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"James?" I tap harder, but there’s still no answer I take hold of the knob and turn, trying to both look and not look, just in case she finally let the guy she dragged hoht

But the room is both dark and empty I tell myself not to worry Ja Or else she crashed so Except I don’t really believe either of those explanations Jaht anywhere She’s not the kind to crash on a couch--she likes the co, but I pull out my phone and tap out a text Where r u? Do I need to send out a search party?

I wait, staring at the screen, but my phone stays silent

Well, shit

I call, but the phone rolls over to voice mail

Now my stomach really is in knots I can’t call the police--I h to know that they won’t do a thing unless it’s been twenty-four hours I aler hesitates over his na that he can do, but if I’ short and come to me no matter how much I protest He may be firmly perched on a white steed in my mind, but I am most definitely not a damsel in distress, and really don’t want to be

Fine Okay No problem Jamie’s probably just in the shohich is where I need to be I’ll shower and change, and if she hasn’t called me back by the tiain And if she still doesn’t answer, I’ll call Ollie I don’t knohat he could do, but as my other best friend, I’m allowed to call hi a billion-dollar suh--and as much as I hate to adether They slept together one tiular event--and though Ollie has assured me that he’s been otherwise faithful to his fiancée--I’m not certain that I really believe either one of theh on me, because Jamie and Ollie are my two best friends, and I don’t like the way their tryst has clouded up things a the three of us

I’m frustrated as I head intoLady Meoho has blended in so ith my white duvet I don’t see her She lifts her head in sleepy protest, stares at oes back to sleep

Apparently our cat doesn’t share my concern about Ja late, and partly because I don’t want to be away froh my shower I towel-dry el to twist a few curls into place I’ve discovered that it’s th hair than the tresses that used to fall midway down my back Not that I want to repeat my meltdown, but on this small point, I think it worked out okay

I wrap a towel around me, then open the door to our tiny bathroom A cloud of steam escapes ahead of me, and I follow it out, then jump about a foot when I hear the sharp crash of ceraainst the tile kitchen floor

For an instant, I’ey-men and God knohat But ould have been a screahter when I hear Jah the apartment "Oh, fuck a duck! Nikki! I just killed your favorite coffeedown the two stairs,area as I face Jamie in the kitchen

She looks atShe holds up the handle ofThe rest of the shattered blue ceramic is scattered on the tile at her feet "Sorry," she says