Page 64 of The Wrong Drive-
“Yeah,” Dustin purses his lips together. “I think? I don’t know. We don’t know anyone here.”
Catie looks at me, and she doesn’t even have to say it. We might be ten hours from home, but Idoknow someone here. And she knows that’s the only reason I ever agreed to this trip.
Closure.
“Are you certain he knew me?” I press, taking a step forward as he sits up from where he’s slumped, his blond hair a mess. “Did he say my name?”
Dustin is quiet for a moment. “No… He didn’t say your name. In fact, maybe he was just really confused. He seemed to think he fucked up when he left.” His voice slurs with the words, and I’m not sure if it’s the alcohol or whatever the hell happened to his head.
“Did the guy want money?”
Dustin shakes his head, wincing. “No. He just seemed really fucking pissed off at me, then I asked if I was with Em? I don’t know. Or maybe I assumed?” He pauses, resting his head against his hands. “I don’t know. I don’t really know. I just need some water.”
“We’ll get you water,” Catie says softly, rising to her feet and offering a hand. “Maybe we should go to medical? You clearly have a concussion.”
“No, I’m fine. No medical. Just back to the hotel.” He gives her this smile as lifts himself to his feet. “I have a pretty hard head.”
I meet Catie’s eyes, and she gives me a look that tells me she already knows. “I have to go. Can you guys Uber back to the hotel?”
Catie’s frown deepens. “You don’t know that’s who did this.”
“No, but it’s…” I feel the tears welling up in my eyes. “It could’ve been.”
“Who?” Dustin cuts in.
“Someone from Em’s past,” Catie grits out. “Someone who needs to stay there.”
Only because that’s where hewantsto be.
“He had a dog,” Dustin mumbles, his words almost incoherent. “It was a really big one. I think.” He pauses. “Maybe he didn’t have a dog.”
My hands begin to sweat, my stomach churning.Gunner.Could Turner have really been here? Why would he have been here? I try to reason through it all, trying to come up withwhyhe would be here.
He hates crowds. He hates people.
This makes no sense.But maybe it does.
“You should let it go,” Catie says as I start to back away. “You can search this whole place if that’s what you want, but it’s not going to change the fact that you wereright there.” She points back to the stage. “And he didn’t come toyou.If he was here, he left.”
“He might’ve thought?—”
“Em, come on, it’s been eight months.”
I hate the fucking sympathy etched on her face. I hate the way she looks at me like I’m going crazy. “I have to.” I turn to Dustin, who’s leaning on Catie. “Where did he go? Did you see where he went?”
“Um…” Dustin blinks a few times, and then turns his head. “Toward the parking lot. He mumbled some shit into a phone? I don’t know. Fuck, I don’t know if that even happened.”
But it’s all I need. Even if he’s not sure.
I spin on my heels and head for the parking lot, my heart racing in my ribcage. All the emotions I’ve been suppressing and trying to pretend don’t exist come bubbling up to the surface.
I’m so desperate, this is fucking sad.
I slip through the gates, my eyes scanning the sea of cars. There aresomany people here, and that only further drives the point that it makes no sense for Turner to have been here in the first place.
Where would he even be?I take off through the rows, my calves starting to ache at my pace. I want to scream his name, but when I open my mouth, nothing comes out. Instead, I just scrutinize every face I pass.
Finally, I stop at the final row of vehicles, catching my breath as I take one more scan.Maybe I should go back inside? Maybe Dustin was wrong about the direction he went? Maybe it wasn’t Turner.
