Page 79 of Ice Cold Rival

He rubbed a hand over his mouth. “Yeah.”

“Gavin?”

“He’s on his way.”

“I thought he was in Denver this weekend.”

“He was. He flew back. Eva picked him up from the airport, and they’re driving straight here.”

I shoved my hair away from my face. “Fuck. Did you track his phone?”

Cole held up Mase’s newest purchase. “He left it here. Any ideas where he’d go when he’s sleep-deprived and running from his demons?”

“No idea, though after this, I’m putting a tracker in his neck.”

Eva burst through the door, followed by Gavin hefting their duck in her travel carrier. He set the carrier down and let her out, where she fluffed her feathers and pointedly ignored him. Cole crouched down to croon at her until she calmed down.

“Have you heard anything?” I asked them.

“No, I was hoping you had and we could all have a good laugh about this. What’s your usual next step?”

Cole, Gavin, and I exchanged a worried look, and Gavin answered her.

“He’s never left before. Usually, when he reaches the end of his rope, he gets destructive then passes out.”

She propped her hands on her hips. “Right. Since we’re all standing around here, I assume no one has any idea where he’d go. I’ll make some calls. We need to split up and drive around. Addison isn’t that big, and Mase is too well known to hide. Does he have his coat? It’s cold as balls outside.”

Cole shook his head. “I think he’s in his TU hoodie. He’s been wearing it nonstop the last few days.”

I turned to Kenzie, who’d been silent during the whole exchange. “I’m sorry—” I started, but she shook her head.

“Go. I’ll watch the ducks.”

I framed her face and kissed her hard. “I love you. You’re perfect. Call me if Mase comes home.”

“Love you too. Be careful.”

I ran upstairs to change out of my suit from the wedding, and Eva texted me the route she wanted me to take. Her powers of organization were scary sometimes. By the time I returned from my room, everyone else had left, and Kenzie was snuggled up on the couch with all three animals.

“You’ll find him,” she assured me.

I nodded, but I didn’t have her confidence. Mase had these episodes sometimes, and it was impossible to tell when something would set him off. Stupidly, I’d assumed everything was fine because I was focused on Kenzie and the wedding. I’d finished my circle of campus when my phone rang with an unknown number.

“Hello,” I answered, my heart pounding.

A throaty female voice responded. “Hi, do you know a big guy in a Teagan University hoodie who drives an old blue truck?”

“Yes,” I nearly shouted. “Where is he?”

“He drove his truck into a ditch out on Lakeview Parkway, just past Rocco’s. I stopped to help, and he growled this number at me.”

“Is he okay?”

“Physically, he’s got a little cut on his temple, but the bleeding stopped. Mentally, I have no idea. He won’t let me touch him to clean him up, and I’m not sure he’s fully aware of his surroundings. Is he on something?”

Relief flowed through me, cooling the panic. “No, it’s exhaustion. He hasn’t slept in a couple of days. Just stay out of reach and keep an eye on him if you don’t mind.”

“Sure,” she deadpanned. “I had nothing else to do today.”

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