Nico and I exchange a look.
“Because her parents haven’t heard from her since that day.”
Jessica’s brows pull together. “Wh-what? She’s missing?”
“We can’t say that for sure. It’s too soon, and she’s an adult. Maybe she just forgot to call them or got distracted bysomething. There are millions of possibilities,” Nico reassures her. “We’re just making sure to look into it. Did she mention anything else? Maybe where she’s staying?”
Jessica shakes her head. “Nope. We didn’t talk very long, really. Just regular small talk. We commented on how busy it was. She had just come from the car wash. Asked for some recommendations for things to do, and we told her to check out The Hut since it was live music night. But I don’t remember seeing her after.”
“Okay, well, we’ll see if we can track her phone and find her. Or maybe she’ll call her parents soon.” Nico glances at me. “I’ll meet you in the car?”
“Yeah, thanks.” I slap him on the shoulder, giving him a grateful smile as I turn to Jessica, who’s still nibbling at her lip.
“Is she really going to be okay?”
That gnawing feeling is back in my gut, but I can’t quite pinpoint why.
“I really hope so.” I run my hand over my face. “Areyouokay? He hasn’t…?”
Jessica shakes her head. “No. I haven’t seen him at all.”
“Good.” I nod, my jaw hardening. “If he?—”
Jessica sighs. “Matthew…”
“No.” I cup her cheeks, forcing her to listen to me. “If he so much as touches you, I’m going to end him.”
“You shouldn’t be saying stuff like that,” she whispers, those golden eyes gazing into mine as her fingers wrap around my wrists, but she doesn’t try to push me away. No, her fingers tighten, holding me in place.
“I don’t care. He doesn’t touch you. Not one finger. Understand?”
“He won’t.”
I nod, that uneasy feeling settling down. That’s always how she affected me. The calm in my storm.
“My car was fixed,” she comments, changing the subject.
The corner of my mouth twitches upward. “Was it?”
“Imagine my surprise when Mae dropped me off, but instead of having to call the tow service, I found four brand new tires on my car.” She tilts her head, her brow arching. “Know anything about that?”
I shake my head. “No idea.”
Jessica lets out a frustrated breath. “You drive me crazy, you know that? One moment you’re this possessive asshole, and the next you do something sweet like this.”
“Gotta keep you on your toes.”
Movement over her shoulder draws my attention. I look up and spot Nico pacing in front of the entrance.
“I’ve gotta go.” Not giving myself a chance to think, I lean down and press my mouth against hers. “Be careful.”
Then, with the image of her surprised face etched into my mind, I rush away and get back to work.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
JESSICA
“Feeling better, Mrs. Williams?” I smile at the older woman as I pull the wheelchair to a stop by the bench and sit next to her, inhaling the warm afternoon air.
