After leaving the party,I tried to do what I could to keep James’s mind off of his sister and what she said. We made out during a movie, had sex in the shower, got high, got drunk, and even worked on Sam’s project for a while. It seemed like everything I tried only worked for a short time before he’d slip back into staring blankly at nothing or looking lost and helpless. The entire night was like one long roller coaster ride.
When I roll over the next morning, I find a cold pillow and a half-empty bed. Last night comes back to me in steady waves, which I appreciate. My head hurts from the drinking and I’m exhausted, both physically and mentally, so I need to ease into the morning. I learned that while typical Jamie fucks like a god, when Jamie gets angry, he fucks like a demon. I’m a little sore and I’m sure I have random bruises all over me, but I regret nothing.
I check the time; it’s later than I expected, but I appreciate the extra time to sleep before we’re on the road and headed up the coast. He has at least three days planned out, but I’m hoping to convince him we need at least five to see everything. The longer I’m away, the better. The same goes for him.
“Jamie?” It’s a half-hearted moan that he might hear if he’s in the bathroom. I lay there waiting for him to come back to bed when Chase’s words come back to me.
Don’t let him leave.
“Jamie?” I yell out drunkenly. He’s probably in the kitchen or out working on his computer.
No answer.
I sit up, my head throbbing and mouth dry from the alcohol and weed. When I search around the room, I see no sign of him, so I yell out again, panic seeping into my voice. “James?!”
Don’t let him leave.
His suitcase and camera bag are gone, leaving only my bags by the bedroom door. I hobble out to the living room and he’s not there, either. His computer isn’t on the desk, his phone isn’t on the charger, and I can’t find any notes that he’s left telling me where he’s gone. Dread sets it as I run to get my phone.
Eleven missed texts, all from my mother. No new voicemails.
I call him and let it ring through to his voicemail, then hang up and call again. The fourth time I get his voicemail I leave a message, “Uhm, hi, it’s me. Where did you go? I, uhm, I thought we were going on our trip today but your stuff is gone and… James…Uhm, can you call me and tell me you’re okay? I love you. Please call me.”
I hang up and text him. Maybe I’m being a little extreme, but I keep hearing Chase in my head telling me not to let him leave. What the fuck does that even mean?
My phone rings and I answer it without even looking at the caller ID. “James?”
“Hey, no, sorry, it’s Sam.”My heart sinks, and I let myself fall onto the edge of the bed. I’m relieved that it’s Sam and not my mother.“Everything okay? Were you two at that party with Dani last night? Cause man, that’s one hell of a hangover she’s got. Sounds like maybe you’ve got it, too.”
“Uhm, yeah, yeah I was.”
“Damn, how late were you and Jamie up?”
“What do you mean?” Dani’s probably already told Sam about us, but this is a pretty forward question from Sam.
“Don’t get me wrong, these are stellar. Love the direction you guys are going. But you didn’t need to drop the prints off at four in the morning. That’s not what I meant when I said work whatever hours you want.”
“Four…four in the morning?”
“Well, that’s according to the timestamp on the video. Were you not with him? I just assumed you and he dropped them off together. Dani says you two are damn near inseparable since you met. I’m happy for you guys, by the way. Both of you.”
“Sam, stop. What are you talking about? What video?”
“The security camera. It shows Jamie swinging by and dropping these off this morning. The Jeep is just off camera, so I figured you were in there.” His voice changes from jovial to worried. “Lex, is something going on?
“I…No. I think it’s a hangover, like Dani’s. I guess James couldn’t sleep or something.”
“Alright, get some rest and get some coffee or whatever you drink.” I’m about to end the call when I hear him speak again, “Oh, and have fun in Frisco. It’s really nice this time of year. Tell Jamie to take you to the Cherry Blossom trees. They match your hair.”
“Yeah, yeah I will. Bye Sam.”
I pace the apartment. I call his number. I pace more. I try to work, but my mind is too worried to think straight. I pace more.
It’s three in the afternoon before I decide to call around to the local hospitals. I’m not sure if they can tell me if he’s there, since I’m not family. I lie to a few and say I’m his sister, but no one has him or anyone fitting his description that they know of. All this calling around might be bullshit I saw on television shows, but I’m trying it anyhow. The next thing I realize is that I don’t have his address or a clue where he lives other than Pasadena. I don’t even know how to get a hold of his friends to check on him. Then I remember Dani. How could I forget Dani?
I frantically call the office, but someone else answers and tells me she’s gone home for the day with a stomach bug. Dani’s hangovers are pretty intense, so that doesn’t surprise me. I call her cell and it goes to voicemail, so I text her. And wait.
A few hours later, I stop my pacing and nervous cleaning and take a deep breath. “He’s a grown man with his own life, and he doesn’t need to check in with you all the time. He’s probably with Cooper dealing with a lawyer.” I say to the empty room.
