Why can't it be just us?

 

Liv felt she wasn't there for Rico. All she could think of was Alex at the moment. They hadn't heard from them in over a week.

"Why am I like this?" She felt like crying but knew Alex wasn't one to cry about anything. Evidently.

"Because you're a good friend," Rico told her.

"Oh, but what about you, how are you really doing with Caitlin's mom here and everything?" She wished she felt more like celebrating with everyone else about Caitlin's new baby. As if was, she hadn't held it yet. 

"Her mom is great. I'm glad Dad could get her to come," he said. 

"Do you want him to ask your mom to come?" Liv found herself asking since she didn't want to make this all about Alex.

"I'm fine." he nodded. After all, his dad made him call her once a week. That was enough. Or so he said. 

Liv guessed she understood. She didn't call her mom as much. Maybe she was the bad one after all. She'd told his dad early on that she would try to be better about it, but she wasn't. Especially, when she was worried about Alex. 

"What if ..what if something bad happened?" Liv said about Alex.

"Well, Alex's mom called the police," Rico sighed. "It's a start. Leave it to the police." He sounded as if she might go on her own to investigate.

They were home alone tidying up. Rico vacuumed and she wiped down the dining area. Everything was nice and clean. 

"What we should be doing is cleaning at Deano and Caitlin's," Rico looked at her.

"Right," she agreed. It was best to keep busy and hope that Alex would come home soon.