Page 99 of Force of Nature

Chapter Thirty-six

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THAD

“What do you mean she fainted?” Chris barks into his phone as he paces the small living room of my apartment.

I haven’t seen or spoken to anyone in the Roth family since that night in the camper with Laken. I guess Henry was worried about me and sent Chris over to make sure I was still alive and sober.

He’d been here all of five minutes before his phone rang and now I’m sitting on the couch listening to a one sided conversation, wondering what the hell is going on.

“Have you talked to her?” He continues to pace. “No, I’m going with you.” He pauses. “I don’t care, Whit. I’ll get the first flight out and meet you there.” Another long pause where she is presumably speaking. “Okay, yeah. I’ll text you my flight details as soon as I get my ticket purchased.” He hangs up the phone and glances in my direction. “I’m sorry, man. I gotta go.” He instantly heads for the door.

“Is everything okay?” I quickly stand and follow him into the foyer.

“It’s Laken. Apparently she fainted on set last night. They’ve got her in the hospital running all kinds of tests. Whit only got minimal information from one of her co-stars and she’s not answering her cell. Whitney is flying out to be with her and I’m going to meet her there. I need to see for myself that she’s good before I tell my family anything.”

“I’m coming with you.” The statement leaves my mouth without a second thought and I’m instantly reaching for my jacket hanging next to the door.

“No, you’re not,” he clips, turning to face me.

“I have to go,” I insist, a wave of panic rushing through my gut.

All I can see is the expression on Laken’s face as I backed out of that camper. The confusion. The hurt in her eyes. It’s haunted me for weeks. I’ve been too ashamed to make things right. But now, knowing that something might be wrong with her, there’s no way I can sit back and let this shit go.

“Listen, I know you care about Laken but given my last conversation with her she made it pretty clear you two were over. Showing up unannounced when she’s probably already a little scared and confused is not the way to go about this. You know you’re like a brother to me, but I’m telling you if you take one more step I will knock your ass out.”

I instantly take a step back, feeling like he’s already physically assaulted me even though he hasn’t come anywhere close to touching me.

If there was ever a time for me to realize that I’m the outsider, this is it. And he’s right. Laken and I are over. I made damn sure of that. What right do I have to show up and force myself into a situation she certainly doesn’t want me to be a part of?

Not sure what else to do, I nod once before watching Chris throw open the door and disappear into the hallway.

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