AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It doesn’t matter,” I say while shaking my head. I pass by TSA security and make me way through the exit only hallway. “There will be a next time. Rachel matters more.”
“Alright,” Lucas says, sounding better than before. He may simply be happy having someone help him find Seth. I know I would want to know.
“Call me when you make it to Mike’s,” I say while heading out of the airport. I throw a hand up to the nearest taxi, not caring how much the driver will charge. I need to make it back to Aurora. The sooner the better. Money doesn’t matter.
The driver pulls closer to me and I run to him before anyone can take my place. I throw open the door and slide into the back seat. “Fleet Feet at Aurora University,” I say sharply. “I’ll pay extra if you step on it.”
Looking through the mirror, I watch the driver’s lips curl and he bobs his head. “Sounds good to me.”
I lurch back in my seat as he zooms away. Clutching my backpack, I try not to think about Rachel lying in the hospital bed, bleeding, in pain and not understanding why this is happening. Tears prickle my gaze and I rub my eyes until all I feel is pain rather than guilt. Focus on one thing at a time, Alex, I tell myself. I need to find Seth. Once I’ve done that, I can worry about getting to the hospital, and then worry about Rachel. But first—Seth.
Just when I begin seeing the college town in the distance, my phone buzzes. I pick it up immediately, not bothering to look at the caller ID.
“Was he at Mike’s?” I ask, my voice sounding out of breath, like I’ve been running these last thirty minutes.
“No, and he wasn’t at work either.”
“You checked his work?” I thought I told him I would do that. The taxi driver is taking too long, but I guess since there’s been a bit of traffic, it’s not really his fault.
“Mike offered to drive me.” Lucas sighs. “Apparently, he’s been a bit worried these days. Seth has been… being Seth, I suppose.”
“Alright, you had to the hospital, then. I will look for Seth.”
“Are you sure?”
Lucas sounds a bit relieved. I have a feeling he was pissed when Hunter went to the hospital with Rachel. I can imagine Lucas not wanting to go on a manhunt for Seth, especially since Seth not only was rude to Rachel, but didn’t go to Lucas’s book launch. I’m sure that hurt a lot and I imagine Lucas hasn’t quite forgiven him for that.
“Yeah, I’m sure. I have an idea where he could be. I’ll head straight to the hospital as soon as I find him.” As soon as I hang up the phone I direct my attention to the driver, saying politely, “Excuse me. Could you take me to the Aurora Track Field instead?”
The taxi driver says nothing, yet I notice he turns down the road that will take us straight to the track field, and to where I suspect Seth to be. If he isn’t busy partying it up, I know he likes to go here to run off his anger, or his worries. Running has always been a release for him—a way to feel free when things are getting him down.
He must be here. I can’t think of any other place he could be.
I give the driver two one hundred bills the moment he parks the car near the field. We’re up on the hill and I can see someone running in the distance. No one else is here. Without the crickets and the chirping of birds, an eerie silence settles on the field as I walk down the small hill. The long grass swishes against my legs. The sun is already beginning to set, casting the fields around me in hues of gold and fire.
As I approach the track, I see Seth’s hair moving wildly with the wind. His skin glistens with sweat despite wearing only a tank top and running shorts. I wonder how long he’s been here. He looks thinner. His jaw line is more chiseled. He looks exhausted, yet still beautiful. He will always look beautiful to me.
I lean against the locker building as I watch him, crossing my arms and both wanting him to look at me, and wanting him to ignore me. Because the moment he catches my gaze the magic surrounding Seth will be broken and we will return to… whatever it is we are now. We were never boyfriends. We were barely even friends. So what does that make us now? Rivals?
But we’ve always been rivals. That will never change. And for some odd reason, that puts a smile on my face.
Seth’s pace slows and I watch him walk his last lap while he huffs and puffs. His eyes zero in on me as he grows closer and for a moment, I wonder if he will stop and turn around. Instead, he straightens his back and fists his hands, his gaze darkening on me as he talks forward.
“What do you want?” He asks gruffly while brushing past me and into the locker room.
“Lucas and I have been looking for you,” I say while following him inside, my voice shaking as I’m reminded once again Rachel is in the hospital, possibly losing the baby. “We need…”
Seth scoffs before grabbing his towel from the bench and wiping his face. “Looking for me? You should have saved your time. I’m not coming home.”
“Seth, it’s not about that. Rachel—”
“Lied to me!” Seth shouts while throwing down his towel. It lands in a heap at his feet. “Why am I always the bad guy?” He shakes his head, quickly looking away and gazing up at the ceiling. “She lied to us for months and yet all of you can forgive her with a snap of her little fingers.”
“I was pissed, too, Seth,” I breathe. We shouldn’t be talking about this. We need to get to the hospital. Already, I’ve wasted too much time ogling him. “But there are more important things to worry about now.”
“Like, what, Alex?” Seth asks while shrugging at me. “About Rachel’s feelings? She never considered mine, yet I have to care about hers all the fucking time?” He shakes his head as he reaches down and picks up his towel. “No. Not this time. I’m done, Alex. I really am—”
“Rachel is in the hospital,” I rush out.
