Chapter 43
B lake
Knock, knock, knock.
“Ren, please open up. Nash told me about what happened with your painting, and I’m really sorry. I can’t even imagine, but don’t shut yourself away like this.”
I knocked on Ren’s door again and couldn’t believe that Vicky would be so vindictive.
If someone destroyed my guitar, I would be devastated, and it didn’t hold anywhere near the sentimental value that Ren’s painting had for her.
She texted me last night and said she wouldn’t be over.
She just needed to be alone for a little while, but she hadn’t come to class, and now she still wasn’t answering the door.
I didn’t want to pull a Nash and kick the door in, but I was getting really fucking close.
Of course, my brain was running through all the worst-case scenarios, and although I didn’t think that Ren would hurt herself, everyone had their limit, and she’d been through a lot the last few months. I laid my forehead on the door, hating myself so much for being part of any of her stress.
“Ren, please answer me,” I called through the door as I pounded on the wood harder. Dammit. Pulling out my phone, I dialed her number and listened as the phone rang, but I couldn’t hear a thing from the other side. My worry took a swan dive into the deep end.
“Hey! Where is she?” I watched Myles jogging down the hall, and I’d never been so relieved to see his face.
“I don’t know. Ren didn’t come to class. She refuses to answer me, and I just tried calling her, but I couldn’t hear anything through the door,” I blurted out in one long breath. “You try calling her.”
“I have, and it goes straight to voicemail. She hasn’t read any of my texts which is not like her.
I knew I should’ve come home yesterday. I had a bad feelin’, but she insisted that I stay there.
Fuck,” Myles said and then pounded on Ren’s door.
“Snowflake, it’s me. Snowflake, please don’t make me kick this door down because I will.
” There was still nothing. “Ya better watch out. I’m comin’ in. ”
Myles stood back and lifted his boot.
“Wait, I have a key,” Nash said as he wandered down the hallway, all casual, like he didn’t have a care in the world. I wanted to tackle him for acting so fucking calm. This was no time for his, meh, attitude.
“Did you know she was missing,” I asked as he reached the door. “Cause you look like you already knew.”
“If you’re trying to ask me if she told me what was going on, then no.
I was only made aware because Myles has been blowing up my phone,” he grumbled, unlocking the door.
The lights were off, and the bed was made.
This was not good. I flicked on the lights as Myles ran around the room like she could be hiding under the desk or behind her dresser.
“Where the hell is she,” I asked as Myles darted into the bathroom. He came back out and shook his head. Myles didn’t say anything as his eyes scanned the room. He stared at her desk and walked over to it, picking up a piece of folded paper.
“Fuck,” he growled, tossing it down on the desk again. “I’m never leavin’ again. I swear to God, I’m not lettin’ her out of my sight,” he said.
“What does it say,” I asked as Nash picked up the paper.
Myles and Blake,
I’m really sorry, but I can’t stay. I hope you both know how I feel about you, and I need you to know that this wasn’t an easy decision for me, but I just can’t be here.
I spent the last five years drowning in sadness and responsibility.
When my mum was killed, I didn’t think anything could get worse, but I was wrong.
Wayward is another animal, one that I don’t think I was ever cut out for, and it has turned everything I touch toxic and dark.
I’m tired, just so damn tired, and I want to go home.
Please forgive me for leaving. I promise to call when I’m settled and safe.
This is not goodbye, and I still want us to work.
I love you xoxo. Ren
“Well, isn’t that just fucking adorable,” Nash said and wiped away mock tears. “How the hell does she plan to go home? She can’t leave the property and doesn’t have any money, so she isn’t flying, driving, or walking out the front gates. I think she’s just hiding to get you two all worked up.”
Myles glared at Nash. “Yer not givin’ her enough credit.
Ren is smart and resourceful, and she is always thinkin’ ahead.
If ya bothered to get to know her rather than patronize her, then you’d see that.
Snowflake probably had an exit strategy the day she arrived.
An ace in her back pocket.” Myles tapped his leg as he turned in a slow circle before walking over to her dresser.
“Then let her go. She’s caused nothing but issues since she arrived.
Whatever possible advantage we could have gained from her isn’t worth it.
My father has everything locked up tight, so maybe this is for the best,” Nash said, sitting on her desk.
Myles stopped rummaging through a drawer and turned to look at Nash.
“Are ye daft? She din’t want anythin’ to do wi any of us. We’re the ones that forced ourselves into her life. As fer using her as a piece on yer chess board, ya can forget it. I won’t allow ya to use her like that. Don’t ya think she’s gone trough enough?”
“Don’t you think we all have?” Nash barked back. “If you have to sacrifice one to save the rest, then you do it. You used to be able to see that until she cut your manhood off,” Nash said, and Myles marched across the room, forcing me to step in between them before shit got ugly.
Myles pointed at Nash, his body tense in my hold. “I’m really startin’ to get sick of ya makin’ fun of what me and Snowflake have.”
“Don’t you mean you, her, and Blake?” I looked back at Nash as he glared at me. Shit. “Once again, I’m the last to know that the three of you are ‘officially’ shacking up together. Such a cute picture the three of you make.”
“Technically, we’re all shacking up together because we live under the same roof,” I said, and both Nash and Myles blinked as they stared at me. “I sound like my brother, don’t I? Okay, shutting up now.”
Myles stopped fighting me at least and walked over to the window, looking out to the scenic mountain in the distance. Even with his back to me, I could feel the worry ebbing off him.
“Snowflake has feelings for Blake. She didn’t lie to me or hide it from me, and Blake is my best friend, so what of it?”
“I’m right here,” I said and waved at the two of them, but they ignored me.
“Nash, we used to party with different girls in the same room, so what’s the difference, and why are ya all weird about it?” Myles turned around and faced us. “Besides, she looks at me like I’m her entire world, and that’s all I care about. Wait, are ya jealous?”
Nash pushed away from the desk. “Like fuck I am, and definitely not over Princess. She annoys the fuck out of me, and she’s lucky I haven’t killed her.”
Myles shook his head and dropped to his knees, looking under Ren’s bed. “Keep lyin’ to yerself all ya want, but I see the way ya look at her. I think ya hate the fact that she’s not crawling on her knees begging to suck yer cock like all the other girls in this place.”
“Ha! Not a fucking chance. She’d probably bite it off like a piranha,” Nash said, but Myles was hitting a nerve. Nash was saying all the right things, but I didn’t feel the conviction in his tone, and he’d crossed his arms like he was defensive over the accusation.
“She’s not under there, so what are you looking for,” I asked.
“Shite.” Myles punched the mattress. “I know how she left, and she has all day on us, more dependin’ on when she left.”
“How,” I asked as he stood up and pointed at the bed.
“Remember when Ren asked me to take her shoppin’?
” I nodded, not sure where he was going with this.
“She said that she loved hikin’ and had me take her to the sporting goods store.
She bought everythin’. At the time, I didn’t think much of it, but it’s all gone—her winter gear, her pack, sleeping bag, and tent.
We need to go after her. Now. I need Liam. He can track her.”
“Princess is planning on hiking home. Fuck, that’s some balls. Between the weather and wildlife, she’ll be lucky if she makes it halfway.”
“Shut the fuck up!” I grabbed Myles as he lunged for Nash. “What the hell is your problem?”
“Stop it, both of you. Fighting isn’t going to get her back, and yes, we are going to get her back whether you want her here or not, Nash. You didn’t ask for my opinion, but I’m going to give it. I think the reason that Ren gets under your skin isn’t that Myles and I like her….”
“Love,” Myles grumbled as he continued to glare at Nash.
“Yes, love. It isn’t because of that. It’s because she knows how and will push your buttons.
She tells you what she thinks and doesn’t care if you threaten her.
She is unbribable and doesn’t want sexual favors.
She confuses you. On top of that, she’s smart and brave and brings up good arguments, which you value. ”
Nash rolled his eyes and walked toward the door. “Whatever. You two believe what you want, but I don’t need to listen to any more of this bullshit. I have no interest in the annoying Ms. Davies, and I’m off to town tonight, so good luck.”
“You’re not going to help find her,” I asked as he reached the door.
He looked at us and then out the window.
“You’re not going anywhere until daybreak.
You’ve got a couple of hours of daylight left, and you can’t get your stuff organized and be out of here fast enough to track her without night falling.
Liam will tell you the same thing. Besides, I’m the last person Princess wants to see.
” With that, he disappeared out the door, and I shook my head.
“Fucker,” Myles mumbled as I turned to face him. He had his phone out, and I knew who he was calling without asking. “I think he had something to do with her leaving,” Myles said.