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“Refreshing, or boring. I kind of think they mean the same thing.”
I’m surprised when he says firmly, “A woman like you could never be boring, Laura. You don’t realize how interesting you really are.”
Before I can answer that, he thrusts a spare helmet into my hand.
“Come. We should leave. We don’t have long.”
My fingers shake as I grasp the helmet and my voice wobbles as I say nervously, “Where are we going?”
“Somewhere private.”
Why doesn’t that make me feel any better and I perch behind him nervously as he starts the engine and adds, “You’re safe with me, little one. Have no fear of that.”
As I pull the helmet over my head, it’s with a weird disappointment that he said that. Safe from him. How boring is that? Obviously, this isn’t a normal date because, despite wishing otherwise, I’m just not his type.
CHAPTER 12
TROY
As soon as I step into the house, I hear, “Troy.”
Melissa is waiting with a worried frown and my heart drops.
“What is it?”
“Mom isn’t home.”
“Where is she?”
“She had a lunch meeting with Isabelle Faiers. She took a cab apparently and never made it home.”
“Have you tried calling her?”
“Melissa rolls her eyes. “Obviously, and I’ve checked my find a friend, and she’s not even registering.”
The blood rushes to my head as I struggle to organize my thoughts and Melissa says fearfully, “Do you think–”
“No, Melissa. I don’t think anything. Have you reported it?”
“It’s too soon. She must be missing for twenty-four hours before they treat it as a missing person. But Troy …”
“Don’t say it.” I reach for my phone and dial the number that is becoming all too familiar these days.
“Troy, how may I help?”
The gravelly voice on the other end reassures me as I hiss, “My mother is missing. Last seen at …”
I glance at Melissa, who says miserably, “Ivy Heights, downtown.”
I repeat the location and he says gruffly,“Her phone?”
“Unresponsive.”
There’s a slight pause before he says abruptly,“I’m on it.”
As I cut the call, I note the pinched expression of my sister and say kindly, “She’ll be okay. She’s just going off the grid. It was inevitable.”
I curse myself for not seeing this coming because today is the anniversary of our father’s death, and I should have planned accordingly.
