"So I realize it's been a while since we've talked," Raelyn's voice chimes through the speakers of my computer. "I've just been so busy with work and Evangeline and other life stuff. Sometimes I feel like there just aren't enough hours in the day, you know?"
"I feel you, Raelyn," I whisper, fiddling with the crystal paper weight she gave me when I first got hired at the Emerald Tribune. I never properly thanked her for the gift, even though I use it every day.
"Anyway, I have some good news! Vange's fourth birthday is coming up. I haven't been able to afford to throw her a party the past few years, but I've been saving all my tips since February. I have a few hundred bucks put away. I won't be able to do much. Probably just pizza and cake and some Minnie Mouse decorations. She's obsessed with Minnie. She has this stuffed one the she sleeps with every night. She's had it since she was a baby. It desperately needs a wash, but she won't part with it long enough to let me take it to the laundromat."
I bought that plush Minnie Mouse for Evangeline. I gave it to her the day she was born. I never knew she liked it so much.
"I hope you can make it to the party! The guest list is going to be small. Just me, a few girls from work, my old neighbors, and some kids from Vange's pre-school. I invited Gemma, but she's not coming. Shocker, right? She has finals coming up and can't be bothered to leave the library for an hour to come say happy birthday to Vange. Not that it matters. It's been so long since she's come over that Vange wouldn't recognize her, anyway."
I press pause and put the paperweight down. I remember that birthday party. My parents went, but I didn't. Raelyn was right about me cramming for finals. I was a junior in college. I was stressed about exams and the three term papers I had due. When I called and told her I wouldn't be attending, she seemed fine. I didn't realize she was so acrimonious about it.
"The party is May 4th," Raelyn continues. "It's a Saturday. It starts at three, but show up whenever. I really hope you can make it." She looks away from the camera, her green eyes filled with an emotion I don't recognize. "At the risk of sounding sappy, I'm really glad we reconnected. It's been nice having you to talk to. I mean, I talk to a lot of people, but not about anything real, you know? With you, I can be my complete self." She smiles and leans in so close that I can see the individual freckles on her face. "I love you. Let's chat soon, okay?"
The screen fades to black. I pull the USB drive out of the port and shove it back into my purse. I was hoping for more information. All I know now is that Raelyn secretly resented me for being an absentee best friend.
Not that I blame her.
"Gemma? What are you doing here?"
I spin around in my chair. Standing in the doorway is Griffin. He's cloaked in dark-wash jeans and a leather jacket instead of his usual button-down shirt and slacks. I push all inappropriate thoughts out of my head and rise to my feet.
"You know, most people avoid this place on the weekend," he says with a smirk.
"I'm not most people," I retort. "You're here, too, by the way. Did your exciting plans fall through?"
He chuckles. "Yeah, because my life is so interesting."
"Well, why are you here on a Saturday afternoon?" I inquire.
"I forgot something at my desk." He holds up a cable to prove his point. "What about you? Catching up on Ella's work?"
I roll my eyes. "Funny. No, Ella's actually been pretty easy on me lately."
YOU ARE READING
What She Left Behind ✔️
Mistério / Suspense"I'm assuming that little speech was meant for me?" "It was meant for everyone." "But mostly me. Is it because I called her selfish earlier? Are you still hung up on that?" "I'm not hung up on anything, Gemma." "Then why would you go up there and sa...
