Page 79 of To Belong Together
“No. We’ve called everyone. The police issued an alert, and people from church are searching.”
“Okay. I’m sure he drove someplace safe.”
Mom drew a sharp inhale. “You think so?”
“Yes.” She ran for the car. “He’ll be okay. I’m in Fox Valley, but I’m on my way. He’ll be all right. We’ll find him.”
They had to. Because if they failed, Erin would never fit in this world again.
25
Megan had led John in a wild goose chase, dragging him all around the dance floor, starting who knew how many rumors along the way. And never finding Gannon. John had finally separated from her and circled back toward the table, hoping to find Gannon and Addie there.
Instead, he caught sight of Kate, bustling toward Stacy. His little sister’s updo and white dress forced the knowledge that she’d grown up, and apparently, she’d done so in his disfiguring shadow.
How had she not told him about prom? He and Gannon could’ve paid a visit to the punk who’d stood her up. If John had caused other disappointments, he might’ve been able to compensate for them, if only he’d known.
His sisters’ expressions said they had the gossip of the century. Kate pointed toward the ballroom entrance, holding her hand close to her body as if she wanted to keep the movement subtle.
Lights illuminated the guests by the bar while those inside the ballroom remained silhouettes. One figure stood on the threshold between the two, backlit so that the tips of her hair took on a blue sheen.
Erin?
She turned away, dress flaring.
He might be seeing things, but he started after the woman. When he got there, though, the area outside the ballroom only contained people with natural hair colors—black, brown, blond, gray, a redhead or two.
Had he imagined the blue? He scanned the crowd, but no one had the same short wavy style or the same basic shape of dress.
“Serves you right.” Stacy appeared, her mouth in a smug line.
“What?”
She crossed her arms over her bridesmaid dress. “Kate told Erin about your girlfriend.”
“My girlfriend?”
“Tara. And then she tossed in a few bonus details about your fling with the bridesmaid.” Stacy winked.
Fling with a bridesmaid? He’d been near Megan for two minutes on the dance floor. A tabloid might call that a fling; family knew better. “She lied?”
“You tried to break up the wedding. All’s fair in love and war.”
He’d done no such thing—even if he’d wanted to. He clenched his teeth and turned another circle, searching for Erin. Movement at the top of the stairs caught his eye, but he glimpsed only a foot and the hem of a blue dress.
Leaving his sister, he climbed the stairs two and three at a time. He entered the lobby as Erin exited—he knew it was her by the blue ends in her hair. That baby-blue dress didn’t look anything like what he’d expect her to choose. Soft and flowing, the fabric played at the backs of her knees as the door swung shut behind her.
“Erin!” He broke into a run, swerving around a couple with suitcases, and hit the bar on the door, forcing it open.
Yesterday, he’d so casually assumed that, if Erin learned about Tara, he could easily explain.
A steady stream of people walked the sidewalk, dressed a lot like the wedding guests. Where had they come from? He wove among them, trying to get eyes on Erin as he jogged toward the parking ramp. Before he took the incline into the concrete structure, tires chirped down the block. His slick-soled shoes scuffed against the pavement as he pivoted.
His car roared by, tearing through the intersection on a yellow light.
He hooked his phone from his pocket and called, but Erin’s voice mail picked up. “Go easy. Tara’s only a friend. She canceled, and nothing happened with the bridesmaid. You’re the one I wanted to spend time with.”
Did that sound pathetic? It felt pathetic. She ought to be used to that from him by now.
