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Hope.
I knew it was probably her calling to yell at me, but I couldn’tnotanswer. I leaped for it and picked up the call right before it went to voicemail.
“Hello?” I asked, doing my best to sound unbothered.
There was no response, just a quiet rustling sound.
“Hello?” I snapped, skipping unbothered and going straight to irritated.
I heard Hope’s voice, but it sounded far away. I couldn’t make out what she was saying. I pressed my phone to my ear.
“Hello?” I said again, louder this time. I heard her laugh and say something else, like she was talking to somebody. My heart sank. It was a butt dial. I didn’t want to admit it, even to myself, but I was looking forward to talking to her, even if she just wanted to spar. Fighting with her was the only real outlet I had for my frustration.
I was about to hang up when I heard a man’s voice more clearly. I scowled. Was she with her boyfriend? Unlikely. I was sure I heard her tell Ronnie that the team was out of town tonight.
“Hope!” I shouted into the phone. I needed her to answer me and just tell me she was okay. There was something strange about her voice, something I could hear even though it was muffled like her phone was in her back pocket or her purse.
I heard her sayNo, clear as day, and my knuckles went white as I held onto my phone for dear life.
“Hope!” I was screaming now. “Where are you? Hope!”
The rustling sound happened again, like the phone was being knocked around. Like she was moving. Leaving wherever she was at. Fear seized my throat. Keeping the call on speaker, I opened my messages and went to the intentionally vague one I’d sent her an hour before. I tapped frantically as I shoved my feet into my shoes.
Hope, answer this text and tell me you’re okay. Or tell me where you are.
I sent it, hoping the ding of the notification would get her attention. Then I snatched my keys from the counter and ran out the door as the call dropped.
33.
Thacker
I drove toward downtown Casper with no clue where I should be heading. I was dialing Hope for the fifth time. It cut off after six rings, and a robotic voice recited her phone number back to me and told me to leave a message.
“Hope, I don’t know where the fuck you are but I know something’s not right. I need you to call me. Please, baby. Just call me back. Text me. Anything. I’m out right now looking for you. Please call me.”
I hung up, feeling helpless. I was about to go stark raving fucking crazy with worry.
Casper didn’t have a large nightlife scene, but there were several bars where she could be. I racked my brain, but I couldn’t remember her saying anything today about plans later.
The thought struck me that maybe she was taking advantage of her boyfriend being out of town to hook up with someone else. Was that something she would do? I had no idea. I didn’t know who she was in her personal life. That realization was like a bucket of cold water dumped over my head, but I knew that I couldn’t stop looking for her, even if I just ended up embarrassing myself. She could tell me to go to hell. At least I would know that she was okay.
It hit me like a bolt of lightning. Copper’s. That was the place she was always talking about going with the hockey team. With no other leads to follow, I whipped a U-turn in the middle of the street and headed back the way I came.
My heart was pounding in my throat, and my chest was tight. I could barely see the road in front of me. I was in a state of blind panic, desperate to get to her. I’d probably be stopped for speeding but I didn’t care. If a cop stopped me, I’d tell him what I was doing so we could split up and both look for her. I realized that maybe I should call the police as I drove up over the curb turning into the Copper’s parking lot. But what I saw wiped every other thought from my mind.
Two guys were walking through the door, supporting a woman who could barely stand. The woman’s head rolled back and my stomach dropped as my suspicions were confirmed. Hope’s beautiful face was illuminated by the street lamps. I squealed to a halt in front of them, stopping the two men in their tracks. As I flung my door open, rage coming over me like a red cloud, they both stepped away from her and she nearly went sprawling. I swooped in with a snarl, catching her easily and holding her up with an arm around her waist as I swiped at her nearest attacker with my other hand. I felt like an animal, fueled by the primal need for vengeance. I was going to destroy these motherfuckers.
My fist connected with the jaw of a tall, gangly kid, and he went out like a light. I rounded on the shorter of the two, who was already stumbling backward over his feet trying to get away from me. I went to chase after him, but then I stopped and shook my head.
The only thing that mattered right now was getting Hope safely inside my truck. So I let the other guy go and walked her around to the passenger side. She was still conscious, but totally out of it.
“What…?” she started. The rest of the question never came.
“Shh, Hope, you’re okay,” I assured her as I lifted her into the passenger seat. “I’ve got you.”
I leaned over to buckle her in and her arms looped around my neck. I froze, my blood white-hot in my veins, my ears ringing, her breath warm and sweet on my cheek.
“What are you doing here?” she murmured. I clicked her seatbelt into place and ducked out of her embrace, clearing my throat. I hoped like hell that she wouldn’t look down and see the obvious effect she was having on me. I was fucking pathetic. The girl was barely conscious, and I was harder than I’d been in years because I got to touch her.Hadto touch her.
