“She’s fine. Rory will text or call if something’s wrong.”
Would she though? She was stubborn and independent and most of the time a straight pain in the ass. Always trying to handle things herself. The girl never wanted help, with anything. She’s too self-reliant.
Drove me nuts and at the same time, it made me more in awe of her. Rory didn’t need anyone. The problem was I think I was beginning to need her…
But she wasn’t here, she was on a date. With a guy that wasn’t me.
“Relax, he probably took her to that restaurant everyone goes to on the lake’s edge.” He drags out, grabbing at a handful of chips on the table. “Guy seems too unoriginal to think of anything else.”
The corner of my mouth lifts, Eli was right. The tool most likely took her to the least impersonal place this town had to offer. Knowing that something inside my chest lightens a fraction.
Sure, the place had a nice view of the water but so did my family’s lake house. Ours no doubt better. I smirk. Money had its advantages. Mine screamed power.
A bowl of pretzels goes flying in the air as Finn jumps up. Yelling at the screen. I was too stuck in my head to pay attention to what, but the game was over.
They’d been in double overtime so it must have been good. Finn yanking at his hair as he paces back and forth.
It could be comical at times how into basketball he got. Not saying I wasn’t, there were just other things taking up greater occupancy at the moment.
I’m about to look over checking the time again when something round and orange flies at my face.
“You could have broken my dick,” I holler. My frown in full force staring at a stoic arms-crossed Eli at the living room’s edge.
My reflexes kicking in, catching the basketball at the last second before it had, but still. It was a cheap shot.
He nods his head in Finn’s direction. “That was the point, between the pair of you, it looks like you’re starting a sniffling squad.”
“Some of us are more invested in the game.” Finn’s tone was resentful.
Eli angles a skeptical brow my way, goading me to explain my reasoning. We both knew it wasn’t because of the game. Finn had though, and I don’t bother correcting him.
Eli pats him on the shoulder as they both head outside to the Casper’s home court. I’d follow shortly but there was something I needed to do first.
Reaching for my phone I type out a quick message and hit send. The screen going black before I tuck it back in my side pocket.
A ghost of a smile crossing my face as I catch up with my boys.
forty-one
Rory
Ichargethroughthefront doors of the Casper mansion in a panic. My head spinning as soon as I saw Cole’s text.
Iceman: Finn’s having trouble breathing.
My date with Xander getting cut short after no one would answer their phones. Trying numerous times without success.
Dinner had been great. Him taking me to some seafood restaurant that overlooked a massive body of water. It may have only been a lake, but I couldn’t see anything past the horizon. Walking along the sandy shore afterward.
The perfectness of it all ruined in a single text.
I yell Finn’s name into the empty house hoping to hear a sound, but I get nothing.
Would they have gone to a hospital? Ugh, why wasn’t anyone answering their phones?
I try again, louder.“FIINNN!”
My fear making me more anxious. The threat of the unknown driving me to be erratic. Scanning room after room, I find nothing but more emptiness.