Page 61 of Concealed

But she answers so fast, that I’m not even sure it rang.

“Rebecca?”

Her voice brings tears to my eyes because I’ve missed her so much. I shouldreallyhang up, but I can’t bring myself to do it.

“It’s me.”

The anchor of dread falls from my stomach to my feet, but it’s still not enough to quell my happiness at finally hearing her voice.

“ThankGod. Where are you?” she demands.

“I can’t tell you that, Alex. But I’m okay. Things will level out soon and then…”

What?

And then what?

I have no idea when it’s going to be safe enough to tell Alex where I am or to get together with her. Will the rest of my life be spent hiding in a small town that no one has heard of?

If living this way keeps me alive, then maybe.

“I won’t tell anyone. I’m your best friend, and even I can’t know where you are?”

The hurt in her voice makes my heart ache because she is the only person I have left outside of my family. And even though I haven’t spoken to them, Gabe let me know they’re relieved that I’m okay and can’t wait to hear directly from me.

“Are you still in the state?” she presses.

“No,” I reply, figuring that admission is okay. Of course, I would leave Nevada like my pants were on fire. But that doesn’t mean I have to tell her where I am now. “Tell me about you. I need to be distracted.”

After she tries a few more times to dig about my whereabouts, she seems to realize that I’m not going to relent.

It’s summer break now, but she launches into stories about the school year that she hasn’t had a chance to tell me, making me laugh at the crazy antics of the students and faculty alike.

It’s good to hear her voice, to catch up, and to ground myself in the real world rather than the strange but sometimes delicious bubble I’ve been ensconced in.

“I miss you,” she whispers.

Tears fill my eyes, and my throat is so tight that it aches. “I miss you, too.”

We used to sneak getting together when Matt was working – or out cheating on me – whenever we could, but we always had weekly chats on the phone.

It’s been so hard to lose all connection to my best friend. Wyatt is fantastic company, but his schedule is all over the place, and being with him is not the same as talking to a girlfriend.

Alex is telling me about a family barbecue she’s dreading because of her crazy Aunt Gertrude when the radio switches from music to give an update on the traffic and weather.

It’s only after the broadcaster mentions Sunnyville that I realize my mistake.

My deadly mistake.

“Sunnyville?” Alex asks innocently. “Where’s that?”

I bolt from the couch so quickly that I bump the table and send the smoothie hurtling to the ground with a crash, a bright green mess covering the floor.

Running to the kitchen at full speed and clicking the radio off is a bit like locking the door after a house has already been robbed.

It’s too late.

She knows.

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