“You will be. I have a good feeling about it.” Her tone was genuine, and I was glad that at least one of us could be positive.
“Thanks. I’ll call you later with the details. Hopefully, it’s good news.”
“Yeah, speaking of calling me later, I should go,” she said. “I have to drive out to my parents’ today and store some of my things while they’re out of town. I don’t want them to see me bringing them back. They’ll ask me a bunch of questions.”
“Good luck.” I ended the call and went to get my coffee from the Keurig. It was still piping hot, and just as I got to the living room, I heard someone at the door.
I heard a key go in the lock and knew exactly who it was. Clara walked in a moment later, looking a little stronger than the day before. “Hey, it’s me,” she said. “Oh, coffee. That smells so delicious.”
“Grab you a cup. I’m going to sit down.” I made my way to the couch where I had stayed the night curled up in a ball and crying my eyes out.
“Nah, I just had a latte. Are you okay?” She plopped down in the chair beside me. “Do you want to tell me what happened last night?”
“Sounds like you already know.” I was so sick of the university and how quickly everyone could know all of my business.
“Dillon came home last night and told me that you and Seth were going to patch things up. He told me that Seth hadn’t cheated, and he left him to fix it. I take it that was a mistake.”
“The only mistake was me making an ass out of myself again.” I wiped my nose with the wadded tissue in my fist.
“Have you been crying all night?”
I nodded.
“It can’t be that bad. Seth really cares about you. What happened?”
“I was trying to make him jealous and get back at this loser at the same time. I should have just stayed home. It wasn’t even me. It was like I was someone else. I guess with the wreck and all of the sadness, I wanted to be.”
“That doesn’t sound like you, for sure.” Her tone wasn’t judgmental, and in fact, she seemed to feel sorry for me.
I figured I’d tell her everything. “Britany of all people came to tell me. She said that Seth never met up with her that night, and that means that I put us through all of this for nothing. I didn’t even trust him. I just flew off the handle again to protect my own heart. I should have known he wouldn’t hurt me.”
“Well, from what you told me and from his past reputation, it was justified. Don’t beat yourself up about it. I would have fallen for it too. You were tricked. It’s not your fault.”
That wasn’t the worst of it, though. “I hit him. I slapped him across the face when he was trying to make reason with me.”
Clara’s eyes widened. “You slapped him? Oh wow. How did he take that?”
“He raised a fist but didn’t take a swing. But I could see it was knee jerk. He was abused as a kid. And I knew that too. I shouldn’t have put him in that position. Violence isn’t okay, ever. And if men can’t hit women, women shouldn’t have the right to hit men either.”
“True.”
“There was no excuse for that. Especially after what he’s been accused of.”
“I’m sorry, Avery.”
“I was just so upset. And last night when I went to catch up to him and tell him I was sorry for everything, he was already gone. I searched the entire party for him and had Will help me check the rooms upstairs, but his car wasn’t outside. I tried to call him, but he won’t answer. So, I came home and got the car, but he wasn’t home, and I couldn’t find him anywhere in town.”
Clara let out a huff and gave me a scolding look. “You should have called me. You shouldn’t have been driving anywhere. You’re not released yet.”
“Dad left me the keys for an emergency, and I know you may not think it, but it was one. I didn’t want to bother you and Dillon.”
“It’s never a bother, Avery. You’re my sister. You’re stubborn, and sometimes, I get upset with you for that, but I’m always here.” She handed me a new tissue and took one for herself. “Is there anywhere else you think he might go? Home? A special place?”
She was really trying to help.
“There is one place. But it’s over an hour away, and I didn’t want to push it.”
“Smart move. And what if he’s not even there? Did he maybe go home?”
“No, he wouldn’t go there.”
“Any other family he might visit?”
“His only brother passed away. They were really close.”
“You can’t worry yourself sick. He’ll come around when he’s ready. You just keep trying to call him and maybe leave him a message. He’ll listen to it eventually.”
“His voice box is full. I keep wondering if he left alone. After what I did, I can’t even blame him. I practically pushed him to cheat.”
Clara frowned. “That’s bullshit, and you know it. He’s probably just off venting. Or maybe he’s home already.” Clara picked up her keys. “Come on. I’m taking you there. I’ll call Dillon and see if he can call around and find out anything. He’s got friends all over campus and beyond. Someone is bound to see him.”
“Okay, just give me a minute.” I got up and went to put on my shoes and checked the mirror to see how bad I looked. My hair was still barely curled from the night before, and my miracle eyeliner had been cried off hours ago.
I brushed my teeth and washed my face, and when I was ready, I found Clara in the kitchen, pacing the room. “Are you sure it was him? Because that doesn’t sound good.”
My first instinct was that something bad had happened. “What’s
