CHAPTER 25
Kaya
Holding onto Maverick with the wind rushing into us is the best feeling ever.
I love watching his thick fingers gripping the handlebar grips as he rides.
The rumble of the engine beneath us reverberates through my entire body.
I try to focus on that feeling instead of the looming dread that’s growing inside me.
Gretchen doesn’t ignore texts. Not ever.
She especially doesn’t ignore my texts because she knows I can be a bit psychotic when I worry.
Her and Sophia are the only family I’ve had for years so I tend to get a bit crazy if they are hurt, sad, or I don’t know where they are.
They’ve both learned over the years to get me a message if I can’t reach them.
One time Sophia’s phone got wet at work and she had to shut it off.
I had been texting her about what to pick up for dinner.
When she didn’t answer for over an hour, I showed up at the daycare demanding to see her.
Ever since then she has made it a point to let me know if she will be out of reach for an extended period of time.
Ty is riding behind us. It’s so odd to see him being all biker after knowing him for so many years.
He was in construction so he was always in good shape, but the gruffness that’s present now, is new.
I guess a year away from home in a strange motorcycle club will do that to someone.
I know she still loves him. To me, their history alone is a reason for her to give him another chance.
Maybe not right away, but eventually. I’m just afraid that the involvement of the club and her feeling deceived by them is going to make that damn near impossible.
We pull into the parking lot and I notice immediately that Gretchen’s silver Honda is missing. I’m honestly not sure if that’s good or bad right now. I just need to get upstairs. I climb off the bike as soon as Maverick swings his leg off. I text Sophia as I move toward the door.
Me: Well?
Sophia: Car isn’t at the Post Office.
Me: Shit. Here either. Heading up now.
I quicken my steps into a jog and take off up the stairs.
After unlocking the door, I step inside.
I instantly know something is off. “Gretchen!” I yell, as I make my way through the apartment.
I knock on her door twice before pushing it open.
Her bed is made but there is something on it.
A piece of paper. I rip it off the bed and scan it quickly.
Kaya,
I’m sorry I have to do this, but I do. I can’t stay here.
It’s too much. How can I face him? I don’t know if I can.
I’ve fantasized, dreamed, and wondered about Ty for the last year.
I’ve driven myself insane trying to figure out what went wrong, what I did, or didn’t do that would make him leave me so cruelly, only to have him show up with some bullshit story.
I can’t! How can I walk into the clubhouse after what they all did to me?
I don’t want to see any of them and staying in Dogwood Creek would make that impossible.
I’ll call when I get where I’m going. Please don’t come after me. I promise I’ll check in.
I love you,
Gretchen
What the fuck? No. I drop the note and turn to her dresser. I open drawer after drawer to find them empty. I run to her closet and pull it open to find her luggage gone. Son of a bitch! I feel eyes on me and glance to the door where Maverick and Ty are now standing. I shake my head. “She ran.”
Ty enters the room, taking in Gretchen’s space with a look of longing. “What do you mean she ran?”
Maverick picks the note up and reads it. His eyes connect with mine as he hands the note to Ty.
He reads it through, his face falling as he does. “Where would she go?” he asks softly.
Before I can answer I hear Sophia and Grayson entering the apartment. “Kaya!”
“In here.” I answer flatly.
Ty hands Sophia the note when she comes in the bedroom. After reading it, she drops it to the floor. “Are you freaking kidding me?”
Ty clenches his fists. “Where would she go?”
“Ohio.” I say.
Sophia’s head falls forward. “Of course.”
“Patty?” Ty asks.
“You know damn well she was desperate to get out of here if Patty was her only option.” I add.
“Who the hell is Patty?” Grayson asks.
Sophia touches his arm. “Her mom. They’re not super close, but don’t get me wrong, Patty is the best. She’s just a bit…”
“Flakey.” I say.
Ty turns to Grayson. “She’s an eccentric hippie.
She’s into crystals and natural healing and love over everything.
Sounds good in theory but when you’ve dealt with it you’re entire life it gets to be a lot.
She always wanted Gretchen to smile through everything, telling her that love conquers all.
If something bad happened to Gretchen in school or at work or something, Patty would suggest crying out the emotions and then moving on.
If she was still bothered the next day, Patty would tell her that dwelling on old problems wasn’t healthy. ”
“Hopefully you hear from her soon. I don’t like that those Bad Blood guys are around and we have no idea where she is.” Grayson says.
I pull my phone from my pocket and text Cipher.
Me: Gretchen is missing. We think she went to the airport. Find out for sure.
Cipher: On it.
Maverick gives me a slow nod. I can’t fucking believe this.
I never thought she would just take off.
I figured she would take a few days to cool down, have a few drinks, and eventually be ready to talk to Ty.
This wasn’t even a blip on my radar. She’ll be back though.
I mean, she has to come back. Her job is here.
She makes far too much money to just bounce on it.
She’s the most practical out of all of us when it comes to work, benefits, and retirement.
Her cushy post office job made all of that possible for her and she loves it.
I don’t see her leaving it behind. She probably just needs to get away for a little while.
While we gathered in the living room waiting to hear from Cipher, Ty lingered in Gretchen’s room, the same room they once shared.
At one point I walked past and he was hugging her pillow.
I left him alone. I don’t know how she would feel about him being in her space, but he seemed to really need a reminder that she was real and had recently been there.
Grayson and Sophia managed to get Ty to leave after we heard from Cipher.
He verified that Gretchen did in fact make it to the airport.
He had a visual of her at a ticket kiosk and then after she went through security.
He also confirmed that she went to Ohio.
Now I’m lying on the couch with my head in Maverick’s lap, his large hand resting on the center of my back.
Time seems to be moving forward at a slow crawl.
I need to hear her voice, need to know she’s ok.
I sit up quickly and grab my phone for at least the thirtieth time since sitting down.
I swipe it open ready to text her again when it starts to ring. Gretchen.
“Gretch!” I say, not being able to hide the desperation in my voice.
“Hi.” She says, her voice low and somber.
“Are you okay? Did you just land?”
“Yeah. I’m waiting for my mom.”
I sigh. “You didn’t have to run.”
“Yes, I did. I need time to process all of this.”
“How much time?”
“I don’t know. I took a leave from work. I have vacation and personal time I can use so I have at least three weeks to figure everything out. I might just transfer here. Start over.”
I feel all of my blood leave my face and drop to my feet. Is she serious? She might not come back? “Gretchen.”
“Don’t Kai. I need time. Do you know how badly I wanted to go back to the clubhouse last night and just fall into his arms and pretend like this whole last year never happened?
” She sniffles, her voice cracking as she continues.
“He fucking destroyed me, Kaya! I’m hardly the same person I was when he left.
It took me so long to recover just the bare minimum of that woman and now… ”
She trails off, so I try, “but he’s here now, Gretch, and he’s broken too.”
She lets out a humorless laugh. “I’m sorry, but right now? I just don’t fucking care.” Her shaky voice is sincere, yet cold and I barely recognize it.
The line goes quiet with neither one of us knowing what to say. I’m scared for her. This angry bitter person on the phone sounds nothing like my best friend.
“Listen, I’ll call you tomorrow after I get settled. You should be worrying about what’s in your belly, not about me. You have Maverick now, so it’s not like you’re alone.” That hurt. As if I shouldn’t be upset that she left because I have a man.
“That doesn’t mean I’m not going to worry about you,” I say, trying not to sound too pathetic. I want her to do what she feels she needs to, but at the same time, I don’t think running away is it.
“I know hon. We’re both going to be fine though. I promise. I just really need to do this.”
I suck in a breath, my heart breaking. “Okay, but just remember Sophia and I are here for you for whatever you need. I love you.”
“I know. I love you too.”
We end the call and my eyes instantly sting with tears.
I purse my lips and shake my head, struggling to swallow down the emotions that are trying so desperately to break free.
One look at Mav does me in. The understanding in his eyes as he opens his arms to me is all it takes for me to lose it.
I go to him, falling onto his lap and resting my head on his shoulder.
He wraps me up in his big arms and consoles me as I cry, not only about her leaving but the unfairness of the entire situation.
Ty and Gretchen were so great together. It should be easy for two people that care that much to be together, but when all is said and done, it just isn’t, and that fucking sucks.