Chapter 21

Phoebe

Liam is holding my hand while I call Adrian. The long empty beeps are excruciating, and when Adrian finally picks up his phone, my heart is beating so hard I’m afraid I might pass out. I’m so nervous to hear about what happened to my mom. Is she still alive, or did she...die?

“Adrian,” I breathe. “It’s me.”

He is silent for a little while before he chuckles in amusement. “I can tell.”

Even though this is hardly the time, I smile a little before it falters the second I remember why I’m calling him. My heart clenches, and Liam gives me a hesitant smile before squeezing my hand reassuringly.

“I’m here,” he whispers. “Just go on, ask Adrian what you need to ask him. Be brave.”

I hand Liam a smile before blurting out the question that is weighing my mind, “Adrian, is my mom still alive, or did she die in my absence?”

Adrian is silent for a long moment. It’s enough to make tears prickle behind my eyelids. I was gone for five years - of course, my mom is dead. There is no way—