Page 139 of Help Me Remember
Seriously. I count to five, which does very little for my exasperation, and then start again.
In that time, Brielle decides that she’s not going to wait and marches off. I follow like the lovesick puppy I am, and spend the next three minutes trying to figure out what to say to mend this. I am glad she’s not scared, but I also hate this entire thing.
“I’m going to try these on,” she informs me. Then she kisses my cheek. “I love you.”
And there goes all my anger. Just like that. “I love you too.”
“Good. Now, wait here, and I’ll come out once I’m ready.”
I take a seat on a pink tufted couch and wait.
And wait.
And wait.
She didn’t look like she had that much—
I’m on my feet and striding toward the fitting rooms, ignoring the woman behind the counter who is yelling at me. I throw open the door of the changing room, fully expecting Brielle to chide me for being ridiculous.
Only she’s not inside.
Nothing is here.
The clothes she was going to try on are on the hanger, but there’s no girl to try them on.
“Brielle!” I yell, moving toward the back entrance. It’s open, and I don’t stop until I’m standing in the middle of the alley, searching for any trace of her.
She’s fucking gone.
ChapterThirty-Five
BRIELLE
My heart is pounding so hard I feel like it’ll burst through my chest, but I had no choice. He left me a note, and I needed to come here.
Myles is an innocent child, and I am a grown adult. I just have to hope that Spencer found the clues I left.
I know there wasn’t a chance in hell he’d ever allow me to go through with this on my own. He would never put me in harm’s way. I love him for that, but I also know that this little boy is afraid, and I promised I would protect him months ago.
I failed him once, and I won’t do that again.
I have no idea what name they could be under, so I go to the front desk and ask if there’s a Bill or Sonya Waugh staying.
“No, I’m sorry, we don’t have anyone here under that last name.”
I think hard, trying to remember, and then it hits me. She and Bill weren’t married when they had Myles and his last name is Eastwood. If law enforcement is looking for him, it would make sense to use her maiden name.
“What about the last name Eastwood?”
The hotel—or really motel—is the exact place to hide. It’s old, the carpets are the 90s style with red and gold that is worn. There is a vending machine over in the corner and I am pretty sure they rent rooms by the hour.
It’s the perfect place to go if you don’t want to be found. The girl looks in her computer. “No, ma’am, I’m sorry, I don’t have anyone by that name here.”
“I’m her sister, and . . . she said she was here. She has a little boy named Myles. The man she’s with, he has dark brown hair, and he’s a—” I pause as urgency claws at my stomach. “He’s horrible. I just need to find her and get her away from him.”
The girl looks back to the monitor, going through the bookings again. “I don’t . . . I’m really not.”
I lean in. “I know you’re not allowed and that it’s probably against policy, but I’m terrified for her. She isn’t here willingly, and I got a message from Myles. I just . . . I need to help. Please.”
