"Oh." I released a long, unsteady breath. "Really?"
"Yeah," she said. "I had to practically beg everyone to keep it quiet. Not that it did any good. So who told you? Mom?"
"No."
"Dad?"
"No."
"Steve? Anthony? Who?"
"Jake."
"Shut up," she said. "You don't mean Jake Bishop?"
"Your future brother-in-law? Yeah. That's exactly who I mean."
"Oh my God," she said. "He found you?"
"Sort of."
"I knew it," she muttered. "Why was he looking for you anyway? Wait. Are you sure you're okay? He's not with younow, is he?"
"No. Jeez, I'm fine. I'm in a dressing room."
"You're in trouble," she said. "I can tell."
"I am not." Not at the moment anyway. "But I am staying with Jake, so–"
"What!" she said. "You can't be serious."
"Why not?"
"Because," she said, "the guy's a total criminal."
"He is not," I said.
"He is too. He's been in and out of jail for as long as I can remember."
"Yeah, but not for anything big," I pointed out. "Fights mostly. Usually with his Dad. Who's a total drunk, by the way."
"So?"
"So no wonder Jake fought with him."
"Wait a minute," she said. "You don't actuallyknowhim, do you?"
"I did," I said. "Sort of. Remember?"
"No. I don't remember," she said. "He's like five years older than you. You didn't date him or anything. Did you?"
"God no." Not that he'd asked. "Now seriously, stop worrying. I called because there's something I really need to know, like now."
"What?" she asked.
"What exactly does Jake do for a living?"
She made a scoffing sound. "Nothing," she said. "Well, nothing legal, I'm guessing."