The next day, Mom's phone rang with a local number I didn't recognize. I guessed it was Spencer and took the phone from her.
Spencer's familiar voice came through, a little hoarse. "Carmen."
"Yeah."
"I went to the entrance of your apartment complex yesterday."
"I know."
"Carmen, can we talk? Really talk?"
"Sure. Go ahead."
Since there was no avoiding it, I decided to lay everything out. But I waited a long while, and the other end went silent, as if the line had been muted. I couldn't hear a sound.
I sighed. "Last night, when I was talking to Jasmine, you were standing right next to her, weren't you?"
Several seconds passed. Then he answered. "Yes."
I laughed. "I said pretty much everything I had to say yesterday. I meant it."
"Carmen..." Spencer cut in urgently. "I thought abou
