Me & My Invisible Guy (20 page)

“No!”

“I mean, it would be up to them, based on what they saw, but it’s within their power to do it. Especially if she was drunk.”

Now I was scared. If something did happen, it would be my fault for calling the police. Tess would blame me, and she would have every right to.

“Let’s go to the mall in a little while, grab some lunch. Do something completely normal. What do you say?” she asked.

“Sure.”

Mom left, and I went to take a very long shower. I wanted to call Tess, but since she hadn’t called me, I assumed the worst. And I really didn’t want to know if I was right.

It wasn’t until I was getting dressed that I realized my phone was in someone’s backyard, currently getting drenched, if a dog hadn’t already eaten it. Tess could have been calling me for hours and I wouldn’t know it.

When I came downstairs, Darby was talking with my mom at the kitchen table.

“You didn’t tell me Darby had to pick you up last night,” Mom said, her voice even but laced with frustration.

“Mom, I told you, I didn’t mind. I’m glad she called.” Darby smiled at me.

“How was the rest of your date?” I asked.

“Wonderful.”

And I could tell from the look on her face that she was really happy, happier than I had seen her in a long time.

“Brian seems awfully serious,” I commented. I didn’t say how worried I was that maybe she couldn’t handle it. What would she do if Brian flaked out like Liam did?

“Oh, but he’s not! He’s funny and so smart, and he loves God. It’s a trifecta. And we’re going out again tonight.”

I wondered if the same thoughts that went through my head had gone through my mom’s as well. She looked happy for Darby, but there was worry there, too.

Finding a guy was one thing. Finding a guy who could deal with Darby’s past and the fact that she might not be able to have children was something else. They were just beginning
to date, though, so it was probably too early. But still… it hovered in the air around us, spoiling some of the joy.

At least for Mom and me. Darby was positively giddy.

“Hey, can I come to the mall with you guys?” she asked. “I want to get something new for tonight.”

The more the merrier.

CHAPTER 16

In the end, I bowed out of going to the mall. I needed to know what happened with Tess. And I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear about how wonderful Brian was all morning.

Mom barely acknowledged me when I said I was staying home. I think she was too happy about Darby’s mood to mind.

Once they left, I pulled on a waterproof jacket with a hood and set out for Tess’s. The weather was dreary, and I felt the same way inside.

I was happy for Darby, really. But since Brian was linked to Liam, it made me think about him and the assembly and how I thought he was the perfect guy, too—until he stabbed me in the back.

Tess’s house was completely quiet again. I decided to see if I could find my cell phone. Even if the phone itself was ruined, maybe the chip inside would be okay. I knocked on the neighbor’s door. An older couple lived there, but I didn’t really know them.

A gray-haired man wearing khaki pants and a baggy cardigan answered the door, a cup of coffee in his hand.

“Hi. I’m sorry to bother you.” I quickly explained that my phone was in their backyard. “Would you mind if I look for it?”

The man opened the door wider. “Feel free. But there’s probably not much hope for it, is there?”

“Maybe not, but it can’t hurt to try.”

I stepped inside and followed him through the house to the back. A small terrier came running out of the kitchen, barking at my feet.

“Hush, Tiger. Leave the poor girl alone.” An older woman wearing a purple running suit and lots of fancy jewelry appeared in the doorway. “You’re drenched to the bone, child!”

The man filled her in on my cell phone.

“You sure you even want to bother with it?” she asked.

“Yes, if you don’t mind.”

The man slid open the door, and I ran right, toward Tess’s house, figuring Darren didn’t toss it too far. It wasn’t hard to find: a bright-red spot on the soggy green grass. I snatched it up and ran back inside the house.

I stood on the towel that someone had placed just inside the door.

“What are you doing here?” It was Tess.

I pulled my hood back.

“Tess? What are
you
doing here? Are you okay? What happened?” I didn’t want to move until I stopped dripping all over the place.

Tess just stood there, her eyes slicing through me. The couple had moved out of sight somewhere, taking the little dog with them.

“Tess. Please try to understand. I got scared when I saw that gun. And when he was coming toward me… I panicked.”

Tess crossed her arms. “I understand perfectly. And I need you to understand that you’ve ruined absolutely everything. So take your phone and go home.”

“What happened?” I took a step toward her, but her glare stopped me.

“What do you think? The police took my mom to the hospital and called social services. Happy?”

“No.”

“It’s what you wanted, isn’t it? All along you’ve been wanting me to tell, and instead of helping me, you just go and do what you want, anyway. Some friend.” She turned and left the room.

I walked toward the front door.

The woman came down the stairs and stopped me. She rubbed my shoulder. “Tess is upset, but she’ll come around.”

“I doubt it. She’s right. It’s my fault.” I couldn’t stop the tears.

“Now look here.” The woman, who was a head shorter than me, grabbed my shoulders and pulled me close. “That girl needed help. You knew it, and I knew it. But you did something about it. Not everyone has the gumption to do what’s right, even if it makes other people mad. Mark my words. She’ll thank you for it someday.” She pulled me into a hug. “You hang in there. It’ll all work out.”

I thanked her and walked home. If only that woman was right.

I set myself up on the couch with a bunch of movies and plenty of Doritos and Dr Pepper: my version of a pity party. Since I couldn’t actually disappear, it was the best I could do.

I was watching
The Proposal
when my dad came in and set down his four camera bags.

I waved.

“You by yourself?” he asked. “Where did Mom go?”

“She’s at the mall with Darby.”

Dad stepped into the mudroom to take off his shoes and coat, then came over and sat on the couch with me.

“I thought you were working all day,” I said.

“The rain. I had about six teams lined up for shots today, and then it goes and rains. I hate rescheduling everything.”

“I’ll help if you want me to,” I said.

“Thanks. I may just take you up on that.” He stood and stretched. “Oh, and I talked to the Garrisons last week. They have that photo collage you made hanging over their fireplace in a huge thirty-by-forty frame.”

I smiled.

“You feeling all right?”

“Yeah. I’m tired.”

“Okay. I think I’m going to go finish up the Briggses’ wedding pictures.” He opened the door to the basement, where he had his full office and workroom set up, and went downstairs.

I settled back in with my movie, but less than ten minutes later, the garage door flew open, and Darby came running through the house and up the stairs. Then Mom walked inside, avoiding my eyes. Her face was red and splotchy.

“What’s wrong?” I was almost scared to ask.

Mom finally looked at me, but it wasn’t a warm, loving look. No, this look was accusing and angry. Kind of the same look Tess had used on me.

“Who did you tell?”

I sat up, scared. “Tell?”

“About her getting sick, her attempt, everything?”

The air seemed to leave the room as I tried to grab at the thoughts swirling around in my head.

“What do you mean?” I asked, hoping beyond hope that it had nothing to do with me.

Mom seemed to lose all patience. She was never much of a yeller, but her voice grew higher with each word. “Somehow, people know about Darby getting sick. How would they possibly know unless someone said something? I didn’t tell anyone. Darby certainly didn’t tell anyone. That leaves you.”

“Me?” I said. But all could think was,
The cheerleaders…

Mom moved closer to the couch. “What did you do, Mallory?”

“I just, I mean, I didn’t think that anyone…”

“That anyone would what? That it wouldn’t spread around? You had no right to tell
anyone
about Darby. And now she’s terrified that Brian’s going to find out before she has a chance to tell him the truth. You’ve put her in a terrible situation. How could you do that?”

I covered my face and sobbed. When I finally moved my hands, Mom was gone and I was alone.

I hid in my room for the rest of the weekend, sneaking down only to grab some food. I had no one to talk to. No one to try and figure it out with. And each minute that passed was another minute closer to school. If the rumors about Darby had spread this much, then it was a given that by Monday morning everyone would also know that I was the virgin cheerleader. It just made my existence that much more miserable.

Of everyone, Liam was the only person who would be willing to speak to me. But I couldn’t bring myself to call him. Because honestly, if he hadn’t done what he did, the rest of it wouldn’t have happened.

Impulsively, I pulled out the Todd box and sat on my bed with it. I didn’t break the tape; I just stared at it.

If only I had kept Todd, everything would be different.

By Sunday evening I felt like the black sheep of the family. It was like Mom couldn’t stand the sight of me, and Darby barely emerged from her room. Dad was the only one who tried to coax me out, and even he seemed reluctant. Dad was a peaceful kind of guy, and any fighting or tension bothered him.

Not that there was anything to argue about. I screwed up. That much was obvious.

Monday morning was bright and sunny, and I had every intention of staying in bed. But Mom came in, pulled up my shades, and stood there as I tried to adjust to the light.

“You’re going to school,” she said.

“I can’t.”

“Yes, you can. Every decision we make has a consequence, and you need to face yours. I’m leaving in thirty minutes. I want you downstairs, dressed and ready to go.”