He snorted. “Try a year.”
I reached out and rubbed his shoulder.
“Are you okay?” Noah asked. “I mean, with me gone. And Dad’s gone too. And that I’m not working with you at the bar anymore and?—”
“Shh,” I cut him off. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. You just concentrate on becoming the best chef in the world, okay? I’m good, I promise.”
“Why don’t I believe that?” He looked hurt.
I hesitated, rubbing circles into the fabric of his sleeve as I contemplated how much to tell him. He was an adult. He was a man now, and lying about things he already knew were happening was not right.
“I don’t know, Noah. Some days it feels like things are unraveling faster than I can tie them back up.” The room was quiet except for our breathing. I looked at the muted television, absently watching colors flicker across the screen.
Noah’s voice was softer now. “I get it. I felt that way when I caught him with her.”
“I hate that you saw that.” I swallowed the knot in my throat. “Sometimes I wish I knew how to make it easier for everyone. For you. For Lark. For Briar, you’re hurting so much because of this.”
Noah leaned against me. “Maybe we’re all just getting by for now. But that’s enough, isn’t it? We have each other, and he’s going to lose all of us if he doesn’t quit acting like an asshole. Not just you.”
I managed a smile, feeling a fragile sense of comfort settle between us. For a moment, the world outside faded, and it was just us, quietly holding on. When I first left Eli, I’d made a promise to myself never to say anything against him, but to always be there if the kids needed to unload. I didn’t answer Noah, as I tried my best to keep it.
“Do you promise to call me if you need me?” He broke the silence. “I’m not a kid anymore, even though I was acting like a baby tonight.”
“You were not acting like a baby. Everyone hurts like that sometimes; you have to get it out. And I promise I’ll call you. As long as you do the same.” I brushed away the stray thought of how quickly life kept shifting beneath our feet. Noah smiled, and for a second, I thought it was possible to believe we would be okay.
But then my phone buzzed on the table, a sharp note slicing into our moment. I glanced at the screen, saw Eli’s name, and felt the old, familiar jolt of dread. Noah watched my face change and knew before I did that whatever peace we’d found had slipped away.
I picked up, bracing myself for whatever storm waited on the other end.
My stomach sank as I answered. “What?”
“Is Briar home?”
I straightened. “What do you mean by ‘is Briar home’? She’s supposed to be with you.”
“She was in her room. Or I thought she was. But I went to call her for ice cream, and—she’s gone. She’s not answering her phone. I thought maybe she came back to your place.”
I stood, my heart already thudding. “No. She didn’t. She’s not here, and she hasn’t messaged me.”
“Text Grandpa,” I told Noah. “Ask if he has Briar.”
“What’s happening?” he asked as he fumbled for his phone on the coffee table to do what I said.
“Lark’s not answering either,” Eli added, voice rising.
“Grandpa doesn’t have her,” Noah informed me.
“I’ll call her phone,” I said to Eli. “Hang up and start calling Lark again. No, don’t call Lark, call the police.”
“I already called the police. I did it before I called you.” Eli clicked off, and I turned to Noah, who was already standing.
“Briar’s missing,” I said. “Can you call Lark?”
He started dialing.
My phone buzzed again. It was Hunter. I answered this time.
“Paige,” Hunter said immediately, his voice deep and steady. “Is everything okay? You usually answer right away?—”
