Page 32 of Bloodween

Shit.

Here we go.

I hadn’t talked to her. I had hoped I’d have more time, but I should’ve known better. Her man and I had both dropped off the face of the earth. Couldn’t expect her not to come looking.

I swung the door open right after the seventh knock. She looked like she hadn’t slept. Her braids were piled into a messy bun, eyes red, jacket half-zipped like she’d ran here.

“Armi,” she rushed out, a mix of relief and annoyance. “You’re okay! I’ve been—God, I’ve been calling you, texting you. I even came by yesterday.”

I blinked, playing dumb. “You did?”

“Yes! You didn’t answer. I’ve been freaking out—what happened?”

“Girl, I’ve been sick since the party.” I tugged at the hospital band that had magically appeared on my wrist.

Of course I’d been prepared for her ambush. I knew my bestie.

Her expression morphed, worry tightening her mouth. “Since the party?”

“Yeah. I ate something right after you left and twenty minutes later, I was on the toilet. Barely made it home. Threw up so much I ended up in the hospital.”

“Oh my goodness.” She threw her arms around me, damn near knocking me over as she came inside. “I wish you would’ve called me!”

“I lost my phone on the way home that night. Didn’t get a new one until today—it’s been the last thing on my mind.”

“Damn, you were down that bad?”

“Girl,” I giggled, “I can describe my toilet in vivid detail.”

“Oh, babes,” she pouted. “I’m so sorry. And sorry for coming in here all crazy. But between you and Dro, I’ve been losing my mind. Thought you were mad at me.”

“Mad? Why would I be mad?” I asked, stuffing my hands into the pockets of my robe, fingers moving through the powder inside.

“Because I was gone for like an hour. You know you run a strict program, I thought you left because I took too long.”

I gave her a faint smile. “The way my life has been set up, I almost forgot about all of that. How did everything with that go? The last text I saw said you were over his mess.”

“I would be, but he’s missing.”

“Missing?” I laughed.

He’s not missing, hun. He’s dead.

“You mean he ghosted you? Please stop the dramatics.”

“I’m not! I haven’t heard from him since the text he sent yesterday morning. Haven’t spoken to him since the party.”

“What was the convo? Did you confront him about what you found?”

Time to put my non-existent acting degree to use.

“He wasn’t even there when I got back, Armi.”

I stilled long enough for her to keep talking.

“I’ve called, texted, went back to his house. Everything and nothing. He hasn’t been home.”

“Oh.” I frowned. “Has he done anything like this before?”