His phone rings.
Saged.
I answer before the first ring finishes.“Hello?”
“Lucy,” Saged says, and there’s something in his voice that makes my knees go weak.“She’s not answering me either.”
The room tilts.
“What do you mean she’s not answering?”I demand.“She always answers you.”
“I know.”
My heart is pounding so hard I can hear it.
“Maybe her phone died,” I say, grasping at straws.“Maybe?—”
“We made the ride back last night, I’m heading over to her place now,” Saged cuts in.“You stay where you are.”
“No.”
The word rips out of me.“I’m coming home now.”
“Lucy—”
“I’m coming,” I repeat, already grabbing my clothes.
Tucker steps in front of me, hands coming to my shoulders.“Hey.”
I can barely see him through the panic rising up in my chest.“I need to get to Quinn.”
“And you will,” he states, firm but steady.“But not like this.”
“Like what?”
“Spinning out.”
“I am not?—”
He shakes his head.“You are.”
His grip tightens just enough to ground me.“Breathe.”
I suck in a breath that doesn’t feel like enough.“Again.”I do as instructed.
“Again.”The third one steadies me just enough to think.
“We’re going,” he shares.“Right now.”
He doesn’t ask.He doesn’t hesitate.He just moves.And somehow, that’s exactly what I need.
The ride back to Freedom Falls is a blur.This time, there is no slow curves.No scenic route.No laughter.Just speed.
Wind.
And the sick, growing dread clawing its way up my throat.
I cling to Tucker tighter than I ever have, my face pressed into his back, my mind running through every possible explanation and rejecting all of them because none of them feel right.
