The larger of the two says, “Ma’am, you need to come with us.”
Penelope’s eyes narrow, and she steps forward before one of the men gets between us. “You won’t ever make it in this industry again, Avery. Mark my words,” she bellows, a smudge of lipstick on her teeth that finally makes her look less than perfect.
As she’s dragged away, a sense of relief washes over me. I always felt like a puppet with Penelope, but now I can finally take back my life and do what I want to do, when I want to do it.
34
GRAYSON
I’m bone tired after a sleepless night and getting up early to move a herd of cattle this morning. All day I’ve been trying to keep myself busy, taking on more manual chores around the ranch and refusing to quit until the sun had gone down. I’m not sure how I’m going to make it a week without seeing her when it’s not even been a day.
Putting the beer bottle to my lips, I chug down a hefty swig. Wyatt and Kade wanted to hang this evening, but I told them to stand down, that I didn’t need babysitting. The truth is, I can’t bear the concern in their eyes because I’ve been a grumpy asshole all day.
No, tonight I just want to be in my own company, call Avery, and then maybe have an early night.
Collapsing onto the couch, I scrub a hand over my stubbled jaw. I haven’t shaved since before our dinner date yesterday, and the long-sleeved black T-shirt I’m wearing has food on it after I spilled my dinner, but I’ll get cleaned up in a bit for our video call.
I grab the remote off the coffee table and switch the TV on for some background noise. I’m not going to watch it. I just can’t stand the suffocating silence right now. My phone vibrates in the pocket of my gray sweatpants, but I ignore it. I’m not in the mood for the family group chat and the ribbing I’ll no doubt get for being a lovesick fool.
When it vibrates for a second time, my curiosity gets the better of me, wondering what shit Wyatt and Kade are talking. I lean forward, sliding my beer bottle onto the table before reaching into my pocket and pulling out my phone. Another message comes in as I unlock the screen.
Gracie
Don’t judge me.
But I have news alerts on my phone for Avery.
My brows pull low, wondering where she’s going with this. Another message comes through, and I watch as a barrage of texts appear on the screen, each one getting more and more frantic.
Gracie
They said she’s gone AWOL.
I tried to call her, but she’s not answering her phone.
Have you talked to her?
Grayson?
I’m really worried.
It keeps going to voicemail.
My phone vibrates with an incoming call, Gracie’s image appearing on the screen. I answer immediately.
“Oh, thank God. Have you seen my texts? Have you spoken to Avery? I think something’s happened,” she rushes, not giving me a chance to respond.
“Woah, Gracie, take a breath. You said she’s gone AWOL?” I push down the panic, knowing that whatever is wrong isn’t going to be fixed if I don’t remain level-headed. I hear my mom’s voice in the background, reassuring Gracie as she sucks in a lungful of air. The line gets distorted when she blows it out. “Mom and I were having dinner, and I got an alert about Avery. It said a plane, thought to have her on it, touched down in Nashville, but she wasn’t there. I tried to call her, but her phone’s off, and I’m really worried, Gray. I’m sorry. They said that a woman was escorted, screaming and shouting, from the airport by security.” She pauses, her voice small when she adds, “What if something’s happened to Avery?”
Standing, I look around the room in a panic, like it might hold the answers I don’t have. My first thought is that Avery is hurt. That maybe she was attacked, or got kidnapped by a crazy fan, something that you can’t ever really come back from. The thought of her being gone nearly brings me to my knees. She would never not answer Gracie’s call.
“What if we’ve lost her, Gray?” Gracie’s voice sounds small and scared, mirroring my own panicked worry.
I clear my throat, forcing myself into action as I move through the house. “It’s going to be fine. I’m sure she’s okay, Gracie, but I’ll see what I can find out.” My words are meant to reassure, but they sound hollow to my own ears.
In the study, I open the safe and pull out a wad of cash, sliding it into my pocket. I don’t care what it costs. I’m finding her tonight. “Keep trying her phone, and if you get through to her, call me. Okay?”
“Okay. Please find her, Gray.”
