Page 2 of Chasing Temptation
Walking through the doorway, my heart’s in my fucking throat. I need to look at her, to stare into her kind, dark eyes and take in her soft curves. I’ve missed her so fucking much this week and right now, seconds away from laying my eyes on her, I’m not too afraid to admit it.
Dragging in a much needed deep breath, I prepare to look at her—only when I lift my eyes, she’s not the one rubbing writing off the white board.
“Where’s Miss Smith?” I demand, walking straight to the front of the room. I was concerned about her going home after her flat was broken into. I told myself that I was just being paranoid, but now with her not here, it’s sending my imagination into overdrive.
Eddie spins, his eyes narrowing on me, disgust clear within them.
“None of your business. I suggest you take your seat.”
“Bullshit. Tell me where she is.”
Something flashes in his eyes, and it’s enough to tell me that he doesn’t know the answer to my demand.
“If she’s in trouble and you’ve done fuck all about it, I’ll—”
“I don’t know,” he admits quietly, his skin paler than it was just a few moments ago.
“You don’t... Fuck. When was the last time you saw her?”
“Monday.”
“Fuck.” My hands go to my hair as I try not to panic. I’m aware I’ve got a class full of Quinn’s students piling in behind me and that Eddie has no clue there’s anything between us—or at least he didn’t until a few seconds ago. “Did you know her flat was broken into?”
“Y-yes.” Guilt twists his features.
“And you didn’t think to check up on her, seeing as she hasn’t turned up to work since Monday?”
“I meant to, it’s just—”
“I don’t want your fucking excuses.” With that, I turn and march from the classroom. I feel the stares of everyone in the room burning into my back, but I don’t care what any of them think or what they might have overheard.
All that matters right now is Quinn.
Please be in your flat. Please be in your flat, I repeat on the drive over. I don’t remember any of the journey; my head’s too much of a mess with all the things that could have happened.I don’t register any traffic lights or roundabouts as I manoeuvre my way through the London traffic. The only thing I know is that I break every single speed limit in my need to get to her.
The second I pull up into her building’s car park, I grab the spare keys the locksmith gave me for her flat and jump from the van without bothering to turn the engine off or shut the door. The only thing I can focus on is finding her, and finding her safe.
She’s kept her past so close to her chest, but the fear that was always in her eyes and the fact that she was always looking over her shoulder was enough to tell me that she didn’t want to come face to face with it again. She tried to play off the break in, but I saw the terror in her eyes. It’s the reason I refused to allow her to stay, but it’s not like I could have kept her locked up safe after. She felt the need to come back here, and all I could do was trust her. Fucking wish I hadn’t, mind you.
The front door’s still fucked when I get to it. I swing it open with such force that it slams back against the wall. If there were any glass still in it, I might be concerned with the force of the collision, but as it is, I don’t need to worry.
Taking the stairs three at a time, I race towards her door. I breathe a sigh of relief when I find it closed and locked.
She’s just ill inside. She’s safe. She’ll be there.No matter how many times I repeat those words in my head, I know they’re not true. This is bigger than her being so ill she’s not phoned into work or let Eddie know. She told me herself that he’s her closest friend, so even if she wanted space from me, he should know what’s going on with her.
Shoving the first key into the lock, I pray I’ll hear her shout, but there’s nothing but silence and the sound of the lock releasing. I repeat the action with the other and swing the door open.
My heart’s pounding in my chest as I try to make out what’s in front of me.
It’s pitch black with the curtains pulled shut.
Running my hand along the wall beside me, I eventually find a switch and bathe the small space in light.
I quickly glance around. Everything’s normal. But then I notice something.
The soup and now mouldy bread she left out before our trip at the weekend is still sitting on her coffee table.
Surely she’d have cleaned that up.
