Page 73 of Reed

What the fuck?

Sickness wells inside me, growing thicker and thicker by the second, and I almost stumble over my feet to get to Bryce’s room, where again, his drawers are bare.

Oh Jesus. I feel like my chest is caving in and the ability to breathe is gone. I swallow hard and push myself forward.

Next, I make my way to the room that has been working as a small nursery for Jax. Although he’s been in our bedroom every night, this one is to house his clothes and diapers. It’s a room I’ve suggested numerous times we paint and stick those cute zoo animals up that Bryce suggested, but Gia has halted my plans every time. I won’t lie; I was hoping it was because she didn’t want to put down roots any more than she has already here, and was finally coming around to us moving into our own place together.

Jax’s room is just as bare. The clothes that fit him are gone, and when I open his closet, the next size up are missing too, causing a shudder to rack through me.

Holy shit. Oh Jesus, she left.

She left me.

I grip onto the doorframe to steady myself; my lungs feel like they’re being crushed as I struggle to breathe. Panic rushes through my body, but my brain cannot compute a single action, forcing me to close my eyes to try to regain composure.

Please don’t do this to me, baby. Please.

My world tilts on an axis, and I know deep in my heart.

They’re gone.

My entire world has disappeared.

I snap my eyes open and fumble in my pants pocket for my phone. My fingers shake as I somehow call Owen.

“Yeah?” His gruff voice filters through the line.

My throat seizes up.

“Reed?”

“O-Owe—” I clear my throat and attempt to speak again. “Owen, Gia is gone. She’s gone, and she’s taken the boys.” I fall over my words as I struggle to get them out.

“What? Reed, you’re making no sense. What are you talking about?”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “She’s gone, Owen!” my voice booms off the walls. “She’s fucking gone!”

My legs threaten to give way.

“Listen.” His sharp voice cuts through the air. “Calm down. Think logically. When was the last time you heard from her?”

My mind whirls as I consider the hectic day I’ve had. When I messaged her at lunch, I assumed she was napping with Jax. In fact, I remember thinking about how adorable they look when they nap together. Both of them have the same bow lips that flutter when they’re sleeping. “This morning.” I swallow hard. “The last time I heard from her was this morning.”

“Is her car gone?” I can hear him tapping away on his laptop. “Are there any signs as to why she left?”

I squeeze my eyes closed, trying to answer one question after the other. “Car is still here. I-I don’t think there’s a reason why she left.” My voice wobbles, and I hate the vulnerability behind it as I drag my hand through my hair. I’m already telling myself I deserved this. I’m not good enough for them.

“Search the house, Reed. Did anyone break in?”

A new panic flashes through me, and I rush down the stairs so quickly I almost fall, then I stride into the kitchen to check the door. “No. The door is secure.” I glance at the windows. “Windows too.”

As I enter the living room, my eyes latch onto an envelope, the letter discarded on the floor. I pick it up and one name has my inside twisting. “Oh shit.” What the hell have I done?

“What?”

Panic hits me like a truck. “Oh, fuck no.”

“What is it?” Owen snaps as my eyes scan the letter. “Reed, fucking talk to me, man.”

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