Page 53 of The Fractured

And then fifteen minutes late.

I kept one eye on the time as I sat on the stone steps of the community hall, watching the hustle and bustle of Williamsburg while I waited for the familiar hum of a motorbike engine to peel through the noise.

It was hard not to overthink why he wouldn’t show.

Maybe he changed his mind after all. Maybe he realized he didn’t want a girl who was once broken.

Knowing his phone was broken, I tried his number anyway. Only it didn’t ring. It beeped a few times and went silent. His phone was definitely still broken. That didn’t explain why he wouldn’t show up to at least tell me what’s going on.

His apartment is ten minutes from here…

“Ugh.” I shoved my phone in my bag and stood, scanning the street one last time before I started on a brisk walk to the bakery down the street. “It’s fine. This is fine. Don’t overthink it. He’s probably caught up with work. And we weren’t anything serious anyway. It was casual sex.”

Telling myself that didn’t help the uncomfortable ache in my chest.

As I arrived at the café and joined the line, I pulled out my phone and opened a message notification from Lily. At least it would provide some distraction. She had sent me a funny video of Bella, Sofia’s puppy, that she found in her camera roll. It was enough to bring a smile back to my lips again, but I decided to tell her what was going on.

Me: I think Seb stood me up…

Lily: What?

Me: I’m trying not to think the worst, because I know there’s a logical explanation.

The line moved up a step as I waited for her response.

Lily: I’m sure he has a really good reason… Are you still outside your meeting?

Me: I’m at a café, ready to gorge myself on pastries and forget my problems. Did you want me to get you anything?

Lily: Ooh yes please! I’ll have what you’re having. But also, hang tight. Dean said he can come and get you.

Me: Isn’t it a little out of the way?

Lily: He said he was picking up clutch covers from Bushwick. He’s 20 minutes away…

Lily: Please don’t ask me what a clutch cover is. I only know it’s a car thing.

Me: lol okay. I would kiss him for giving me a ride home but that might be weird, so I’ll get him an éclair.

I slid my phone back into my bag and approached the counter with a smile.

As promised, 20 minutes later, as I finished off my éclair, an emerald-green Cadillac pulled up outside the café, and Dean got out wearing navy blue coveralls with the sleeves tied around his waist. He offered me a casual smile as he walked around the front of the car and opened the passenger door.

“Thank you for doing this,” I said as I approached, lifting the paper bag of extra eclairs in his direction. “For compensation.”

“Thanks,” he chuckled, taking the bag and inspecting the contents. “So. Seb didn’t show?”

“I don’t suppose you’ve heard anything?” There was a hopefulness in my voice.

“No, but we have that fight tomorrow night. I’ll talk to him then. Get you some answers and maybe ask him why he’s being a dick.”

“It’s out of character, right? I’m not going insane?”

“Not insane.” He smiled in reassurance and jerked his chin at the car. “Come on.”

I climbed into the front seat, still not feeling any better with the lack of answers.

Chapter 19