The kickstand retreats as my boot hits it and I ride off, kissing my two fingers and pointing them up at the sky.
As I make my long journey home, the voice inside me is gone. And for the first time, I can finally and completely breathe.
THIRTY-FOUR
Danika
My phone vibrates on my end table, but I roll back over, pulling the covers over my face.
Tequila hasn’t stopped calling since yesterday. But I haven’t been able to move. My bed sheets smell like him, and I hug them close never wanting to forget.
“Fuck him!” I yell out to no one except me, throwing my pillow across the room.
Tequila sent me messages saying no one could contact Liem. But it’s not my problem. He wants to take off and run away. That’s fine. See ya later, buddy. I don’t need you. I’m fine. Totally fine.
My phone buzzes and I let out a fierce groan. “Okay, okay!” I snatch my phone off the wooden table and answer,” I’m fine. I’m not dead. I’m not being held captive inside a warehouse. I’m safe in my bed, not at all wallowing in self-pity. I’m totally fucking fine.”
There’s a short pause before Tequila speaks, “Okayyyy. Well, that’s good. I will be checking off searching creepy warehouses from places to look off my list.”
There’s a quick silence before me and her burst into hysterical laughter. It’s the type of laughter you feel deep down into the pit of your stomach and God knows I need a good one of those.
As we calm down, I go first. “I’m sorry I haven’t been answering your calls or texts, it’s just, last night…” I pause, not being able to finish my sentence.
“Hush was with you, wasn’t he?”
I let out a breath. “Yes. But I fucked up and scared him off. To where? I have no idea.”
There’s a scoff from her. “Men. Why are they like this? So unbelievably emo it’s annoying. They’re all like,It’s not you, it’s me.Yada. Yada—”
“Tequila.”
“Sorry. PTSD. Anyway, we’re worried about him. Not that he needs to check in every second of the day, but he missed a club meeting and Throttle’s been calling him nonstop. It’s unlike him.”
I claimed to know him. Understand him. But I have no idea where he’d be. Where he could’ve ran off to. Will he be back? Was last night the last time I’ll ever see him? Is he hurt? Did he crash his motorcycle and is lying in a ditch somewhere?
Ugh.The intrusive thoughts are endless.
“What if he’s hurt, T?” There’s a shake to my voice, but I hold back tears.
“Hey. Hush is the toughest one out of all the guys. He’ll be fine.”
I hope she’s right.
“Well, if he shows up, I’ll let you know. I’ll just be hanging around my place for the time being considering I don’t exactly have a job anymore.”
“Yeah… I sort of heard about that. The guys sent a cleanup crew to your diner.”
“Wait, I thought ol’ ladies aren’t informed with what goes on with club business.”
“This was a different situation since it involved you. I can be very persuasive, leaving Throttle zero choice in the matter. Especially since Hush knew what a douchebag your boss was.”
I giggle softly. “I bet.”But…“Hang on.” I sit up, my brows scrunching in confusion. “How did Li—Hush know that my boss was a dickhead.”
She clears her throat. “Hey, I gotta go, but let me know if you hear from him, okay, byeee.” Tequila hangs up and I let out a huff.
I thought so. But she didn’t even let me thank her.
My body falls back onto the pillow, and I stare up at the ceiling while my phone vibrates again. The small hope it might be Liem fizzles out when Tequila’s name pops up.
