Noah’s grin softened. “Aw, come on. He’s probably just caught up in work at the Foundation. You know how he gets when he’s in the zone.”
I nodded, but the knot in my stomach didn’t loosen. “Yeah, maybe. But it’s not like him to ghost me.”
“Tell you what,” Noah said, squeezing my shoulder. “You go find West. I’ve already got Lior, Lex, and Emery for Operation Love Nest Invasion. But you owe me one epic prank in the future, got it?”
I managed a small smile. “Deal. Thanks, Noah.”
He winked and sauntered off. As I watched him go, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was seriously wrong.
Taking a deep breath, I made my decision. It was time to go find West, even if it meant leaving the party early. I just hoped I was overreacting and he’d have a perfectly reasonable explanation for all of this.
With the assistant manager’s permission, I slipped out of Lusitana, the sounds of laughter and clinking glasses fading behind me. The cool night air hit my face as I jogged to my car, my mind racing faster than my feet.
The drive home was a blur of streetlights and worst-case scenarios. By the time I pulled into our driveway, my hands were sweating on the steering wheel. I practically flew out of the car, hope and dread warring in my chest as I fumbled with the front-door lock.
“West?” I called out, flicking on the lights.
Silence.
Our living room stood empty, mockingly pristine. No rumpled West sprawled on the couch, no half-empty coffee mug on the side table. Just…nothing.
I checked his room, my room, the bathroom. No West.
“Shit,” I breathed, running a hand through my hair. The knot in my stomach tightened.
I paced the room, my footsteps loud in the quiet house. With each turn, I checked my phone, willing it to buzz with a message from West. Nothing. Nada. Zilch.
I flopped onto the couch, staring at my phone. Should I call him?
“Screw it,” I muttered, hitting the call button. It rang. And rang. And went to voicemail.
“Hey, it’s West. Leave a message!”
I ended the call without speaking.
That’s when I knew. Sitting there wasn’t going to cut it. I had to go to the Foundation, had to see for myself what was happening.
I jumped up, snagging my keys from where I’d dropped them on the coffee table. A mix of worry and frustration propelled me toward the door.
“If you’re nose-deep in paperwork and just forgot to charge your phone, West Hart, I swear I’m going to kill you,” I grumbled, even as my heart raced with concern. “Right after I kiss you senseless for scaring me like this.”
As I rounded the corner to the Foundation parking lot, my heart nearly stopped. Flashing lights. Sirens wailing. Smoke billowing into the sky.
“No, no, no,” I muttered, abandoning the car between two spaces and breaking into a run.
The Star Finders Foundation building loomed ahead, flames licking at the windows of the old maternity ward. It was the furthest from the main building, which gave me some hope. West was usually in the reception area, which he’d turned into a temporary office of sorts.
A crowd had gathered, held back by police tape. I shoved my way through, ignoring the protests.
“West!” I shouted, scanning faces frantically. “Has anyone seen Weston Hart?”
A burly firefighter turned toward me, his face streaked with soot. “Sir, you need to stay back?—”
“My…West works here,” I interrupted, grabbing his arm. “Tall guy, curly hair. Have you seen him?”
He shook his head. “Did you say West Hart?”
"Yes! Have you seen him?"
