“I don’t have to answer shit,” Jason spits, rising shakily to his feet.
“Then I’ll call the cops and you can answer to them.” We already know the cops won’t do shit. There’s no proof Jason attacked Lexi that night and she couldn’t confirm it. Except… Aiden. Holy shit, he witnessed it, and when I asked him about last night, he seemed like he knew who Jason was. Maybe he can identify him.
My phone goes off and I pull it out. It’s Ryan. Thought you should know Lexi is here. She asked us not to tell anyone, but if Micaela ran, I would want to know she’s safe.
What the fuck? She ran. Why?
“Tristan, I found her,” I tell him.
He turns around. “She okay?”
“Yeah.”
He glances back at Jason. “I know damn well it was you who attacked my daughter. And now that I know what you look like, you better watch your fucking back.” He picks up Jason’s board, and while holding it, he uses the weight of his foot and snaps it in half. Then he walks toward Mason and me. “Let’s go.”
We follow him over to my truck. “Ryan texted me that she’s at their house.”
“In San Diego?” Tristan asks, sounding as confused as I am. “Her sister’s graduation is in a few hours. What the hell is she doing there?”
“I don’t know. He said she ran and asked them not to tell anyone, but he knew I would be freaking the fuck out.” Speaking of which…
Me: Thank you. Is she driving back down with you guys?”
Ryan: I don’t think so. She’s crying and Micaela is talking to her. She said she’s not going. I just wanted you to know she’s okay.
Me: Thanks.
“He said she’s not planning to go to the graduation.”
“What the hell happened?” Tristan asks. “She would never miss her sister’s graduation.”
“Did you two get into a fight?” Mason asks.
“No, I haven’t even been home in four days. Had to pull a ninety-six-hour shift. Got home and she was already gone. She came by here last night and saw Aiden. Bought him tacos. He said she was crying and he drew her a picture to make her happy. Then she left.”
“All right, well, she’s safe,” Tristan says. “I need to get to Georgia’s graduation. Then, afterward, we can figure this out.”
“What?” I give him a look I’m sure matches my frustration. “I’m going to San Diego.”
“She doesn’t want you to know where she is,” Mason says.
“And going to her will throw Ryan under the bus,” Tristan adds. “She’s safe there. Nowhere near Jason. Whatever is going on can wait until after the graduation.”
“And like you said,” I argue. “Lexi would never miss her sister’s graduation. Something is fucking wrong.” I glance at the time on my phone. “It’s a two-hour drive. If I leave now, I can get her back in time.”
Tristan blows out a harsh breath. “I want to tell you not to, but…”
“But you know damn well if that was Charlie, you would do the same thing.” I look at Mason. “And you would too.”
Mason nods. “Yeah, I would.”
I open my truck door and get in. “I’ll keep you updated.”
The drive to San Diego is filled with me questioning every conversation from the last few days, trying to figure out what happened from the time we got back from our trip to now. None of it makes any sense. I’m missing a piece, and until I find out what it is, I won’t know what’s going on. When I’m halfway there, Ryan texts me to let me know they left to the graduation and Lexi stayed behind.
When I arrive at Micaela and Ryan’s house, I see Lexi’s jeep in their driveway. Since I don’t have a key, I knock on the door. When nobody answers, I walk around the house like a creepy stalker, peeking into every window. Finally, I find the one I’m looking for. Lexi is lying on the bed, curled up into a ball and crying. Fuck.
I bang on the window and she jumps. “Lex,” I yell. “Let me in.”
Her eyes go as wide as saucers. She walks to the window and raises the blinds, giving me a full frontal view of her. Her eyes are bloodshot and puffy from her crying. Black rings underneath from lack of sleep. She’s paler than usual, almost ghostly looking. Her blond hair is up in a messy bun and she’s wearing my Station 115 hoodie with a pair of tiny cotton shorts barely peeking out from under it.
“You scared me, baby,” I tell her.
Instead of telling me she’ll open the door, she unlocks the window and lifts it slightly. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I left.”
“It’s okay. We need to get to Georgia’s graduation, though. So, why don’t we talk on the way back?” I’ll deal with getting her car later.