Page 38 of Effortless

“Good. Have fun tonight. Know what you’re doing yet?”

I chuckle. “Not really. I’ve been too busy with work to have time to give it much thought. But for tonight, I think we’ll keep it simple. Take a drive and show her around Red Oak, grab some dinner. Nothing fancy. If it goes well and there’s a repeat, I’ll do something more unique.”

“I like that plan.”

“Glad to have your approval.”

He grins and gives me a thumbs up, like a dork, and walks back through my office door.

Usually I work for a while after five but tonight I’m shutting down my computer and turning off the lights in my office at five o’clock on the dot, quickly saying my goodbyes to everyone in the office and heading for home. I stop along the way to wash my truck and fill it up with fuel and take a quick shower once I’m home. A quick look out my patio door tells me Hadley’s home, since I can see the back of her house from mine.

Which is crazy. How I didn’t know she was the one who moved into that house is surprising, but summer is a busy time for us at work so it’s not like I’ve been around home all that much.

Dressed in a pair of khaki shorts and a white button down with the sleeves rolled up, I shove my wallet and phone into my front pocket along with a pack of gum, grab a couple bottles of water from the fridge and place them in the cupholders in my truck.

At five ‘til six, I hop in my truck and make the short drive over to Hadley’s house, park in the driveway, and march up the steps onto her porch.

Her porch is decorated for fall even though it’s still August. A tell sign that says “Welcome Fall” leans against the door frame, a display of a hay bale, pumpkins, and mums is arranged nicely, a wreath made of fall colors hangs from the entry door, and there’s a welcome mat in front of the door. It looks homey and inviting. After my quick inspection of her outside décor, I ring the doorbell, and wait.

And wait.

And wait a little longer.

I ring the doorbell again and wince, feeling rude for doing so but there’s still no answer.

Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I double check I didn’t miss a text from Hadley but there’s nothing since her last text telling me she couldn’t wait to get together.

I knock. Ring the doorbell once more.

Nothing.

“What the hell?” I mumble to myself.

Am I being ghosted?

Did something happen?

Is she in a ditch somewhere and hurt?

What about Brooklyn? Is she okay?

Questions run through my head, none of them that have good answers.

I shoot off a text to Hadley, asking if she’s okay and letting her know I stopped by her house but there was no answer to my text either.

Now feeling concerned, I do the first thing that comes to mind.

Drive to the diner and see if she’s there.

The diner is dark, though. Which is odd because it’s normally open until ten.

I park, get out, and see if there’s a message on the door as to why it’s closed but the only sign is turned to CLOSED with no explanation.

“Okay, what the hell?” I growl.

Back in my truck, I think for a second before hitting dial and hope I’m not overstepping.

“Yo.”

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