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What a mess. Maybe I’m not ready to be independent after all.
Please, please come for me, Huxley, I plead with the universe. I’ll never leave you again. Please. Please…
9
HUXLEY
Where is she? What did I do wrong? Is she hurt? God, is she lying somewhere on the mountain, unconscious?
A snarl rips through my chest at the thought of Jordan being in danger or hurt in any way.
I woke up fifteen minutes ago, shocked, hurt, and confused as hell when my woman wasn’t in bed with me. The second I sat up and took in my surroundings, I knew she was gone. I couldn’t feel her warmth or smell her sweet, citrusy scent.
The question is, where the hell did she go? And why?
I continue pacing the now well-worn path on the small porch in front of my cabin, going over every moment of last night in my mind. Was there something I said? Something I did? I’d never forgive myself if I hurt her or made her uncomfortable. Jesus, my heart lurches in my chest, the pain causing me to rub the heel of my hand over the spot to try to soothe the ache there.
I hear the familiar sound of the work truck heading up the hill, then see a cloud of dust break through the tree line before the vehicle comes into view. Squinting to see who it is, I’m surprised to see Cassian. He hardly ever leaves the compound, and certainly not on his own.
Heading in that direction, I wave Cassian down, needing to know what the hell is going on this morning. How did I go from the most blissful, perfect night to this nightmare?
“Yo, Cass!” I call out, sprinting toward my friend.
He comes to an abrupt halt, probably trying not to run me over since I’m being an idiot right now. I can’t help it. The love of my life is hanging in the balance.
“Huxley, what the hell were you think–”
“Where is she? Did you see her?” I ramble, cutting him off.
Cassian sighs heavily as he gets out of the truck. The man crosses his arms over his chest in his signature stance. He nods once, making me growl in frustration.
“Words, Cass. I need your words. Is she okay? Did she say why she left? I’m losing my goddamn mind over here, man.”
“Hey, what’s all the yelling about?” Wilder calls out from the front porch of his cabin. He makes his way over to us while I glare at Cassian. I know it’s not his fault, but it sure as hell feels like it right now.
“I gave her a ride down the mountain. Dropped her off at the hardware store, as per her request.” That’s all he says. Straight facts, nothing else.
“Who did you drop off?” Wilder asks once he’s next to us.
“My Jordan,” I say defensively.
Wilder’s eyes widen in surprise, but he decides not to ask about it. Wise man.
“Look, she asked for a ride down the mountain, and I wasn’t going to keep her trapped here,” Cassian says.
My shoulders drop, and I wipe a hand down my face, trying to fit all the pieces together. “You did the right thing,” I tell my friend, as hard as that is to admit. “After the way her father has controlled her and kept tabs on her, I wouldn’t want Jordan to feel like she was stuck up here without a way out.”
Cassian nods in acknowledgment, which I know means he understands.
“Did she say anything about why she had to leave?” Wilder asks, getting us back on track.
“She kept saying she needed to take care of a few things.”
I furrow my brow and run my fingers through my short hair, swallowing past the painful lump stuck in the back of my throat. I’m still missing something…
“For what it’s worth, she didn’t seem upset or anxious about anything that happened here,” Cassian adds.
I nod, wanting him to continue.
