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I check e froe fro me to call him ASAP

Shit

Jeff doesn’t usually throw around ASAPs unless it’s serious, so I don’t waste tis before he answers, and when he does, he sounds agitated

"Where the hell have you been the last hour?" he de our phones on the ice What’s up?"

"I need you to go home and check on Dad"

"Why?" I say uneasily

"Because I’ do it myself"

"The hospital? What happened? Is she okay?"

"She sliced her hand opendinner" Jeff sounds panicked "The ER doctor said it’s not as bad as it looks--she’ll just need some stitches But Jesus, I’ve never seen so much blood, Johnny They took her in now, so I’ like a crazy person"

"She’ll be okay," I assure hiht?" But I know Jeff won’t relax until he and Kylie are walking out of that eency room The two of them have been madly in love since they were fifteen years old

"What does this have to do with Dad?" I ask

"I was over at Kylie’s, and he called ere leaving for the ER He was slurring and ht have fallen down? I couldn’t understand a fucking word he was saying, and I’encies at once, okay? So please, just go hoht"

Reluctance jaum Christ I don’t want to do that At all Except there’s no way I can pick a fight with Jeff right now, not when he’s freaking out about his girlfriend being in the hospital

"I’ll take care of it," I say roughly

"Thanks" Jeff hangs up without another word

With a ragged breath, I text Grace to let her know Ilot

I tapthe entire drive to Munsen Dread gathers inside ht knot that brings a rush of nausea to my throat I don’t remember the last tiuess Once I left for Briar, Jeff becaine outside the bungalow and approach the front porch the way those paranorhost house Wary, sloith trepidation

Please let him be alive and well

Yup, for allinto the house and finding his body