Chapter 26 You Spent The Night With Him?”

• What should I tell Ella? That was my first thought when I saw the twenty-seven missed calls on my phone, each one a reminder that she’d been trying to reach me all night. Why didn’t Derek wake me up before he left? Did he not want us to go home together, or did he fear someone might see us? And what exactly had he told his daughter? I scrolled through my messages, looking for any hints, but there was nothing new. Part of me wanted to call Derek and ask if he’d mentioned anything to Ella, but I hesitated. Then my phone rang again, and I answered, expecting Derek.
• “Hello, Crystal? It’s Ella. Dad left his phone at home. Where are you?”
• My stomach twisted. I stumbled over my words, completely caught off guard, but thankfully Ella kept talking. “Where are you? Why didn’t you answer my calls?”