Yuri's POV
By the time we finally gave up finding who Sienna's father was, the food on the table had already gone cold.
No one really had the appetite anymore.
We ate anyway. Talked a little. Pretended things were normal. After that, we split up. Some went back to the university, others headed home.
But me?
I had other plans.
I went straight to Keifer's house.
When I got there, the place was quiet. Too quiet. I checked the time again, then knocked. Nothing. I already knew why. Keiren and Keagan had gone to school earlier. That meant if Keifer wasn't home, there was only one other place he'd be.
His condo.
I drove there without thinking twice.
I rang the doorbell.
Nothing.
Again.
Still nothing.
I was about to turn around when the door finally opened.
Keifer stood there.
And immediately, I knew something was wrong.
He looked sick. Pale. His hair was a mess, eyes dull and unfocused. This wasn't the Keifer I saw earlier that morning. This one looked like he hadn't slept. Or eaten. Or cared.
Without a word, he turned and walked back inside, dropping onto the couch like his bones had given up on him.
I followed him in and closed the door.
That's when I saw them.
Two empty beer bottles on the floor.
"Seriously?" I muttered.
I looked at him. "What's going on with you?"
He hiccupped.
Actually hiccupped.
Then laughed, soft and stupid, like nothing mattered. I just stared at him, trying to decide whether to yell or drag him into the shower.
Before I could do either, the guest bathroom door opened.
And Adrian stepped out.
I blinked. "Why are you here?"
Adrian sighed like a tired babysitter. "To watch this big baby."
Keifer lifted his head suddenly, squinting at me. "Jay…" he mumbled, smiling. "Jay, come give me a hug."
I groaned. "He's really drunk."
Keifer stood up.
Bad idea.
He staggered toward me, clearly not stable, arms loose at his sides. He stopped inches from my face, eyes glassy.
"Should I stop?" he asked suddenly.
"Stop what?" I said carefully.
"The plan," he whispered. "I don't wanna hurt her. I can't see her sad." He pressed a hand to his chest. "My heart is beating slow… like bum… bummm… sometimes bum...… bum. I can't."
He turned toward Adrian, swaying. "Buddy, let's stop it. Let's stop all the investigation and just go to her."
Adrian didn't flinch. "This was your plan, not mine."
Keifer straightened a little. "Yeah," he said proudly. "Mine."
Then his knees gave out.
He collapsed straight into me.
"Damn it," I muttered.
Adrian rushed over, and together we dragged Keifer to his bedroom. It wasn't easy. He kept mumbling Jay's name, complaining that the bed was too far, that the lights were too bright, that his head felt "floaty."
Eventually, we got him onto the bed.
He was out cold within seconds 😴
I stepped back, breathing hard, then turned to Adrian.
"What was he talking about?" I asked quietly.
Adrian's expression changed. Serious. Heavy.
"It started the day after Keifer came back from Sienna's house."
My stomach sank.
And suddenly, everything felt worse than before. 🌑