Playbook

Chapter 22: Aurelia

Voicemail.

Voicemail for the third time.

I called back one more time, hoping he would pick up.

Which he didn't.

What is he doing at four in the afternoon on a Sunday?

But I stayed on the phone, waiting for his stupid voicemail to beep.

Beeeeep.

"Hey babe, I went by your house to surprise you, but . . . But you weren't there. Your momma said you never came home. Baby, where are you? I'm just worried something may have happened... call me back when you can."

I pulled into a small coffee shop and got out. I walked inside, twirling my keys around my pointer finger. I ordered my usual before walking out. I went to the store beside it. While I was thumbing through all the tops, shorts, and dresses, my phone started buzzing in my pocket. I pulled it out quickly and answered it without looking at the caller ID.

"El?" I heard a full mouth ask.

"Ethan?"

"Yeah." I heard a swallow. "Where's the milk?" I rolled my eyes and put all my weight on my right hip.

"In the fridge, idiot."

I heard a door open and some rummaging around. I then heard a sigh.

"No it's not!"

"Did you look on the door?" There was a pause.

"It's not there."

"Okay, then what is in the fridge?"

"Cups, a few plates..."

"Ethan!"

"What?"

"You're looking in the cabinets..."

"Oh." There was a quiet bang, and then I heard another door open.

"Found it!"

"Thank God."

"But it's clear..."

"That's the water!"

"Why is there a milk jug with water?!"

"Look for the half-gallon jug, Ethan!"

"So the skinny one?"

"Yes."

"Found it! But there's barely any left!"

"Then go to the store!"

"Can you just get some while you're out?" My phone started ringing with another incoming call, this one from Trace.

"No. Now this is Trace, got to go."

"Fine I'll just finish this with some of my cereal and eat the rest dry," he muttered. I rolled my eyes and answered Trace's call.

"Babe, hey!"

"Hey, El. Sorry I didn't answer..."

"It's fine. Where are you?"

"At Sean's."

"Why?"

"I didn't want my parents to see me like this, and Sean and I made a truce."

"Oh... okay."

"What's up with you?"

"I'm shopping."

"Clothes or groceries?"

"Clothes, but Ethan wants me to be grocery shopping. He needs milk."

"Just call your mo-"