Page 23 of By Your Side
His calm tone washed over me, quieting the frantic edge in my chest just enough to let me breathe.
“No. Nothing is okay. Briar is not at Eli’s. He thought she might’ve come home, but she’s not here either. She’s not answering her phone. I don’t know where she is.”
He didn’t hesitate. “I’m calling Cade and my brothers. We’ll head out now. Don’t panic—we’ll find her.”
“Thank you,” I said, my voice shaking. “Eli has called the police already. Maybe Cade already knows what’s going on.”
Noah’s voice cut in. “Lark’s fine. She’s still at Maddie’s like she’s supposed to be. She heard there’s a party. Someone’s parents are out of town. She thinks Briar might’ve gone, and she’s texting you the address.”
I grabbed my keys and shoved on my sneakers.
“Can you pick up Lark and bring her home?” I asked Noah.
“On it,” he said, already heading out.
As the door shut behind him, I stood there in my quiet living room, staring at the phone in my hand and hoping to God that we were just dealing with a harmless teenage screw-up. And not something worse. I copied the address straight into a group text—Hunter, Cade, and Eli. Then I texted, called, and left a voicemail for Briar to call me immediately.
Me: She might be at a party just outside of Willowmist Falls. I’m heading that way.
Noah grabbed his keys and took off to pick up Lark. I barely had time to grab my jacket before I was out the door, too, with my phone clutched in my hand like it might give me one more piece of certainty if I squeezed it hard enough.
Willowmist Falls wasn’t far, but the roads out that way were narrow and winding, all dark trees and spotty cell service. My headlights barely cut through the black.
Every minute that passed without hearing from Briar made my pulse throb louder. It echoed in my ears, pounding cold dread through my veins. I’d almost made it to the edge of the woods near the address of the party when my phone buzzed.
Hunter: Found her. She’s safe. I’ve got her in the truck.
I had to pull over.
Hands on the steering wheel, forehead against it, I burst into tears, loud sobs shaking my shoulders as I almost crumbled apart.
I gathered myself together and texted back.
Me: Where are you?
His reply came fast.
Hunter: Heading toward your place now. She’s quiet but okay. I’ll see you soon.
For a moment, the woods pressed in on all sides—silent and ancient, as though they held their breath too. I rolled down the window, letting the cool night air sting my cheeks, grounding me. The tension in my chest softened, just a notch, replaced by a jumbled relief that made my hands tremble as I started the engine again.
Mist curled over the asphalt as I turned around, headlights carving pale tunnels through the trees. I kept glancing at my phone, half expecting another message would come through, half-dreading it.
What had she been thinking? And why hadn’t I known something was wrong? Why hadn’t I sensed that she needed me?
The road home blurred beneath me, each landmark I passed loosening the knot in my stomach.
By the time my porch light winked into view, I was in a state. I killed the engine and stepped out, running toward my porch, heart hammering in my throat, bracing for whatever was coming.
Chapter 8
Hunter
The roads out near Willowmist Falls were just as bad as I remembered, narrow and potholed, dark as hell even with my brights on. I’d already looped past a couple of bonfire parties and what was obviously still the popular makeout spot when I saw her.
She was walking on the shoulder, arms crossed, head down, ponytail swinging behind her with every hurried step. Her sweatshirt sleeves were pulled over her hands, and even from behind, I could see the tension in her shoulders.
But that wasn’t what made my heart hammer.
