All I can do is nod.
“Where’s Loren?”
“She went up to your room when we discovered Roxie was gone. She hasn’t been back down since.”
“Okay, thanks.” He turns and casually walks up the stairs, almost like he’s dreading going up there, leaving me and Ash alone.
“Sounds like things got wild here,” he says, and I know he’s trying to lighten the mood.
Nodding, I ask, “Can I have a hug? It’s just…it’s been a lot.”
He doesn’t even hesitate. I’m instantly in his arms and for the first time in what feels like hours, I can breathe.
“You’re shaking,” he whispers, pulling me closer. I can feel the soft kiss on my temple, and I hate how yet again, he’s seeing me in crisis mode.
“I swear my life is usually pretty boring.”
That makes him chuckle. “Boring is overrated.”
I try to smile, I really do, but the thunderous sound of footprints startles us both.
“She’s gone!” Mike yells. “Loren’s gone!”
You have got to be kidding me…
“Okay, let’s relax. Where could she possibly go?” I ask. “She didn’t have a car. Maybe she’s out walking on the beach? Vanessa and I were standing in the kitchen talking, so we might not have seen her go.”
“Half her stuff is gone,” he states. “All her toiletries and a bunch of her clothes.”
“If she left on foot, we would have seen her when we drove up,” Ash says. “Did you call her?”
“She’s not answering.”
“Can you track her phone?” I ask. “Do you guys have that app where you can see where the other one is?”
“Thanks, Liv. I didn’t even think of that!” Pulling out his phone, we watch as Mike taps something out and it seems to take way too long for him to figure it out. “She’s on the move. It looks like she’s downtown.” He glances up at us. “What the hell is she doing there?”
The only explanation that comes to mind is that she’s being a brat and running away to get attention, but I don’t say that.
“Did they take Zayne’s truck or Vanessa’s SUV?”
I run to the door and look out at the driveway. “They took his truck! But I know where Van’s keys are!” Right in the entryway, there’s a console table with a huge ceramic bowl on it. She’s been tossing her keys in there for days and thankfully, they’re still there. I grab them and toss them to Mike as he walks toward me.
“Thanks, Liv. I need to find her. Wish me luck!”
“Good luck!” Ash and I both call out, and when the door slams shut, it’s almost eerily silent. We stare at each other and I’m completely at a loss for words. Everyone’s gone, everyone’s freaking out, and now we’re essentially stranded here with no transportation.
“Come on,” he says after a moment. “We know they’re all going to be gone for a while, so we don’t need to stand here waiting by the door.”
“I guess.”
Taking my hand, he leads me over to the den where we sat and talked that first night, and it takes me a little longer to relax.
“What a shit show,” I tell him.
“I had a feeling you were holding back because it was Mike.”
“I was. Loren was a complete brat today.” I shake my head. “Correction, she was a total bitch.” Then I get an idea. “Do you know anything about their relationship?”
