“Won’t you fall asleep on the sofa, Mr. Quinn?”
“Not even for a second.”
“Good.”
We exchange a glance again before I open the door and leave his house; in my veins and my head, only the insane and desperate desire to run back to him as soon as I can.
26Eric
Ilet the kitchen staff know I’ll be taking a break and head over to Jake, who’s waiting for me at the bar.
“Hey!” I call out from the other side of the counter. Jake is drinking a beer. I duck down to open the fridge and pull an energy drink out for myself. “Where the hell have you disappeared to?”
“Hello to you, too.” He lifts his almost-empty pint glass in greeting.
“We needed you yesterday.”
“What do you mean?”
“Didn’t you hear?”
Jake shrugs and takes another sip.
“Sean’s sister went missing during a dinner at her boyfriend’s family’s restaurant. Sean couldn’t find her, so we turned the entire city upside-down all night looking for her, but thankfully she just showed up at his place early this morning.”
“Oh, really…?” Jake tugs at the collar of his shirt.
“Did you not even call Sean back? He must’ve left you at least ten messages!”
“I haven’t had a chance to listen to them, yet.”
I rest my hands on the bar and study him attentively. “What’s going on, Jake?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I thought Sean was your best friend?”
“He is.”
“His sister disappears and you don’t even call?”
“As I said, I was busy. I haven’t listened to his messages.”
He undoes a button of his shirt and gestures for me to refill his glass.
“You just drinking? Don’t you want anything to eat?”
“I ate before I came.”
I grab his glass and walk just far enough to pull him a new pint.
“You, not taking advantage of a free dinner?” I tease.
Jake eats here a lot, and I’m sure it’s not just because of the company.
I place the glass in front of him. Jake keeps his gaze down, his forehead beaded with sweat even though it’s not that hot in the restaurant tonight, and it’s nowhere near full.
“Jake…?” I ask, trying to call his attention.
