I swallowed hard. My voice sounded lame. “Hey.”
“Fray’s car broke down. I gave him a ride home.”
“Oh.”
He hitched his eyebrow and nodded toward the kayak. “You going out in this weather?”
“Uhm, yeah, was planning on it.”
“Alone?”
I shrugged, but said nothing.
Concern clouded his features.
“I’ll be fine. I have a wetsuit.” I’d kayaked in cold weather before. It was no big deal.
“Want some help?”
“Uh, sure.”
I handed him a strap and he got to work hooking it to the anchors under my car. I pulled my jacket tighter around me as a gust of wind traveled around the vehicle. In a few minutes, the kayak was secure.
He returned his hands back to his pockets. “You sure this is a good idea?”
“Of course.” It probably wasn’t, but I didn’t plan on telling him.
“Alright. Be careful then.” He took a step back from the car as I opened the door. Right before I dropped into the driver’s seat, he spoke again. “I miss you, Jules.”
I said nothing as tears flooded my vision. I gave him a half-smile and shut the door behind me. He watched me drive away.
I cranked the volume on the stereo and tried to drown his haggard appearance from my memory.
FIFTY-TWO
Patrick
Ipaced the sidewalk outside Jules’ apartment. Something about the whole encounter didn’t sit right with me. Where was she going? I didn’t know much about kayaking, but I figured it probably wasn’t safe to go after it had been raining for two days. And alone no less.
I tried calling her three times. First time it went to voicemail. Second time she ignored it. Third time it went directly to voicemail. She probably turned her phone off. Figures.
My opportunity to jump in the truck and follow her had long passed. She’d left almost fifteen minutes ago. If I knew where she was going, I’d feel better.
My stomach twisted as I made a mental list of all the rivers and lakes nearby. There’d be no way I could take a wild guess and be right.
Was I actually thinking about looking for her? Why? Her intentions to stay away from me were communicated loud and clear. Showing up would only tick her off.
I shook my head. Exhaustion was tampering with my ability to think. I needed to let her do her thing. I turned to walk back to Fray’s building.
But some invisible force held me back. My hair stood on end, and a sinking feeling as strong a current ripped through my being.
Jules is not okay.
I had no idea what basis my brain was using for that assumption, but I followed it. A tentacle of fear gripped me. The resulting surge of adrenaline aided my thinking.
I have to act. Right now.
It felt insane, but I knew I had to do it. Had to find her.
