Page 63 of Affinity

Her tone instantly changed. “I saw her pulling out of the parking lot in your car when I left, so she should be home by now. Have you tried calling her?”

“Of course, I have, but she doesn’t answer.” I started pacing around the living room, kitchen, and outside areas. “I knew I shouldn’t have let her drive herself to work. What if some paparazzi flashed her, and she wrecked?”

“I seriously doubt that happened. There were none here when I saw her leaving. Do you want me to come over?”

“No, you should get home to Jackson. I’m sure I’m overreacting, and it’s nothing. She probably stopped to pick up something for dinner and . . . ” I had no idea why she wouldn’t have told me or answered her phone.

“I’m sure that’s all it is. She should be happy. I’ll be her supervisor from now on.”

“Did you fire the other one?” I hoped she had. No one deserved to treat my Abbi badly.

“No, I didn’t fire her, but Abbi won’t have to work with her any longer, so she shouldn’t be a problem. Maybe she wanted to celebrate.”

And maybe we were grasping at straws.

“Thanks for everything, Catherine.” If she didn’t have any information, I wanted to keep trying to get a hold of Abbi.

“Anytime. Have a good night, Jenner.”

She hung up, and I tried to call my wife another ten times without her answering. Just as I was about to get in my car and trace her, her name popped up on the caller ID.

“Oh my God, you’ve had me worried,” I answered.

“Jenner?” Abbi cried out.

Instantly, I stopped dead in my tracks. “I’m here, baby. What’s wrong?”

“I was in a wreck. Someone ran me off the road, and I went down this . . . this embankment. They're taking me to the hospital in an ambulance.”

My heart nearly stopped at her words. Had it been the paparazzi?

“Are you okay? What hospital are they taking you to?” I continued toward the garage and was already starting up my car when she answered.

“Cedars Sinai. I think I broke my leg, and I’m pretty busted up,” she answered quietly before a sob broke out.

“I’m already on my way, baby. I’ll be there before you know it, so just hang tight, okay?”

“I’m sorry about your car,” she hiccupped.

Switching gears as I flew past the gate, I gripped the steering wheel until my knuckles were white. “I don’t care about the car, Abbi. All I care about is you being okay.”

“I’m going to have to call my brother,” she cried.

“We’ll do it together once we get you home. Okay? You’re fine, right?” I needed her to reassure me again. I wasn’t sure if she was crying because she was in pain, from being scared of what happened to her, or for some other reason, my speed brain couldn’t figure out.

“I think so. I really wish you were here.”

“I wish I was there too, but I promise I’ll be there quickly. I’m already on the road.”

“Be careful,” she barked out in a voice that was full of worry and fear.

“Nothing’s going to happen to me. I’ll be there in a few. Just hang tight and let them know I’m coming if you get there before me. Can you do that?”

“Yeah, I think so.” I heard her take in a deep, shaky breath. “Thank you, Jenner.”

It killed me that she felt the need to thank me when all I wanted in the world was to be there right by her side and have her in my arms knowing she was going to be okay.

“There’s nothing to thank me for. Now, sit back and let them take care of you, and before you know it, I’ll be right by your side.”

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