Page 168 of Love Undiscovered
Chapter 44
Remi
I break into a run. Well, as much of a run as I can in my Ugg boots with a million tiny cuts all over my body. Relief floods through me once I reach the clearing of the park.
Except it’s empty.
There’s no one here.
I cry out and sink to my knees. I can’t do this. I’m not cut out for it. The ups and downs emotionally. Knowing and not knowing.
Kat appears beside me. “Remi, are you okay? Did you fall?”
“They aren’t here, Kat. Look, no one is here. This is hopeless. We have nothing to go on. We don’t even know if we’re in the right place. We don’t even know if he wants us here.”
“Look,” Kat says, kneeling down next to me. “That man drove all the way here for a grand gesture. That grand gesture being to prove to you that he wants you. And I gotta tell you, beautiful girl, I may love you to death, but you are no peach when it comes to relationships. So, if that guy has seen what you have to offer, andstillwants you, you better hop on that train before it leaves the station.”
Somehow, that makes me feel better. I smile at her gratefully.
Trevor and Lexie arrive, slightly out of breath.
“Do you see them?” Lexie asks.
I shake my head.
“Don’t worry. There’s a road that runs along the perimeter of the park,” Trevor says. “Maybe they went that way.” He leads us in the direction of the road and we walk at a brisk pace.
The quiet of the park freaks me out. We can hear the crackling of the fire, but no cars, no kids playing, no music, no sports; nothing else to convey that this area is a popular family entertainment spot. My feet hurt from running on the uneven ground and my pants keep snagging on my bandages.
I want to cry.
Again.
“This is ridiculous,” I say. “Why are we even doing this? I can’t anymore. I hurt. I’m bleeding. I’m tired. They clearly aren’t here, we got the clues wrong. Maybe they weren’t even clues at all. Maybe he wanted to go with her.”
Lexie stops and grabs me by the shoulders, forcing me to face her. “Look, you admitted not even an hour ago that you are in love with this man. He came up here to tell you the same. He was taken away from you, at gunpoint, with his hands tied. But before he left he gave us clues. Multiple clues. So don’t you dare stand here and ask why we are doing this or whether he wanted to go with her—”
An explosion sounds from atop the hill to the east of us, drawing our attention.
“Fires don’t just blow up,” Trevor says. “Something just happened over there.”
“Do you think it’s Chance?” I look at my friends.
Lexie returns my gaze. “Well, what are you waiting for? Let’s go find out!”
We head in the direction of the explosion.
And the fire.
The closer we get, the more anxious I feel.
I just want to find Chance.
He has to be here.
I break into a run, rocks digging into the soles of my shoes. The uneven terrain causing my ankles to twist about. My gaze sweeps back and forth across the road. I feel like I’m in a nightmare, where the road just stretches longer and longer, the destination getting farther and farther away. I’m going nowhere, finding nothing. I can’t breathe. My eyes hurt from the smoke. My muscles are screaming, and I can feel the blood running down my legs.
It serves me right. This is what I get for opening myself up and trying to find love. It doesn’t work. Not for me. I was better off before.
