Chapter 28
February 9th
Banner’s phone was ringing.
I didn’t understand why he didn’t answer it. I rolled over, seeking his warm body in order to poke him in the side so he would answer the damn call, but he wasn’t there.
The ringing stopped.
For a moment, I wondered where he was, until the reality of what happened last night slammed its way back into my brain. Bolting upright as the phone rang again, I hopped out of the bed and rushed over to the bag that held his things. My breath caught at the sight of “Mom” on his phone screen.
Throat tightening, there wasn’t anything to do except answer his phone, because I knew she would keep calling until he answered. Tapping the accept button, I lifted the phone to my ear and forced words past my trembling lips. “Hi, Aunt Judy.”
“Valerie?”
