Page 139 of Stay With Me

Goddamn.

Leave it to the gossip queens to figure it out before we even formally announce anything. Too bad now I’m practically on my hands and knees, begging Magnolia not to walk away.

“Well, there’s no use denyin’ it.” I shrug, though I wouldn’tanyway. “But I’m not sure where she is. I was just about to ask Noah.”

“Ask me what?” As if summoned from the ceiling, Noah appears between us.

“If you knew where Magnolia was,” I say. “She’s coming, right?”

“You don’t know?” Confusion flashes across her face. Her gaze shoots to Mom and Gramma Grace as if she’s not sure how much she should say around them.

I narrow my eyes at Noah, wondering how much she knows.

“Is someone gonna tell me?” Gramma Grace blurts when we stay silent.

Noah scratches her head as if she’s conflicted but speaks up anyway. “Her apartment was one of the break-ins last night. She called me from her parents and is stayin’ with them today.”

“What?” My chest caves in and my heart threatens to stop beating at the unexpected news. I’d heard there were some last night but never expected she wouldn’t call or text me if it happened to her.

I should’ve fucking texted her last night to make sure she got home safely.

“She didn’t call you?” Noah asks.

Hurt and frustrated, my jaw clenches. “No.”

“Oh, that’s horrible!” Mom says, but I’m too pissed to look away from Noah.

“They’ll catch him,” Gramma Grace reassures.

“Yeah, there has to be cameras,” Mom adds.

“Text me her parents’ address,” I tell Noah. If it wasn’t for it being a holiday and special to my parents, I’d leave right now.

“Can’t you just ask her yourself?” she asks.

“Yeah, but I have a feelin’ she wouldn’t tell me,” I deadpan.

Without arguing, Noah pulls out her phone and sends it to me. Then she sends me a second text.

Noah

What’s going on with you two? Did she tell you...

Once we take our seats and say grace, I shoot her a reply.

Tripp

Yes, and then tried to break up with me.

Noah

What?! She didn’t tell me that part. What’d she say?

Dishes are being passed around, so I set my phone down next to my plate and respond in between adding food to my plate.

Tripp

That we should return to being just friends. But I told her no.