Chapter 42: Dead Stars

The next hour was spent locked in the bedroom of Atreus' cabin talking to both Mia and Layla's parents. Through painful apologies, Layla did her best to assure them of her safety. It took even more explaining to Mia; she had to lie to her friend once again about her situation.

The only believable lie she could come up with is that she lost her phone and spent a few days without any service or means to contact people because she took a last-minute trip with Atreus to a remote vacation destination.

Mia grilled her endlessly about how worried she'd been and terrified something horrible had happened to her. After another half hour of apologies and assurances, Mia finally let Layla off the line.

Layla dropped the phone onto the bed and flopped back onto the blankets. Rubbing her eyes with her hands, she let out a loud sigh. At least that was done, but now she needed to have a conversation with a certain blonde-haired dream boat.

Hauling herself off the bed, Layla walked into the ma