Page 68 of Break the Ice
There are always consequences.
To every action, there is always a reaction.
That is something I will never forget.
Ever. Again.
Warm air engulfsme when I shut the door behind me. The apartment is quieter than it has been for weeks while I look around the open living space. Everything is where it always is, but it still feels different. It feels properly lived in with the scent of Finley’s baking lingering in the air.
Dropping my gym bag by my bedroom door, I traipse to the door a few feet away on the opposite side of the deep-marine-painted corridor. As always, I take a deep breath, holding it in for a silent beat while I listen for any sound coming from behind Finley’s door while I work up the courage to face her.
I knock on the door with a gentle rap. Finley won’t admit it, but she’s as jumpy as I am, waiting for The Fellowship to make a move. Since the phone call with Mom, I passed all dealings with them to my lawyer.
Not that those are going anywhere.
They’ve been silent. Until the hotel.
Everything was going so well. The world was opening up, and there was hope on the horizon. So much so that I was forgetting myself.
Then in a blink, it all came crashing down with the reminder that The Fellowship will always be watching us.
Knocking on the door a little harder this time, I lean closer with my ear pressed to the dark wood.
There’s nothing. Not a sound.
A sudden stillness settles around me as I open the door to find her room empty. Everything is as it has always been.
The bed is made perfectly, like it’s still waiting for a guest that never comes while the door that goes through to the closet and bathroom is wide open, revealing nothing but darkness.
Where is she?
“Finley,” I call so loud that the echo follows me all the way to my room.
After I’ve looked inside and come up short, I head back to her room, checking that her few belongings are still in the closet along with her toiletries in the bathroom.
Everything is where it should be.
Except her.
I search the whole damn apartment before I find a small plate with two mini blueberry pies.
Jayden.He loves blueberries. They had a whole conversation about the damn things the other night.
I know exactly where she is. With him. I don't know if I’m relieved or... or... I don’t know... worried about losing her. Losing Jayden—my best friend.
The whir of it is more overwhelming than I can push through as I rush to his door and knock while fishing my phone from my pocket to call him.
There are a few missed calls from him a little over an hour ago which only convolutes the hysteria of feelings clawing at my ribs.
“Where have you been, man?” Jayden answers on the first ring.
“Where are you? Is Fin with you?”
“Relax,” he tells me with a soft groan. “We’re chilling by the pool.”
“The pool?” That’s not possible.
Or is it?
