Page 40 of The Sidekick

She has no idea how deep this goes for me. I only started talking to her a few days ago. How could she? That’s on me, and I’m fixing it right now. No waiting. I don’t care if it’s pushy. She needs to know she’s stuck with me.

By the time I screech to a stop in front of her building, I'm sweating despite the cold. I don't see her car. When I reach her floor, out of breath from the stairs, I don't bother knocking. It only takes one slam of my shoulder for the flimsy door to give up and swing open.

"Tera?"

I look everywhere, even under the bed, but she's not here. A lot of clothes have been thrown on the floor, and several drawers in her dresser are still open. Our girl is either a major slob, or she packed in a hurry.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck!"

I dial Trevor, and he picks up in the middle of the first ring.

"You have her?" His tense, sober voice demands an answer, and my rage gets more fuel for the fire at the sound.

"No. It looks like she packed up and bailed," I hiss out, unable to raise my voice even though I want to scream at him.

"What?"

"Get those fuckers out here to look for her. She can't have gone far." I hang up before he can answer. I can't listen to him right now.

I harass everyone on the same floor, asking if they've seen her, and get negatives across the board until I reach some old lady with a stick up her ass.

"I haven't seen her, but she left me a note today. You wouldn't be why she's mysteriously leaving for a while, would you?" She asks suspiciously and eyes me like I'm a scumbag.

"No, someone else did that, and when I find out what happened, I might just kill him," I grit back.

"Oh," that gives her pause, and her stance eases. "I don't know where she went, but I don't think she's coming back."

"Fuck!" I pull my hair and storm away.

One of Andi’s toys steps out of a car as I’m rushing to my truck. The silent one, Shade. Out of all of them, he’s the lesser of all the evils so far.

“She’s not in there,” I pass him, but he grips my arm in a surprisingly tight hold.

“Her computer? Is it there?”

I look down at him in surprise. He sounds like iced-over fury, and his eerie gray eyes are intent on my face.

“Her computer is at the bar. I need to keep looking,” I glare at his restraining hand.

“I’ll head back there and hack her system,” he lets go and leaves without another word.

Hack her computer? Who the fuck is this guy? A computer guru or some shit?

Dark falls and none of us have found her. Shade hasn’t gotten into her computer yet, and everyone else is finally getting worried. It’s like they have no idea how broken she’s been, and it guts me. She’s out there somewhere without any support, and I can’t fucking find her!

I don’t bother to go home as I continue to search.

Chapter Fourteen

Tera

I wake up stiff and disoriented. With the car turned off, the temperature inside has gotten freezing. My flowy dress is no match for the weather despite its cheerful color. I feel dumb for even putting it on. Who wears bright green when they feel super crappy?

My stomach makes the odd gurgle sound that’s becoming familiar, but I can’t move to get out and find something to eat. I don’t want to drive anymore, either. I’m so tired and weak.

The candy bar I’ve been taking random bites out of sits on the passenger seat, and I glare at it through my swollen lids. I wish it would just teleport into my stomach to get some relief. Every time I try to bite into it, I dry heave. The few times I’ve managed to swallow it down, I’ve thrown up. Something isn’t right with me. A lot of things aren’t right with me.

I never realized how far away South lived from me until yesterday night. I’m not even halfway to her, and I’m giving up. Yet, she drives to me every single time I need her. I can’t even call her because I threw my phone out of the window when it wouldn’t stop buzzing.

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