“Something is wrong,” I insist, setting my beer glass down and squinting at my phone screen.
Neither of the others respond. I glare at them both.
It’s our eighth day in New York, and we’re at the hotel’s poolside cafe, eating lunch. The sun is beating down over our heads, and a cool breeze is rippling over the turquoise pool. Kids are playing in the water, splashing each other, sending little sparkling droplets into the air.
It’s been a busy day; we’ve already attended two panels this morning, and we’re giving a presentation on indie mobile app games in just a few hours.
For the most part, the conference is going perfectly. We have a pretty slick routine down—Sebastian and Jack write out a script for me to learn the night before, I give the presentation, and then the two of them chip in with extra info, and answer questions at the end. Legend of Azaran 2: The Forgotten War has been stuck at number one on the paid game charts for days, and Jack has had more offers than we can count.
Not that he cares. I watch him, sitting opposite me with Cami in his lap. He’s feeding her some gross-looking pumpkin and carrot baby food we bought at a local store. His leg is jiggling nervously, bopping her up and down as she tries to eat.
Ever since we met Hamish in the lift, he’s been jittery about their little dinner date. It’s all he talks about, and it’s pissing me off. Both him and Seb have been so busy planning and presenting and networking, they’re completely ignoring the massive problem staring us in the face.
Beth.
It’s been seven days since she spoke to us, and I’m going out of my mind. The last text was from our very first day, when I messaged her about our extended stay. She replied a few hours later.
B: Okay, great! Proud of you x
I’ve sent her a million messages since then. Updates. Pictures of Cami. Requests to video chat. And she hasn’t seen any of them.
“She probably just wants a break from us,” Seb mutters, for the fiftieth time. “Seriously, Cyrus. Drop it.”
I scowl. Seb has been sulky for days, ever since he texted Beth to ask for advice about calling Cami’s mum. She ignored him, so now he’s convinced that she hates us.
“This isn’t right,” I insist. “She wouldn’t just cut contact. It’s not like her.”
“I messaged her multiple times about our upcoming call with Anisha. She didn’t respond.”
I bite my lip. That’s another thing to worry about. We’ve scheduled a Skype call with Cami’s mum for this evening. I’m absolutely dreading it. I don’t know what to do. I can’t stand the thought of Anisha changing her mind and trying to take her back.
As if she shares my sentiment, Cami suddenly shouts and knocks over her plastic bowl. Orange goop spills over the table and splatters my sleeve. I pick up a napkin and wipe off my cuffs as Sebastian scoops baby food off the tablecloth.
“Beth’s our employee,” Seb continues, his voice flat. “She’s on holiday. She probably just wanted to turn off her phone, and not talk to us for a few days.”
My hackles rise. “Even if she was just an employee, which she’s obviously not, you fu—friggin’ idiot, there’s no way in Hell that she wouldn’t try to check in on Cami.”
A muscle tics in his jaw. “The last time I knocked on her door on her day off, she was very unhappy with me. I don’t want to keep hounding her.”
“Yeah, because you were being an entitled prick.” I shake my head. “Something is wrong—”
Sebastian snaps. “What’s wrong, is you’re falling for our bloody nanny, after she very clearly said she didn’t want to date you.”
I scoff. “Oh, I’m falling for her? And I’m the only one?”
His eyes narrow. “You’re the only one blowing up her phone like a teenage boy who’s been stood up. If she’s not interested in dating one guy, why the Hell would she want three?”
“At least I’m not so emotionally constipated I can tell when I’m falling for someone. You two are pathetic.” I shove my phone in his face, showing him the chain of text messages I’ve sent Beth. “Look at this!”
Sebastian scans the messages silently. I’ve reread them so many times, I know them all by heart.
Beth?
Are u ok?
Why aren’t you answerring??
Do u want to speak with Cami?
The panel went well today. Jack nearly pissed his pants on-stage when a member of the audience asked him a question. It was great
BETHIE
Youre freaking me out, has something hapenned??
Beth, you’re scaring me
Please answer.
“She would have responded to these,” I insist.
Jack sighs. “Cyrus—”
I slam my hand on the table. All of the cutlery rattles. “I’m not overreacting!” I shout.
My voice echoes around the swimming pool. Several women in bikinis look over from their sun loungers. Cami pouts, covering her eyes with her chubby hands.
I take a deep breath. “Look,” I say, turning to Seb, “I know that you think no woman would ever love you, because you’re the Incredible Hulk, or whatever,” I jab my thumb at Jack, “and you think your app is the most important thing about you. But can you please get over your stupid issues and actually think for a second? That girl practically climbed into the taxi when we left for the airport. She likes us. She cares about us. She wouldn’t do this to us.” I run a hand through my hair, stressed. “What if she got really sick? Or—or she fainted in her apartment and cracked her head open? She could have slipped in the shower. Someone could have broken in. She lives alone, no one would know if she was hurt.”
They both go pale. Sebastian’s hand grips the edge of the table so tightly that his knuckles bleach. For a moment, no one says anything.
“We’ll call the landlord,” he decides eventually, pulling out his phone. “Ask him to check in on her. He can knock on her door and see if she responds.”
“He won’t do that,” Jack says softly. Bill is kind of a prick. He flat-out ignores us if a pipe bursts, but tries to fleece us out of money every chance he gets. I seriously doubt he’s going to be any help.
“He will if we request a welfare check,” Sebastian says grimly. “If only to make sure he gets his rent on time.” He starts tapping at his phone screen.
I flop back in my seat, relieved. Cami lifts her arms to me, so I take her off Jack and put her in my lap. She buries her face in my shirt and starts to cry. I’m very tempted to join her.
