My blood is boiling, and along with my sadness and misery, a new feeling emerges. Jealousy. Raging jealousy. There is no fucking way she is just staying there; that fuckface was onto her for a long time. I have to go. I gotta get to her before it's too late. What if it's too late? What will I do?
"Whoa, bro. Relax." Jake tells me, his hand outstretched.
“Don’t talk to me, Jake. I don’t want to hear a word from your mouth.”
"He is your brother, honey. He tried to help you." Mom tries to mitigate again to break up the fight.
“Mom… Just don’t.” I raised a hand to stop her, silently begging her not to mediate. At least not now.
“I think you should talk to Marina. She’d know where Kayla is.” She gently pats my cheek, and I feel a lump in my throat. Why does it feel like I already lost her?
ChapterThirty-Three
JUSTIN
When I leave my parents’ house, I call Freya right away. After yelling at me for bothering her with the same question (even though I remind her of the similar questions she asked me when Alex was gone) before listening to my story about Jake and his stupidity, she says:
“I’m sorry, Justin. That’s awful. I don’t know why Jake would do something like that.”
“Yeah, that makes two of us. Can you give me her address?” I don't need anyone's apologies now; I need information.
“I don’t have it.” She sounds defeated.
I bite back the harsh remark I really want to yell and calmly say instead, “Freya, I thought you were my friend.”
"Justin, I don't have it. I swear. And I don't think Alex does. Hold on," she yells so loudly I almost lose hearing, "Alex, do you have Archie's address?" I hear a grunting noise, and his 'no’ comes through.
“How the fuck doesn’t he have his address?” I growl at Freya. But I feel bad. I know she doesn't deserve my anger.
“They just reconnected, so chill." Freya's voice takes a defensive tone, just like every time someone talks ill of Alex. "Alex is saying he can ask for his address."
"Please," I beg.
There's silence on the other end.
“Freya?”Please, don’t tell me it got disconnected.
There's a gasp. "D-did you just say please?” She stutters slightly.
“Have Alex text it to me when he knows it.” And I hang up.
The next stop is Marina.
By the time I pull into her driveway, I’m a sweaty mess. I thought she didn’t like me, and I’m still convinced she doesn’t, but her unexpected friendship with my mom gives me hope.
I take a deep breath before raising my fist to knock on her door. I have to admit, I'm scared of Marina. Like, really scared. I never know what's going on in that woman’s head.
The door swings open, and Marina appears, a smug smile plastered on her face. She's cutting an apple with a small, sharp-looking knife. I swallow—it’s better than a shotgun, at least. "Your mother called and said you might be coming by."
“Yeah.” I meet her eyes and hold them. “Did she tell you why?”
“She might have mentioned, yes.” She smirks, chewing her apple.
“Will you help me?” I ask hopefully.
"Why would I do that?" She asks, eating a slice of the apple.
I stare into her eyes, praying she'll believe my words. "Because you love Kayla, and I love Kayla, and we both want what's good for her."
