Page 55 of Finding Chloe

With that, I couldn’t check the cake off my list yet.

Every time I left a shop, it seemed I had tasks added to my list. Today was supposed to be about checking shit off, not creating a mountain of more work. After such an awful morning, I needed to get back to the ranch and go to the location to see what preparations I could do there in case of inclement weather.

It wasn’t until I was leaving town that the weight of everything came crashing down on me. My chest felt heavy and my nerves frayed. This whole wedding was going to fall apart. No dress, no flowers, no cake. No graduation, no future jobs. And the text chimes from my phone buried at the bottom of my purse weren’t helping.

I stopped on the side of the road and took a deep breath, willing myself not to cry. Everything was going to be fine. I couldhandle this. My professor would call these little tests. I knew if I truly wanted to be part of this profession, I needed to learn to roll with the punches. This is why people hired someone to create their event for them. No one wanted to deal with all these issues if they didn’t have to.

I hadn’t been parked for more than five minutes when I noticed the flashing lights coming up behind me. I peeked in the rearview mirror just in time to see Duke hop out of his car. Rolling the window down, I swiped my hands across my cheeks to wipe away the tears that escaped.

“Chloe? You okay?” Duke leaned against the window frame. He was still looking out for me, just like he always had growing up.

“Just on my way back from town,” I sniffled.

“Is something wrong with the car?” he asked.

Tears filled my eyes again. I hated that I was so upset over this.

He leaned his arm on the window. “How can I help?” He really was a good guy.

“It’s nothing, Duke. I’m just a bit overwhelmed, and nothing’s going right today.” I let out a frustrated huff.

He pointed behind me toward town. “Is there anything I can help you with?” I wished there was something he could do, but there wasn’t anything that could be changed today.

“No, but thanks.” I patted his arm. “I appreciate the offer. It’s just last-minute issues I wasn’t expecting, but that’s part of the job. I needed a few minutes to feel sorry for myself.”

“It’s not safe for you to be on the side of the road like this. Do you need me to follow you to King’s Ranch, or could I give you a lift and have someone return for the car?”

I took a deep breath. God, it would be embarrassing if Duke drove me back. Then everyone would want to know why, and I’d seem like I couldn’t do the job I was hired for. “I can drive.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“Seriously. I just needed a second. I’m feeling much better now. There is a lot to do today, and I don’t have time to waste.”

“Then get on the road. I’ll be right behind you if you need me. I’m heading to the ranch myself.” He tapped on the roof of the SUV before heading to his vehicle.

I started the engine and turned onto the road in the direction of King’s Ranch. Instead of pulling into the drive, I stuck my hand out the window and waved to Duke as I continued to the turn-off for Blake’s property. I needed to double-check the marked areas at the location.

I was only halfway through with the markings when I realized I couldn’t concentrate. So I returned to the ranch and paced the barn, wishing I could find Matt and speak with him.

I needed his advice.

I needed his support.

I neededhim.

KYLE

Istared at my phone, hoping it would ping with a message from Chloe. She hadn’t answered any of my texts all day, nor Hunter’s. After we didn’t see her for lunch, I started worrying. We knew she was going into town, but she usually replied quickly. Most likely she was just busy with wedding stuff, but I couldn’t shake the feeling something was wrong.

We’d searched the dining hall, the bunkhouse, went to Jessie’s house, the barn, and couldn’t find her. We were on our way to the big house to check if she had commandeered one of the offices when we decided to go through the second barn.

“Thank God,” Caleb said as soon as we stepped through the door. “She’s been nonstop, and I can’t seem to help.” Caleb threw his hands up. “She’s been pacing and rambling on about how she should have done things differently. I really can’t get much out of her.”

I peered over Caleb’s shoulder to see Chloe hunched over, sitting on a hay bale down the aisle. Travis stood over her, his face one of unease.

Hunter and I quickly ate up the distance to our girl, but I held my arm out to stop him when we were a few steps away. I didn’twant to run up in a panic when she clearly was struggling with her own problems.

Chloe scribbled more notes on her tablet, letting out a huff, then erased what she’d written, nearly digging her pen through the screen.

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