Chapter 34
“I don’t understand why he’d take you there. Leo’s terrified of that place. He had to go to therapy for two years after his accident. I remember waking up from him screaming from his nightmares. Mom had to move his bedroom downstairs because he kept waking everyone up every night,” Luka says.
I check the time on my phone again, trying to come up with all the logical reasons I haven’t heard from him. Maybe he dropped his phone when he was crossing the creek, just like I did that night we met.
Who am I kidding? Of course, he’s got a waterproof case on his phone, and he wouldn’t be so careless to leave it lying around, not on a day as important as today. Besides, when we tried to track him with my phone, I got an error message, saying his location was unavailable.
I can’t believe he’d do this. The man willingly drove straight toward his biggest fear, just for me. I’d almost think it was sweet if I wasn’t so worried about him.
“Hey, guys. Do you think I could borrow one of your cars?” I say, interrupting their argument over who remembers Leo’s hot therapist’s name.
“It was definitely Gillian because I remember every time I saw a G name for a girl, I’d get a boner … for, like, three years or something.”
“That doesn’t make any fucking sense, Guy. Your name starts with a G. Tell me you’re full of yourself without telling me.”
“Hey, I’ll not have you, of all people, kink-shaming me,” he says pointedly.
And after hearing Luka’s search history, I don’t know if I want to know what he’s suggesting. If these two are anything like their brother, then there’s not a doubt in my mind that they’ve got some hidden kinks buried under their conventionally handsome exteriors.
“I don’t mean to interrupt this extremely important argument you two seem to be having, but I’m really worried about your brother.”
They stand nose to nose, and neither one of them bothers to look at me before Luka finally answers, “We can take my bike. I’ll get us there in half the time.”
“God, you think you’re so cool because you drive a motorcycle.” Guy pushes Luka in the chest and rolls his eyes.
“I mean, yeah, that’s kind of the whole point,” Luka says like it’s obvious and turns to face me.
I want to argue with him, but there’s no time. Leo’s been missing for over four hours, and I need to know that he’s all right. Even if it means reassigning my responsibilities to the questionably reliable and only other person in front of me.
“Guy, do you think you can stay here and hold down the fort? Jett should be here any minute with the keg.”
“I’ve got a delivery,” Jett says from behind me, as if on cue.
I spin to face him, feeling a tiny bit of relief that Guy will at least have one adult to supervise him.
“Thank God. You can set it up over there on the side of the stage. There’s a tent—make sure it’s in the shade, please. I don’t need these guys walking out before the parade.” I cover my face with my hands. “Shit, that’s in two hours …” I look at Guy with a pleading expression. “Can you please help me out? I need someone to distract them in case we aren’t back in time. We can’t have your dad pass his crown to Leo without Leo.”
Jett appears again after setting up the keg. He wipes his hands together, then crosses his arms over his chest. “What’s going on? Why do you need this needle dick’s help?”
I breathe out a sigh, but thankfully, Luka answers for me. “Leo’s missing. Ivy and I are going to look for him, so she needs Guy to make sure shit doesn’t go off the rails.”
Jett narrows his eyes and takes a step closer, his broad shoulders looking impossibly larger. “What do you mean, he’s missing?”
I blow a stray strand of hair from my face. “He went back to find a checklist I must’ve dropped while we were there a couple of days ago. It was the last thing I had left of my sister’s … and I lost it.” I sigh, feeling so stupid for causing all of this. “Anyway, I think he went back to the old coal mines to find it … but it’s been over four hours since anyone’s seen or heard from him …”
“You’re saying that Leo went to the mines … alone … of his own accord … to find something you’d lost?”
I nod, trying to figure out where he’s going.
Jett blows out a huff, looking shocked. “Jesus, the man’s more whipped than I thought.”
His words punch me in the chest, nearly knocking me off-balance as I look between his brothers in shock.
Jett shakes his head in disbelief. “Are you really going to tell us you didn’t know? Your relationship might have started out as a lie, but there’s no denying our brother is head over heels in love with you … and judging by the look on your face right now, I’m guessing you just realized you feel the same way.”
I open my mouth to speak, but I’m not sure what to say. Of course, I knew he cared for me, but if he really feels that strongly, if he is really in love with me, why hasn’t he said something? Why hasn’t he asked me to stay here with him instead of moving across the country?
He knew you’d feel guilty, for making you choose, I hear my sister’s words in my head and immediately think back to the little girl this morning, knowing she was right. Which makes me wonder … if I can still hear my sister now, why am I clinging to a list she created in the past?
“So, are we just going to leave Leo to fend for himself out there with all his worst nightmares, or are we going to find him?” Jett finally asks, breaking through the awkward silence.
“Luka and I are heading there now on his?—”
“I’m coming with you,” Jett says before I can even finish my sentence.
I nod in understanding, realizing how scared he must be and the traumatic memories he’s likely remembering.
Guy pulls out his phone and begins typing notes for himself. “So, I just need to transition from the afternoon concert and buy you time until the ceremony? That all?”
I bite my cheek, hating that I have to ask him to do this. “Yeah, there’s a list of step-by-step directions on this clipboard, and I have a detailed itinerary here on the iPad.” I grab the iPad and swipe over to my Excel sheet. “It’s color-coded, but if you swipe, you can see all the events happening, broken down by half-hour chunks. Click on the event, and there’s a primary contact in charge with their contact information if you can’t get them on the walkie-talkie.” I grab the walkie-talkie and my backpack full of supplies—the one Leo packed ahead of time that’s already saved my ass multiple times today.
“Wow, this is really thorough.” Guy scrolls through the document and looks up at me, wearing a surprised look on his face. “You really thought of everything, didn’t you?”
I shrug. “I didn’t have your brother going missing anywhere on that list, so I guess not everything …”
He places a hand on my arm. “Don’t worry, Ivy; he’ll be all right. You’ve given him something to fight for.”
I force a smile. “Yeah … I hope you’re right.”
“I’m going to get a head start; I’ll meet you two there. And, Luka, drive safe. I know we’re worried, but I don’t need you crashing and giving us two reasons to panic.”
Luka holds a hand over his heart. “Aw, Jett, you do love me. Don’t worry; I’m not an amateur. It’s like you have no faith in me.”
“Or we’ve seen you wreck too many times to count,” Guy says, but Jett’s already walking away.
“Cars are different than bikes. And I barely nudged that guy. It’s not my fault he parked in my blind spot.”
I step in between them. “Enough, you two. Guy, please call me if you have any questions and … improvise if you have to. Just don’t let anyone see you panicking. No running. Keep things easy and light.”
He makes an okay gesture with his fingers. “Easy and light. Got it.”
“Oh, and please don’t do anything that could get us sued. This is a family-friendly event after all. We don’t need Leo’s first task as CEO to be damage control,” I say as I take off toward Luka, following him to the alley where he parked his bike.
He passes me a helmet, then puts on his own.
“Do you always keep a spare helmet?” I ask as I climb onto the small seat behind him.
He grabs my hands and tucks them around his waist. “You never know when you’ll meet a pretty girl who wants to be your backpack …”
He revs the bike up and takes off down the alleyway, swerving on side roads and in between rows of cars as I hold on for dear life.
This is amazing … and so convenient. Maybe I should look into getting a motorcycle?
Leo would never go for it.
I find it interesting that my automatic thoughts involve Leo now, like he’s more than just a speed bump of fun along the way.
“Hold on,” Luka says as we pull onto the highway, and he swerves ahead of the line of cars.
So, I do. I hold on, hoping and praying Leo’s okay … because there’s something I really need to tell him.