Page 21 of Stay Baby Stay

“I’m sorry y’all had to go through that,” he says.

“Kenzie had it way worse than I did.”

“That doesn’t mean it didn’t affect you.” He squeezes my hand. “You sacrificed your safety and comfort to get McKenzie out of a terrible situation.”

Technically it was Kenzie who suggested we run, but I was the one who made sure we packed enough supplies. It was my idea to slip off on the way to school instead of trying to sneak out at night. Kenzie’s a hot-air balloon full of ideas and impulsive kinetic energy. But it’s my anxiety-driven forethought that keeps her tethered to the ground when everything inside her wants to float away.

“She’s my best friend,” I tell him. “I’d do anything for her.”

I eat a few more bites of my breakfast, filling myself almost to the point of bursting. When you don’t know where your next meal’s going to come from, you learn to load up on calories wherever you can get them, no matter how upset you might be.

Cal and I sit quietly as the server takes my plates and refills our coffees.

“So,” I say, “what do we do now?”

He rakes a hand through his light-brown hair. “Well, as of this morning, I’m on administrative leave.”

Anxiety flutters around my stomach like a moth whose lamplight’s been extinguished.

“Does that mean you can’t help me?” I ask. I’ve only just gotten used to the idea of trusting a cop. The thought of him passing me off to a stranger makes my palms sweat.

“On the contrary, it means I’m the best person to help you. Nobody’s gonna be looking at me.”

“Why would they be looking at you in the first place?”

His gaze takes on a faraway glint, which he quickly blinks away. “My partner and I have been working a case involving missing girls.”

“Missing girls?” My throat muscles tighten. Kenzie did say she’d heard a couple of sex workers at the bar talking about a friend of theirs who’d disappeared recently.

“Mostly prostitutes,” Cal says. “We believe the person taking them might be an associate of Russell King’s.”

“Who’s Russell King?”

“The man whose party you attended last night.”

“Oh...” I’m a little embarrassed that I didn’t know that, but it’s not like Steph was especially forthcoming. “Is that why you were there undercover?”

“More or less.” He skims his thumb across my knuckles. Something in his touch sends a cold shiver throughout my entire body. I get the feeling he’s holding something back, but I guess that would make sense. He’s probably not supposed to talk to non-cops about cases he’s investigating.

I take back my hand to rub my eyes, no doubt smearing my mascara.

“Take a deep breath, sweetheart,” Cal says. “I promise you, I’m gonna do everything I can to find McKenzie.”

My lungs expand, taking their cue from Cal as though his suggestion were law. I don’t usually enjoy being bossed around by people who think they know what’s best for me. But with Cal, it doesn’t feel like he’s being bossy. It feels like he wants me to be safe and healthy.

Somehow, in the midst of my fear and dread, I find a sliver of hope.It’s going to be all right,I tell myself. We’re going to bring Kenzie home.

“Thank you, Cal.”

He smiles, and I can’t get over how handsome he looks in the daylight. “Save your thank yous for after I’ve done my job. In the meantime, I don’t like the idea of this guy knowing where you live. We can’t rule out the possibility that he’s after you.”

I try to think of places I could crash and come up empty. I don’t have any friends other than Kenzie, and I have no money for another motel room. In fact, I don’t even have money to pay for this breakfast.

“I’m not exactly swimming in options,” I mumble.

His Adam’s apple shifts in his throat as he swallows.

“You can stay at my place,” he says.

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