Page 8 of Missing Pieces (Men of Manhattan 3)

I grabbed a pen and looked down at the blank piece of paper. There were a million things I wanted to say to my dad. I wanted to tell him how much I loved him and how sorry I was for not being there for him. But I refused to start getting sentimental and giving up. My dad wasn't going to die anytime soon if I could help it. I quickly wrote him a note so that he'd at least know where I was.

Dad,

I'm going to find Elena. I'll be back soon.

Love,

Hails

I knew he'd freak out when he saw it. He had survived for four years on his own without me, though. He could survive another week or so. He was the strongest person I knew. I grabbed my duffel bag and hoisted it over my shoulder. I was going to fix this.

***

Tyler was leaning against his car, staring down at his phone. His blonde hair fell onto his forehead and I watched him absentmindedly push it away. He had scruff on his chin, like he hadn't shaved in a few days. The look worked for him. Any look would probably work for him, really. He was very handsome. And not in the way like the guys from town. He looked more distinguished even though he was just wearing khaki shorts and a t-shirt. I would have bet that he wore a suit to some fancy job in NYC. He'd probably look really good in a suit. When he noticed me approaching, he quickly slid his phone back into his pocket.

"That was fast," he said.

"I was kind of packed already."

"Do you always carry a go-bag or something? Now I'm starting to think you really are a criminal."

I laughed. "No, I just moved back here from college and hadn't unpacked yet." I opened up the back seat and tossed my bag into the car. There were two plastic bags already on the seat, but no luggage. "Is your stuff in the trunk? Would you prefer I put my bag back there?"

"No, that's actually all of it."

I closed the door and looked up at him. "You're telling me you're traveling across the country with two shopping bags and nothing else?"

"I left unexpectedly."

"Are you homeless or something?" I said with a laugh.

He climbed into the car, completely ignoring my question.

Weird. I opened up the passenger side door and got in too.

"How do you get back on the highway?" he asked as he started the car.

"Make a right and just keep going straight. There will be a sign in a few miles."

We were both silent as he pulled back onto the road. I studied him out of the corner of my eye. I should have been a little scared. I knew nothing about him besides for his first name and the fact that he was from NYC. But I wasn't scared. He seemed nice enough. A little closed off, but nice. Who cared if he was homeless? And as long as he wasn't running from the cops, what did it matter what he was running from?

He cleared his throat as he got back onto the highway. "So, you're in school?"

"Not anymore. I just graduated from Purdue."

"Good school."

Expensive school. "Yeah, I guess. What about you?"

"I graduated from the University of New Castle a couple years ago."

"Where is that?"

"Delaware."

"And I thought I was from a small town."

He smiled, but didn't say anything.

---