Misplaced Trust (Misjudged) by Sarah Elizabeth Read Free Book Online Page A

mind.
    Hearing a door slam ming closed makes my head snap up, and that’s when I see Neil’s no longer in the room with us, “What’s with him?” I aim my question at both Ryan and Alyssa, and while Alyssa looks just as unaware as I am about what just happened, Ryan seems to understand.
    “He’s probably pissed because, A, you’re not c oming out with us tonight, and B, Brandon didn’t stick around long enough to say hi. We’ve been friends for a long time, y’know?” Ryan answers, and I can see where he’s coming from, on both counts.
    Sighing, I head over to Neil’s room and knock the door, opening it up and stepping inside before even giving him the chance to respond.
    He’s lying on his b ed, with his arms crossed behind his head, and staring up at the ceiling. He doesn’t acknowledge me until I climb on the other side and lay beside him, “You’re pissed at me,” I say. There’s no need to ask him this, it’s evident.
    “Honestly? No,” he answers after a moment of silence. “I’m upset that you won’t join us tonight, of course I am …”
    “ Then why are you so angry?” I ask, sitting up and observing him as he lets out a deep sigh.
    “We’ve been worried about him too, you know. Brandon, I mean. We’re like brothers but he didn’t stick around long enough to see us? It’s him I’m pissed at, Alex, not you.”
    Sighing, I take a hold of his hand and stare up at the ceiling, mirroring Neil ’s actions, “He wasn’t here for long. I thought he was staying, I thought he’d come back, but then he left, again.”
    “Did he say why he left?” he asks, turning to face me while propping himself up on his left elbow, and resting his chin in his hands.
    I sigh and feel ano ther knot forming in my stomach, “Not a thing.”
    “He didn’t say anything?” Neil presses, throwing me a disbelieving look when I have nothing else to add.
    “Not really … we um … we …”
    “What?” he’s sitting up now, waiting for me to continue.
    I’m thankful when the door opens, interrupting the uncomfortable conversation Neil and I were just about to have. We’re close friends, but I just don’t feel right discussing what happened last night between Brandon and I with him.
    “Hey guys, I’m sorry to disturb your little domestic here, but Alex, there’s a voicemail from your father . He left it early yesterday afternoon,” Alyssa stands forward and holds the phone out to me. She looks unsure about something as she passes it over.
    Taking a seat beside me, I notice that she’s watching me with caution, “Thanks,” I say, taking it from her and holding it up to my ear so that I can listen.
    Neil’s sitting on the other side of me now, and I can feel both sets of eyes resting on me as the message begins to play.
     
    ‘Alex, sweetheart. I just heard from the police department. They have a suspect over the break in on Sunday … I’m not sure why the name rings a bell but they should have him be in custody by the time I return back to Salem. They found an ID card amongst some of the items they took away for examination and he’s known to the police already, so, don’t be worrying. Love you sweetheart and I’ll call you when I get back home next week.’
     
    “Hey, are you okay?” Neil asks, with concern written over his face while leaning himself forward as I end the call. “Alex?”
    “Yes,” I look up and smile at them both, feeling the relief flowing through me at knowing they have found out who was responsible for this, and that my father will be safe when he returns back from Florida next weekend.
     
    ***
     
    I tried for over an hour to get a hold of my father and return his call, but each time, it just rang until the long tone sounded. I wish my father was more technologically minded, at least that way he would know how to set up his damn voicemail.
    Neil, Ryan, and Alyssa decided to stay home and play drinking games instead of hitting the city, on the promise that I would