The wait was harder than Kyle had expected. He spent almost the entire time checking the clock, and it didn’t go unnoticed.

“Hey, Kyle, what’s going on with you?” Yanick pressed, trying to get something out of him. “You left a while ago, didn’t say where you were going or what you were doing, and now you won’t stop looking at the time.”

“Nothing happened,” Kyle replied quickly, forcing a casual shrug. “I thought I saw someone I knew, but I was mistaken.”

“Ky, I thought you already knew you could trust me.” Yanick studied him carefully. “Your parents won’t find out about anything. Besides, I’m the one who brought you here, remember?”

“Argh, okay, I’ll tell you,” Kyle sighed, running a hand through his hair. “But only because I’m going to need you to cooperate with me.”

Yanick raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.

“I have a date in a bit,” Kyle explained, keeping it vague. “Let’s just say the first meeting was… unusual. And I want to see where this could go.”

“So you want me to leave so you can be comfortable?” Yanick asked dryly. “At least show me who this person is.”

Kyle shook his head.

“Ky, come on. It’s me.”

Kyle remained firm, his expression unmoving, and Yanick looked genuinely disappointed.

“Fine,” Yanick said after a moment. “I want you home by breakfast tomorrow at the latest. If you’re not there, I’m calling your parents — and you know half the police force will be looking for you seconds later.”

“Deal.”

It wasn’t the victory Kyle wanted, but it would do for now.

“Keep your phone’s location on,” Yanick added. “And share it with me if you leave here, understood?”

“Yes, daddy. Anything else?” Kyle replied jokingly, though he took the advice seriously.

Yanick shot him a look and ignored the comment.

“It’s time for me to go,” Kyle said, a nearly mischievous smile spreading across his face. “And for you to leave.”

They went their separate ways, and Kyle headed straight for the dressing room.

*Knock. Knock. Knock.*

No answer.

He tried the door. To his surprise, it opened easily.

Huh? Open? When I tried earlier, I really thought I was going to embarrass myself because it’d be locked. Guess I was wrong.

Oh. Of course it’s open. He must have taken everything already — which means he’s gone.

Kyle’s chest tightened as anxiety crept in. He turned on his heel and hurried back toward the party, scanning the crowd, searching — unsure if he’d find Phoenix at all.

I refuse to believe this is how it ends. Not like this.