7. Drew
7
DREW
I weaved through the packed dining room of Lusitana, balancing a tray of colorful cocktails as the buzz of laughter and clinking glasses filled the air. My eyes landed on Adam and River, wrapped in each other’s arms, their faces glowing with pure joy.
“To the happy couple!” someone shouted, raising a glass.
A chorus of cheers erupted as Adam planted a kiss on River’s lips. My heart swelled with happiness for my friends, even if a twinge of envy creeped in. I wanted to be them.
“Thanks, Drew!” a regular patron said as they took a drink from my tray. “Hell of a declaration, huh?”
“You said it,” I replied, my gaze drifting back to the lovebirds.
I patted my pocket, feeling for my phone. Where the hell was West? He should’ve been here an hour ago.
Ducking behind the bar, I pulled out my phone and checked for messages. Nothing. My stomach twisted with unease.
It wasn’t like West to be late. He was always punctual, arriving at least five minutes early. Yet today, he had somehow missed the moment when Adam professed his love for River in front of everyone. I was disappointed, but there was nothing I could do, so I pushed my thoughts aside and focused on work.
Over the next couple of hours or so, I tried but failed to stop my eyes from darting to the entrance every few seconds, hoping to see that familiar mop of curly brown hair appear.
River and Adam had disappeared an hour or so ago but the party was still going strong.
My phone buzzed in my pocket as I handed out mojitos. I nearly dropped the tray in my haste to check it, but it was just a spam email. Disappointment and frustration washed over me in equal measure.
As I pocketed my phone with a sigh, a familiar voice piped up behind me.
“Why the long face, Drewsicle? This is supposed to be a party!”
I turned to find Noah grinning at me, his blond hair artfully tousled and blue eyes twinkling with mischief. He slung an arm around my shoulders, leaning in conspiratorially. “We’re going to crash Adam and River’s little love nest. Wanna come?”
“I’ve heard the stories, and I’m not sure I want to be on the receiving end when they come back for revenge.”
Noah shrugged. “It’s only a possibility if any of us has your apartment keys. I’ve been practicing my lock-picking skills, but I’m not front-door trained yet.”
For a moment, I was tempted. It would be a much-needed distraction from my worry about West. But as quickly as the thought came, guilt followed.
“I don’t know, man.” I hesitated, glancing at my phone again. “West still isn’t here, and he’s not answering my texts. I’m getting kind of worried.”
Noah’s grin softened. “Aw, come on. He’s probably just caught up in work at the Foundation. You know how he gets when he’s in the zone.”
I nodded, but the knot in my stomach didn’t loosen. “Yeah, maybe. But it’s not like him to ghost me.”
“Tell you what,” Noah said, squeezing my shoulder. “You go find West. I’ve already got Lior, Lex, and Emery for Operation Love Nest Invasion. But you owe me one epic prank in the future, got it?”
I managed a small smile. “Deal. Thanks, Noah.”
He winked and sauntered off. As I watched him go, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was seriously wrong.
Taking a deep breath, I made my decision. It was time to go find West, even if it meant leaving the party early. I just hoped I was overreacting and he’d have a perfectly reasonable explanation for all of this.
With the assistant manager’s permission, I slipped out of Lusitana, the sounds of laughter and clinking glasses fading behind me. The cool night air hit my face as I jogged to my car, my mind racing faster than my feet.
The drive home was a blur of streetlights and worst-case scenarios. By the time I pulled into our driveway, my hands were sweating on the steering wheel. I practically flew out of the car, hope and dread warring in my chest as I fumbled with the front-door lock.
“West?” I called out, flicking on the lights.
Silence.
Our living room stood empty, mockingly pristine. No rumpled West sprawled on the couch, no half-empty coffee mug on the side table. Just…nothing.
I checked his room, my room, the bathroom. No West.
“Shit,” I breathed, running a hand through my hair. The knot in my stomach tightened.
I paced the room, my footsteps loud in the quiet house. With each turn, I checked my phone, willing it to buzz with a message from West. Nothing. Nada. Zilch.
I flopped onto the couch, staring at my phone. Should I call him?
“Screw it,” I muttered, hitting the call button. It rang. And rang. And went to voicemail.
“Hey, it’s West. Leave a message!”
I ended the call without speaking.
That’s when I knew. Sitting there wasn’t going to cut it. I had to go to the Foundation, had to see for myself what was happening.
I jumped up, snagging my keys from where I’d dropped them on the coffee table. A mix of worry and frustration propelled me toward the door.
“If you’re nose-deep in paperwork and just forgot to charge your phone, West Hart, I swear I’m going to kill you,” I grumbled, even as my heart raced with concern. “Right after I kiss you senseless for scaring me like this.”
As I rounded the corner to the Foundation parking lot, my heart nearly stopped. Flashing lights. Sirens wailing. Smoke billowing into the sky.
“No, no, no,” I muttered, abandoning the car between two spaces and breaking into a run.
The Star Finders Foundation building loomed ahead, flames licking at the windows of the old maternity ward. It was the furthest from the main building, which gave me some hope. West was usually in the reception area, which he’d turned into a temporary office of sorts.
A crowd had gathered, held back by police tape. I shoved my way through, ignoring the protests.
“West!” I shouted, scanning faces frantically. “Has anyone seen Weston Hart?”
A burly firefighter turned toward me, his face streaked with soot. “Sir, you need to stay back?—”
“My…West works here,” I interrupted, grabbing his arm. “Tall guy, curly hair. Have you seen him?”
He shook his head. “Did you say West Hart?”
"Yes! Have you seen him?"
"He’s not on shift tonight.”
I cut him off again, desperation clawing at my throat. “Please, you don’t understand. He always stays late. He could still be inside!”
The chaos around us intensified. Water hoses battled the inferno, and I heard the crackle of flames even over the sirens.
“Listen,” the firefighter said, his voice firm but not unkind. “We’re doing everything we can. But I need you to stay calm and?—”
“Calm?” I laughed, the sound bordering on hysterical. “The man I love might be trapped in there, and you want me to be calm?”
My mind raced. What if West was hurt? What if he was scared, wondering why I hadn’t found him yet?
“I should have come sooner,” I said, biting my nails. “I knew something was wrong. I should have…”
The firefighter’s radio crackled to life, and he turned away to respond. I stood there, helpless, watching the flames devour the place we’d worked so hard to get. The place West poured his heart into every day.
Please. Please, let him be okay.
Suddenly, a shout cut through the chaos. “We’ve got movement on the second floor!”
My heart leaped into my throat. “That’s got to be West!” I yelled, surging forward. A firefighter caught me around the waist, holding me back.
“Sir, you can’t?—”
“I heard a voice!” another firefighter called out, emerging from the building’s entrance. “Male, adult. Sounded like he was calling for help.”
“That’s him in there,” I insisted to anyone who would listen. “West always works late. He’s probably trying to save important files or something stupid like that.”
The fire chief barked orders, his voice steady amid the pandemonium. “Johnson, Rodriguez, gear up. One of ours may be inside. We’re going in.”
I watched, my entire body trembling, as two firefighters put on their masks with practiced speed. The heat from the blaze was intense, even from where I stood. Sweat trickled down my back, and the acrid smell of smoke burned my nostrils.
My mind conjured images of West, trapped and coughing, desperately searching for a way out. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to banish the thoughts.
“Please,” I begged the firefighters as they prepared to enter. “Please find him.”
The chief turned to me, his expression grave but determined. “We’ll do everything we can, sir. But I need you to stay back and let us work.”
I nodded numbly, watching as the rescue team disappeared into the smoke-filled entrance. The wait was excruciating, every second feeling like an eternity.
“Come on, West,” I murmured, fists clenched at my sides. “You better be okay, you stubborn idiot. We’ve got way too much left to do together.”
My heart raced as I watched the firefighters vanish into the smoke-filled building.
The crackle of flames mixed with the shouts of firefighters, creating a hellish cacophony. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still, my eyes never leaving the entrance where the rescue team had disappeared.
“Come on, come on,” I muttered, willing them to emerge with West.
Suddenly, a thunderous crack split the air. My head snapped up just in time to see a portion of the roof cave in, sending a shower of sparks and debris raining down.
“No!” I screamed, lunging forward instinctively. “West!”
Strong arms wrapped around me, holding me back. It was the fire chief, his face grim.
“Stay back, son,” he ordered, but I barely heard him over the ringing in my ears.
“But West—” I choked out, my vision blurring with tears. “He’s still in there!”
The chief’s radio crackled to life. “Chief, we’ve got a problem. The collapse has blocked our exit. We’ll have to find another way to get out, and we’ve got an unconscious victim with us.”
My world tilted on its axis. West. It had to be West. Trapped. Unconscious. Maybe worse.
“No, no, no,” I repeated, my voice breaking. “This can’t be happening. West!”
As chaos erupted around me, all I could think was: I can’t lose him. Not like this. Not when I’d never told him how I really felt.