MRS. WEST

ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟛 #2

"Dix?" I call out a little louder, kicking my shoes off near the door. Still nothing. I frown slightly, tossing my keys by the bowl.

The kitchen is empty, but the light is on. I glance towards the living room–also empty. The house feels too quiet, and my gut is telling me something is wrong.

I walk faster now, heading for the hallway. "Dixie?"

I push the bedroom door open, and that's empty. My chest tightens weirdly, and I swallow.

I pull my phone out, immediately going to her contact before thinking it through. It rings three times before I hang up and resort to texting.

I run a frustrated hand through my hair, pacing back and forth now. My mind starts filling in the silence with things I don't want to think about. Dixie doesn't just disappear. I knew we had this barrier but she'd at least alert me if she was going somewhere.

My phone buzzes in my hand. I looked down so fast I almost dropped it. There her name was. Relief washes over me.

"Dix-where are you?" I say, the words coming out sharper than I meant. It sounds like I've been panting. "I've been calling you, but you didn't answer–help me out here."

"I'm fine." She says, her voice weirdly calm.

"You're fine?" I repeat, disbelief and worry creeping in. "Baby, you're not at the house, you're not answering your phone-what do you mean you're fine? Where are you?"

"Can I ask you a favor?" she sighs.

I blink, a little thrown off. "Dixie, where are you?"

"I'll tell you," she says. "I just-can you do something for me?"

My jaw tightens slightly, but I don't hesitate.

"Yeah," I say immediately. "Yeah, anything. What's going on?"

"My car got towed." She says, her voice quiet.

I frown, confused. "How?"

"I don't know why," she adds in quickly. "I parked where I usually do- when I came back it was just gone."

I grab my keys again and push the front door open. "Where are you right now?"

"My law firm," She replies. "I'll text you the address."

I slide into the driver's seat, turning the engine on. "No need. I memorized it."

"I'm coming," I say. "Don't move."

"I wasn't planning on it," she mutters, still calm and controlled.

"Cameron?" she says. I hate how she doesn't call me by my nickname anymore.

"Mmh?"

"Can you just...hurry?"

"I'm coming," I say firmly. "I got you."

She hangs up. I press a little harder on the gas and head straight to the address that's in my head.

Every red light feels like a slap to the face, and every slow car in front of me feels like it's in the way on purpose.

I wasn't the type to be a road rage driver, but when I needed to get somewhere important, everything felt like it was trying to delay me.

I reach the parking lot I pull into her workplace in less than ten minutes, tires crunching lightly as I slow down.

I scan immediately, and there she is, outside of the building, clutching onto her jacket to keep herself from the freezing wind.

The second she sees my car she doesn't hesitate. She opens the passenger's side as soon as I stop the car, sliding in before shutting the door.

Hey, baby," I say, my breath is still a little uneven from the quick drive.

She doesn't answer or look at me right away. Instead, she sinks in her seat, exhaling.

"Oh my gosh, Cameron," she starts, rubbing her temple. "You don't understand. I parked where I always park. I literally parked there for months and nothing has ever happened, and then today-today out of all days-it disappears!"

I glance over at her briefly before pulling back onto the road.

"They didn't leave a note or anything," she continues, her voice picking up speed. "No sign, nothing. I asked the front desk and they were like, 'oh yeah, sometimes they tow,' like that's supposed to make sense? What do you mean sometimes?"

She doesn't rant like this often, but when she does, I keep quiet, letting her steam off.

"They said I have to call some number, and then the number sends me to another number, and then that number puts me on hold for ten minutes just to tell me I have to come in person tomorrow," she goes on, hands demonstrating as she talks.

"Tomorrow, Cameron. I have work tomorrow. I don't have time for that."

I shake my head slightly. "That's ridiculous,"

"Exactly!" she claps once, sitting up a little straighter. "And then they're going to charge me for it too. Like I didn't park in the same exact place I always do."

Her voice cracks just slightly at the end of that, but she covers it quickly, looking out the window instead.

"I just want my car back," she mutters, quieter now. "That's it. I don't want to argue with anyone. I just—want my car."

"You'll get it back," I say, steady. "Tomorrow, I'll go with you if you want. Or I'll handle it myself. Either way, it will get sorted."

She looks over at me. "You don't have to do all that."

I reply. "I want to."

She rolls her eyes before pulling out her phone, replying to some emails. I let the silence fill the car before I speak again. I exhale slowly, my grip on the wheel loosening slightly now that she's beside me and I know she's safe.

"You made me worried," I sigh after a moment.

"What do you mean?"

"I came home and you weren't there," I say, my voice tense up. "You weren't answering your phone either."

I shake my head slightly, eyes staying on the road. "I thought something happened."

"I'm sorry." She fidgets with her hands in her lap.

"Don't apologize. But can you answer your phone next time?"

She nods quickly. "I didn't hear my phone. I was talking to someone when I came out and then when I realized my car was gone."

I pull up to the familiar driveway. "It's okay, baby. At least now I know you're okay."