Page 46 of Midnight Ink

TEN

IAN

We walk down a hall that seems to stretch longer than it should. Its old wallpaper, probably once clean and vibrant, feels muted now, the roses on the pattern a dull reddish brown instead of bright red. “I think I see fingernail scratches along these walls.”

Julian shoots me a look then shakes his head. “It’s not that bad.”

“I’m pretty sure I’ve seen this exact house in a horror movie.” There are many rooms as we pass. Ours is the last one on the left, and maybe I’ve watched way too many movies because I’m imagining horrors behind their doors. Hairline cracks split the molding making it look like spiderwebs, and the narrow floorboards creak beneath our feet.

At least it doesn’t smell old. There’s a fresh lemony scent that brightens up the doom I feel. “You know I don’t watch horror movies,” he says, and a smile slips onto my lips. Julian’s a big baby, and I love that about him.

We find our door, both of us hesitating.

“You go.”

“No, you go!” I nudge him toward the door. His brown eyes narrow. “Come on, I was brave back on the plane. Your turn to tag in.” Julian shakes his head as if I’m being ridiculous and slowly twists the doorknob, opening the room.

Okay, bigger than I expected. “No dead bodies or ghosts. Nice.”

“You’re ridiculous,” he says. We step into the room and I eye the bed—the only bed—in the middle of the room against the wall. “At least it’s a king.”

Everything is starting to sink in.

My bag is gone. Maddox is lost. What if he’s lost for good? I had Julian text Anna from my phone on the ride over here so she can call our hotel. Luckily, we’ll receive a full refund due to the storm. Flights don’t look like they’ll be moving anytime soon.

I want to blame Anna, but this storm came out of nowhere and I’m just as capable of checking the weather. I’ve been so in my thoughts with everything that’s happened lately, this possibility didn’t even cross my mind. I always think shit through. I think more about what Julian has said about me lately.

He’s right, I am losing it. Normally I would have planned for every single possible outcome. It used to annoy the shit out of Maddox. He loved to be spontaneous, but I don’t do spontaneity. The last time I allowed someone to be reckless he died, leaving me with a tattoo shop to manage on my own. Excuse me while I plan for every possible outcome.

“I’ll look for flights tomorrow,” I say softly.

Julian sinks down onto the bed, bouncing on the mattress and testing his weight only to be greeted by squeaky springs. “Guess rough, passionately vigorous sex is out of the question.” I blink at him. “Sorry.” He bites his plump lower lip.

I know he’s making light of this to ease my mind. It’s what we do and I appreciate him, but I just can’t stop thinking about the bag. Julian looks like a scolded kid. His shoulders slump, brown eyes dull with guilt. “This isn’t your fault.”

I scratch my fingers through my hair and look around at the peeling wallpaper. I wouldn’t be surprised if the walls start bleeding.

“This was my idea. Some vacation.”

With a heavy sigh I sit beside him. Exhaustion crawls into me. The rain’s picking up outside, its tapping growing more violent against the windows. I feel restless. Trapped in my own skin. I need to move. Do something.

More than that, I don’t want him feeling some type of way about this. It’s not his fault. “This sucks,” I say.

I jolt a little when his fingers lace with mine, warm and grounding.

“Everything’s a mess right now,” he says. “But we’ve got someone looking for him. She’ll keep checking. We’ll find him.”

Him.

Not the bag.

I swallow tightly.

“Why would she even bother?” I mutter. “I was a dick.”

Julian’s quiet for a moment. “I told her what’s in the bag.” He looks at me. “I’m sorry. She gave me her name and extension. I’ll call the airport in the morning and tell her where we’re staying. She said when it turns up, she can have it sent here. Everything’s a mess, but it doesn’t mean it won’t get cleaned up.”

That somehow makes me smile.