What just happened? I wait. One minute. Two minute. El doesn’t return to the bathroom. I manage to force a foot in front of the other till I’m in the hall. El is gone. She left. Oh my, fuck. Circling the hall proves abortive. T is there but El isn’t. My heart clenches, I hold in the pained sound that tries to escape. El played me. I take one last glance at the hall. No El. The cool air hits my face. I stagger towards my car and straighten up at the figure leaning on it. My footsteps quicken. My smile is instant as I cover the gap between us. “You’re here,” I say, carrying her off the floor in an excited spin. “You’re here. You’re here, my baby.” “I’m here, Brandon. Now, put me down.” I do that and she opens the door. I’m still too shocked to move. “Are you coming or not?” “Right after you,” I whisper. Her laughter tickles my ear as she slips inside the backseat. She curls against the other door and I tug her int