Itoss and turn, pounding my fist into my pillow while Sam sleeps soundly. Kicking the covers off, I pluck my phone from the desk near my bed, squinting at it with sleep-deprived eyes.
Three a.m.
Can’t sleep.
Can’t shake off Emily and our epic fight earlier. I’m still pissed. She thought she could flash her big blue eyes and bat her long lashes at me and I would give her Molly, especially after her old man went for me. We’ve never traded such harsh words, but I was livid, and the fact she only wanted drugs fueled the anger flowing through my veins. Don’t get me wrong. A part of me wanted to bundle her into my arms and protect her from her demons, but the anger won out. I don’t know what made her fall off the wagon, and it’s driving me insane. For hours, I’ve been replaying the times we spent together, searching for clues.
Nothing weird, odd, or out of the ordinary jumps out at me. One day, she’s flying high and we’re confessing our love for each other, and the next, she’s nowhere to be found.
I just don’t understand it.
I let out an audible breath as I open the screen on my phone. Phoebe’s picture greets me, and some of the tension in my shoulders loosens. I don’t care how bad my day gets; I can always count on my sister to put a smile on my face. Even now looking at her pic. Her brown hair is up in a ponytail, and she’s beaming from ear to ear, holding the very first jewelry kit Mom bought for her.
I swallow thickly. Mom won’t be happy when she finds out I was kicked off the team, which means my scholarship is toast. Somehow, I have to plead with Coach and get back in his good graces. I might have fucked up my NFL dream, but I have to find a way to stay in school, and without the money to pay the expensive tuition, I need to do everything I can to keep my scholarship. The amount I made working for Ray won’t even put a dent in the tuition. Besides, I need to keep that for Phoebe.
Sam is snoring steadily when a soft knock sounds on our door.
I pinch my eyebrows together. The only person I can think of who would be here at this hour of the night is Emily. Anger and frustration bubbles to the surface. She’s relentless.
I crawl out of bed and quietly open the door a crack. The last time I answered, Coach shoved his fist in my face. As desperate as Emily is for Molly, I’m sure she’ll try anything to get what she wants. Like kneeing me in the balls.
“Adam,” Coach whispers, and I detect the panic in his tone.
I give him a wide berth as he steps in, searching the room as though he knew Emily would be here. When he doesn’t find her, it’s not relief but straight-up fear that shows on his face.
Suddenly, my radar is up, and stress cords the muscles in my shoulders into tight knots. “She’s not here.” I rub the back of my neck. “What’s wrong?”
Bowing his head, he drags his fingers through his reddish-brown hair as he sits on my bed. Defeat oozes off him. “Emily didn’t come home tonight. I thought she’d be with you.”
I flick the switch, and the overhead light comes on. I squint for a moment as my eyes adjust.
Coach glances at Sam, but the dude isn’t even stirring. He sleeps like the dead anyway.
I cross my arms over my chest. “We broke up. I’m sure Emily is with her friend Scarlett or Zach.” Ten to one, she’s passed out with them. My muscles tense further at the thought she’s anywhere near Zach. I can’t contemplate what they might be doing if they are together. My fingers dig into my palms.
“They’re next on my list.” He scrubs a hand over his jaw, worry etched across his face. “I’m worried. As much as I don’t want her near you, I was praying she was asleep here. It’s why I came to your dorm first.” His Adam’s apple bobs in his throat. “I need to find her before she does something stupid.”
He just sucker punched me with his words.
He emits a tired sigh. “I didn’t even get a chance to speak to her earlier. After I overheard her talking to you on the phone, I saw red. I should’ve stayed and talked to her. Instead, I charged over here to confront you. When I returned to the house, she was gone. And I haven’t seen her since. What happened, Adam? She seemed to be doing so well.”
He eavesdropped on our phone conversation?Fuck.
I feel like a legit piece of shit. I didn’t even consider the possibility Emily hadn’t blabbed to her father. I jumped to conclusions, and now, I feel like a complete bastard. And, because I was so angry, I didn’t stop to consider she’s in trouble.Why else would she go off the rails?Something happened to send her spiraling. Instead of coaxing it from her, I pushed her away.
I couldn’t hate myself more in this moment if I tried.
Self-loathing is a bitter pill, but I force it aside, needing to keep calm in the face of her absence.
“Sir, you tell me. She wasn’t high once when she was with me. Then a few days before our away game, something changed. I’ve been wracking my brain like a crazy man.” I rub a tense spot between my brows. “I have no clue what happened to her.” It can’t be Weston Blakely because he’s in jail. “Did something happen at home?” I know her mother doesn’t care about her. Maybe, they got into a fight and her mom drove her over the edge.
“Not that I’m aware of, but I was gone all weekend. Her mother is usually busy with work, but I can’t seem to get ahold of her either.” His brow furrows deeper.
As frustrated as I am at Emily, I’m starting to freak out. We had our fight hours ago. “Let me put some clothes on. I know a place she might be.”
He jerks his head up, and a small amount of relief shines in his eyes.
After I leave Sam a note, Coach and I drive to the warehouse where I first met Emily.
