Page 98 of Just Like That

When I released Abel, a streak of red zipped past me, and I watched as the group of boys that had been with Teddy ran by and disappeared into the crowd. I looked at the exit for the ride, but didn’t see Teddy. I waited for him to appear, and when he didn’t, my heart thudded against my ribs.

“Teddy?” I called out and looked around again. “Ted?” Leaving Abel behind, I moved through the crowd in search of him. “Teddy?”

“I’ll go this way,” Abel called out, but I ignored him as my panic grew.

You knew he tended to wander.

How the fuck could you have lost him?

Hazel would never forgive me—hell, I would never forgive myself—if something happened to the kid.

I shouted through the crowd as I pushed past rowdy teens and families enjoying the carnival. My throat was raw when I called out to him again. “Teddy!”

I was drawing curious glances as murmurs grew around me. Beside me, the rides spun at dizzying speeds and my stomach churned.

I was going to be sick.

I moved forward, but a couple blocked my path. A teenage boy with long, greasy hair was leaning in toward a young girl when he said, “Want me to show you over there?”

My face twisted. Annoyed and impatient, I looked right at the girl. “Don’t do it. A real man wouldn’t sneak you off into the dark. He’d be proud to show you off.”

The girl smiled and stood taller as the kid looked at me in disbelief. “Dude ...”

“Get out of my way.” I pushed past the kid and kept searching for Teddy.

As I moved toward another clump of people, I called out to Teddy again. They turned and the crowd parted, and I could just barely make out his crisp white shirt.

My stomach plummeted.

Teddy was standing in line for the Ferris wheel, chatting with Sloane and her twins.

I called his name and immediately scooped him up. “Jesus, you scared me!”

My voice was angrier than I’d intended, and when I set him down, worry flooded Teddy’s features.

I crouched in front of him, rubbing my hands down his arms, reminding myself that he was okay. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to yell. I’m not mad at you.”

His chin wobbled.

I shook my head. “Actually, I am a little mad. You can’t run off like that. But I was mostly scared.” I rubbed his arms again and pulled him into a hug. “Come here.”

I released him and he looked at me. “I saw Ben and I wanted to talk to them about the sleepover.”

Sloane held up her phone. “I texted you and Hazel as soon as I saw he was by himself.”

My hand slipped into my pocket and, sure enough, there was a text from Sloane telling us she was with Teddy near the Ferris wheel. In my panic, I hadn’t even heard the message come through and hadn’t thought to check my phone.

Relief flooded my system. “Thank you.”

Sloane smiled. “No worries. It takes a village andsometimes”—she waggled her eyebrows at Teddy—“they like to wander without telling their parents where they’re going.”

Teddy blushed and I pulled him into my side. He glanced up at me. “You’re sure you’re notmadmad?”

I squeezed his shoulders. “I’m sure.” I checked my watch. “We should get back to Hazel.” I glanced at Sloane. “Thanks again.”

Holding tightly to his hand, I led Teddy back through the carnival toward the booths. My heart still thunked against my ribs.

An endless succession of dark thoughts played on a loop in my mind.

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