Page 70 of Little Gray Dress

“Hannah, they’ll do everything they can,” Evan reminds her. “Jack is a grown man. He’ll take care of himself.”

“I know, but how horrible to lose his fiancée, the love of his life, and find out he’s going to be a father – all in one weekend?” Hannah has been crying since this revelation last night. I don’t think crying is the way you want to go on your honeymoon.

“Go, Hannah,” I say. “We will find Jack and make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid.”

“Promise?”

“Of course.” What am I doing? The last thing I need is to be promising things I have no control over. In all honesty, I don’t know what I would even say if I found Jack right now. I know he’s going through something so much bigger than I know what to do with. But all I can think about is how this affects me and the inner turmoil I’ve got going on. The whole Greta being pregnant thing has muddled up my picturing us together again. “Lily and Josh are right here with me to help.” I shoot Lily a help me look, only to watch her roll her eyes.

“I know you’ll find him. He needs you,” Hannah says over her shoulder as Evan leads her out towards their car. “Call me and let me know!”

Jack doesn’t need me. If he did, he wouldn’t have run out without me. What he needs is a family counselor.

“We will.” We all wait until the door clicks closed before exchanging looks. “Shit. How am I supposed to pull this off?”

“I’m sure you’ll find a way,” Lily says, before she and Josh both turn to head towards their room.

“Wait, where are you two going?”

“To pack. We leave in the morning. I suggest you pack too, so you're ready in case you’re on the hunt the rest of the time we’re here.”

“Guys… You have to help me, I don’t even know where to start.” I haven’t been close to Jack in a while. I don’t know his habits or his favorite places anymore. I don’t even know where he lives.

Lily nods Josh towards their room before walking in my direction.

“Ems…” She walks me towards the couch in the living room. “I think this is something you need to do on your own. Jack needs someone right now, and given the situation, I highly doubt he’s going to come out and ask for your advice. He probably feels like he’s ruined the only chance he had to get you back. I guarantee, he wants to talk to you, probably even needs to. Of all the people here, you know him the best. So you need to find him. Think of all the places he used to love to disappear to, and go there.”

I don’t want her to be right. I know that she is, though. But why would he run away only for me to have to hunt him down, when he could have just stayed and made it easier for me? Maybe he doesn’t actually want to be found.

“Fine. Pack for me. If you don’t see me between now and then I’ll meet you at the airport in the morning.”

“Deal.” She smiles and turns to the stairwell. “We got the mansion to ourselves for the night!” she yells up the stairs to Josh, who peers around the doorframe with a perverted smile.

“Ha-ha… Please don’t defile any of my stuff. I’ll be back.” I grab my purse and a set of keys off the entryway table and head out to the car Evan let me borrow. There are two places I think Jack could be: his office, or the yacht his dad owns that he loves like his own. Or maybe there is another place I know nothing about. Unfortunately, if that is the case, it’s going to make this hunt even harder.

As I take the elevator up to Jack’s office, all the memories of the last time I was here come racing back to me. My heart feels like it might beat right out of my throat, and every part of me is sweating, even my ass. This is one of those fears that people force others to face so they can get over it. It’s terrifying. The ding of the elevator doors causes me to nearly jump out of my skin, and I have to force myself to creep out into the hallway slowly towards his office.

I lightly knock on his door but don’t get an answer, so I try the handle, but it’s locked. Jack never used to lock his office door. I guess if there’s anything he learned from the whole Madison episode was to lock his door when he left the office. Or maybe, Greta helping herself to an engagement ring probably helped drive that lesson home too.

“Can I help you?” A woman’s voice behind me causes me to spin round, nearly out of breath even though I’m not moving. “I’m sorry.” A young dark-haired woman in a suit, carrying a Starbucks coffee, approaches me. “I’m Heidi, Mr Cabot’s assistant. I’m sorry for scaring you.”

“No, no, my fault. Is Jack… I mean, Mr Cabot, is he in today?” I watch the woman furrow her brows and frown.

“I’m sorry, he’s actually called out for the rest of the week. Is there anything I can help you with?”

“No, thank you.” I quickly walk towards the elevator trying to escape before running into anyone I used to know. He took off for the whole week? I guess it makes sense. I feel like I’ve had a bad week, but I think Jack’s has been a lot worse.

“Emi? Is that you?” Damn it. I’m not fast enough, and Andy’s voice stops me in my tracks.

“Andy, hi.” I wave at him.

“My God, it is you. I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.” His familiar smile actually calms me a bit. His hair is a bit grayer and he’s wearing glasses now, but otherwise he still looks the same way he did the last time I saw him.

“Me neither, actually.”

“What brings you into the office? Did you finally forgive Jackie boy?” He laughs as he walks towards me.

“Um… No, well, kind of, I guess. Have you seen him?”

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