“Fine,” I said.

“No matter what she says?” he said.

“No matter what she says. I won’t go. I’ll stay,” I promised.

Jack’s face flooded with relief and my chest tightened with guilt.

The first message came when we sat down to eat. The first call came when we snuggled with Lola on the couch and started a movie. I silenced my phone, tried not to check my messages.

Elise: Remy, why aren’t you picking up?

Elise: Are you mad? Did I do something wrong?

I picked up my phone to answer and Jack sighed.

“What? I’m not leaving, I’m just texting her back to tell her that.”

He didn’t look convinced.

Me: No, I’m not mad, just busy. I’ll talk to you when I’m home later.

Elise: I need to talk to you

Elise: I’m scared

Elise: My dad’s really angry tonight, I’ve never seen him like this

Elise: Remy? Are you there?

Elise: I think he went to see The Realtor and it didn’t go well

Her texts were familiar, the same ones she always sent on nights I was with Jack. I ignored them, flipped my phone facedown, and rested my hand on Jack’s shoulder, the scent of his peppermint shampoo warm and comforting. I relaxed against him. It felt good to be alone just the two of us—actually alone.

Elise: Remy please

Elise: This is an emergency.

My phone buzzed with another call. I bumped it away and it slid between the cushions, lost. Our kisses grew heated, our skin on fire.

We moved into his bedroom. I wrapped my arms around Jack’s neck, my fingers in his hair, pulling him closer.

My phone buzzed and buzzed in the living room, buried in the couch, and I ignored it. Elise was calling and calling for help, but I didn’t answer.

SUNDAY // AUGUST 6 // DAY 331

45.

I called you, but you never picked up. I called you a million times, she whispered to me inside an ambulance what feels like an entire lifetime ago.

When I finally checked my phone after midnight, I saw the missed calls and skimmed her texts.

I called her on the drive back to my house but she didn’t pick up. She was giving me the silent treatment, I thought.

I tried her again once I got home, and then after I got into bed.

Me: Look, I’m sorry I didn’t pick up

Me: Are you just going to ignore me?

Me: Okay, I guess this is what we’re doing now

Her silence was deafening and I started getting worried. I sat up, scrolled through her texts, reading them carefully this time. The last five stopped me cold.

Elise: Oh my god, my dad’s outside my room

Elise: Remy, he’s pounding on the door

Elise: Rem what do I do

Elise: I need you

Elise: Rem

After calling her one more time, uneasiness settled in the pit of my stomach and I ran to the car, keys slipping from my hands in my growing panic. I ran a red light and blew past a stop sign, but the truth was, I was already too late.