Page 121 of The Sound Of Silence

“What?”That can’t be right.

“She—”

“No, I heard you, but…” I check my watch even though I don’t have to. I know the schedule for today, and it means she’s been missing for a while. “It’s almost three p.m.,” I say, stating the obvious, buying myself some time while I internally freak the fuck out.

“Pippa asked if you’d spoken to her. Thinking…” He hesitates. “HopingWillow might have told you her plans.”

“Does it look like I know?” I snap, but instantly regret it. I shouldn’t be shooting the messenger, but… this can’t be happening.

There’s an annoying as fuck ringing in my ears, and I can see Seth’s mouth moving but I have no idea what he’s saying.Willow’s missing. Willow’smissing.

“Fuck! Sorry. I haven’t spoken to her since before my medical appointment yesterday, and…” I pause, the world around me coming back into view. My eyes flash to Seth’s, begging him to help me. “You need to get me there, Seth. I need to be there.”

“There’s nothing you can—”

“What if it was Amber?” I interrupt, asking about his wife, knowing that’s my best shot.

Seth visibly pales and I know I’ve got him.

“I’ll see what I can do.”

With the event long forgotten, I rush through the crowd, dodging unknowing bodies as they try to get a moment with me. My focus solely on the locker room, on checking my messages.

I skid to a stop near my bag and, in my panicked state, take much longer than I should to fish around for my phone. When I feel the texture of my heavy-duty cover, a deep sigh expels from my lungs. But it’s short-lived. I’ve got ten missed calls and six messages from Pippa, one from an unknown number, and nothing from Willow.

Nothing.

I flick through Pippa’s frantic questions, and when I come to the unknown, confusion sets in.

Unknown: Thought you’d be pleased to know she rejected him.

What the fuck does that mean?

I don’t have time for some random bullshit, so I ignore it and quickly change. But as I’m on my way back to find Seth, a thought hits me, and a tightness settles in my chest.

Is that Tate? Is he talking about Willow and Alex?

Dialing the number, I wait on edge, like I’m balancing on the tip of a knife, but no one answers.Fuck! Fuck!

Pacing the floor, I run a hand through my hair, pulling on the strands until it pains me, needing to confirm this is real.Why couldn’t I have just left her the hell alone? If this is my fault…

A fresh wave of guilt hits me, and I realize that when it comes to Willow I will always feel this way, but if I find her… No, fuck, notif…whenI find her I’m going to tell her my truth. Most of it, anyway. I need to let her make up her own mind, because she at least deserves that.There are just some things…

Seth finds me hiding away from the crowd and approaches with a forlorn look in his eyes. I’m shaking my head before he’s even reached me. I refuse to listen to anything but a resolution.

“Jesse—”

“Nope. Figure it out. I’ll pay anything.”

“Jesse—”

“Fuck, Seth. I can’t lose her!”

“Jesse!” Dylan calls, pushing through the sea of people to meet me. “Sorry for listening in, but I’ve got a plane.”

“What?” My eyes widen and I almost hug him.Almost. “You’ve got a plane?”

“Well, not me personally. Long story, that you don’t have time for, but my sister knows this lead singer…and anyway, I’ve got you a private jet.”

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