Page 66 of Race to the Beach

Where is she?

Owen checked his wrist watch for the tenth time in five minutes.He was waiting in front of her tent.He’d already checked to make sure the car was still there.He knew she wouldn’t leave the island without it.

He'd been pacing for a half hour now.The race was set to start in little more than an hour.Maxi should be there.If she didn't check in soon, she'd get scratched from the race.And he knew how hard she'd worked to be in the race—to win the prize money to help her aunt.

When he'd stopped by her aunt's house earlier that morning, Bonnie told him that Maxi was on the island, but she had no idea where to find her.So, where was she?

He'd tried reaching out to Lily, who didn’t answer the phone.He was certain she was giving him the cold shoulder because she was standing in solidarity with Maxi.He had no idea who else to ask about her whereabouts.

If he waited there long enough, she'd show up.He continued to pace.

"Hey, Owen."Liam and his nephew Tate approached him."What are you doing here?The family is waiting for you at your tent."

"Sorry.”He glanced down at his nephew.“I’ll let you sit in the car after the race.Would you like that?”

Tate smiled and nodded his head.

Owen turned his attention back to his brother.“I'm waiting for Maxi.I have no idea where she is.And it's getting close to race time."

Liam’s forehead scrunched up.“That’s strange.I haven't seen her since early this morning."

"You saw her?"He was the first person who mentioned seeing her.When his brother nodded, Owen asked, "Where was she?"

"She was riding a bike."

"A bike?Where was she headed?"

"How am I supposed to know?It's not like I ran into the road, flagged her down, and asked her where she was going."

When his brother put it that way, Owen realized he was asking the impossible.But he wasn't giving up."What direction was she headed?"

"South."

Just then Bonnie strode up to the tent.She looked inside and then turned back to him."Where's Maxi?"

Owen sighed.This was all his fault."I don't know.My brother said he saw her earlier this morning on a bike."

"I thought she rode it over here."Bonnie's face was creased with worry lines as she glanced around for Maxi.

"She’s not here.”Owen’s concern grew.“I take it both Maxi and the bike were missing when you left home?"

Bonnie nodded.“She left a note that said she was taking the bike for a ride.”

Something was wrong.She wouldn’t miss the race."I'm going to look for her."

"But the race!"Liam called out to him.

"I'll be back."Owen jogged toward his cart.

He had no idea where he was headed.Did she bike all the way to Bluestar’s southernmost point?Or did she stop somewhere along the way?

There was only one road that ran the full length of the island.He started toward that road.Then he’d head south and hope he spotted her.

Chapter Twenty-Five

She'dmessedup.

In so many ways.

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