Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
Hayes
Rolling into this tiny town in the middle of Oregon has adrenaline coursing through my veins.
Traffic is backed up as the highway runs through the main part of town, giving me time to scope everything out.
If it weren't for the tourists strolling along the main strip, I'd stick out like a sore thumb.
I can feel it in my gut that Charlie is still here. The woman I called denied that she knew Charlie, but there was something off in her tone. That, and Lincoln swears she’s still here.
Now that I'm officially a civilian, I'll drive through every city if I have to in order to find her.
She shouldn't be on the run. She should be home and looked out for.
Even if she never forgives me and we don't get back together, I’ll make sure she's safe.
I owe her that. But I really fucking hope she forgives me.
I pull into a small hotel that looks more like a ski lodge than a hotel.
The hotel attendant is just another teenage girl, bubbly and welcoming.
I don’t pay her much attention; I just hand over my card and wait for my room key.
My eyes scan out the front window, watching for any sign of Charlie.
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed that she wasn’t one of the many that walked by.
Throwing my bag on the bed, I grab a quick shower and then get dressed. I've researched every part of this town. I know where every road is, where I think she's working, and possible places she would hang out.
My phone lights up and the vibration sounds on the wood nightstand.
"Hey, mom." I answered with less than enthusiasm. I drove through the entire seventeen hours to get here, only stopping for food and gas. I'm exhausted and energized all at the same time.
"How's it going, honey? You about to hit the road again?"
I clear my throat, ready for the verbal smackdown. "No. I just checked into the hotel."
"Hayes Carrington! You killing yourself to get to a town you don't even know if she's in won't solve a damn thing."
I'm a trained Navy SEAL. I’ve gone days without sleeping or eating—pushing myself until I physically felt like I couldn't move anymore, and then pushing myself harder. One long drive is nothing.
However, arguing with my concerned mother won't help.
"Sorry, mom. The adrenaline hit and I wouldn't have been able to sleep knowing I'm so close."
I hear a loud sigh on the other end. "Fine. You be careful, okay? She's happy, wherever she is. It's not your place to go in there demanding anything."
I've already run through every scenario in my mind, so it doesn't sting to hear her say that. She’s been living here for a long time and has started a completely new life. I know that might not be a life that I fit into. It won’t stop me from trying like hell, though.
I walked through the entire town fifteen times.
Coming back to the same two-story brick building with the Cascades Property Management sign out front.
It's Saturday, so it's been empty the entire time.
My instincts are screaming at me that this is where she is, where she's working, and where she's been hiding.
All that I want to do is buy a lawn chair and plant myself in the parking lot until Monday morning.
It's almost dark and the beginning of winter, though, so I make my way to the small diner I passed a few times.
I need to warm up a bit, eat some food, and get a better plan.
When I walk past the window, I look inside, scanning the room. Old habits die hard.
My eyes glaze over the booths—a family sitting with a baby, a woman with short hair sitting by herself in the booth, and two older gentlemen sitting behind her.
The air ceases to pump through my lungs as I do a double take on the strawberry blonde sitting alone.
There she is. By herself, eating a cheeseburger. I stare at her for at least a minute, trying to decide if my exhaustion has caused me to hallucinate her or if she's really there. Her hair is much shorter than when I left, barely touching her shoulders, but it’s definitely her.
Taking a deep breath, I step inside in a daze. The door chimes and it snaps me back into reality. I glance around the front; there isn’t anyone at the hostess station, so I turn toward Charlie again.
She takes a bite of her cheeseburger, staring at the table like she's completely lost in thought.
Six large steps and then I slide into the booth.
Her startled eyes look up at me, and then she chokes on her bite of food. Coughing and spluttering, she reaches for her water.
"Fuck, Sunshine! Are you okay?" I try to stand up, but the table between us prevents me from doing much. My arm automatically stretches out, but I don't touch her. My hand dangles right next to her bicep, ready to haul her over the table if she needs the Heimlich.
I’m so focused on making sure she can breathe that I don’t notice the person now standing by our table. Within a second, my outstretched arm is being nearly ripped out of its socket as I'm hauled out of the booth and thrown on the ground.
My cheek hits the cool, dirty tile as my arm is pinned behind my back.
Cold metal snaps around my wrist, and in an instant I make the decision to lay still.
I'm in a restaurant full of civilians, and startled gasps are starting to ricochet around the room.
I know that I could easily get out of this lackluster hold, but resisting whatever this is will only cause more chaos.
Charlie starts coughing again and yelling, "Dan! No!"
"You know this guy?" I look over my shoulder to see the man talking. Lieutenant Turner, Cascadia Sheriff Department. From my research, he's the one married to her, now confirmed, boss.
A small smile tugs at my lips as I lay on the floor. I should be pissed as hell at this guy, but instead, I'm only happy that she has people looking out for her. I'd only been in that booth for ten seconds before he had me on the ground.
"It's Hayes! That's Hayes!" I turn my head again so I can see Charlie. Her face is bright red, her knees are on the booth, and she looks like she’s frantically trying to get control of the situation.
Dan lets out a light chuckle and then helps me up. He removes the cuff and pats me on the shoulder. "Sorry 'bout that. I was driving by when I saw you watching from outside. Thought you might be the villain in her story."
Oh, buddy, if you only knew. I might not be the villain who put her in this situation, but that doesn't make me the hero either.
Turning to face him, I give him a quick once-over. I don't know if I was distracted by finally getting to Charlie or if the adrenaline hit him hard, but I'm surprised that he was able to take me down so easily. He's a little shorter than me, and I've got at least fifty pounds of muscle on him.
I grin and extend my hand for him to shake. "Just glad someone's looking out for her."
He shakes my hand but then looks at Charlie. "You okay? Want me to stay close?"
She shakes her head, and tears fill her eyes. "No, I'm safe with Hayes."
Pride fills my chest as I hear her words. It's a relief to know that she still trusts me to keep her safe, despite all the mistakes I made. I was expecting her to be angry, yell, and storm out of here. Not to look at me the same way she did before all this happened.
I gesture with my head back toward the table, and we sit. I stay quiet, trying to ignore the million questions I have running through my mind. I’m sure she has just as many, and I want to give her the opportunity to ask them first.