Page 98 of Unsure in Love

“Hey, shouldn’t you be asleep, old man?” I greeted.

He chuckled. “Hilarious.”

I’d teased him a couple of times about turning into a stuffy old man with a wife, kids, and all.

“Word on the street is you’re about five months away from joining me in domestic bliss… baby daddy.”

I sat taller. “She told you.”

“She did.”

He didn’t sound angry or pleased, so I wasn’t sure what to say except, “I meant to tell you sooner.”

“Just know that if you hurt her—”

“You’ll kill me. Yeah, I know the drill.”

“Now that that’s clear…” he murmured. “We have a problem, and don’t panic.”

“I never panic.”

“Cass is missing.”

I was off the bed in a split second, on the verge of panic. “What the fuck do you mean missing? Since when?”

“I thought you never panicked.”

“Goddamn it, Nic,” I growled. “What’s going on?”

He sighed. “The girls had a fight last night.”

“She told them about Henry.”

“Oh, so you were in on the secret the entire time?”

I looked skyward. “That’s not important.”

“You’re right. Everyone was upset as you can imagine. Lucy and Cass really went at it, and Cass ran out. After I got Lucy settled, I went after Cass to make sure she was alright. I’d never seen her cry for goodness’ sake.”

I massaged my forehead, hating that I hadn’t been there for her.

“Anyway,” Nic continued. “She wasn’t at her place. I got Julian to help me look for her. We drove around all night and nothing. I’ve called her nonstop and so did Lucy and the others after they calmed down. Cass has yet to answer. I tried finding her again all day today. I’m worried, man.”

Worried didn’t begin to describe how I felt.

“I need you to call her. Maybe she’ll answer you.”

“Yeah. I’m on it.”

Even as I called Cass, I headed to my closet to pack a bag for another trip to Nebraska. The phone rang out about two times. “Fuck, fuck, fuck,” I chanted as I threw things into my bag. I didn’t do fear since my earlier working years demanded I shove the emotion aside, so I had forgotten what it felt like. If Cass wasn’t okay… I didn’t even want to think about it.

I was out the door in ten minutes, trying my best to keep my shit together.

36

CASS

My tranquil refuge wasn’t so peaceful today, on account of the argument with my sisters still echoing in my head two days later. I stared out the window of my house—more like a quaint cottage—on the outskirts of Oakland. It was tucked away in a sparsely wooded area off the main road. I loved that the property was far away from prying eyes, and most importantly, nosey neighbors.

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