Page 73 of Hat Trick Daddies

I take a step back, frowning as I glance around. Her car isn’t in the driveway. Through the window next to the door, I can see her living room.

It looks just like it always does, the throw blanket draped over the couch, her cat’s toys scattered across the floor. Everything seems normal. Too normal.

Peering into another window, I catch sight of the kitchen. No signs of movement. Nothing out of place. But the pit in my stomach only grows.

Across the street, I notice a neighbor stepping onto their porch, their eyes fixed on me. Great. The last thing I need is someone thinking I’m trying to break in.

I wave awkwardly and make my way back to the truck, my heart heavy with worry. Something isn’t right, but I can’t exactly barge in. I’ll have to try again later.

The drive home feels longer than usual, my thoughts racing. Ally’s absence gnaws at me, her silence louder than any words. What if she’s not okay? What if something happened to her, and she can’t answer the door?

The thought makes my grip on the steering wheel tighten, and my knuckles turn white. By the time I pull into my driveway, I barely remember the drive itself.

Slamming the truck into park, I leap out and jog up to the front door, throwing it open without thinking. The sound echoes through the house, startling the twins in the living room.

“Jesus, Brooks!” Tyler shouts, sitting up straight. “What the hell’s with the dramatic entrance?”

Nick looks up from his phone, his face immediately serious. “What’s wrong?”

I run a hand through my hair, pacing back and forth in front of them. “She wasn’t there,” I say, my voice tight. “I knocked, called, everything. Her car’s not in the driveway.”

Nick frowns, setting his phone down. Tyler exchanges a glance with him before leaning forward, elbows on his knees.

“You think she’s okay?” Nick asks, his voice low.

“I don’t know,” I admit, my voice cracking slightly. “I thought maybe she’d just gone out, but…I don’t know. It doesn’t sit right.”

The twins nod solemnly, their concern mirroring my own.

Tyler rubs the back of his neck, his expression uneasy. “What if…” He pauses, glancing at Nick.

“What if what?” I snap, my patience wearing thin.

“What if she’s having second thoughts?” Tyler says, hesitating before continuing. “About…everything. About us.”

I stare at him, my chest tightening. “You think she’s avoiding us?”

Tyler shrugs, though his eyes don’t meet mine. “I don’t know, man. I mean, we just…all of us, you know. And now she’s sick and hasn’t been responding much. It’s weird timing, right?”

Nick shakes his head, his voice firm. “I don’t think Ally’s the type to ghost us like that. She doesn’t seem like someone who’d back out without saying anything.”

Relief flickers through me at his words. “Exactly. If something was bothering her, she’d tell us.”

Tyler leans back, his arms crossed. “Maybe. But you’ve gotta admit, it’s hard not to think about it.”

I exhale slowly, my hands on my hips. “Yeah, it’s weird. But jumping to conclusions won’t help. She’s supposed to be back at work Monday. I’ll talk to her then.”

The room falls into an uneasy silence, the weight of our shared concern pressing down on all of us.

“I just want her to be happy,” I say finally, my voice quieter. “Whatever’s going on, I just…I hope she’s okay.”

Nick nods, his brow furrowed. “We all do.”

Tyler lets out a long breath, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “Guess we’ll just have to wait and see. Doesn’t mean it’s not gonna drive me nuts in the meantime.”

I force a small smile, though the worry gnaws at me. “Yeah. Monday can’t come soon enough.”

The three of us sit there, lost in thought. The clock ticks, each second stretching out like an eternity.

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