Vanished

Phone Calls 3

I had finished my third beer by the time my phone rang with a call from Austin's number.

I glared at it for a second before I picked it up and answered with a cautious "hello," since I wasn't sure whether it was Alex or Austin calling me back.

"Babe," Austin's voice came through the phone in an amused tone.

"I'm mad at you," I told him, even though I felt relief that it was him calling and not his brother.

"I know, Ellie. I know. And I deserve it."

"Mm hm, you do. It's not that difficult to text back."

"No. I should have responded earlier, and I'm sorry for that, but there's been a lot going on."

"Oh," that made me stop the lashing I was about to give him.

"Sport told me you'd called."

"Oh, god," I whimpered. "I'm mortified at what I told your brother."

He laughed. "I heard something about a fuckfest?"

"Ugh..." I covered my face with my hands even though he couldn't see me. "I obviously thought he was you."

"I sure as hell hope so."

"Austin..."

"It's alright babe. He was just amused."

"You promise?"

"Yes."

I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "I'm still not sure I'll ever be able to look him in the eyes ever again."

Austin chuckled.

I reached for the beer and drained the remaining liquid.

"I must say, I'm interested if that offer is on the table," Austin teased.

I couldn't help but laugh along with him at his ridiculousness.

"It could be, but you're a bit far away."

"Yeah. We have some things we need to talk about, but first I just want you to know that I miss you. A lot."

Aww.

"I miss you too."

"How are you doing? Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, everything is fine. I haven't seen any creepy men around and I've been going to the gym almost every day. I even dragged Aubrey to a self-defense class and took a couple of shooting lessons."

"Wow. That's awesome."

I could hear the pride in his voice, and it made me feel good.

"What's going on with you?" I asked. "How come you haven't called me back?"

He sighed. "Someone shot our dad."

"What?" I asked, suddenly wide awake. "Someone shot your dad?"

"Yeah. Last week."

"Oh, my god. Is he okay?"

"No." Austin got quiet for a bit and then he said, "he died, Ellie."

"Holy shit!"

No wonder he hadn't called me or responded to my texts. He'd been mourning the death of his father while I acted like a jealous brat.

"Yeah. It's weird. It's not like we saw him all the time, or much at all," he said with a snort, "but he was still our dad, you know."

"Yeah, of course. I can't believe it."

Selma stretched out on my throw rug and scratched lazily at the coffee table, but I didn't even bother correcting her. "What about you guys?" I asked. "Are you safe?"

I understood why he had been quiet for so long. He needed some time for himself. Austin used to withdraw when he needed to think something over.

"Yeah, we've been in touch with the Feds again. Everything seems fine."

Well, that was good news.

"Do you think it's over?"

As heartbreaking as it was for Austin and Alex to lose their father, I couldn't help but think that may mean that the bad guys got what they wanted?

"I sure as hell hope so."

"Oh, Austin. That would be wonderful."

"Yeah."

"We can be together for real?"

I loved that there was an actual possibility of that, but I was also heartbroken over the fact that they'd lost their father. They'd been through so much. They deserved peace and happiness more than anyone I knew.

"Yes. Sport tells me everything looks good. No weird texts, notices or anything. It's been quiet."

"Wow."

He chuckled. "About being together," he said, and I swallowed hard, hoping it was the start of a good sentence. "How do you feel about a trip to Kansas?"