Page 30 of Forever in the Country

SORREN: Unless you know where she’s hiding then I don’t need help

HANK: She didn’t tell me but I think at least some of the girls know

CASE: What are you going to do when you find her?

SORREN: She deserves any kind of conversation before you fuckers

OTTO: (gif of guy spraying champagne all over)

WAYLON: Fucking finally

HANK: I’ll second that

OTTO: It’s third big guy

HANK: What?

OTTO: Waylon gets second

HANK: What the fuck ever

CASE: I love when you get all riled up

SORREN: Are we done now?

WAYLON: Dunno. Are we?

OTTO: We are. I trust you not to screw it up anymore.

OTTO: Team SORRHEA

CASE: I can’t tell if that’s weird or not

HANK: Definitely weird

My phone feels like it’s going to shatter in my hand from how hard I’m holding it. I’ve been driving around for hours today and I still can’t find her. She hasn’t returned my calls or texts and low-key panic is starting to set in.

I let my head fall back against the headrest and count to ten. My phone continues to vibrate but I ignore it, every incoming message grating on my nerves.

I need a break and I need to regroup. My calf is practically screaming from sitting for so long. Without giving it a second thought, I close out of the group message and pull up my contacts. Scrolling, I find who I’m looking for and hit the call button.

“Hello?”

“You home?” I ask Tanner without preamble.

“Yes.”

“Briggs with you?”

“No.”

“I’m coming over.”

“O—”

I hang up and do my best not to peel out of Rhea’s driveway. I’d started and stopped here today just fucking praying she’d come home and we could talk about last night. I couldn’t form the words and that’s on me.

But now I need to find her—so I can say everything I should have so she knows what she’s getting into.

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