Page 230 of Things We Never Got Over (Knockemout)
Waylay’s eyes were wide and scared and pinned to me.
“Five…four…three…two…”
FORTY-SEVEN
MISSING
Knox
“What the hell did you do with Naomi?” Fi demanded, waving her lollipop in my face when I hit the bar floor.
I noticed Naomi’s parents were gone, and their table had been turned over.
“I talked to her. Nicely,” I said when her eyes narrowed. “Why?”
“Couldn’t have been that nice since all her tables are getting restless with empty drinks.”
I peered over Fi’s shoulder, doing what I always did, looking for Naomi. But Fi was right. She wasn’t there.
“If you chased her off in the middle of a shift—”
“I didn’t chase her off. We talked. It was good. We’re good. Did you check the bathroom?”
“Now, gee, why didn’t I think of that?” Fi said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
“Did you ask him what the hell he did with Naomi?” Max asked as she buzzed by.
Something cold settled in my gut. Ignoring my employees, I pushed through the doors into the kitchen. “Naomi in here?”
Milford looked up from the chicken he was grilling and tilted his head toward the door to the parking lot. “Went out a couple minutes ago to make a call. She looked upset. You say something mean to her again?”
I didn’t bother answering. Instead I went straight for the door and shoved it open. Fi was on my heels. The night air had a crisp bite to it that did nothing to thaw the icy fear inside me. There was no sign of Naomi.
“Fuck.” I did not have a good feeling about this.
“She’s probably just getting some fresh air since you broke her heart and then embarrassed her in front of half the town,” Fi guessed, scanning the lot with me. But she didn’t sound sure either.
“I don’t like this,” I muttered. “Naomi!” But there was no response.
“Naomi, Knox is sorry for being an ass!” Fi shouted into the night next to me.
Nothing.
My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I yanked it out.
Nash.
“What?”
“Just a heads-up. I’m on my way to Liza’s. She said Waylay’s gone. Took your dog out for a pee break, and neither one of them came back.”
The ice in my gut turned into an iceberg.
“How long ago?”
“About forty minutes. Liza went out looking for them. Thinks she saw tail lights heading for the road. Said she tried to call Naomi, but she’s not picking up her phone. I tried too and got voicemail. I’m sure it’s nothing, but I need you to tell Naomi.”
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
