Page 168 of Perfect

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Theo, 12:35 PM:

Sweetheart, please answer the phone.

Theo, 12:39 PM:

I need to talk to you, Alex.

Theo, 12:42 PM:

I love you so fucking much.

Theo, 12:45 PM:

Honey, please pick up.

Theo, 12:48 PM:

Call me back as soon as you can.

Theo, 12:51 PM:

Sweetie, I know Pilates is over.

Theo, 12:57 PM:

Alexandria Marie Shearer, answer your goddamn phone.

Theo, 1:02 PM:

Sorry, I’m upset. Please pick up.

Theo, 1:06 PM:

Are you okay?

Theo, 1:09 PM:

Alex?

By one-fifteen, Alex still hasn’t called me back or answered any of my texts, and I’m getting increasingly nervous. I call her five more times, but I keep getting her voicemail. I call the office several times and get the office voicemail, and I start to lose it.

I wish I still had those fucking cameras, because I just need to see that she’s alright. I think about checking the tracker, but Dr. Mills’ words are still bouncing around in my brain.

I’m not going to check it.

I need to control myself for once in my fucking life.

I can prove to Alex that I can love her however she needs, no matter how wrong it feels to me. I have to give her the option toactuallylove me, and if I’m extremely fucking lucky, she might still want to.

I struggle to focus on my breathing, but all that goes to shit when I get a call from Catherine fifteen minutes later. I answer the phone, and she starts talking before I can.

“Theo, have you seen Alex?”

“I’ve been in Salem. What the fuck is going on?” I hear her swear softly.

“She’s been gone since noon, and all her things are here. Normally, she’s back around one, and we’re getting worried.” Panic races through me.

“I’m coming back right now. I’ll be there as soon as I can, okay?”

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