Chapter Thirty
Thomas
The obnoxious sound of my phone ringing pulls me from sleep, and I yell at it to stop before burying my head under my pillow. It”s still dark. Why would anyone—
My eyes shoot open and I sit up in a rush, a wave of dizziness sending me back down to the bed.
“Jesus.”
Grabbing my head, I groan as a throbbing pain clouds my mind, and I fight to remember what I was doing.
It’s a few still moments before the aching eases, and when it does, memories of the previous night come back to me.
And one stands out.
Calling Lainey…needing to talk to her. Desperate for it. And her not answering.
A vision of Lainey’s smiling face comes to mind, and the dull ache dissolves, until my phone rings a second time and I jump, throwing my hand out to grab it before it finishes.
“Lainey?” I rush out as I attempt to answer, trying to ignore the way my head spins. My ringtone blares in my ear, and I throw the phone beside me, realizing my mistake. “Goddammit. Get it together.”
Taking a deep breath, I wait until the room stops moving before leaning down to check the screen, focusing my vision so the name becomes clear. “Holy shit.”
I bark out a confused laugh as my heart clenches.
It’s Luke.
It’s fucking Luke and I thought it was Lainey. Jesus H. Christ. For once, luck is on my side.
Lifting the phone, I stare at Luke’s name screaming back at me, until it finally stops. I’ll call him back, but first I’m interested in the other Bennett.
Opening my notifications, I find a new message from Lainey and sigh in relief. After getting myself a glass of water, I fall back on the recliner and dial her number, a smile on my face as I wait to hear her voice.
Only it doesn’t happen.
My shoulders drop as the call goes straight to voicemail.
I should call Luke back, but it feels strange calling him right after trying to talk to his sister. Instead, I attempt to get up and make myself somewhat of a human again.
Twenty minutes later, I grab my phone to check if Lainey’s called when I notice the time. Holy shit. Noon. Why didn’t I check that before? Damn blackout curtains. I haven’t slept this late in years.
Rushing around, I throw my shit in my bag, and have just put my shoes on when the hotel phone rings. Considering I was supposed to check out an hour ago, I don’t have to ask to know what the call’s about.
“I’m coming,” I say by way of answer, an urgency to my tone. “Sorry, I overslept.”
“It’s okay, Mr. Kelly. We’ve been asked to let you know that the team bus is arriving in ten minutes.”
Shit. Shit.
I hang up and head straight for the door, only pausing to ensure I haven’t left anything inside, cringing when I see the state of the room. I’ve never been the guy that walks away from a mess, but I can’t be late for the bus. Mouthing a quick, “I’m sorry,” as though that makes up for everything, I dash to the elevator, sucking in a breath as the doors open and three of my teammates appear.
“Thomas,” Ryker says with his typical cocky grin. “You look a bit worse for wear.”
I smile back, not giving him the satisfaction of knowing I’m hungover as fuck. “Nah, I’m good. Just had a few things to take care of this morning, so I’ve been rushing around.”
I start forming the kinds of excuses I could use if he asks, but when he lifts a brow before giving me one of those “good for you” knowing looks, I realize I’m off the hook.
“Is that why you snuck out early last night? Was it the blonde?”
“Nah, she was too desperate.” Not a lie—she was pretty full-on, but… “My girl has dark hair.”
Ryker nods and I nod back just as the doors open again, welcoming us to the lobby. We’re met by a sea of suits with most of the team already waiting before the bus arrives seconds later.
I made it.
Istill haven’t heard from Lainey by the time I’ve checked in at the airport, so I call Luke, needing a distraction while I wait.
He curses as he answers—nothing new—but his next word has me on edge. “Lainey?”
“What?” Why would he ask for Lainey?
“Fuck.”
“What’s going on?”
“I thought you were Lainey. I didn’t check the screen. Sorry.”
I shake off the panic ready to rise to the surface and instead nervously chuckle to myself. “Sorry, I’m not her.” And I almost did the same thing with you.
Luke curses again before a loud knocking cuts into the call, and he yells out her name. “Lainey. Open the door.”
He’s there.The panic I was expecting comes out in Luke’s tone, making my shoulders tense as the blood drains from my body. “Luke, what’s going on?” I repeat.
“She won’t answer her door. I called her this morning and she wasn’t in a good place, said something about Jaiton, and now…fuck. Please, Lainey. I know you’re in there.”
Everything I’ve been feeling for the past few months fades away to make way for a new emotion. Fear. “What do you mean she wasn’t in a good place?”
Without waiting for his answer, I rush to find the service desk within the lounge, pushing my way through the thick crowds hovering near the food, only stopping when I’m standing in line.
Luke ignores me as he seemingly tries to demolish Lainey’s door, but I don’t hang up. I’m just as invested as he is.
“Have you tried calling her again?” I ask stupidly as I bounce on my toes, impatiently waiting for my turn.
“Of course I have,” Luke snaps, and I’d apologize for even asking, but I have no idea what else to do and I can’t do nothing. I keep listening for any signs of Lainey, but when the desk in front of me clears, I mute Luke’s call and step forward, handing over my identification, Luke all but forgotten.
“I need to change my flight. I’ll pay anything you want and I’ll take any seat.”
“Of course, sir. Where do you need to go?”
“San Francisco.”
***
A few hours later, when we touch down at San Francisco airport, my jaw is locked so tight from anxiously gritting my teeth, it’s painful to move. Grabbing my phone, I text Lainey as we taxi along the runway, crossing my fingers as I will her to respond. She never answered the door for Luke, and his panic has me worried.
Thomas: I’m in San Francisco. Can I see you?
I skip the pleasantries, hoping my direct questioning will garner a direct reply. I’m past the point of patience. Even though I’d been rushed onto a flight, I’d still tried to call her as I ran to the gate, but just like with Luke, she didn’t answer, and now I’m anxious to know she’s okay.
Once again, Lainey doesn’t respond, so when the seatbelt sign turns off, I jump up and grab my bag, determined to find her. Even if that means talking to Luke. As I wait for the doors to open, I consider giving him a call when a message comes through.
LLS: Are you okay? Where are you?
I physically deflate as the anxious energy leaves my body. I’m okay now. She’s not ignoring me. She may not have called me back, but at least she’s responding.
Thomas: I’m still on the tarmac. Give me an hour and I’ll be wherever you want me to be.
The three dots appear as the plane starts to empty, but I wait until I’ve seen her response before I move, my eyes locked on the screen.
LLS: I’ll come to you. Send me the details and I’ll pick you up.