“You really are something special, Olivia.”
“I’m finally starting to see that,” I admitted.
“For what it’s worth, I hope you don’t give up on music,” he said as we walked side by side to the door. He paused and turned back toward me. “You’ve got a gift, and I’m sorry I never told you that.”
“Thank you, Ben.” My mouth stretched into a sly grin. “Sorry about your face.”
“Sorry about… everything else.” He gave me a wistful smile. “Take care, Liv. Be happy.”
I grinned as I let him out the door. “I plan on it.” I only hoped Jax could forgive me.
I practically sprinted to my room, intent on finding something decent to throw on so I could go find Jax. But before I could even open the closet, there was another knock at my door. I groaned, figuring Benton must have left something. I ran back into the foyer and flung open the door to find Cash standing on the front stoop.
“Cash!” I exclaimed, my eyes wide.
“Hey,” he said tentatively. “Sorry to drop in on you like this, but I was wondering if you’d seen Jax.” He shifted uncomfortably and shoved his hands in his pockets.
“No, I haven’t. Not since…” I trailed off, and my gaze fell to my feet. “I was actually going to see if I could get him to meet up with me to talk. Is everything okay? Do you want to come in?”
He looked at me nervously. “Do you have any idea where Jax might be?”
I shook my head. “He hasn’t been here. I know he went to see Benton, and he may or may not have, but definitely did, punch him in the face.” I grinned.
“Is there anywhere you can think of that he might be now? Any place he might go if he was upset?”
“Cash, you’re scaring me.” I narrowed my eyes. “What’s going on? What’s wrong with Jax?”
He sucked in a deep breath and sighed. “Jax got some news earlier today about his mom.”
“Did they find her?” I asked hopefully.
“They did.” He frowned, his shoulders slumping forward. “She’s dead, Liv. The detective brought over something they found that belonged to her.”
My hands flew to my mouth, suffocating a gasp that tried to escape. “What was it?”
“It was a shoebox full of pages she’d cut out of magazines and newspapers of Jax,” he said, “some as recently as the Halloween party in Vegas.”
Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. “Oh my God. Jax… I should have been there for him. I should have been with him when he found out.” I shook my head. “This is all my fault, Cash. I’ve got to find him.”
“Is there anywhere you think he might go? Dallas stayed at the penthouse in case he comes back there. Derek and Luca even went to make sure he didn’t drive back to Louisville, but no such luck. I’ve been driving around trying to find him. He won’t answer any of our calls or texts. I’m pretty sure he’s turned his phone off.”
That’s when it hit me.
I darted back inside and slipped on my boots. I grabbed my keys, phone, and purse and sprinted back through the door, closing it behind me. I looked at Cash as I turned the key in the lock. “Call Ella and make sure he didn’t end up at the bakery. I’m going to look for him.” I jogged toward my Jeep, and Cash fell into step behind me.
“Do you think you know where he is?” He moved faster to catch up with me.
“I hope so.”
“Shouldn’t you grab a coat? I think it’s supposed to snow.”
“I’m fine.” I waved him off, flinging the car door open and tossing my purse inside before turning back to Cash. “We’re going to find him, Cash. We have to.”
“We will,” he assured me. “Go. Let me know if you have any luck.” I jumped into the driver’s seat, and he shut the door for me. I slammed the car into gear and backed out of the driveway. I tried Jax’s phone, hoping maybe he’d turned it back on, but I went straight to voicemail.
I gripped the steering wheel, willing the other cars on the road to go faster. “I’m coming, Jax.”
Chapter 36
