“Love knowing that.”
She moved into the back room, grabbing her belongings from the lockers before heading out the back door. When the door snicked closed, I let out a breath. I moved from behind the desk and walked in a circle around the gallery.
I didn’t need to be feeling the pain I was in now. I’d been distracted by Serena’s presence today and had sat for far too long. That led to my body revolting, the muscles and sinew twisting themselves into intricate knots that could take me days to undo.
Gizmo’s tags jingled as he followed along in step with me. I looked down at his happy face. “A little workout for both of us, huh?”
He panted in response.
I looped around the space a few more times, my muscles releasing a bit more with each pass. I slowed, folding over into a stretch. Scratching Gizmo’s ears, I nuzzled his face. “That’s the good stuff, right?”
The bell over the door tinkled, and I straightened. “Hayes.” My chest tightened the same way it did every time I saw him. It wasn’t bad exactly. It was probably similar to how brothers in arms felt, seeing each other after the battle was done. I’d be forever grateful to the man who had tethered me to this Earth when all I wanted to do was leave with Jase. The man who hadn’t once let go of my hand, even when the machine began cutting into the car.
He dipped his head in greeting. “It’s good to see you, Laiken.”
“You, too. You just missed Addie, if that’s who you were looking for.”
His mouth curved into a smile. “Saw her on my way over. Think she was headed to give Beck a surprise visit.”
I couldn’t help my answering smile. “Your brother’s a lucky man.”
“That he is.”
“So, you’re here to see me?”
It wasn’t that Hayes and I didn’t run into each other, especially since Everly and I had become such good friends. But he didn’t usually stop by The Gallery for a friendly chat.
A little of the warmth in Hayes’ expression slipped away. “I have some hard news. I didn’t want you to hear it from anyone else.”
My heart picked up speed as names and faces flew through my mind. A million different grisly what-ifs playing on a loop.
“There was an accident this morning. Lisbeth’s car went off the road on one of the mountain passes.”
Nausea swept through me as my stomach cramped. “Is she?”
“She didn’t make it.”
My throat and eyes burned as I fought to keep the tears at bay.
“I’m so sorry, Laiken.”
I swallowed, trying to clear the fire in my throat. “Do they know what caused it?”
Hayes was a master at the blank mask, but I was an expert at faces. I didn’t miss the slight shifting of his eyes. “What?”
“There weren’t any brake marks at the scene.”
My hands fisted so hard I wouldn’t have been surprised if I’d broken a knuckle. “What does that mean?” I asked the question, even though I knew the answer.
“There are two possibilities. Something happened with her brakes—and we’ll test for that. Or she didn’t try to brake.”
I closed my eyes as if that would somehow keep back the pain. Lisbeth had always been a nervous driver. She never drove over the speed limit, and I doubted she’d ever miss a service appointment for her vehicle or drive it if she felt that anything was off. I forced my eyes open again. “Do her parents know?”
“I called them earlier. They’ll catch a plane later today.”
“Will you—?” I couldn’t finish the rest of the sentence.
“I’ll tell the others,” Hayes said softly.