Page 161 of His Boys to Protect

Maybe Skylar would be back in a few hours, too. Charlie had changed his mind. Their Sky could do the same!

Charlie latched onto that hope and waited. He made himself eat lunch, knowing his body needed it, and then he settled in to watch the front door. Skylar would come back. He had to.

But the afternoon wore on. The silence and emptiness stretched. Charlie got up, peeking out the windows, then opened the door. Skylar wasn't there, but Charlie was still sure he'd come back. He checked outside over and over. Watching. Waiting.

Growing more anxious with every passing moment.

What if Skylar had snuck back in while he was in the bathroom? Charlie checked the whole apartment, going from room to room. In the small space, it didn't take long. He checked each room again, then went back to the windows and the front door.

Charlie fell into a pattern. Kitchen. Look out the window. Open the front door. Living room. Look out the window. Bedroom. Look out the window. Bathroom. Then start all over and do it again. And again.

“Charlie,” Ward sighed. “You need to stop.”

No!Charlie shook his head and ran the circuit again. He had to look out for Skylar. Their Sky would be back. Skylar had to come back!

Ward reached for him. “Charlie–”

Charlie yanked his arm free and kept going. He wasn't done with the circuit. He had to finish! Otherwise, he might miss something.

But he reached the bathroom yet again, with no sign of Skylar anywhere.

Charlie's phone vibrated in his pocket. He gasped and snatched it out. It had to be Skylar! But it was only a text from his parents, asking where he was and if he was okay. He should have arrived at their house an hour ago, and they were worried. He'd entirely forgotten to tell them he was changing his plans. The thought of a new house had been so exciting, nothing else had mattered.

He squirmed, staring at the text. The last thing he wanted was to waste time texting with his parents when Skylar was missing. But he knew they'd worry even more if they didn't hear from him soon. That would be loud and scary. Charlie quickly wrote out a text, telling them he'd decided to stay at Ward's place after all, then backed out of that thread and opened the one he had running with Skylar.

Me: Where are you?

Charlie stared at his phone, waiting. The three little dancing dots should appear any moment now, showing that Skylar was typing a response.

But nothing happened.

Me: Where are you?

Me: Where are you?

Me: Where are you?

Charlie sent the message over and over, but Skylar still didn't respond.

“Hhnn!” Charlie opened the phone app, chose Skylar's number, and held the phone out to Ward.

“Charlie–”

“Hhnn!” he insisted.

Ward let out a sigh, took the phone, and pressedSend. He brought the phone up to his ear. After only a second, Ward lowered his hand and shook his head. “Voicemail.”

Charlie frowned in confusion.

Ward held out the phone and started the call again. Sure enough, instead of Skylar answering, the phone didn't even ring. It went straight to voicemail.

Charlie snatched the phone back and opened the tracking app. He selected Skylar's phone and waited for the app to show him a signal.

But Skylar's phone was off. The app couldn't tell him where it was.

Skylar could be anywhere.

Charlie slumped to the floor in defeat.

---