m going crazy,” I mumble to myself as I jump into the shower and get cleaned up before I set off for work.
Should I check on him? I’ve got his address from last night. He got home safely as far as I can tell, but maybe he needs a ride. I mean, he did leave his car at Stone’s.
No, that would be creepy. Right?
And here I go thinking about him and his wellbeing again?
Maybe it’s because he’s so young and he’s my actor. Maybe it’s because I know he’s a student and the teacher in me wants him to be safe.
“Don’t go all Isaac on me, Linc,” I tell myself in the rearview mirror.
I’m not my best friend. I’m not going to be the teacher who gets obsessed about a student and then hooks up with him.
I’ve got more chances of hooking up with a female student than Cam.
Why do I have to keep reminding myself I’m straight the last few days? Is this a midlife crisis? I’m not even close to forty yet. Is it because I broke up with Makayla after seven years together?
Yeah, that’s it. That’s got to be it. I’m just all fucked up in the head because I got out of a long term relationship with a psycho.
I get into the studio ten minutes before nine with a Firefly Café Hazelnut Latte, and when I get out, I see the lights of Stone’s Bar are out. It looks almost abandoned in this state. How odd.
And there’s one car parked in the parking lot next to it. It’s an old yellow Toyota Yaris.
“Yeah, that’s definitely his,” I mumble to myself.
“That’s definitely whose?” someone says behind me, and I turn to find Lenka.
“Nothing,” I shake my head and lock my car.
