Page 66 of Saving Me
By the time we finish, we have a new hire pickedout for Travis and have narrowed it down to two artists for a trial run for me. Since Travis left, I haven’t hired anybody to take his place, so I am still taking on the extra workload myself. I didn’t mind the long hours…until now. Now, I have something else in my life that is easily becoming my top priority.
We say our goodbyes as I lock up the place for the night and pull into the driveway a short time later. The smell of brownies hits me when I walk in the front door, and I practically moan from the rich chocolate aroma slamming into me all at once. I’ll be hitting the gym hard tomorrow because I know I’ll be indulging tonight.
A smile touches my lips that she remembered they were my favorite. I glance around but don’t see any sign of her. I check the rest of the house before walking to the apartment out back.
I try not to panic, but I can’t help the dark thoughts running through my head. Frowning, I notice the door is unlocked when I walk inside. Anyone could walk up from the beach to get back here.Hecould get back here if he found out where she was.
I scan the place quickly before moving to the bedroom. My heart beats painfully in my chest when I realize she’s not here.
Reaching into my pocket, I pull my phone out and dial her number as I pace the living room. I stop when I hear it ringing. Walking over to the kitchen counter, I see her cell sitting there.
Where the fuck is she?
I’m probably overreacting. She could have just gone for a walk on the beach. Nothing seems to be out of place. Her things are still here, and if she had broken her promise to me and run, she would have taken her personal belongings.
Walking outside, I bypass the pool and grasp the railing as I search the beach down below. The wood digs into my palms as I try to spot her long brunette hair. The sun set a few minutes ago, so most people have gone in for the night. All I have is thelast few rays of light to make out the people below me, and none of them fit her description.
Fuck this.
I don’t care if I’m overreacting. I can’t just stand here and do nothing. I walk back inside and call Miles. He’s been checking up on her throughout the week, and they’ve developed a close friendship. Maybe he’s heard from her.
Loud music fills my ears, and I hear Miles shoutjust a second. The sound gets quieter, and I hear a door shut.
“Sorry about that. We go on in a few minutes, and the crowd is insane tonight,” he laughs.
“Have you talked to Lyla today?” I cut right to the chase, not even bothering with a hello.
“No, why?” His voice gets alarmed, and I know he’s picked up on the fear in my voice. “Did something happen?”
“I don’t know.” I run my hand through my hair in frustration as I try to breathe through what appears to be a very small opening in my lungs.
“I came home from work, and she’s not here. Her phone is on the counter, and there is no sign of her. The front door to her place was unlocked and…” I struggle to speak as images of everything that could have happened flood my mind.
“Don’t jump to any conclusions just yet. She could have gone for a walk on the beach or around the neighborhood. When’s the last time you heard from her?”
“Right before my meeting with Travis, which was around six. She was working on the last of her orders and then was going to start on dinner.”
I turn when I hear the door open, and Lyla walks in.
“Hi, you got home early. I didn’t expect you for another hour,” she smiles.
“Is that Lyla? Thank God. Tell her not to scare us like that again,” I hear Miles say in my ear.
“I will. Have a good show tonight. I’ll call you tomorrow,” I manage to get out before ending the call and dropping my phone on the counter.
“Are you okay? Did something happen? You look white as a…” I crush her to me and hold her as tight as I can without breaking her.
“You scared the shit out of me.” I bury my face in her neck and breathe her in as I get back the oxygen into my body that it was starving for just minutes ago. “Don’t ever do that to me again. I’ve never been so scared in my life.”
“I’m going to get you all sweaty…your t-shirt.” She tries to back away, but I don’t let her go.
“I don’t give a fuck about my shirt.” She finally settles against me, knowing she won’t win this battle. She could be covered in horse shit right now, and I wouldn’t care. I need to feel her. “Where were you?”
“I wanted to get a run in before dinner. The sunset was so pretty tonight, and I’ve missed going on runs. You are squeezing the life out of me,” her voice is muffled by my chest.
“Sorry.” I release my grip a little bit but still keep her there. I’m not ready to let go yet.
“I didn’t mean to scare you.” Her hands run up my back, and I feel some of the tension leave my body.
