Thirty-Six
Logan
My phone vibrates, waking me up, and when I reach for it, I knock it to the ground.
It goes quiet before going off again, and I swing the blankets off me, looking beside me when Blake isn’t trying to keep me from leaving the bed.
My chest grows heavy when I find his spot is cold.
He’s been gone long enough for his warmth to leave with him.
Did it finally happen? Did he realize he didn’t really want to be here?
Was he unable to forgive me like I’ve forgiven him?
I clutch my chest, leaning forward, and it feels like my walls are closing in on me when his phone is no longer on the charger.
The drawers are open and clothes are thrown out.
My breaths are rought against my throat and nearly choking me when I bend down to get my phone.
Someone’s calling again and the name on the screen isn’t who I wanted it to be.
It’s work. How am I supposed to go in when Blake might be on his way there now to turn me in?
Did I not tell him I wanted him enough? I should have said it more after pulling him into my arms after he got too tired for me to keep reading. I answer the call, my fingers unsteady around my phone as my voice comes out hoarse. “What’s up, Hector?”
“Did I wake you?”
“Yes, and I’m beginning to think it’s one of your favorite pastimes.”
“Maybe. If I can’t sleep, then neither can you. It’s part of the friend contract.”
“Since fucking when?”
“Since now. Listen,” he says, his voice cracking.
“I’m listening.” I pull up my pants and slide my work shirt over one arm.
“We’re going to need backup in your neck of the woods. I figured you’d get there quickly since you’re only five minutes or so away.”
“What’s the situation looking like?”
“A reported kidnapping.”
My eyes widen. “Do you know anything more than that?”
“Yeah. They think it might be Blake Mitchell.”
My eyes practically threaten to fall out of my head as my stomach knots. “What’s the address?”
His words echo around me after he tells me the street and house number. It’s where my dad’s staying. It can’t be Blake in that basement. It can’t be, because I have him here with me in my house. The hair rises on the back of my neck. Or I did.
What did you do, piglet? My eyes stop circling the room when they land on the cell phone I got him.
Maybe he did nothing and they’re wrong. I haven’t checked the whole house yet. He could still be here, fixing himself a snack in the kitchen or using the bathroom.
“You still there?”
“Yeah. I’m on my way.”
“You went to school with him, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Shit, man. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I’ll be there as soon as I can.
Let’s hope I’m not too late.” I end the call and finish dressing.
Blake isn’t in the living room or guest room.
He’s not in my mom’s room or the kitchen.
Both bathrooms are empty and my shoes I left by the door are missing.
I shove on my work boots and rush out the door, not bothering to check the barn or yard.
He’s gone. He left me. He left me so that he could come back. At least that’s what I want to believe.
My heart thuds as I jump into the car, and I think about how good he felt when he was moaning against me on the short drive to my dad’s.
I need to hear those sounds again and to hold him in my arms so I can tell him how much I want him.
I stop the car as soon as I’m in front of the house, and sirens blare in the background as I’m running up the sidewalk.
I shove open the door, not taking any precautions first. Removing my gun from its holster, I move around the couch, and the smell makes me stomach turn.
No movement comes from the hall or anywhere else I look. I check the first room I reach, and my dad is sitting up in bed, rubbing his eyes. I take the safety off and flip on the light switch. Hayden jumps up beside him, his eyes glazed over. “What the fuck is going on?”
“We got a call from this location. Someone saying they need help.”
“Who? There isn’t . . .” My dad blinks his eyes, anger reddening his face. “What are you trying to pull?”
“Officer loser?” Hayden says and lets out a harsh laugh. He won’t be laughing for long if we end up finding what I’m sure is in the basement.
“Where is he?”
“Where is who?” Hayden sputters.
“You know who,” I bite out.
“He’s really lost it this time,” my dad says, getting out of bed, and I lift the gun higher.
“I’d stay exactly where you are if I were you.”
Footsteps rush in behind me and I call to the others, letting them know where I am. “I have two people here, but I’m not sure which one made the call.”
“It came from a phone belonging to a Tyler.”
My feet press hard to the floor and I hold my composure. “Then he’s one of the people in this room.”
Another officer moves around me, slamming Hayden to he ground, and he squirms, trying to get free. “Check the basement,” he calls to me. The dispatcher said that’s where they’re keeping him.”
“Keeping who?” my dad asks, pushing a woman in uniform away when she grabs for him.
“Blake Mitchell.”
Hayden blows out a laugh. “This has to be some fucking joke. Blake isn’t here. I haven’t seen him in months. You should be checking his house.” He nods his head at me. “He’s the one who’s obsessed with him and was probably mad Hayden never wanted him back.”
“That’s enough out of you,” the female officer says, turning him around and slamming his front to the wall.
“I’ll go check the basement. You both stay with these two while I do, and make sure neither of them try anything stupid.”
They both nod at me, turning their attention back to Hayden and my dad as I slip out of the room.
Hector walks in and I point my gun at the basement, giving him the signal that the rest of the house is clear.
He covers me as I step down the basement stairs, and my chest is lighter the moment my eyes land on my little piglet.
It’s when I get closer that worry creeps up the back of my neck.
He’s cut up and bleeding. I check his pulse, letting out a sigh of relief.
“He’s alive,” I yell over my shoulder, shaking Blake’s arm to try to wake him. He parts his eyes halfway, kicking forward when I try to reach for him.
“Hey, it’s okay,” I say, treading lighter this time. “I’m here to help you. We both are.” I turn my face in Hector’s direction and he nods.
“I . . . you’re . . . I’m going to get in trouble if he knows you’re down here. We both will.” Such a damn good little actor. Why he chose modeling is beyond me.
“If who knows?” I ask, crouching down to the floor.
“I . . . I’m not supposed to say his name.
I haven’t earned that right.” Oh, he’s too good, and I’ll have to reward him in a big way for it later.
I don’t like that he hurt himself for me again, but I can’t be too mad when he came up with what might be the solution to all our problems. He came up with this all on his own.
He’s a lot smarter than anyone’s ever given him credit for.
Myself included. He really is capable of so much.
“It’s okay. Maybe when we’re far away from here you’ll feel better about telling me.”
“You’re going to take me out of here?”
“We are,” Hector says, towering over me. “You’re safe now.”
“Safe.” He tests the word out and I nod, reaching my hand out to him, and he doesn’t flinch from me this time or kick his feet.
“Yes, you’re safe. He can’t hurt you anymore.”
His lips curl into a little smile, and Hector frees his feet while I untie his hands, doing my best to tell him with my eyes what my words can’t at the moment. His are sparkling back at me, giving me the confirmation I need that he got the message loud and clear.
He tries to stand and his knees buckle, but before he can hit the ground, I catch him, lifting him swiftly into my arms. I hold him tight as I follow Hector up the stairs, and when I’m sure no one’s looking, I whisper in his ear so that he doesn’t only see it but hears it too.
“I want you.” He smiles a little and then closes his eyes, his face relaxing as I carry him to the ambulance truck.
Hayden had no idea what he was talking about when he said Blake never wanted me back. I showed him how much I wanted him yesterday and this is him showing me now.