AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I can’t even consider that he’s not alive. My mind will never go there. He has always been a free spirit, so I have to believe that he’s living his best life somewhere.” Emma has remained hopeful the entire car ride while I’ve allowed my mind to what if me to death.
My heart hurts thinking of that option too. I feel like we really connected and I just can’t believe he wouldn’t reach out to me if he could. I told him about my past relationships, so he knows ghosting me would be savage as hell and would wreck me to the core. I can’t believe that he would do that.
“I don’t want his money.”
“I don’t think you have a choice. Slade put it there for you. He has always taken care of me like that too. I’ll get random deposits when my account gets low.”
“I’d rather have him.” Our eyes both swell up with tears with my confession.
“I know.”
We pull into a small town before we get to Phoenix and decide to stop for gas. My eyes immediately scan for any motorcycles or men who look like they belong to his club. It’s not until we’re about to leave the gas station that I see a guy riding a motorcycle. “There. Follow that guy.”
Emma floors it and within seconds we’re right on his tail. Of course, he’s slowly putting around town while we’re following so close that he has to be getting annoyed. It’s a good thing that we aren’t often put in the spot of tailing someone. We’re fucking terrible at it. “It’s the same logo on his back.” I get exciting that we’ve already found a clue to where Slade could be.
He finally gets frustrated enough with us making every single turn that he does that he pulls over. We both watch as he stomps to Emma’s door.
“Why the fuck are you following me?”
“I’m sorry. We’re looking for someone and we were hoping that you would know how to find him.”
“Girls… if you’re looking for someone that reminds you of me, you need to turn around and race back to where you came from.” He’s an older guy. His beard is gray and his face has been hardened with age and the wrinkles probably all tell a story that would terrify the both of us.
“We can’t. Besides… he wears the same jacket you’re wearing.”
“We call it a cut.” He doesn’t ask any specifics as to who we’re looking for so I start the conversation. I’m not feeling too hopeful that he’ll be helpful though.
“We’re looking for Slade.” His eyes move to mine quickly giving away the fact that he knows Slade.
“Who’s looking?”
“His sister and the mother of his future baby.” Emma beats me to the punch and we both watch his smile turn the mean face into someone who is half approachable.
“Have you tried calling him?” So he’s alive. My heart surges to life at the thought.
“Yes. Literally a million times. It always goes straight to voice mail.”
“Well, I’d suggest you try it again. Give it about five minutes before you do though. And ladies… don’t fucking follow me or any other guy on a bike that close again.” We both nod before he walks away. Emma and I grab each other’s hands and begin squealing at the idea of this plan actually working. We watch him sit on his bike and use his cell phone before he turns to us and gives us a thumbs up. He doesn’t drive off like I expect him to but neither of us remain focused on him as soon as we start to use Emma’s phone to call Slade again. “Please pick up.” I whisper my mantra out loud, hoping it will work this time.
“Why are you in Arizona?” Slade’s voice echoes through the car and we both erupt in tears.
“How about why haven’t you called us to tell us you’re okay? Or you know… answer your damn phone for the past four months. We thought you died.” Emma has the ability to talk whereas I’m a blubbering mess.
“I’ve been busy. You need to go back home. I can’t have you coming here.”
“Bullshit, Slade. We are coming to see you. And you’ll abandon your child over my dead body.” She’s pissed and matching my newest mood. I’m glad she can be my voice when the pain is suffocating me.
“What do you mean?”
“Slade… when you fuck a girl… they can get pregnant. Did you happen to fuck my friend here less than say… a hundred times in like a week’s span.”
“Where are you?”
“You already know where we are. Don’t pretend like you don’t have my location.” Thank god for Emma’s sassy mouth and her ability to put any man in their place. I’m just trying to hate him when I’ve thought he was possibly dead this entire time.
“Let me talk to Hads.”
“She may not want to talk to you now, Slade. She’s hurt by all of this.”
