"No. We were in the pool and she came out to say hi. I hugged her. That was it."
"Tell me what happened exactly."
"Nothing! Well, something almost happened. I mean, Bri and I were messing around a little bit..."
I groaned, laying my head in my hands. Of course. Lexi had seen them and thought they were my lovers. They weren't as a matter of fact. They were my friends who had fallen in love with each other. But that's how it had to have looked to her.
And now she was gone.
Her stuff was still here. And her sister's stuff.
But that didn't really mean anything.
I called her number again. No answer. It went straight to fucking voicemail. I felt panic rising in my gut.
Char was outside with the dogs. I didn't want to scare her. I knew that eventually Lexi had to come back to get her, if nothing else.
The thought of her out there alone, maybe hating me, maybe upset... it was making me crazy. I did the only thing I could do. I called Joss.
"Did the engagement party start yet?"
Oh God. I'd forgotten. In about an hour all our friends were showing up here to celebrate our engagement. If I could find her.
If she said yes.
"She's gone."
"What happened?"
As usual, nothing could surprise Joss.
"She saw Jan and her girlfriend in the pool. I think maybe she got the wrong idea. I haven't been able to get in touch with her."
"Calm down, I think you should give her more credit. Maybe she's just doing something."
I was pacing back and forth, ready to explode.
"No. It's been hours. She saw the girls and she thought it was my old life. And now she's out there, pregnant and upset."
Silence.
"Okay, text me her number. I will track her phone. Give me ten minutes, And try to calm down."
I hung up, and gripped the edge of the countertop like it was an anchor.
The seconds ticked by as we all sat there. Jan kept saying it was her fault but I was too distraught to console her. Thankfully Olivia was outside with Char. She would have picked up on my fear immediately.
The phone rang and I jumped on it.
"Okay, she's at 415 Philomenia Drive."
I was about to write it down.
"That's their old house. Why would she go there?"
"Maybe she forgot something."
I shook my head. That wasn't it. She was thinking about moving back in. Away from me.
"Thanks Joss. I owe you."
"No, you don't."
I hung up and did something I hadn't done since the accident. Since I met Lexi.
I drove way too fast.
Lexi
I pulled up another clump of daffodil bulbs. My mother had planted them when I was just a girl. I wanted to take them with me.
I could replant them at Trent's house.
No. I wanted to replant them at our house.
I smiled, wrapping the bulbs in newspaper. I was pretty sure I'd gotten most of them. There were maybe a few left. That would be nice too. To know they were growing, even without us being here.
I moved over to my favorites, the peonies, digging up the roots. The huge pink flowers showed up every spring. I always brought a few into the house. They made me feel rich and glamorous, even just for a few weeks every year.
I felt a prickling sensation on the back of my neck and turned.
Trent was standing behind me, staring at me with a look of angry disbelief.
"Trent? What's wrong?"
"Where have you been? I've been calling you for hours."
"Oh, sorry. My phone ran out of juice."
I pulled it out of my pocket and showed it to him.
"Why did you leave?"
"I needed to think. I think I needed to say goodbye. We kind of left in a hurry last time."
I held up the bag.
"And I dug up some of my mothers bulbs. I though I could plant them in the back near the pool."
He looked confused now, not angry. I smiled at him.
"You know, to put down roots."
He closed his eyes, breathing heavily.
"I thought you left me."
"Oh."
He opened his eyes and I smiled brightly at him.
"Well, I didn't."
"I thought when you saw Jan and Bri you might have assumed the worst."
"What, that you had a relationship with one or both of them? I did. Then I realized it didn't matter. That was before. You're with me now. Right?"
His voice was hoarse.
"Right. But I didn't. Have a relationship with either of them. They are my friends."
He gave me a lopsided smile.
"You probably noticed that I'm not their type anyway."
I laughed, relieved that he wasn't angry anymore.
"I did."
He walked towards me, pulling me into his arms. He stared into my eyes, his face serious.
"Never scare me like that again."
"I won't."
"Promise me."
I nodded, trying to set him at ease. He was clearly out of his mind with worry.
"I promise."
"Good. Because if you do, I will tie you to my bed and never let you out again."
My jaw dropped. I realized that he meant every word of it. He grabbed my ass, yanking me against his arousal.
"Trent!"
I was laughing but I was elated inside. Not that I wanted him to be scared. But it proved that he really did love me.
"In fact..."
He lifted me up, carrying me and my flowers towards the car.