Page 85 of Ruled Out

Kate releases my hand and narrows her eyes, rubbing her palms together. “Please excuse me for a hot minute. I have a Morgan to deal with.”

Dad

I’ll be back in town two weeks on Saturday for business. Thought we could meet up for dinner if you’re around?

Sittingup in Luna and Zach’s spare bed, I stare down at the message I received from Dad a couple of hours ago. Maybe telling him then would be the right time to do it. If it’s face-to-face, I can at least try and stop him from murdering Jessie.

Me

Okay. Just let me know where, and I’ll make sure I’m not working.

Dad

I know I didn’t say it last time, but I’m proud of you, Mia. I’ll be the first to admit that, initially, I thought Seattle was a mistake. But you’re proving me wrong. Your mom would be proud of you too.

I bite on the inside of my cheek as I read his text over, convincing myself that if he knew the truth, he’d still feel the same way.

I set my phone down on the nightstand and pick up my textbook, focusing on the chapter I need to have read and summarized before Monday’s class. The sound of the shower filters into the room from the en suite. Part of me wishes I’d said to hell with studying and joined Jessie, like he’d tried to get me to do—several times.

I’m halfway through the first page when Jessie’s phone lights up on the opposite nightstand, and I reach across to grab it, seeingMomlighting up the screen.

The call continues to vibrate in my hand until it goes to voicemail, and it sparks memories of the night Jessie cut our theater date short. He let the call drop that night, too, but clearly, he knew she needed him.

A second later, the phone buzzes again, and without thinking anything through, I answer.

“Hey, um, can Jessie ca?—”

“Will, is that you?” a weak female voice cuts me off.

Will?

“No. This is Jessie’s phone.”

“Who are you?” she replies, her tone clipped.

“I-I’m just a friend. I can go get Jessie. Give me a second.”

“Tell him we need more money. Sixty thousand this time.”

My heart races in my chest as I fall silent.

“Are you still there? His dad, Wayne, he’s mixed up with a couple of loan sharks. They’re threatening him and?—”

A crash rings down the line, and I pull the phone away from my ear, wincing at the noise.

“The fuck is this?!”

I know without even having to ask who just picked up the phone.

“T-this is Jessie’s friend. I was speaking to his mom.”

“Alice, you fucking idiot! Who are you spewing your guts to now?!” His voice is muffled, and I can tell he’s covered the speaker, even though I can hear every single word he says.

My heart beats faster in my chest. “I’ll get Jessie to call you back,” I hurry out, ready to end the call.

“Wait a goddamn minute,” he snipes. “I know exactly who you are.”

My book falls from where it was resting on my knees and hits the floor with a thud. “You have no idea who I am,” I respond. There’s no way he could.