It took a minute before Reese came barreling through the door and was charging across the lot.
Seeing the way he moved and the look in his eyes… it made Josie feel things that were dangerous.
“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” Reese asked.
“Steph is gone.”
“What?”
“We went to the doctors. She’s seventeen weeks pregnant.”
“What?” he yelled.
“Yeah. I sort of lost it on her, Reese. I told her to go to the car and she didn’t. She took off. She left a note. I don’t know where she is. I don’t know…”
That’s when Josie’s voice finally quit. And her heart. And her emotions. Everything.
She felt her knees starting to give way and Reese was there to catch her.
“It’s okay,” he whispered. “It’s okay. We’ll find her. Look at me, Josie.”
She looked up at him.
“I’ll find her,” Reese said. “Come with me. We’ll get on my ride and go.”
“What about my car?”
Reese looked at the prospects. “You. Watch her car. Keep your phone handy if I need you. Got that?”
“Yes, sir,” one said.
“You,” Reese said to the prospect on the right. “Go inside and tell Ellis that I’m helping Josie with something. I’ll be in touch soon.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Come on,” Reese said.
He slipped his hand into Josie’s and started to run.
She ran with him, bringing back even more memories.
Josie swore to herself she’d never end up here again. Taking Reese’s helmet. Adjusting the strap so it fit under her chin snugly. Watching him stand his motorcycle up and start it. Hearing and feeling the rumble as she climbed on the back. Sliding her hands around his body and interlocking her fingers together. That first rush as the motorcycle moved and her body jerked back.
Just like that, they were off.
Just like that, Josie was letting Reese ride back into her heart.
* * *
If Josie thoughtshe couldn’t feel any worse, she was wrong. Because the first place where Reese decided to check was the place where Steph was.
The cemetery.
The ride took about fifteen minutes. Josie had no idea how Steph managed to get there, but she promised herself she wouldn’t attack Steph for it. She was sure that Steph didn’t intend to get pregnant, but she got pregnant. Which meant there was a baby on the way. A new life. A life that was going to be special. A life that needed all the love in the world.
When Reese turned his motorcycle and eased by the tall, iron gates, Josie shivered. She had a thing about cemeteries. She didn’t like them at all. Her own dumb childhood fears, but also because she had the experience of watching her father get lowered into the ground when she was just a teenager. Because her father had gotten too mixed up with things in the life of outlaws, gangs, and the law.
Josie shut her eyes and waited until the motorcycle came to a stop.