Page 106 of DadBod

ELIZABETH

I must’ve fallen asleepthe second I made it home. The sound of my phone ringing for the millionth time has forced me to wake up, even though all I want to do is ignore the world and sleep forever. Reaching for my apron I dropped on the floor as soon as I got to my bed, I drag it closer to the bed and retrieve my phone. “Probably Jeriann.” Glancing at my Felix the Cat clock, I note the time. Nine thirty. The restaurant would still be busy with people. It’s definitely not Jeriann.

Unlocking the screen, I check my missed calls. There are several from Jeriann and one from Rome. His was the last one, actually. The message icon shows a number one, which means someone left a message. Clicking the icon, I see Rome’s number. “Nope.” Hitting delete, I flop back down onto my bed. I have no interest hearing what he’s got to say. Hell, he probably wants to bitch at me a bit more. “No thanks.”

Flopping back own onto my bed, I’m tempted to fall back to sleep, when my phone rings again. This time, it’s Jeriann. “Hello?”

“Jesus. Where have you been?”

“Asleep.”

“We need your help.”

At the restaurant? “No.”

“Yes. Ryann’s gone.”

“Gone?”

“Yeah. She and Rome got into it after you left. She ran off.”

Sitting up, I swing my legs over and place them on the ground. “She’s probably at Phee’s.”

“No. She’s not at Phee’s, not at home, or at that friend’s house. The one that lives down the street.”

“Becca.”

“Yeah. She’s none of those places.”

Shit. Where would she go? The animal shelter is closed. “Did Rome ask Becca…?”

“Yeah. She swears she has no idea where she is.”

“Okay.” Looking around my place for a pair of shoes, I spy my old flip-flops near the door. “Let me think.” Slipping them on, I reach for my purse. “If I come back, is Rome going to scream at me again?”

“No. I think he’s sorry about that.”

“What did you do? Did you make him sorry?”

“Me, Ryann, and Calvin. Mostly Ryann, though.”

“Ryann?”

“Yeah. She was majorly pissed at him. She told him he was out of line and that he didn’t give you a chance to explain anything and that he was an asshole and a terrible boyfriend and that he probably just lost the love of his life because he chose to listen to a manipulative shrew instead of his heart.”

“Huh?” Boyfriend? Sure, I should be focused on the rest of what she said, but that seems to be the part I’m stuck on.

“How did she know?”

“Everyone knows Monica is a manipulative shrew.”

“No. About me and Rome?”

“Kids are pretty perceptive.”

That’s very true. “Where could she have gone?” I have no idea. “The only thing I can think of is Charlie.”

“I called Bernie. The place is locked up tight. The night person won’t be there until ten to check on the animals.”

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