Chapter 25

Avoice in the kitchen carried its way upstairs waking me from my spot on the bathroom floor. I struggled to open my eyes given all the tears I'd shed, but once I did, I realized sunshine filled the room. I grabbed my phone from the floor beside me only to find no calls or texts. The voice downstairs continued. I pushed myself to my feet, a little achy from my night on the floor, and hurried downstairs. "Crew?" I called as I stepped into the kitchen.

My father sat at the island on the phone.

I exhaled, disappointed to find him and not Crew. "Where's Crew?"

"I've gotta go," he said into the phone before placing it down on the island.

"Have you talked to him?" I asked.

He shook his head. "He took off after his mother showed up. We didn't know where he was going."

"What'd she say to him?"

He shrugged.

"Did he seem unhappy to see her? Because when I saw him, he wanted to go talk to her. What changed? Did they have a fight?"

"Look, you're asking the wrong person."

"The wrong person?" I asked incredulously. "You were the only one here when he saw his mom. Who else should I ask?"

"Did you call him?" he asked.

"He's not answering his phone," I explained. "Could his mother have taken him home?"

My father shrugged. "She left alone after he did."

"This is insane. He wouldn't just disappear like this. Especially when he had scouts coming to see him."

"Why are you so concerned over a guy you wanted out of our house?" he asked.

"The better question is why aren't you?"

* * *

I sat behind the counter of the gift shop staring down at my phone. But, no matter how long I stared at it, neither a text nor call came through.

"How much for this T-shirt?" a customer asked.

I didn't bother looking up. "All T-shirts are fifteen dollars."

"I'll take these two," he said.

I cashed him out, bagged the shirts, and continued looking at my phone.

"Anything yet?" Gina asked, stepping into the store a short time later.

"Nothing. Has Cody heard anything?" I asked, a trace of hope in my tone.

She shook her head as she stepped up to the counter. "None of the guys have. But I was thinking. If they win tonight, they're in the championships game this weekend."

"So?"

"So, maybe Crew will show up for that," she offered.

"He missed playing in front of scouts. Why would he come back for a game?" I asked.

"None of this makes any sense," she said.

"Maybe he played me."

"Peyton."

"Maybe his first impression of me never faded. Maybe us being together was just a nasty game. Maybe it was payback for me flipping out that first day."

"If it really had been to get back at you, why disappear before his opportunity to play in front of the scouts? If this was about you, why would he miss his big shot?"

"That's what's so crazy," I said. "Will you do me a favor?"

"Anything."

"If he by some slim chance shows up at the game tonight, will you call me?"

"Of course," she said.

* * *

I lay in my bed feeling more alone than I had in a long time. Even the crashing of ocean waves outside my window did little to calm my mind. I picked up my phone and called my mom. She answered on the second ring. "Hi, sweetie."

"Are you busy?"

"I'm never too busy for you."

I sighed.

"Uh oh. What's going on?" she asked.

Where did I even start? My boyfriend disappeared. I've been having panic attacks. Dad slapped me. "I started dating someone."

"That's great!" she said, excited for the details. "Who is he?"

"Well…actually…the baseball player we're hosting. Crew."

Her tone instantly changed. "Does your father know?"

"Why is it any of his business?" I asked.

"Because the two of you are dating and living under the same roof. Can't you see how that could be a bit of an issue?" she asked.

"Well, there's nothing for either of you to worry about," I explained. "He left."

"What do you mean he left? The season's not over yet."

"His mom showed up, and I accused her of being a whore."

"What?!"

"I guess you could say I jumped to conclusions."

"I'll say. Was Crew upset over that?" she asked, trying to understand what one thing had to do with the other.

"That's' the thing. He wasn't. He said he'd explain everything to her. And then he disappeared."

"What do you mean he disappeared?"

"I went to his game, and he wasn't there. When I came back home, all of his stuff was gone. I tried calling him, but he hasn't returned any of my calls or texts. His teammates don't even know where he went."

"Does your father know?" she asked.

"If he does, he's not saying."

"Oh, honey. I'm sorry. There's got to be a good explanation. No guy in their right mind would leave you without a good reason."

I closed my eyes, wishing she was right.

"I'm flying up," she said.

"No. Stay with Grandma."

"I can be there by morning," she assured me.

"I know. But there's nothing you can do. I don't think there's anything anyone can do." He'd left. He'd cut off contact. He'd broken my already broken heart.