Chapter 48
SUTTON
I walk faster than I normally would to The Hatch, because a cold beer with Kelsey is exactly what I need to calm my nerves. Honestly, I don’t even need the beer. I just need Kelsey—to see her and feel her in my arms.
I should have been there already if it hadn’t been for my unanticipated conversation with Slade.
While it needed to be had, this shit show of a day was when I least expected it to happen.
And as much as I hate to admit it, my fucking brother was right—I need to rip this bandaid off and talk with her.
It might be good advice, it just doesn’t feel that way coming from him.
The flashing old neon sign comes into view, and a minute later, I’m inside of the old bar that will probably always feel like a tiny slice of home.
It takes me all of ten seconds to spot Grace and TJ, or more accurately, hear them.
In the back corner of the bar TJ, in true retired rockstar form, is showing off that famous vocal range busting out some nineties girl rock anthem at the karaoke machine.
I grab a beer from the bar, putting it on TJ’s tab, and walk over to them.
Leaning against the wall near the makeshift stage, I chuckle to myself, appreciating their uncanny ability to find karaoke at even the most hole-in-the-wall bars.
When Grace and TJ finish up their song and look out into the small crowd gathered around them—most I recognize as guests from the wedding that didn’t happen—they spot me, and TJ makes his way over.
“Interesting song choice,” I say, tipping my beer.
He shrugs and brushes some of his floppy dark blond hair out of his face. “Yeah, I think Grace just likes to screw with me at this point. She picks songs she knows I’ll look ridiculous singing. I can’t back down though, it’s like some weird game of karaoke chicken we’re caught up in.”
“I’ll eventually find a song that will break you, just wait.
” Grace steps beside TJ and he instinctively loops his arm around her waist, holding her tight to his side and kissing her cheek.
She smiles and rests her head on his shoulder, but that smile quickly fades and her brows knit together in confusion.
“Wait, what are you doing here? Did Kelsey kick you out of the motel or something? Why aren’t you with her? ”
“What do you mean the motel? I thought she was here with you guys, waiting for me.”
Her confused expression only deepens and her stance straightens. “I saw her a little while ago. She said she wasn’t feeling well and was heading back to the motel after she saw you.”
Alarm bells go off in my head because this is all news to me. I haven’t seen Kelsey since this morning and we’ve only exchanged a few messages with everything going on today. I pull out my phone and check the notifications, but there are no messages or calls from her.
“When did you see her?” I ask, not bothering to hide the concern in my voice.
Grace looks up at the ceiling and her lips move silently like she’s talking with herself. My jaw clenches and I do my best to hide my impatience because she’s my only clue to what’s going on with Kelsey right now.
“About an hour ago,” she finally says, nodding confidently.
An hour ago? Is she alone and sick back at the motel? That thought makes my heart plummet.
“Shit,” I blurt out. “Thanks. I’m going to head back to the motel.”
I turn to leave the crowded bar, but a vice like grip stops me. “Hey, everything OK?” TJ eyes me carefully, but I can sense the compassion in my best friend’s voice.
I dip my chin. “Yeah, everything should be fine,” I say the words as confidently as I can, trying to convince him just as much as myself. “I’ll see you guys in the morning at the airport.”
He nods, but I can see the skepticism in his gaze. He gives me one solid slap on the shoulder. “See you tomorrow, bud.”
Walking out of the bar and into the crisp night air, I take a deep breath and pull out my phone again with the faintest hope that I might see a missed call or text message from her that I missed in the noisy bar just now.
When I see no new notifications, I dial her number and listen to the dial tone as I start walking to the motel.
With each ring that goes by, my pace increases from a brisk walk to a jog until I’m finally running through Sterling Springs.
She’s either alone or sick, and neither of those options sit well with me, and I need to get to her now. My mind races as my feet pound the sidewalk.
When I turn the corner and see the motel come into view, my heart pounds hard enough that I can hear my pulse hammering in my ears.
I sprint down the walkway to our suite at the end of the building.
My nerves are a mess and I fumble with the room key until I finally unlock the door and swing it open.
The already overworked muscle in my chest nearly seizes when I walk into the room and see it fully lit, but also completely empty.
I rush through the suite and into the bathroom, still seeing no sign of Kelsey.
Standing in the bathroom doorway, I look around the suite again, slowly catching my breath.
I scan the entire room: the dresser, the coffee table, the desk, the bed, and the nightstand.
That’s where my eyes stop—the nightstand—I see the phone charger, the portable USB fan I bring everywhere to sleep with, and my water bottle.
It’s what I don’t see that triggers more alarm bells.
I look back around the room again and sure enough, I don’t see the rental car keys anywhere.
“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck,” I mutter to myself as I walk back over to the open door. I step back outside and look around the parking lot, my fears are confirmed—the rental car is no where in sight.
I pull out my phone again and dial her number on speaker phone.
Each dial tone ticks by as I pace around the room, looking for any clue as to where she might be.
Maybe she went to the pharmacy. Maybe she went out for a bite to eat if her stomach was bothering her.
I start to go through the timeline of the evening wondering how long she’s been feeling sick and—fuck—an even worse possibility rears its head.
Did she hear me and Slade talking? If she did, what part of that conversation did she hear?
Maybe she heard something I wanted to tell her myself tonight—something I was equally dreading and elated to tell her.
“Hey, you’ve—”
The sound of Kelsey’s voice derails that train of thought and I lift the phone to my ear. “Hey, are you OK? Where are you? Grace said—”
“—reached Kelsey. I’m not here right now so leave a message or something. Or better yet, send a text message like a sane person.”
Fuck. I run my hand through my hair and almost laugh because, of course she would have a sarcastic voicemail like that. The only reason I don’t is the pain of me tugging on my hair reminds me that this isn’t the time for laughs. The tone beeps and I do my best to not sound like I’m losing my mind.
“Hey, it’s me. In case that’s not clear, it’s Sutton.
” Yeah. I’m definitely not fooling anyone.
I guess I’m just going to lean right into it then.
“Just leaving a voicemail because we both know I’m not the sane one in this relationship.
Anyway, I’m back at the room. Grace said you weren’t feeling well, but you’re not here…
so yeah. Can you give me a call or let me know when you’ll be back? Love you.”
I hang up, but those two words play on repeat in my head. Just this morning, she looked at me like I was her entire world and told me she loved me. I would give anything right now to get that feeling back and that’s why I make another phone call.
Holding the phone to my ear, it only rings once before I hear an exasperated groan.
“What do you want? I already told you I’m exhausted and not up for a night out at The Hatch.
” The gruffness of Sly’s voice tells me he was probably already in bed and I almost feel bad for waking him, but remorse can wait for another day.
“Hey, have you seen Kelsey at all?” I ask, realizing there’s not a great way to say I can’t find my girlfriend and need help.
“What do you mean?”
I hold my temples between my thumb and forefinger. “She wasn’t at the bar, and she’s not at the motel, and the rental car’s gone and—”
“Woah, hold up. You lost your girlfriend and can’t find her in a town with like… only five places people would ever go?”
“Not the time for jokes, dumbass.” I can feel the vein in my forehead pulsing. “So I take it you haven’t seen her?”
“No, I haven’t.” His voice softens. “You want me to help look for her?”
“You still know everyone around here. Just ask around, OK? I’m going to double check The Hatch and with Mom and Dad.
Grace said she wasn’t feeling well when she saw her about an hour ago, so maybe could you check the pharmacy and grocery store?
” I leave out the part that she might have overheard Slade and me and might have bolted.
“Consider it done,” he says, and I hear the sound of keys jingling through the phone. My heart settles down just a fraction knowing he’s helping.
“And please, don’t tell Sisi or Slade? I don’t want her worrying and I don’t want him butting in.” I start walking back toward the sidewalk to head into town with the phone held to my ear.
“Anything else?”
In the background, I hear the unmistakeable sound of his vintage muscle car starting. As moody and standoffish as Sly can be, I’ve always admired his willingness to act for our family.
“No. If you find anything out, call me. Otherwise I’ll meet you back at the motel. And thanks, Sly.”
He huffs a laugh. “Don’t thank me yet.”
With that, I hang up and continue on my walk back into town. At this hour, the old iron street lamps flicker along Silver Street. Outside of the odd car driving by, the street is quiet leaving my mind filled with the sound of the buzzing lights and my own thoughts.