Page 96 of Best Served Cold

River: where are you?

“What do you think?” Gray asked. “That was concerning, right?”

“Yeah.” I yanked my phone out of my pocket and shoved it at my brother. “I have to go.”

He slipped my phone away. “Do you recognize where he was?”

I shook my head.

“What’s going on?” Nick asked, coming up to us. “You guys are freaking me out.”

“A friend of ours might be in trouble.” River’s eyes cut around the room. “Dash!”

“Yeah?” he shouted.

“Get over here. We need help figuring out where this video was taken.”

Dash bounded over to us in nothing more than a silver jockstrap and a pair of glittery Crocs.

“Do you recognize this club?” River snatched his phone back and started the video. “One sec. Let me just get to…here. Do you know this place?”

River had paused it just before the video cut out. It was the most unflattering picture possible for Noah, but it showed a clear image of a fancy bar behind him with rows of colorful bottles and some sort of infinity mirror beneath them.

“That’s Chrysalis.” Dash wrinkled his nose. “Your friend has shitty taste in clubs.”

“Why?” River and I asked together. Other than Crimson, I’d never set foot in a club, and River had only gone to one a handful of times in all the years we’d lived here.

“Chrysalis is shady as hell. Lots of drugs and shit being passed around, and it’s notorious for rolling guys who get drunk and don’t have a crew to back them up. If you’re not local, and a very specific type of local, then this bar is a no-go.”

“Thanks,” River said.

Dash shrugged and wandered away.

“Why would Noah go to a place like that?” Gray asked as I shoved my feet into my shoes. “Do you think it was on purpose? He’s new here. Maybe he didn’t know it’s that kind of club?”

“I don’t know. Maybe.” River chewed his lip and handed me a hoodie. “But he’s been off lately. Like something’s wrong. You’ve seen it too, right?”

“Yeah,” Gray and I said together.

“Noah, like your maybe-crush?” Nick asked, his blue eyes wide as he looked between the three of us.

I nodded and dug our keys out of River’s bag. “Can you get a ride home?” I asked him.

“He’s good.” Gray clapped River’s shoulder. “Do you want me to call Caleb and have him go with you?”

“Nah. It’ll be quicker if I go alone.” I glanced at River.

“Sent you a screenshot of the map.” He flashed a tight-lipped smile, his eyes dim with concern. “Be careful.”

“Always.” I gave him a hard hug. “I’ll let you know when we’re fine, okay?”

He nodded into my shoulder. I waited a few beats for him to let go.

River had horrible anxiety when it came to the people he cared about being in any sort of danger and his imagination would torture him with all the possible worst-case scenarios until he got confirmation that things were okay and everyone was safe.

Nick slung his arm over River’s shoulder. “Wanna see some pics of Aiden and Paige’s puppy?”

River nodded, the concern on his face melting away into a small smile.

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