Racing Down Sunset Boulevard

Chapter 28

Gage's POV

I wish I'd given Kaylah a chance earlier, because I don't think many people would have done what she did for me. She must've held me as I cried for the better part of an hour, not asking me to expand or explain myself. Then she gently helped me to the gate, holding my hand as she called a taxi. I was expecting her to give the driver her address, "Do you know the café on Sunset corner with Fifth?" he nodded, "Sure thing".

I turned my head to her, startled. She gave me an easy smile, and for the first time, it seemed genuine "I didn't think you'd want to be alone just yet".

We walked in just in time for the shift change, and I watched Jon walk in and stiffen, until Kaylah went over to hug him and whisper something I couldn't hear. At close to 9 pm, the calm atmosphere in Bailey's felt charged with energy, as the coffee smell was being steadily replaced by booze and the last of the coffee lovers wrapped up for the night, only to be replaced by the long-time night clientele. I suppose there's a reason it's named Bailey's after all.

As I walked past Jon, who was giving me a not so subtle side-eye, I found myself in a small back room, decently lit and definitely cosy, which I found out was actually the recreational room Jon and some of the other guys had set up for themselves.

I found it easy to talk to her. I told her everything about what happened to my little bro, and what it did to my mom and dad afterwards. In turn, she opened up to me about her home life, and how her mom was still in love with her biological dad, even if he'd been dead for 17 years, and how that took a toll on everyone.

"My dad doesn't know, so he doesn't understand why there's things that trigger my mom's depressive episodes. But I do, and sometimes it kills me to watch how helpless the only father figure I've ever had in my life looks when my mom's in a really dark place"

I changed the subject after that, and instead tried to ask about Ari. "Frankly, I don't know how she's doing anymore" she checked her phone again, staring down at the screen with what looked like anger. Or was it hurt?

I was about to say something else, but she stopped me, "Hold that thought" she tapped her screen a couple times, and then gestured for me to come closer. I scooted closer, careful to avoid any physical contact. She hadn't touched me since we left the cemetery, and I didn't want to ruin this.

"You're kidding right? If I feared you, I wouldn't have hugged you in the first place. Come look at this," she'd opened up Snapchat on Ari's contact, and replayed the latest snap. My breath hitched, as I looked at Nate's picture, who was looking down, apparently focused on an ongoing game of cards.

"I didn't know he'd be going too," her voice had a weird edge to it which I couldn't place.

"Why didn't you go?" she'd told me about the trip, and how she wanted to use it as an opportunity to get closer to Ari once again. I thought I'd confused the dates when I saw her at the cemetery, but it looks like I hadn't.

"My mom," she didn't elaborate, and I didn't need her to.

"So suppose you haven't been able to get through to her," I felt stupid for stating the obvious, but it felt like good preamble for what I wanted to say next "Did you get any closer to Nate?"

I saw her downright twitch at that, but her voice was steady , "I guess you could say I did. I mean, we're on speaking terms and all, but I'm not gonna have him telling me anything shady anytime soon. If anything, he might have a rough idea of what I'm tryna do, although not why,"

After that, we lapsed into silence, listening to the steady thump of music outside. And then, I had possibly the brightest or the most stupid idea I've ever had. "What if we found something that would convince her we're right?" I started riffling through my pockets, and she gave me a questioning look, a crease forming between her eyebrows.