Page 22 of Omega's Refuge

My stomach was in knots as I held his gaze.

Rex cleared his throat. “I know that Steve wanted to cut the trip short. Did you two by any chance argue about that?”

My face warmed. “We had a little… disagreement last night.”

“Is that right?”

I stared down the empty dirt road that led to the main highway. “But, it’s not like we haven’t had plenty of fights in the past.”

“Is he the sort who drives off in a huff?”

I grimaced. “If he does that he doesn’t usually takemycar.”

“Right,” Rex murmured. “But his car isn’t here.” He hesitated. “Does he generally come back when he’s cooled off?”

I nodded. “Usually.”

“Okay, well, then he’ll probably come back ready to talk, right?”

“What if he doesn’t come back?” The morning sun was warm on my shoulders, but I felt chilled to the bone. Anger bubbled up inside of me as my fear and doubt grew. Would Steve actually abandon me here? Was he that callous?

Rex looked uneasy. “You don’t think he will?”

“I don’t know. I don’t understand him right now. I… I don’t understand what he’s thinking taking my car. Who does that? Who steals another person’s car and leaves them stranded hundreds of miles from home? It would serve him right if I called the cops and had him arrested.”

Rex winced. “Probably don’t want to get the cops involved.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that. If he stole my car he deserves what he gets.”

“Look,” Rex said quietly, “if he actually did leave you here, where would he go?”

“I’m not sure.” I wrinkled my brow. “Home, I guess.”

“Do you two live together?”

I let out a shaky breath. “Yeah.” As a sign of commitment, I’d allowed Steve to move back into my apartment. I must have been out of my mind to give him my trust again. I pulled my cell out and tried calling Steve again. It once more went to voicemail. “If he was just thinking stuff over, wouldn’t he answer his phone? He has to know I’m confused right now, and wondering what the hell is going on.”

Rex let out a harsh breath. “I’m sorry, Tanner. I’m sorry he’s putting you through this.”

I met his sympathetic gaze and embarrassment rolled through me. I felt foolish and gullible for believing anything Steve had ever said to me. I didn’t want to be pitied. I didn’t want to be pathetic. But I’d done this to myself by trusting Steve. “You don’t really think he’s coming back, do you?”

Rex dropped his gaze. “I don’t know.”

“But your gut says he won’t?”

“Tanner, I… I don’t know Steve.” He continued to avoid my gaze.

“Okay, but you know Tony. Do you think Tony is coming back?”

Rex finally lifted his troubled gaze to mine. “Honestly, no.”

“No?”

His voice was gruff as he said, “Tony was struggling to fit in. Mrs. Rodwell hired him as a favor to a friend, but he wasn’t a good fit from the start. I think this is Tony’s way of quitting. He didn’t have the guts to do it to my face. He won’t be back.”

“He’d just leave his job like that?”

“I believe he would, yes.” He sighed. “I didn’t mention this before, but I overheard Tony and Steve talking yesterday evening near the fire.”

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