Who I Am With You (Imagination #10) - Staci Stallings Page 0,131

was now completely impossible. “Why don’t we just go to the student center? They’re doing the meals on Mondays thing today, right?”

“You sure? When are we going to do the rest of it?”

She shrugged. “Either I’ll do it later, or we can work on it tomorrow.”

Stopping between the two options, Greg sighed. “Are you sure?”

Carefully, she hooked her arm with his. “Come on, Superman. Let’s get you fed and to work. I promise I’ll be good and stay safe while you’re not here.”

He didn’t look convinced, but he let her turn him that direction just the same.

Chapter 18

At the student center, there were far more people than Taylor had anticipated, and the three Greg chose to sit with had her wishing she hadn’t made the suggestion in the first place. One breath and she knew the best plan was to draw as little attention her direction as possible. So she sat next to Greg, ate her spaghetti slowly and tried not to make any sudden movements.

They were talking about what everyone was doing for the evening. Nelson had something at the studio. Paige had homework, and Lauren was helping Wes locate a new car to work on. They’d apparently found two that were promising, but it was going to take going to actually see them in person to make the decision.

Taylor wondered at that. She hadn’t realized Lauren knew so much about Wes’s hobby.

“The Shelby looks really promising,” Lauren said. “We just couldn’t tell how much engine work it’s going to take. Supposedly it’s already been rebuilt, but something about the deal seems fishy. For a car that ‘runs great’ and only needs a little body work, the price isn’t what you’d expect it to be. Wes thinks there’s probably something the guy isn’t saying, and let’s face it, Wes has a nose for these things.”

“I think it’s amazing how well he’s done,” Nelson said. “He’s probably going to out-do all of us.”

“Yeah, but let’s be honest, he has a secret weapon,” Paige said. “He was just telling me the other day about some adjustment you’d made to the purchasing and tracking that saved him like $300.”

Lauren shrugged. “It’s just $300.”

“I’ll take $300,” Greg said.

“Me too,” Nelson said. “Heck, I’ll take $50.”

Smiling at their easy banter, Taylor nodded. She could think of a good way to use $50. With that thought, another followed. She needed to call her parents. She’d been putting that call off, but her dad was surely on his lunch break now, and putting it off longer wasn’t advisable. Carefully, she put her hand next to Greg’s to get his attention, and he looked at her as the others continued.

“I’m going to go call Dad,” she said softly.

That jolted his eyes wide. “Oh. Okay. You can probably go over by the offices. It should be quieter over there.”

Nodding, she dragged in a breath. “Wish me luck.”

“G’luck.”

As she had anticipated, her father was nowhere near thrilled.

“And the police haven’t called back yet?” he asked.

“No. I haven’t heard anything.”

“They haven’t found her?”

“I… I don’t know.” Taylor slumped forward on the couch and put the top of her head in her hand. How had this become her fault?

“You haven’t called them?”

“No. Not yet. I was going to class and trying to get the housing people to help.” She didn’t add how truly unhelpful they had been.

“Well, you need to.”

“I know. I will.”

“Don’t wait.”

“I won’t.”

“Did you file charges?”

“I filled out the report.”

“You’ll probably need to go file charges. Ask them. Make sure they’re going to. Someone needs to.”

“Okay. I’ll ask.”

“I’m not kidding, Taylor. Get in there and get that done today.”

“I get it, Dad. I’ll get it done.”

Even after she hung up, Taylor was still slumped over the phone when Merel happened to walk by headed to her office.

“Taylor?” Merel asked, and Taylor sat up, knowing she shouldn’t have been caught looking so down and helpless.

“Yeah.” Taylor fought to get herself into ‘everything’s fine’ mode. It wasn’t working.

“Oh, darlin’. Look at you.” Merel came right over and sat in the chair. “Are you all right?”

“Yeah.” But it didn’t sound convincing even to her.

“Well, if you need a sounding board, I’m free right now.”

Taylor heaved a sigh that very nearly started the tears flowing. “I…”

“That’s what I thought.” Merel stood. “Come on. Let’s go figure out which way is up again.”

When Greg was finished with his lunch, he went to the little sitting area by the offices, but Taylor wasn’t there. He made the loop all the way around the student center