The afternoon is busierthan I expected. With the sun shining most of the day, I didn’t think there’d be many people who needed a tow. Boy, was I wrong. The potholes on the city streets have become so bad, people’s tires are getting fucked up quicker than I can tow them in. Bad for them, but great for the business.
I hadn’t even noticed that it was after five, and I haven’t heard from Lulu in hours. As soon as I climb out of the truck and transfer the business line to Liam’s cell, I shoot Lulu a text.
Me: Just checking in and getting an ETA for dinner tonight.
I wait, staring at the phone, but the three little dots don’t appear and the message stays unread.
Liam’s sitting at his desk, ready for the evening shift, picking up right where I left off.
“What happened?” he asks as soon as I make it to my desk and collapse back into the seat.
“Busy day, and Lulu hasn’t messaged in a while.”
“When did you hear from her last?”
I scroll back and realize she hasn’t messaged since she arrived at her client’s house, which was hours ago. “Fuck,” I growl, swiping my finger over the location button. She hasn’t moved either. She’s still an hour outside the city in a northern suburb that’s filled with expensive homes and old money.
“What?” Liam asks, his eyes fixed on me.
“She hasn’t moved.”
“I’m sure she’s busy in someone else’s junk drawer.”
Maybe the location isn’t updating because she’s in an area without cell service. It happens to me all the time on the road. I press the location button again, hoping it’ll show she moved. “Damn it,” I mutter as my heart starts to pick up pace.
“You’re really worried.”
“Duh,” I tell him as I try to convince myself everything is fine. I don’t want to overreact, causing Lulu to get pissed at me and ruining the entire night we have planned.
“Call her sister. Maybe she’s heard from her.”
I swipe over to a new message and shoot one off to Zoey. She entered her number into my phone the other night when she agreed to stay at Lulu’s place fora few days. She said it was for her safety, but now I know it was for my sanity.
Me: Zoey. It’s Oliver. Have you heard from Lulu since she left?
It only takes a minute before the three little dots start moving.
Zoey: No. I usually do, but not today. Weird.
I shoot up from my chair as a knot forms in my stomach.
“Where are you going?” Liam asks as I grab my keys off my desk.
“To wherever her phone is to find my girl.”
“Oh boy. Be safe,” he says as I open the top drawer of my desk and grab a small Glock I keep in there just in case, even if I thought I’d never need it. “Call me if you need bail money.”
“Have it ready, because if something’s happened to her, someone’s going to take their last breath,” I tell him as I stalk out of the garage, ready to find my girl and make sure she’s all right.
17
LULU
I takea last sip of my iced coffee, ready to get this final appointment of the day started. Oliver and I have plans later, and I can’t wait to try a new restaurant that opened down the street.
I shoot off a text to Oliver, letting him know I arrived and will be unavailable for a while. He’s been worried lately and reminds me more of a paranoid father than a boyfriend.
Me: Headed out to an appointment. I’ll text you when I’m on my way back to the city.
