I’m mortified about last night. And also, I hate him a little bit for telling me he liked me, flirting with me and then turning out to have a girlfriend.

Jerk. Creep. Liar.

Too bad he’s a cute jerk, creep and liar. That’s the worst kind, I’ve realized.

I brush my teeth three times and still can’t seem to rid my mouth of the taste of beer, tequila and vomit. Lovely. Then I wash my face, but the dark circles under my eyes don’t seem to want to go away. Not even when I put my makeup on.

Did I mention I’m never drinking again?

Ugh.

I realize midway through getting dressed that tonight’s open-mic night at the coffee bar downtown. The night I plan to tell my dad who I really am.

Then maybe I can get out of this crappy hotel, quit my job at D’Angelo’s and never worry about seeing Nick again.

I flop back down on the bed and stare at the ceiling.

So far, normal isn’t much fun. I’m pretty much out of money. I’m working a thankless job where customers are rude to me. I have the first real crush of my life and he turns out to be a jerky, creepy liar. And my own dad doesn’t even recognize me.

I’m starting to think this was a mistake.

Impulsively, I dial *67 to do a call block on the phone; then I set the timer on my watch to go off after fifteen seconds. After all, that’s how long it takes to do a phone trace on Law & Order. I dial and am surprised to realize how happy I suddenly feel when I hear a familiar voice on the other end.

“Hello?” Jesse says, then yawns.

“Jess, it’s me,” I say. “Star.”

Silence.

“Star?” He sounds instantly awake. “Star, are you calling me from rehab?”

What? Even Jesse thinks I’m in rehab? He knows I don’t drink. Well, I didn’t drink before last night, anyhow.

“No!” I exclaim. “I’m not in rehab! I’m in St. Petersburg.”

“Florida? What are you doing there?”

It’s a good question. I’m beginning to wonder that myself.

“Uh, working in a restaurant called D’Angelo’s.”

“You ran away to work in a restaurant?” His voice is incredulous.

“Not exactly,” I answer, hedging. “Look, I only have a second to talk. I just . . . I needed to hear a friendly voice. Things aren’t going that well.”

“What do you mean?” Jesse asks.

“I’m . . . I’m here to find my dad,” I say. “I just met him yesterday. He doesn’t even know me.”

“What?” Jesse says. “Your dad? What are you talking about? Your dad disappeared when you were a baby.”