“Let’s go,” Jett orders, snapping me out of my thoughts. “We need to get to Via.”
Via. Right, we need to find her.
Before I know it, without any further questions, he grabs my hand and begins pulling me down the stairs behind him.
"Why aren’t they answering!?" I demand, yelling at him, attempting to pull my hand from his grasp, but his tight hold doesn't allow it.
He ignores my resistance and continues to pull me behind him. "If they’re on the Island, they have no cell service. It’s okay, Iz. We’re going to get them."
No longer putting up a fight, Jett and I fly down the rest of the stairs and out the front door at record speed. We rush to my car, and Jett jumps into the driver's seat, the keys already in his hand.
"How is this happening?" I ask aloud, quietly, more to myself than anything.
Jett starts the car, throws it into reverse, and whips out of the driveway so fast I jolt forward.
"Seatbelt, Beauty. Now!" he shouts at me as he throws a hand across my chest, protectively keeping me in place. His voice is stern, leaving no room for argument.
I nod and fasten the seatbelt without hesitation, my normal sarcastic self eclipsed by worry.
We’re halfway to the island when my phone buzzes in the cupholder beside me. I lift it, my mom's name flashing across the screen. The drive so far has been absolutely silent. Not a single word has been spoken between us, as neither of us knows what to say.
"Mom..." I say, answering her call.
"Izzy, have you found her?"
"Not yet. We’re almost to the beach house. Any news?"
"It doesn't look good, my girl." Her voice shakes, and I can hear her heartache through the receiver.
Via is not only my best friend, but has been like a daughter to my parents. They love her and Natty just as much as they love me and Kasten. My mom knows what this will do to Via. She knows, just as well as I do, how broken she will be if they don’t survive.
My mom’s voice drops in disgust as she continues, “Liam is here and isn’t allowing any visitors who aren't family. The staff can’t even give me an update on them."
I let out a sigh and a low grunt of frustration, the anger within me boiling to the surface. Liam’s family is hurting, and he still finds a way to be vindictive toward those who clearly care about them.
"Fucking Liam!" I spit, seething.
"Please just be safe. Let me know once you get to her, okay?"
"Okay, Mom. I will."
"I love you, honey. Now, be safe!"
The call ends before I can respond. Tucking my phone under my leg, I turn to see Jett's questioning sideways glance as he tries to focus on the road and me, all at the same time.
"What the fuck did Liam do now?" he growls, frustration lacing every word.
"Other than being a total piece of shit? He isn't letting anyone check on their mom or Natalie. My mom is just leaving the hospital. She wasn't able to get any update on them."
"I fucking hate that prick!"
"Don't we all?"
Jett reaches over the console and grabs my hand. Now that the panic has somewhat subsided, the comfort of his touch puts my nerves slightly at ease. Our eyes meet briefly before he glances back to the road, and a part of me wants to stop fighting this.
In this short-as-fuck life, Via’s about to lose everything.
What a fucking wakeup call. I want to admit how stupid I'm being. I want to admit to Jett that I have finally realized life is too short and unexpected to keep fighting my feelings for him.
