Free Progress (The Progress Series) by Amy Queau

and no stress. Paradise.
    “So we’ll just meet up at Karal’s house around noon and we can figure out who all is driving. Sound good?” Angie asked.
    “Perfect. I’ll see you then!” Charlie hung up.
    A minute later, her phone rang again. Assuming it was Angie, she answered without checking the caller ID.
    “Hey, what did you forget to tell me?”
    “Um, is…is this Charlie?” a voice asked hesitantly.
    “Yes.” Charlie glanced at her phone to see an unfamiliar number. “Who is this?”
    “Maybe I shouldn’t have called. I’m sorry. I’ll just…”
    “Wait. Who is this? How did you get this number?” Charlie asked again.
    A slow and stressed exhale could be heard on the other end. “Charlie, this is Lily. I don’t know if you remember me--”
    “Yes. Lily from the restaurant?”
    “Oh good. You do remember me. I was just wondering if you’d heard from Jesse. He gave me your number for emergencies…if I couldn’t find him, he told me to call you.”
    Charlie’s heart sunk to the pit of her stomach and she could feel each thump rise and fall from her chest.
    “Oh god. Not for a few days. We haven’t worked together since Tuesday. Why? What’s wrong?” Charlie couldn’t hide her concern.
    “It could be nothing. I mean, I could be overreacting. It’s just that he stopped in a few days ago and he seemed…different. Sad. I mean, more sad than usual. I’d never forgive myself if something happened to him and I had been able to--” Lily sounded frantic.
    “It’s fine Lily. I’m sure. Have you tried his phone? Do you have Jake and Dennis’ number?”
    “I’ve tried them all. Jesse’s phone has been disconnected. I didn’t want to call his parents because he’s always in so much trouble…” Lily’s breathing accelerated.
    “Okay, Lily. I will try to find him. Can I reach you at this number?”
    “Yes. Please, please find him Charlie. He wasn’t… okay. He was…he was…just please find him and call me as soon as you can.” Lily was now exasperated.
    “I will. If I can’t find him within the hour, I’ll call you back anyway.”
    “Thank you.” Lily sighed. “He was right about you.”
    Charlie hung up the phone and tried dialing his cell. Yep, it’s been disconnected.
    She grabbed her keys and headed out the door. On her way to his house, her imagination started getting the best of her and she started to tremble. Unlike the mild panic attacks she’d had in the past, her heart started racing and she couldn’t keep up with her thoughts. If he wasn’t home she didn’t know where to look next. She couldn’t focus on one thing at a time; the worst was flooding into her. What if something has happened to him?
    She dialed work.
    “Thank you for calling--” Adam answered.
    “Hey Adam, it’s Charlie. I have a strange question.”
    “Oh, hey Charlie.” he responded with a smarmy tone. “What’s your question?”
    “Have you seen Jesse -- the ah…delivery driver -- in the past few days?”
    “Well, actually, he didn’t show up for his shift this morning. Thank god it was slow. I had to take all the deliveries at lunch rush. But I’m sure Lawrence will want to write him up for it. He could lose his job, you know.” Adam said, divulging too much information.
    “Oh jeez. I know this is going to sound strange, but…a family emergency came up for him, and his phone got disconnected. I was just calling to see if he was able to stop in and talk to you guys yet. I’m sure he wants to keep his job, but he just needs a little…time. If you could hold off on telling Lawrence for a day or two, I would be incredibly grateful.” Charlie turned on the charm. Jesse better be on his deathbed if I’m going to have to endure the next six months of flirtation from Adam.
    “Well, I suppose I could wait to tell him. There’s no technical statute of limitations for writing someone up for missing a shift. Out of curiosity, why are you calling for him?” Adam asked skeptically.
    Oh