Page 81 of Front Runner

Maybe she went to the bathroom? I grabbed onto the flimsy excuse for her absence. My heart raced, and a rising sense of urgency pushed me to hurry up and find her.

The ladies’ room was by the stairs, so I backtracked, checking each of the hallways. With the semester over, the building had emptied of everyone but essential staff, which left no one to ask about Riley.

I eased the door open a crack. “Riley, you in there?”

My voice echoed off the tile walls, then faded into silence. I waited a few seconds, but the bathroom remained quiet. Where else could she be? Would she have called someone for a ride instead of waiting?

My mind blanked. This whole thing was my fault. All the warnings from my mom and Coach came rushing back, and I slumped against the wall.

I’d pushed her for a relationship. She’d warned me about the consequences, but I’d never really believed we’d be caught. Riley had known—and she’d known she’d be the one blamed. A jagged pain tore into my chest at the thought she’d run from me instead of letting me help.

In a last-ditch effort, I called Mac.

“Have you seen Riley?”

Weights clanged behind him. “Isn’t she with you?”

Fuck. She was really gone. “No. Coach had to suspend her pending an investigation.” I spit out the words, and Mac whistled low.

“Not you?”

“Not me. I’ll explain the bullshit later. For now, I just want to find her.”

“I’ll rally the troops.”

“No.” I ran my hand through my hair. Riley wouldn’t want that. “Just you and Noah.”

“On it, Cap’n.” Mac hung up, and I focused on my next steps.

She was stubborn enough to try walking back to the apartment. It was the only idea I had, so I made my way to the car. Practice wouldn’t start for another couple of hours, but if she was still missing, I’d be spending that time looking for her.

Even if she didn’t want to see me, I’d make sure she was safe.

The temperature had dropped from this morning, and thick gray clouds spit icy rain in a feeble drizzle. We didn’t have umbrellas, so I hoped Riley hadn’t tried to walk home. Or anywhere. Ideally, we’d find her in a corner of the facility taking her frustration out on a set of weights or a heavy bag.

A text from Mac came through while I was running to my car.Found her. Camper.

I frowned down at the phone, and my heart slowly dropped out of my throat. Why hadn’t I thought of the camper? Stupid. At least one of us was thinking clearly. I grabbed a towel and an extra sweatshirt from the back of my car, then trekked into the woods.

Rain turned to sleet by the time I made it through the path. Mac met me at the edge of the clearing with his hood pulled over his head, still wearing his work out shorts.

He nodded toward the camper, and I spotted Riley curled into a ball on the steps. The tiny overhang didn’t provide much protection from the crappy weather. I could see her shivering from where we stood.

“Why aren’t you over there with her?”

Mac shoved his hands in the pocket of his hoodie. “She doesn’t want me near her, and when my girl says no, I listen.”

I reined in my sudden anger—it wasn’t meant for him. “Thanks for checking out here. Go on back to training and get warm.”

“You’re welcome. Tell her I got her, whatever she needs.” He clapped my shoulder. “You too.”

Mac jogged the direction I’d just come, and I joined Riley under the awning. She didn’t acknowledge my presence, simply stared down at the dirt with her arms wrapped around her knees.

“Lorelai?”

Slowly, she raised her face, empty of emotion except for the misery in her eyes. “I’m done.”

“I know.” I draped the towel on my shoulder and looped the sweatshirt over her head. “Raise your arms.”

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