Tilting her head back and exhaling, Sophie told herself that someone would probably come soon to take him back to London.
But why hadn't they come yet?
"Could something have happened?" The possibility suddenly occurred to Sophie. She glanced at her watch—it was now 2 p.m. in the UK.
Yet she really didn't want to make that call. All of a sudden she felt tired… and a little afraid…
It was rare for Sophie to sleep in, but before 9 a.m. on a weekend morning, she was awakened by the rhythmic vibration of her phone. She picked it up, pressed it to her ear, eyes still closed, and mumbled drowsily, "Hello? Who is it?"
"Sophie, it's me, Con."
"Oh, it's you! What's up?" Hearing his energetic voice instantly woke her up more.
"I'm in Austin—I got here last night. Come help me unpack my room. You promised me." Con was, as always, full of urgency and momentum.
Now fully awake, Sophie rolled out of bed, phone still in hand, and shuffled to the bathroom to wash up.
