Page 71 of Forever Only Once

Chapter 16

Cross

I turneddown the warmer on the meal I’d made and frowned. Hazel hadn’t called me or texted me back since I’d last talked to her that morning when I made sure that we were still on for dinner. Macon hadn’t stopped by with the piece of equipment I needed after I’d asked him to stop by and pick it up for me either. I had been focused on getting everything ready for my lawyer and then making dinner for Hazel, and I had forgotten something that I needed to complete my project over the weekend. I had been on the phone with Macon when I mentioned it, and he had offered to stop by and pick it up.

And yet neither of them was calling or texting me back. I was worried, but I was trying not to be. I figured I was on the way to becoming paranoid at this point. Still, why the fuck weren’t they answering?

I ran my hands through my hair and over my beard and then started pacing around the kitchen, calling Hazel’s number one more time.

It rang and rang before the voicemail picked up.

“This is Hazel. Please leave a message after the beep. Thanks.”

“Babe, it’s me. Pick up. Please. You’re starting to worry me.”

I hung up. I even called Macon, but he didn’t answer either.

I left a message for him and then called Prior.

“Hey, has Macon called you today?” I asked.

“No, I haven’t talked to him. What’s up?”

“I can’t get ahold of him. Or Hazel, for that matter. Something’s wrong, I know it.”

“I’ll call Nate. You call Arden.”

“Thanks. But…hell. There has to be something wrong.”

“Macon is probably just in the zone, didn’t hear his phone. And your girl is probably on her way and can’t pick up her cell. Everything’s fine. It’s not going to be anything bad.”

“Do you really believe that?” I said, my hands shaking.

“Maybe, but we’re going to pretend like everything is fucking fine. Let’s get on that.”

I hung up and called Arden.

“I haven’t talked with her or Macon, I’m sorry. Let me call Liam and the others. I think I might have one of the girls’ numbers, too.”

I paused. “You do?” I asked.

“Yes, it’s a small world, and we’re in a small town. I happen to know people, even if I don’t leave the house all that often. Now, let me try and make sure everything’s fine.”

I didn’t question her further, though I had a feeling that Arden was keeping a secret.

I hung up after saying goodbye. When my phone rang again, I answered quickly, not recognizing the number.

“Hazel? Macon?”

“No, it’s Frank from across the street. From Chris Cross. You better get over here, Cross. Looks like somebody torched your place.”

My body went cold, and bile filled my throat.

“What?”

“Your place. It’s on fire. You’d better get here quick.”

“Thanks, Frank.” My hands shook, and I wanted to throw up. Macon. Macon was there. That’s why he wasn’t answering his phone. Was Hazel there, too? But why would she be? There was no reason for her to be at the shop. Unless…unless…I didn’t fucking know. I grabbed my keys, my hands shaking, and got in my car. I practically sped to Chris Cross. I was thankful that no cops pulled me over, because I was going over the speed limit more than I should have been. I might have run a red light, too. Honestly, I didn’t care.

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