Page 87 of When We Are Complete

Adele folds her arms, giving me a look that’s somehow way beyond her years. “Dad, are you seriously just sitting here being sorry for yourself when you should be finding Kelly. I like her.She’s good for you. And she obviously cares about you. So, go do something about it.”

She shifts closer, giving me a nudge. “I’m okay, really. I mean,I’m not, but I will be, and I don’t need you to sit here with me anymore. You can go.”

I shake my head. “When did you get so wise?”

She leans in for a hug. “I’m growing up, you know.”

I wrap my arms around her, holding her close. “You’re not just growing up—you’re turning into an incredible, smart, beautiful young woman. I’m so proud of you.”

She hugs me once more, and I get to my feet, not wanting to waste any more time. A few minutes later, I’m back in the truck and checking the weather app. There’s still half an hour till the storm hits in full, and I head straight to Kelly and Nora’s apartment, the snow thickening around me as I drive.

My mind keeps spinning between Kelly’s face when she told me it was over and Adele’s words, telling me not to give up.

By the time I pull up outside their place, the snow’s coming down in thick, heavy sheets. I go upstairs and knock on the door, and Nora answers almost immediately, Kelly’s name dying on her lips.

She glances behind me. “Where’s Kelly?”

“She said she was coming home.”

“I haven’t seen her since she left this morning.”

Her words knock all the air out of me. “You’re sure?”

“Of course I’m sure.”

“I’ll find her.” Without another word, I turn and head back to the truck, not even bothering to brush the snow off my hair and jacket before climbing inside.

She’s out there, alone in this. I’ve already lost her once; I can’t lose her again.

The engine roars to life, and I grip the wheel, a single thought propelling me forward:Find her.

Chapter 50

Jake

I drive through the snow,the world outside narrowing to a few feet ahead. Wind howls against the truck, the storm thickening by the second, but I keep going, jaw set, hands gripping the wheel tighter than ever.

As I reach the festival grounds, my lights catch the faint outline of her car. It’s wedged into a snowbank, half-buried, her shadowy form visible inside. Relief hits me, followed instantly by worry.

I park the truck and send a quick message to Nora letting her know I’ve found Kelly, before trudging through the snow toward her, yanking the door open. Kelly’s bundled in her coat, cheeks pale, shivering.

She looks at me for a long moment, teeth chattering. “You came.”

I grip the door to steady myself against the wind. “Of course I did. Come on, let’s get you out of here.”

“I’m so sorry. I came back just to think about everything, and it kept snowing, and then I couldn’t get my car started.” The tip of her nose is red and a shuddering breath rolls through her chest.

“The blizzard is getting worse. Come on. Let’s find somewhere to shelter. The lighthouse is our best bet. We won’t make it home, now.”

She lets out a shaky breath. I’m the last person she wants to see, but the fight has left her, and as she gives a small, defeated nod. A gust of wind hits me square in the face, snow blasting me from all sides, and Kelly winces, before taking my hand as I pull her out of the car.

She stumbles a little, her legs stiff with cold, but I keep her steady, grabbing my EDC bag and a few blankets from the truck, before pushing forward through the driving snow, my hand clamped around hers.

The wind slams into us, ice crystals biting at my face. Snow whips around us, thick and blinding, cutting our visibility down to a few feet, and the lighthouse in the distance flickers in and out through the swirling white.

I grip her hand even tighter, bracing us both as the wind nearly knocks her sideways, tugging her back to my side when she slips.

“Just a bit further!” I shout over the roar of the storm, but my words are barely audible above the howling wind.

---