Page 84 of Cupcake of the Month
He fished out his phone and used the parental safety controls on Zach’s email and social media to see if he had mentioned running away to anyone. Nothing. His chest tightened, making breathing difficult.
It was hard being cooped up in the car. Every nerve in his body screamed for a release. He realized he was clenching the seat and loosened his grip.
He snuck a glance at Jordan, all calm in a blue and white nautical shirt and a pair of soft grey slacks. Her hair was pulled into a bun and her glasses perched on the end of her nose. It was enough to ground him and give him focus, making drawing a breath a little easier.
He wiped his hands on the thighs of his jeans. “Zach wastrying to buy a bus ticket to Jacksonville.”
Jordan furrowed her brows. “What’s in Jacksonville?”
“I’ve been asking myself that same question.” He sighed and leaned against the headrest. “The only thing I can come up with is something with his parents.”
“It had nothing to do with you?”
He forced down the flare of anger. “No. No chance. I’ve done everything I could to give him a good home. He never showed any inclination of wanting to run away.”
“I’m sure you’re an amazing guardian.” Jordan’s voice turned soft and she rested her hand on his.
He gripped her fingers before he realized how tight his hold was and relaxed. “I don’t know. Maybe I’m not enough.”
The admission left him weak, and he leaned forward, head in his hands. He had to be enough. There was no one else.
Jordan turned into the bus station and pulled into a space in front of the brick building. The walls were composed of windows, and Josh strained to see Zach inside. All he saw was a ticket counter and people milling about or seated. One body looked much like another.
“Thank you. Really.” There was so much he wished to say. He longed to take Jordan’s hand and caress her skin, touch her one more time. She’d never allow that. Not after what she said last night. Not after all he kept from her.
She gripped the steering wheel and nodded.
Josh picked up his backpack and got out of the car. He stared at the building, his body pulled tight, then leaned over. “Want to come in with me?”
She turned to him and he met her serious gaze straight on, and as open as he could, while every nerve in his body shrieked to be with her, for her calm control.
She reached over for her purse. “Let’s go get your brother.”
She locked her car door and walked with him to theterminal. His fingers sought out her hand and held on tight, anchoring himself to her nearness. She didn’t say anything, only curled her fingers around his and matched his pace.
Some of his tension slipped away with the contact, and he grounded himself with her touch.
The attendant inside pointed them down a hallway where they were met by a bald man in a black polo. His lips tightened into a straight line.
Josh took in the man’s expression and brushed past him to the opened door. The hairs on his neck tingled at the sight of the empty office and he whirled around, his breath lodged in his throat. He ground out the words. “Where’s my brother?”
“Mr. Revere. I’m Beau, the manager here. I’m sorry. Zach slipped away without us seeing. He’s gone.”
***
The manager’s voice faded into a background buzz in Josh’s head while disbelief crashed over him. An overhead light flickered, casting the stark white hallway into intermittent shadows. He clutched Jordan’s hand. She was the only stable thing keeping him afloat as the beacon flashed off, then on again. Why didn’t anyone fix it? It wasn’t that fucking hard to change a lightbulb.
“Josh.” Jordan nudged the elbow of their joined hands.
He sucked in a breath and concentrated on her touch before glaring at Beau. The man stumbled backward.
Josh’s voice went dangerously low. “Why weren’t you watching him? He’s only thirteen, for God’s sake.”
“We had him waiting in the office on a comfortable chair, going through his backpack. ‘Bout ten minutes ago he started coughing, so we got him some water. He wasn’t in the office when we got back. Thought he was in the bathroom. I finally sent someone to fetch him, but he wasn’t there.” The man lifted his arms as if that explained everything.
Josh took a step forward, his muscles bunched and ready. He’d get a better explanation out of this man if he had to punch it out of him.
Jordan held fast and anchored him, preventing his advance.
