Page 51 of Beyond the Stix

“He doesn’t want to see me,” I confess, the crack in my chest expanding.

“I wouldn’t either, especially after you broke his trust. But why do I feel like there’s more?”

“I can’t talk about it,” I say. Then my phone pings, and my heart leaps up to my throat, thinking it’s Connor, reaching out to me.

I pull out my phone and before I can see the screen, Ben says, “It’s not Connor.”

I glance down and sure enough, it isn’t him. It’s an unknown number.

Unknown:Good riddance to you.

“Who is it?” Ben asks as he tries to glance down at my screen.

Instead of answering him, I hit Tobias’s number, and he picks up immediately.

“You haven’t been gone that long,” he says in a whispered chuckle. “Miss me already?”

“I got a text from an unknown number.”

“What does it say?”

“Good riddance to you,” I repeat. “Did you get Connor a new number?”

“No, I didn’t. Who do?—”

I cut Tobias off. “It’s Jessup—I know it. And I have a feeling he’s following the bus. Because there’s no other way he’d know I’m not on it.”

“Where did he get your unlisted cell number?”

I mull the question over, and immediately know from who. “I’d bet on Connor’s mom Amanda. I gave it to her in case she couldn’t get a hold of Connor.”

“Shit. Of course, Amanda would give it him, if she thinks something’s wrong.”

“Or that Jessup called her and lied to get it,” I say, picturing that scenario.

“Most likely, since Connor turned off his phone,” he rumbles out. “Hold on, I want to tell Danny.”

“No. I don’t want him, Connor, or the rest of the band to know that Jessup might be following them. Let’s keep up the pretense—stick to the plan we formulated. It’s better that they think I’m gone. Then it’ll be easy enough for me to keep an eye out and track that bastard—if he comes around the band.”

“Where are you right now?” he asks.

I look at Ben. “Where are we?”

He shrugs. “About fifteen minutes from the entrance?”

“Did you hear that?” I ask.

“Okay. Text me when you get there.”

“Will do. And Tobias?” I rub the back of my neck, a steely resolve settling into my blood.

“Yeah?”

“Make sure Connor is covered.” I can deal with not being close to Connor. But hell will freeze over before I let Jessup get near him.

“Will do. Pen’s on him.”

EIGHTEEN