The Chase, Volume 2 by Jessica Wood Read Free Book Online

her apartment from awhile back. I pulled up that number and dialed it. After two rings, I heard a click and a female voice answered on the other end.
    But it wasn’t Katherine’s voice.
    “Is Katherine there?”
    “Katherine?” I heard the confusion in her question and I immediately checked my phone to make sure I dialed the right number.
    “Yes. Katherine Fox. Aren’t you her roommate?”
    “Um, I was her roommate, but not anymore.”
    “What? What do you mean not anymore? Did you move out?”
    “Me? What are you talking about? No, I didn’t move out. Katherine did when she moved away. Like at the beginning of the semester. She transferred schools.”
    My mind whirled at her words. “What do you mean transferred schools? She didn’t mention this to me? Where did she go?”
    “She transferred to San Francisco State University in SF so that she could to be closer to her boyfriend who’s at UC Berkeley.”
    “What?! She did?” Anxiety began to spread through me as I tried to comprehend what this could all mean.
    There was a long pause before she finally spoke. “Who is this again?”
    “It’s Dean. Katherine’s boyfriend.”
    “Um. I’m sorry, but maybe you have the wrong number.” There was hesitation in her voice, increasing my anxiousness.
    “No, I don’t have the wrong number. This is—or was—Katherine’s number. Why the hell would you say I have the wrong number?” I felt my nerves bubbling up inside me.
    “Because her boyfriend’s name isn’t Dean,” she replied matter-of-factly.
    My body froze and my stomach twisted uncomfortably as I tried to digest her words.
    “Hello? Are you still there?” she asked after a few seconds of silence.
    “What’s her boyfriend’s name if it isn’t Dean?”
    “It’s really none of your business, but if you really must know, it’s Gibson.”
    Gibson? My fraternity brother? Could it be the same Gibson?
    “And you said he goes to Berkeley?”
    “Yeah. They were dating long distance for about six month before she moved. She said she couldn’t stand only seeing him twice a month.”
    “They saw each other twice a month ?” At this point, fury overtook the shock that consumed every fiber in my body. 
    “Yeah.” She giggled, completely oblivious to my shock. “They’re so into each other, it’s pretty cute. They alternate their visits with each other so they can see each other every two weeks.”
    I drew in a deep breath, trying to stay calm so that I could think through everything she’d said. “So you’ve met him before?”
    “Yeah, of course. Pretty much once a month when she was my roommate. That’s why I’m sure you’ve got the wrong number because her boyfriend’s name isn’t Dean. It’s definitely Gibson.”
    “Right.” That was all I could utter without lashing out my anger at her.
    “Okay, well I gotta go. I hope you find the right number—“
    “Wait!” I stopped her before she hung up, knowing that I needed to ask her one more question. “Is this Gibson about six feet two with blonde hair and green eyes?”
    “Yeah! How’d you know?”
    “Lucky guess. Thanks for your help. Bye.” I hung up on her before she could ask me any questions.
    I stood motionless outside the arrivals area of the airport for another fifteen minutes, stunned by this new revelation. The box inside my breast pocket felt heavy and painfully hot against my chest. Rage and pain overtook my every thought. She’s been dating my fraternity brother and close friend right underneath my nose. She’s been living in San Francisco for the last six months without even telling me.
    Just then my phone started to ring. It was Katherine.
    My body stiffened as I answered the phone.
    “Hello?”
    “Hi, baby. I saw that I missed your call. What’s up?”
    I took a deep breath and steadied myself before responding. “Nothing much. Just wanted to call and say hi and see what you’re up to.”
    “Oh. Just studying. The usual, you know?”
    “Where are