Unscheduled Departure Read Online Free Page A

incoming call and I jolted.
    Lindsay.
    I took a deep breath to calm my pounding heart and answered. "Linds?"
    "Hey. Got your text. I can do dinner, but not at the diner, okay? You up for Chinese?"
    "Um . . . yeah, yeah, sure. That sounds good."
    "You sound kind of funny. Everything okay?" She paused, and I thought about how to answer, but she beat me to it. "Oh, crap. Finn left this morning, right? I can't believe I forgot."
    This morning? Had it only been this morning? "No, it's not—"
    "I had two midterms today and I just— I'm so sorry Ro."
    "It's okay, Linds. He didn't go."
    I heard a noise over the phone, could picture Lindsay stopping in the middle of the sidewalk, mouth dropped open in shock. "He what?"
    "Changed his mind." I shrugged, even though I knew she couldn't see it. "He said he didn't want to leave me."
    Lindsay laughed, full-bodied and loud. "Well, the guy sure has the romantic hero thing down. It's like a friggin' Kate Hudson movie."
    I snorted.
    "So, you're okay then?" she asked, tentative.
    "Yeah." I didn’t even convince myself.
    "Ro?"
    I sighed. "I don't know, Linds. Something's up with Finn. I don't know if I'm imagining it or what, but . . ."
    "But what?"
    And that was the rub. I had no idea.
    "That settles it," Lindsay said after I'd been quiet for too long. "I'm picking up takeout and I'll be there in twenty minutes. We're going to eat Chinese and have girl talk and—I don't know, hell, bake cookies and do our nails or something."
    "Girl talk?"
    "Shut up. I can totally do girl talk," she said. "I'll girl talk the heck out of you and we'll figure out all your boy troubles."
    "I don't have—"
    "Twenty minutes." Lindsay hung up and I closed my mouth when I realized it was still hanging open. Lindsay was a force of nature, but she was also a good friend and maybe . . . maybe I needed to talk to someone about the whole Finn-weirdness that was going on. Someone who'd assure me that I wasn't crazy, but who could give me a rational explanation for everything that had happened.
    Someone who could give me a reason that didn't include Finn lying to me.
    Finn.
    I thumbed through my contacts to his name again, and didn't hesitate to press the call button.
    He answered on the second ring. "Hey."
    "Hey." I swallowed, nervous, although I knew I shouldn't be. "I, uh. Got your call?"
    "Hmm?" He seemed distracted.
    "Finn?"
    He cleared his throat. "Sorry. Working on a letter to the admissions office. I'm hoping I'll be able to come back next quarter." I heard a couple of clicks, probably his computer keyboard. "What did you say?"
    "Um . . . nothing, really. I just got your call, and . . . I thought you were tired?" My heart thumped in my chest, palms sweaty as I waited for his response.
    "Kind of," he replied. "But I really wanted to get this letter off. I'm supposed to meet the guys for din—"
    "But you're tired. You said you were wiped." I felt my voice rising with my agitation.
    "What are you talking about? I'm not that tired."
    "You called me. From the private number—"
    "Ro—"
    "The connection was bad, but you said you were tired. You said you'd call me tomorrow." I forced the words out, even and firm. He had to remember. He had to. "You said you loved me."
    "Ro, I told you that wasn't me. I didn't call you."
    "Not this morning," I snapped. "Just now. You called me just now!"
    "It wasn't me. I swear, Ro, I've been working on this letter for an hour." He sounded worried, his voice soothing, like he was . . . like he was talking down a crazy person. "Babe, are you okay?"
    "I—" I twisted my fingers in my hair. "But you did. I heard you."
    "I'm coming over."
    "No!" Panic seized me. I didn't know why, but I needed to figure this out myself. If Finn were there, I'd only get more confused. "No, it's okay," I said, forcing myself to sound calm, even. "It's probably some kids playing a prank or something."
    "I can tell the guys I'm busy."
    "No, Finn, it's fine, really." I laughed, the sound harsh and tinny to my