NINETY ONE

Cheska

Today is my second day in Italy. It’s early morning, and I’m setting up my new cellphone when Drake emerges in my doorway.

He’s talking to someone on the phone before handing it to me, making me wonder who it is.

“ It’s your friend Kate,” he says. “ She got my number from Prince.”

The mentioning of such name still makes my heart drop. I sigh and take the phone from Drake. “Hello?”

Kate’s cries fill my ear as soon as I speak, and she goes frantic. “Oh my God, Ches. Are you okay? How are you doing over there?”

A soft smile tugs at my lips. I miss her. It feels like ages since the last time I heard from her. This girl is worrying about me like I’m dying. “I’m okay. Don’t worry.”

“God, I never thought that – “ she stops talking and starts sobbing. “If only I’d figured it out earlier.” She’s speaking about Andrew. There’s a guilt in her voice, and I want to tell her that none of this is her fault.

Before, neither of us realized that Andrew was such a psychopath. We thought th