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Damnit! I can’t barge into the women’s restroom like an unhinged mad man. I run my hand over my bald head and groan in frustration.
“I can go in there and check for you, but I’m pretty sure I saw her leave five minutes ago,” Jennifer says, startling me out of my chaotic thoughts.
Her words penetrate my mind, one by one. “What do you mean, you saw her leave?” I growl. “And you didn’t think that was important considering we arrived here together?” I don’t mean to take anything out on her, but I can’t fathom Nora leaving without saying a word to me. Panic sets in.
What if David got to her?
I pull out my phone and dial her number. It goes straight to voicemail. I try again. Again, it goes to her fucking voicemail. I type out a quick message, jamming my finger on send so hard I’m surprised my screen doesn’t crack.
Me: Call me, now.
“SJ, what’s wrong?”
Jennifer places her hand on my arm, gently stroking it as she tries again to get my attention. But I’m so far past caring to respond to her that I dart around her and move toward the exit. I would feel bad about my abrupt dismissal, but I can’t think about anything else but finding Nora.
I knew it was a mistake to come out tonight. We should have just stayed home. It was too risky with David Miller knowing where I live and possibly knowing we’re in Sutter Creek.
Fucking stupid.
I run out of the bar without looking back or saying goodbye to anyone. My only thought is getting to Nora before it’s too late. I can’t live with myself if something happens to her.
I berate myself all the way back to my parents’ house. If anything happens to her, it’s my fucking fault. I was supposed to be watching her, protecting her. Not catching up with my friends and surely not talking to another fucking woman in that fucking bar.
You even let her go to the bathroom alone…
Jackass.
My stomach rolls when I think of Nora and Jennifer. What if that’s the last thing Nora remembers? The last moment we have together. Me talking to another woman.
Fuck, I want to punch myself because all I was thinking about was how much Jennifer isn’t Nora. How much I just wanted to go home, sit on the couch, and spend the rest of the night talking to the one woman who has captivated my full attention since the day I met her.
Now I may never get the chance.
I’m praying like I’ve never prayed before that she’s at my parents’ house, and there’s some reasonable fucking explanation as to why she just left of her own free will.
After I drop to my knees in relief, I can wring her neck for leaving like that. I can’t think of any reason she would do that. She knows how important it is to stick beside me. If she wanted to leave, all she had to do was say the word, and we would have left.
I try to silence the building panic as I race down the mostly empty streets, taking the corner so fast the Tahoe nearly goes up on two wheels. I quickly react and slow my speed a little so the car stays on all four wheels.
I need to arrive alive, but I also need to hurry the fuck up. The two needs conflict, and it feels like I’m being split in two.
I pull in the driveway, slam on my brakes, and immediately throw the driver’s door open. I run to the front door and curse when I find it locked, realizing right then I didn’t even turn the car off, let alone shut the door or remove the keys. I race back to the Tahoe.
Fucking idiot.
I turn the car off and get the keys, yanking them out of the ignition a bit roughly before running back to the front door. However, before I can slide my key in, it flings open.
My heart stops for a second, hoping like hell it’s Nora, but it immediately drops to my feet when I realize it’s Sam.
“Damn, bro, don’t look so disappointed.”
I push past her, ignoring her sassy remark. “Nora!”
“Shhhh, you’re going to wake Mom and Dad. Why are you yelling for Nora? Isn’t she supposed to be with you?” Confusion paints her girlish features.
My hands move to the back of my head as I try to calm my spinning thoughts. “She isn’t fucking here,” I mumble to myself as I pull out my phone and go straight to Liam’s contact. I hit dial, my finger shaking slightly as I do.
This has never fucking happened to me, and for it to be Nora, of all people… I can’t fucking believe it.
