Page 59 of Love Collided

“Not, but my friends are.” I grinned as he shook his head. His hand rested on my lower back, bringing me a peace that I needed in the moment.

I turned the knob, shocked when it didn’t turn.

“It’s locked.”

“Do you have a key?”

“I don’t even know if there’s still a key to this door.”

I reached down, grabbing the switchblade from my boot and sliding into the worn lock on the wooden door. A door we could probably kick down, but this felt a bit more civilized.

“Have you had that the entire weekend?”

“I didn’t stop on the way to grab it.”

“How resourceful. I didn’t realize we were bringing weapons.”

“You should always have something on you.”

“With where you take me, Hellcat, I think you’re right.”

I rolled my eyes, tucking the blade back and opening the door.

The house was quiet as we walked in. It wasn’t big. You could literally stand in the living room and look into every room. A kitchen, a laundry room, one bedroom and one bathroom. It was nothing more than a glorified studio.

Chase didn’t make a sound as we looked around.

“Dad?” I yelled. There was no response.

“Maybe he’s out?” Chase asked.

I looked back at the table, the small notepad that had been there all my life, still there, on its last few pages.

Like a hundred times before, I could see the scribbling on the page.

I liked to believe I was a tough person. Even if I was emotional, I could handle a lot on my own.

This wasn’t going to be one of those times.

Whatever was scribbled on that paper wasn’t going to be good. He was taken, or dead, or being held against his will and would need money in exchange.

My hand slid down Chase’s arm until I was gripping his hand, squeezing his fingers hard as I stepped towards the paper. He didn’t protest, only stepped with me as we both read it.

Scout - You didn’t respond, so I had no choice but to leave. I had to go where they couldn’t find me or they were coming after me. They still need money and I won’t be able to come back until they get paid. I’ll keep an eye out for when it’s clear. - DAD

Dad was in all caps, as though I might forget who he was to me. I wish I could forget who he was to me.

“So what, he ran off and left his problems to you?”

“Yeah, it looks like it,” I said, turning back to the room. I couldn’t look at that note again without being sick. “He ran. He realized he had dangerous people after him and ran. I wasn’t exactly believing I would come over here and everything would get fixed, but I was hoping that he would at least be a part of the solution.”

Chase’s hand tightened, and I didn’t miss the way he rolled his shoulders.

I could only look over the room, hating myself for not caring to look for clues of where he went or what he could be doing. Tears rolled down my face as I grew angry, then sad, and then angry again.

Grief and guilt are a demanding mix. Should I be sad that he’s gone? Guilty that I’m not sad? Guilty that I could even thinkthat? Maybe I should be running out of the house to find him. If he had been a good person, a good father, what would my life look like?

Would I even have the crew in my life? I looked at Chase, who seemed to be taking in every inch of the living room.

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