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Chapter Eleven

Parker sat in class,glancing every so often towards Kell's empty seat as Professor Young demoed a digital painting on the classroom's projector screen. Kell's friend, Jessie was there, and occasionally he caught her giving him a deathglare.

What the hell had happened?

Kell hadn't respondedto any of his messages or his phone calls. He'd gone back to his apartment several times over the night, but his car was still gone from the parking lot. He'd considered calling the police, but he had no idea what he'd say. In the end, he'd only gotten an hour or so of sleep that night. When he'd left to take Nate to the day care center, Kell's car was still absent from the lot. He was in a furiously bad mood because of how worried and frightened he was. He had no idea if Kell was hurt, or if something had happened to him. And now that he was also absent for class, Parker was really falling off the edge with worry. He tapped his foot, and his palms were sticky with sweat. He just wanted class to be over so that he could talk to Kell's friend and find out what the hell was goingon.

Turned out,she'd had the sameidea.

As soon asProfessor Young concluded the lesson, Jessie stormed over to him and demanded he see her outside the building. He followed her as she marched ahead ofhim.

"What the hellis going on? Is Kell okay? I've been trying to reach him all night and allday."

"Don't you ask about him,"she snapped, jabbing a finger in his face. "You have no right to demand anything. How could you do that to him and to yourfamily?"

"What the hellare you talking about?" Parker said. He was getting close toshouting.

"Kell saw,"she said. "He knows. He knows what you'rehiding."

"Hiding?I have no idea what the fuck you're talking about. What happened to Kell? That's all you need to tellme."

"He doesn't wantto talk to you. You need to stay out of hislife."

"What did I do wrong?When I last saw him yesterday, we were talking about meeting after I got off work. And then he just disappears, and you're telling me he doesn't want to talk to me now? Tell me what the fuck is goingon!"

"You and your mate.And yourson. Soundfamiliar?"

Parker stared at her,stunned. He began to put the pieces together. "Jesus."

"Yeah. That's right."

"Oh my god.Kell. I don't know exactly what he saw, but god, I wish he'd just talked to me. That idiot. That was my brother and my nephew. They live withme."

Jessie blinked rapidly,like someone had just thrown dust in her eyes. "Huh?"

"My parents cutmy brother off when he got pregnant. He's been living with me ever since he and his boyfriend split. His son, too. He's four. Kell must've seen me bringing Nate home from daycare. God, I can't believe he just didn't talk tome."

"He saw him hugging you.Calling yousweetheart."

"He calls his son sweetheart,"Parker said. "Look, I don't need to convince you of this. I just need to talk to Kell so I can set all this straight. Can you tell him to let me callhim?"

Jessie eyed him. "Okay,"she said. "You better not be fucking around. I'll endyou."

Parker snorted."I'm not fucking around. Literally orfiguratively."

Jessie tookout her phone and dialed Kell. "I'll put you on with him. Just hold on a second." She turned away and spoke quietly into the phone. "Kell? Hey, it's me. Hey... Look, I've just learned something, and I think you'd better talk to Parker. No, really. You need to. I have him here, I'm going to put him on the phone. Okay? Trust me.Okay?"

She heldthe phone out to him. "Make thisright."

Parker took the phone."I'm not going to explain things to you over this phone," Parker said. "I'm going to call out from work and come home right now. Meet me at my apartment in an hour. It's number three oh six.Please."

There wasa moment of silence on the line. "Alright," Kellsaid.

Parker hungup and handed the phone back to Jessie. "Jeez," she said. "You could've been a little more apologetic orsensitive."

"Why?I've got nothing to apologizefor."

He turned and walked away.He was annoyed, and didn't want to hear her speak another word. It frustrated him that Kell had reacted this way, but he could understand how seeing him with William and Nate could've been misinterpreted. He wished he had spoken up instead ofhiding.