The Jacket Snatcher

Chapter 64- Predator and Prey

After four rings, I'm sure that he won't pick up. After the fifth ring, I almost hang up myself. But then something happens. The phone doesn't ring a sixth time, but it also doesn't go to voicemail. Silence hangs in the air for a moment before I realize that he must have answered.

"Luke?" I ask tentatively.

There's something like a sigh before, "Hello?"

At the sound of his voice, my remaining composure crumbles, causing me to let out a small gasping sob. I quickly choke it off, but not before he hears it.

"Are you crying? What's wrong?" he says.

"It's Rachel," I manage to say through a thick throat.

"Is she okay?"

I grit my teeth against his misplaced worry. "She's fine," I spit out.

"Then what's the matter?"

"I just met her boyfriend, and he's...and he's...It's Jake."

Luke doesn't say anything for a moment, and I can tell that he's probably trying to place the name. When it finally comes to him, he answers. "Jake as in your ex? The jerk from high school?"

"The same one."

"What a bi--"

"I know," I say, cutting him off. He's only about to say what I've been thinking all night, but she is...or was...still my best friend, so it hurts to hear someone call her that.

"Are you okay?" he asks, taking the hint and not continuing to bash Rachel.

"Not really."

He sighs, and I can picture him pushing his hand through his hair. "I'm sorry," he says, and even through the phone, I can tell that he means it. We haven't spoken in over a month, but he is still a better friend to me in this moment than it seems Rachel is.

I debate over my next words before finally spitting them out. "Will you come over?"

"What? Where are you?" He's shocked. I shouldn't have said anything. I shouldn't have even called. I should take it all back.

"My apartment. I know you're probably busy, but since you're in L.A. and I could really use a friend right now, I just thought I'd ask..."

So much for taking it all back...

"Oh, well," he hesitates, "the thing is-- Wait, how'd you know I was in L.A.?"

"Oh." Oops. "Well, I heard you on the radio earlier."

"You did?"

"Yeah. It came on while I was driving." ...And then I sat in my car in the parking lot so that I could listen to your song...

"Oh. Did you hear the new song?" he asks, as if reading my mind.

"Yeah."

He pauses. "What did you think?"

"It was really good," I say honestly.

"Really?"

"Yeah. It even made me cry," I say, too honestly. Crap. We were starting to have a real conversation, but then I had to go and say that.

He's silent for so long that I pull the phone away from my face to see if he hung up. He didn't.

"I'm sorry," he says for the second time tonight. Neither of which are times where he needs to apologize.

"Don't apologize," I say. "It really is a good song."

"Thanks."

I hesitate, but figure I might not ever have another chance to ask, so I take the plunge. "Is it about us?"