Page 63 of No More Words

“Is she okay?” Blaze asks when Josh struggles to answer. He pivots to Olivia. “Where is she?”

“We don’t know.” His eyebrows rise and she picks up the Fireball. “I’ll explain everything. Just come with me.”

“You have my PUMAs.”

Those darn shoes. Dropped and forgotten when he elbowed her aside to get his McIntosh turntable. She tossed them in her closet when she cleaned up after Josh had gone to bed his first night here.

“They’re in my room. I’ll get them,” she says, but Blaze is already on the move. He strides through the entryway, his gaze locked on Josh. He checks him out from ball cap to black Vans, lingering on Josh’s face until he’s forced to look away or else he’ll walk into the wall.

Josh unconsciously touches his cap as if Blaze can see through it to his scar.

“Go help Ethan with dinner,” Olivia says in a gentle voice. “I won’t be long.”

Fireball in hand, Olivia follows Blaze into her room.

“What were you thinking?” she asks of the liquor. “You’d get me drunk and into bed?” She should be mad at him for asserting his way into her home, and her life. But she’s grateful he’s here, even if for a short bit.

“I don’t need to get you drunk for that.” He looks out the window that has the perfect view to her outdoor kitchen. The backyard is lit up. She can see Ethan and Josh trying to master the grill Blaze personally installed. She expects to see the cocky smirk that always riles her, but when he turns around, the look on his face is anything but that. He appears troubled.

“What is it?” she asks, the skin along her hairline tingling.

He meets her in the middle of the room. “I’m worried about you.”

“Because of Lily?”

“Her and because I care about you. Your call this afternoon. It scared me.”

“I’m okay.”

His brows drew closer. “You sure?” She nods, tight lipped. “Tell me about Lily. What’s going on?”

“She’s missing.”

“Hasn’t she always been?”

“Yes, but it’s different this time. Josh showed up here on his own. He says she’s gone, but I think that’s the word he’s using for missing. I’m starting to think she didn’t run away this time. Josh is injured. He hit his head a while back. That’s why his speech is confusing. I’m worried there’s a connection between his injury and Lily’s disappearance. Because of his impediment, Josh has trouble explaining what happened. He gets worked up and starts talking gibberish. For all I know, Lily could be dead,” she explains. Tears threaten to spill as an invisible load lifts off her shoulders. Her chin trembles.

“Hey there, what’s wrong?” He tucks his finger under her chin.

She steps out of reach, undeserving of his tenderness, ashamed she behaved so irrationally. He’d betrayed her long before, and her reaction was instinctual. But now she wonders if the one man she’s trusted most and looked up to her entire life has been the one lying to her all along—her father. Her world crumbles further, as if she has more bricks to spare. You think you know someone until you learn something new and realize you didn’t know them at all. There are new pieces to their puzzle and the finished image isn’t anything like the original on the box lid.

“Dwight’s in San Diego.”

“What does your dad have to do with this?”

“Josh was born in San Diego. I think that’s where he lives now, or somewhere nearby.” She tells him about Josh’s arrival, the police station, the visit from Charlotte, and Josh’s reaction to Dwight’s photo this afternoon. He carefully listens to every word, his features softening. He’d pull her into his arms if he weren’t holding his helmet or was afraid how she’d react. She can tell he’s not taking any chances that would push her further away.

“That’s when you called me?”

“Yes.”

He whistles. “Shit, Liv. I would have come earlier. Wait. You aren’t saying your dad pushed him?”

She feels like someone scooped out her heart and let it melt on the hot pavement. Her back buckles from the hollow space left in her chest. “I don’t want to believe it, but yeah, I think that’s what I’m saying.”

“Liv, baby, no.” Blaze cups her neck and leans his forehead on hers, and Olivia wants to melt into him. It feels wonderful to have him touch her again, even if only to soothe. “He’s not like that. Yeah, he was a dick toward Lily, but that’s quite an accusation. You’re missing something.”

“I hope so.”

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