Aunt Blake sighs and quickly explains, “Portia said something really mean to her, and Harley took off. She’s hiding somewhere in this house, and I think Kendall is with her. We need to find those two before Kendall burns the house down.” She grins and then laughs when Jane gasps and looks up at her, all worried. “I’m just kidding. But it would be good to find them sooner rather than later.” She cringes.
I rub my eyes. “Does this have anything to do with that screaming I heard earlier?”
“It haseverythingto do with it,” Jane softly replies.
Aw, look at her sweet little face. I’m guessing she hates conflict with a passion, and if voices are raised, she’ll run for the hills.
Just like Harley has done.
“I’ll help you guys look.” Standing up, I pull a sweater off the floor. It’s one of my dad’s old college ones and completely swamps me, but I love the Cougars logo on it, and I kind of claimed it… without asking. But it’s just so comfy! And it’s not like he’s asked for it back.
Trailing Aunt Blake and Jane into the hallway, I head right and start meticulously checking each room on the upper floor. I call for Harley and Kendall, trying to coax them out. I even offer candy, which I know I’m not supposed to do, but desperate times and all that.
Opening the next door, I jump when I spot Aunt Libby sitting in an armchair by the window. She’s feeding Paris, smiling down at her baby girl while she strokes her cheek.
“Oh, sorry.”
“No problem,” she whispers, turning that sweet smile on me.
“Happy Birthday.” I grin at her.
She blushes and shakes her head. “Thank you, lovely lady.”
“You’re welcome.” I bob my head, then get to the point. “I’m just looking for Harley and Kendall.”
Her eyebrows wrinkle. “Still haven’t found them? Jane was in here a little while ago. They’re not in here, sorry.”
“That’s okay. I’ll keep looking.” I tinkle my fingers at her and quietly close the door behind me, continuing my search.
Seriously. So many rooms. This house is huge.
After what feels like hours of fruitless searching, I head downstairs, figuring the girls have probably been found and no one bothered to come up and tell me.
Typical!
Stomping downstairs, I run into Jane and Aunt Blake at the bottom… and my mom. I avoid eye contact and focus on my aunt instead, about to sarcastically quip, “Thanks for letting me know!”
But… wait a second. She’s looking really worried.
Her eyes are bright and agitated when she glances at me. “Did you find them?”
“No.” My head jolts back. “Wait, you haven’t found them either?”
Aunt Blake’s eyes glass with tears while Jane whimpers, “Oh no,” and throws herself against my mother.
Rubbing circles on her back, Mom softly comforts Jane while I stand there gripping the railing.
“We need reinforcements,” I whisper and head for the living room, forgetting all about my flailing pride while Jane skips after me, clutching my hand as we walk into the living room. As soon as I step through the door, I look right at Dad.
He’s always the guy you want around in a crisis. Well, him and Uncle Grady, but I don’t look for him. All I can see right now is the tall man with a smile just like mine.
He senses my gaze, standing away from his perch by the wall when he catches my eye.
I stare straight at him, and he starts to give me a hopeful grin until he notices how serious my expression is.
And there’s the look I need right now. The protective, problem-solving,I’m here to fix itlook I’ve spent my life depending on.
As he moves toward me, I feel this weird mix of relief and tension, but I tell the part of me that wants to split to hold my ground. Because this can’t be about me and my angst right now. We have to find Harley and Kendall first; then I can go back to not talking to him.
