Page 112 of Faking It with Mr. Uptight

MOLLY

I felt like I had been punched in the gut, like all the air had been sucked out of the room and replaced with a suffocating sense of heartbreak and despair. Jake's words, his accusations, his cold dismissal of everything we had been through together—it was like a knife twisting in my chest, deeper and deeper with every passing second.

But even as I stood there, tears streaming down my face and my heart shattering into a million tiny pieces, I knew I couldn't let myself fall apart.

Not now, not when Hailey needed me more than ever.

I took a deep, shuddering breath, wiping away my tears with the back of my hand. I had to be strong, had to push aside my own pain and focus on what really mattered—finding Hailey and bringing her home safe.

I pulled out my phone, my fingers trembling as I scrolled through my contacts. I needed help, needed someone to lean on and support me through this nightmare. And I knew just who to call.

"Laney," I said, my voice hoarse and shaking. "I need your help."

Within fifteen minutes, Laney and I were outside Patsy's house.

"You ready for this?" Laney asked, her voice uncharacteristically serious.

I nodded, squaring my shoulders. "As ready as I'll ever be. Let's go."

Together, we walked up to the front door and knocked. The sound of footsteps approaching on the other side sent a fresh wave of fear and anxiety coursing through me, but I held firm.

This was for Hailey, and nothing was going to stand in the way of bringing her home.

When the door swung open, revealing Patsy's familiar, yet slightly aged, face, I felt a momentary flash of relief.

"Patsy," I said, my voice steady. "We need to talk."

Without a word, Patsy stepped aside, gesturing for us to come inside. As we walked through the front door, Laney whispered to me, "Are you sure about this?"

"As sure as I'll ever be," I replied. "I have to try."

Laney gave me a reassuring smile. "Okay, then. Let's do this."

We made our way into the living room, where knick-knacks and doilies blanketed every available surface. Patsy gestured for us to sit on the floral print couch and she took a seat in the chair across from us.

"What's going on, girls? Is everything okay?" she asked, her brow knit with concern.

"We need your help, Patsy," I began, my hands fidgeting nervously in my lap. "It's Hailey, she's... she's missing."

A look of alarm flashed across Patsy's face. "Missing? What do you mean, missing? Where is she?"

I took a deep breath, the weight of the situation pressing down on me like a ton of bricks. "We don't know, Patsy. She ran away, and we have no idea where she is or how to find her."

Patsy was silent for a moment, her eyes wide with shock and concern. When she finally spoke, her voice was quiet, but filled with determination.

"What can I do? What do you need me to do?"

"We're organizing a search party; I was hoping you could use your following to rally up the town." I explained, the words tumbling out in a rush.

I looked around, taking in the piles of old newspapers, the half-full teacup on the coffee table, the empty birdcage in the corner before pressing on. "Patsy, you have a lot of people who listen to you. We need their help. And your influence."

Patsy nodded, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "Of course. Anything for Hailey. And if my page had anything to do with her running away—" her voice hitched.

"It's not about blame, Patsy," I said quickly, reaching over to pat her hand. "But I can't say I'm all that pleased with you. You've made mine and Jake's life harder for no reason. But I don't give a damn about that now. Get posting." A fresh anger toward Patsy filled me, but I put it on a tight leash, her comeuppance could wait.

"I can do that," Patsy said, her voice steadier now. She got up and walked over to the desk in the corner, pulling out her computer. As she typed away, Laney and I stood, making our way toward the door.

"Thank you, Patsy," I said softly, placing a hand on the older woman's shoulder. “You're doing the right thing here. And I appreciate it."

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