Page 39 of The Sidekick

“Did she say anything after I walked out?” I start pacing in front of the desk as fear mixes with frustration.

“I told her,” he cuts himself off with a frown. He looks like he’s trying to remember but can’t quite reach it.

“You told her what?” I try to help him draw the memory out.

“She looked sad.”

“What? When?” She was fine. She was frustrated and flushed and beautiful with her little pout.

“I don’t know,” he rubs a hand over his face wearily.

“Did you ask her what was wrong? Tell her to take a drive?” I prompt, hoping he’ll snap out of this for just a second.

His eyes meet mine. I see when he remembers. His face pales and his eyes flare with regret.

“What happened?” My eyes narrow over his reaction. What would he have to regret with her? I thought we were finally in this thing together.

He rubs a hand over his mouth. His eyes skip away from mine and don’t return.

“What did you do?” My tone falls into a threat before I’m aware of how pissed off I’m getting.

“I didn’t mean it,” he chokes out, and the anger slowly starts to build into rage.

“What happened, Trevor?” I demand for what feels like the thousandth time.

“I didn’t mean it,” he insists again. Guilt is written all over him, and I don’t believe a word he’s saying right now.

“So I left for five fucking minutes, and she gets a full dose of the real side of you? What did you say?”

“She was really upset before…”

“Yeah, before. She was a fuck ton better when I walked out of here. What happened?”

He rubs both hands over his face in frustration while I pace in front of his desk. I haven’t seen him this off-kilter in a long time, and the fear eating my guts says whatever this is, it’s bad. He can’t keep his shit together enough to tell me. Hell, he probably forgot again in the last five seconds.

"Fuck this. Give me your keys." I hold my hand out with a scowl. Whatever he's hiding, he can confess to when I've found her.

"Max," he begins to protest darkly, but it's too late for that shit. I don't care if I get seriously punished for this. I need to find her. Now.

A clock is ticking over my head, and when it stops, it will be too late to salvage whatever went wrong.

"I'm done listening to you right now, Trevor. No more giving her time and saying she's too innocent for us. None of that shit is holding me back anymore. Now, give me the fucking keys so I can bring our girl home."

He leans back in his chair, hands braced on the desk in surprise. I've never been more serious, and he knows it. He’s come out of it enough to know I’m done with this.

"She’s vulnerable and out there upset. We will lose her. Do you want that? No more Tera at all? I sure as fuck don't."

He quickly digs the keys out and throws them at me, panicked as my words sink into his drug-addled skull. I don't bother saying another word as I leave. I can hear him leaving another message for Tera on her phone, pleading with her to call him. She's probably in the process of blocking us all.

Fuck!

I don't bother to keep it quiet when I peel out. Several of Andi's toys watch me go with confusion.

What did he do? The question repeats over and over as I push the speed limit to get to her place.

I should have never left her alone with him. I know how bad he gets when he's hurting, but I thought he would tone it down for her sake. I should have known better.

He was there. He knew how perfect it was. What did he do to make her run? Why did she run? She should have come to me instead.

---