Page 69 of Flirting With Forever
He was a fool. He’d believed her when she said she didn’t do casual. Believed her passion and the night they’d shared meant more than it obviously had. He’d hoped?—
He shook his head at himself. He’d thought, possibly, that things had changed between them. That she’d come to terms with the chemistry they shared and the way they fit so well together. Worked together. Could be more, together.
He tossed the phone back onto the nightstand with a clatter and dropped back on the bed to stare at the ceiling, numb yet angry. So angry he could barely breathe.
For a guy who liked control— This just proved how little he had.
Two hours later, Gage parked behind the rentals building to open it up. Today was his day, and while Sloane was usually there to handle things after opening, apparently he was going to have to take her place and try not to burn the place to the ground to alleviate some of his frustration.
He made his way into the unit through the back door, hitting the lights and tossing his keys under the counter in their usual spot. Then he just stood there, hands braced on the top because he spotted one of Sloane’s boho hairbands, a lip gloss, and a tiny tin of her favorite cinnamon breath mints beside his keys. Suddenly it felt like the floor opened up and swallowed him whole.
He blindly sought the stool behind him and perched on the edge, never once taking his eyes off the items she’d left behind as casually as she’d left him.
After a few breaths, he stretched out a hand and grabbed the hair band. It was soft and colorful, and he twisted it around his fingers before bringing it to his nose. He closed his eyes and breathed in the scent of her. Raspberry and vanilla.
Would he ever see her again?
Would she be okay?
What if something happened to her out there on her own? Had she gone to Chicago? Taken off to wander the roads to avoid her brother?
Where was she?
He had to find her. Somehow.
Cole knew people. Ex-military guys who did PI work now that they were civilians. Maybe one of them would be able to track her down? Check on her?
What if Noah had taken her? What if the text was to throw him off and make him believe she’d left on her own? What if her family hurt her?
He propped his elbows on the counter and leaned forward, the hair wrap in his hands, eyes tightly closed as his mind played out every horrible possibility.
He heard a noise just before the door leading to the convenience-store side opened, and Alec and Cole entered. They stopped and stared when they saw him, and he supposed he looked ridiculous, sitting there sniffing Sloane’s belongings.
“Do you need us to leave?” Cole asked in a suggestive tone, eyebrows lifted high on his forehead.
Gage stood and shoved the hair wrap into his pocket. “Bite me.”
“Bad night?” Alec asked.
“Sloane’s gone,” he informed them in a flat tone. “Hire someone else if you want.”
He turned and headed for the rear exit, uncaring whether Cole could stay and mind the rentals business or if it had to close today. Uncaring of just about anything except the need to get out of there and try to wrap his mind around the fact that he’d finally found a woman he wanted and trusted only to have her walk out on him without a word other than to not follow her.
“Whoa, hang on,” Cole said, jogging after Gage.
His brother caught his arm before Gage made it to the door. He turned him around and shoved him back toward the stool.
“Sit down and tell us what’s going on. What do you mean, she’s gone?” Cole asked.
“She left,” Gage said quietly. “I woke up this morning, and her car and things were gone.”
“She didn’t say anything? Leave a note?” Alec asked.
A sardonic sounding huff left his chest. “Yeah. ‘Don’t come after me.’ She sent it by text.”
Gage chanced glances at his brothers’ expressions and found both of them staring at him with concern and surprise. “Whatever. It’s fine.”
“Obviously,” Cole drawled.
