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“It’s me, Ames.”
“Oh.” She exhaled in warm relief. “Thank god.”
“Why’s your kid calling NASA?”
“He wants them to lower the age of their internship program.” Her wry voice rose into a carrying reprimand. “He doesn’t realize that getting put on the FBI watchlist at age seven will probably mean he’s blacklisted.”
Something unknotted in Derek’s chest. She sounded just like his dad when she said stuff like that. It was the same way his dad used to complain about Derek’s clothes or haircuts or music choices. Exasperation mixed with pride.
“Hey, have you heard from Mom or Michelle?” Amy said.
All the released tension balled up again. “I’m at Mom’s now actually. She called me tonight asking about paperwork. And—um—no, I haven’t heard from Michelle in about…” He put the phone on speaker and swiped to messages, scrolling through several screens of unanswered texts to find the last one from Michelle. “Six months.” God, had it really been that long?
MICHELLE
I told you not to.
“Really?” Amy paused. “Yeah, I mean, you know Michelle. She gets wrapped up in something and forgets the world exists.”
“She’s wrapped up in something?”
“Just assuming.” Amy cleared her throat, her tone shifted back into her normal dryness. “Mom, however, has been acting weird for weeks. Sneaky. And she took an unplanned vacation day last week, according to her assistant. First time in her entire career.”
“Maybe something came up at church?”
“I don’t think so. Something’s off. I’ll let you know what I find out.”
“You say that like you’re planning on hiring a private detective or something.”
“Hmm.”
“That was not a suggestion.”
“You’re no fun.”
He restacked the boxes he’d moved out of the closet. “Have you heard from Michelle?”
“Oh, you know Michelle these days. She vanishes for a bit and then pops up with stories about following a rock band to Coachella or something. I’m sure she’ll text you soon.”
It wasn’t until they got off the phone that Derek realized Amy hadn’t actually answered his question. Sighing, he closed the messages app as if that would help him hide from the truth that all the women in his family were acting more bizarre than usual.
Derek knew Michelle would be angry he’d paid off the credit cards. He shouldn’t have opened her mail in the first place, but those notices kept piling up. He’d just wanted to help. He couldn’t fix her knee or her even more shattered heart, but he could give her a fresh start.
Instinctively, he went downstairs and began cleaning up his mother’s kitchen. She must have been baking again. Now that was an odd sign. Maybe Amy was right.
The sink was full, which was also strange since it wasn’t tax season, but he was glad he could do something with his hands. His family never used the dishwasher growing up, so he always did the dishes by hand. Dishes were oddly calming. A defined task with a simple, organized goal.
He needed to calm down before going back to the expensive chaos of his living situation. And the chaos of Dylan. Maybe the dishes would also calm the chaos in his brain about that awkward conversation with Hudson. He just wished he didn’t remember the exact expression on Dylan’s face as he walked away.
Chapter 14
The front door swung open and Dylan blinked, tearing his eyes away from his laptop as panic surged. The apartment was pitch black except for the glow from the DVD menu for 10 Things I Hate About You. Goose bumps covered him. Probably because he was still wearing nothing but a towel. He’d only moved long enough to put the movie on. Shockingly, it worked, and Gus chilled out enough for Dylan to get his work done. Dylan had been so focused on his work he hadn’t felt time pass.
Something crashed to the ground in the entryway.
Dylan pushed the laptop on the coffee table and hopped up.
“Just move the toolbox out of the goddamn hallway,” Derek said in a mutter.