“I’ll call you back in a few.”
With nowhere else to go, I drive to Ender’s apartment, hoping to get there before he walks into the building.
The drive is a total blur, and I arrive back at his apartment in half the usual time.
The front doors are close enough to my car that I can’t miss him if he shows up, while I repeatedly text and call him.
Ender, please answer me. What happened?
At least let me know you’re okay…please!
Dozens of unanswered messages and still no sign of Ender or Connor coming home. When my speakers shrill with an incoming call, I hold my breath for the split second before I hear Luke’s voice.
“Buddy, you there?” The wariness in his voice has blood whooshing in my ears.
“Did you find him? Is he okay?” I can’t say for sure what explanation would make me feel better.
“He’s fine. He’s at Kaden’s apartment with him and Connor now.”
The engine roars to life, my tires screeching as I pull away from Ender’s building.
“Gabe, don’t go there.”
“Fuck that!” All I see is red as I fly through the streets toward Kaden’s place.
Why did he answer Kaden’s call but not mine?
What the fuck did I do wrong—tell him he’s perfect? Why is that so bad?
Why did he leave without telling me?
Or maybe he left because I hurt him in the room?
Did someone at the club hurt him? Does he blame me for it?
None of the questions running through my mind have logical answers right now.
“Gabe, listen to me.” Luke’s big brother tone comes out, like it always does when I’m about to do some dumb shit. “Leave it be for tonight. Kaden isn’t going to let you in anyway. Let them figure out what’s going on. You don’t need to be there right now. Just come here.”
It’s almost one in the morning, and the chance of someone else in Kaden’s building letting me in is slim to none. I don’t want to admit it to him, but I know Luke’s right. He obviously doesn’t want to talk to me, so going there will only make things worse.
I give Luke an ETA and end the call.
My pounding head cringes at Fred’s dramatic meowing. Luke is clearly starving him—or so he thinks if his bowl is empty for more than a minute. This monstrous-size cat eats more than the average teenager and behaves like one on his good days. And for some reason, he gravitates toward me every time I’m here. His fur tickles my nose, but I can’t bother trying to move him away when every part of my body aches the way it does right now.
“Fred, go away,” I huff out the barely audible command that he obviously ignores.
MEOW!
“Dude, please. Don’t.” His head muffles my words, and I hastily pull back to spit out hair, causing my head to throb more at the sudden movement.
“Fuck…” As I collapse back onto the couch, Luke’s mocking laughter joins in with Fred’s auditory attack.
“I told you to slow down last night. Gave yourself a hangover, didn’t you?” He finds himself so funny. If I could move right now, I’d punch him just so he’d stop making noise.
“Fuck off, Luke.” I grumble as the ceiling comes into my view. I instantly regret changing positions when the beast jumps on my chest and takes my breath away with the extra weight crushing my lungs. “Luke, if you ever loved me, you’ll show me mercy and put him in another room.”
I don’t mind the laughter so much this time when the twenty-seven pound Maine Coon was taken off my chest, and they both leave the room.
