Page 95 of Rescue

Chapter Seventeen

Lennon

Haylee isn’t answering her phone. I try to tell myself she just fell asleep, but I’m unsettled. She said she would wait up for me. Didn’t she? Everything feels so foggy right now, like I’m moving through something thick and heavy. But I’m almost sure she said she would wait up.

I decide to risk waking her by knocking on her door when I get back to the hotel. No answer.She just went to bed,I tell myself. Like you should. Our last day in London will be filled with CD signings and interviews. And I haven’t slept in so long.

Which doesn’t change at all tonight. I lie in bed in the dark, missing the feel of Haylee next to me. I know I’ve been a terrible boyfriend to her since Paris. Know that I’m withdrawn and uncommunicative. But she seems to understand, and I’m so thankful for that. Thankful that I don’t have to explain myself. Thankful that she’s always so close. I wonder if she knows how much strength she gives me? I wonder if she can sense that without her next to me, I don’t think I would be standing right now.

And I’m going to have to tell my family why when we get home. The thought makes me so nauseous that I sit up in bed, unable to be still. I pull on a hoodie and slip into some shoes. The glowing numbers on the clock next to the bed tell me it’s three thirty. Too late to go wandering around outside, but I don’t care. I have to get out of this quiet, still room.

I’m halfway down the hall when I run into James—literally. He turns a corner, head down, and crashes into me. “Sorry,” he says quickly, then grimaces when our eyes meet. “Oh. Hi, Lennon.”

“Hey, James. Where’re you headed?”

“I, uh… nowhere. I just…” He looks uncomfortable. And not at all happy to see me.

“What’s the matter?”

I can tell he doesn’t want to tell me. My heart rate increases a little. Something’s wrong. “James?”

Finally he straightens his shoulders, looking right at me. “I had to take Haylee to the hospital. I just came back to get some stuff.”

I feel like my knees might give out, and I reach for the wall. “What’s wrong? Is she okay?”

“She had a little too much to drink.”

“Wait, what? She came home early. I—how much is too much? Is she—”

I can’t finish the sentence, can’t even see straight. He seems so calm. That has to be a good sign, right? She can’t be—

“They said it was mild alcohol poisoning,” James says, voice flat. “They want to observe her overnight.”

I straighten. I need to get to her. “Where is she?”

“Lennon, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“What are you talking about? You think I’m not going to see her?”

“I think she wouldn’t want you to.”

That shuts me up.

“Look,” he continues, his voice slightly more gentle. “This is something that happens with her every once in a while. It’s not a huge deal. She drinks too much. Not all the time, but when she does…” He trails off. Then, “She’ll be okay. But it embarrasses her. I know she won’t want you seeing her now.”

I just stare at him. This happensevery once in a while? What in the hell? “I don’t understand what’s going on here, James,” I finally manage. “I thought… she went home early tonight. Weren’t you with her?”

Something like guilt crosses his face before his expression tightens. “I dropped her off in her room. She said you would be home soon.”

“I was. But she didn’t answer her phone.”

He deflates. “I’m sorry. It’s not your fault. She just had a shitty day and—”

“She did? Why?”

He narrows his eyes. “She didn’t tell you?”

The panic is rising in my chest. “Tell me what?”