by Glines, Abbi
I closed my eyes as she went on and on about a naked Damon and how amazing she’d look on television.
SAWYER
Three days and nothing. Not even her mother could find her. I was empty. Nothing mattered anymore. I didn’t want to get out of bed. The only thing that kept me going was the hope that maybe one day she’d call. Maybe one day, I’d find her.
I couldn’t sleep. Each night, I lay awake in my bed, staring at the ceiling and going over all the thoughtless things I’d done to her. She’d been so damn sweet too. I hadn’t deserved her, but she’d wanted me. Me. No one else. Even after I called her a distraction, she’d forgiven me. When she’d needed someone to hold her and listen to her, I’d pushed her away to comfort Ashton while she threw up. She’d forgiven me for that one too. Hell, all she’d done that month was forgive me for my stupidity. I wasn’t sure I could focus enough next week when I had to go to Florida for the first week of practice. How could I just leave Grove and not know Lana was okay, not get the chance to hold her and tell her how sorry I was? How could I go without being able to tell her that I was in love with her?
Picking up the nearest thing I could get my hands on, a random picture frame, I hurled it across the room and roared in frustration. Anything to release the fear, pain, and suffocating feeling of loss churning inside me.
“You put a hole in the Sheetrock,” Beau drawled, and I jerked my gaze toward the door to see him standing there watching me. “Your mama ain’t gonna be real happy about that one, I’m guessing.”
“Like I give a shit,” I replied with an angry snarl.
Beau shrugged. “Just sayin’ you might want to go back to pounding your fist on brick since you can’t break that. Then again, you need those hands in working order for next week. Florida’s gonna need their golden boy draft pick if they want any chance at taking down the Tide anytime in the next four years.”
I knew he was trying to get my mind off Lana, but it was pointless. I wasn’t in the mood to argue SEC football with him. At the moment, I didn’t give a shit who won what. I just wanted Lana back. I dropped down to sit on the sofa behind me, and let my head fall back on the black leather.
“I gotta find her, Beau.” The desperate sound in my voice wasn’t lost on me.
“We will. Just takes some time. The girl doesn’t want to be found. She’s smart. She covered all her tracks.”
She couldn’t have covered everything. Someone had to have helped her. But who?
“She couldn’t just disappear like that. It isn’t like Grove has any damn taxis she can hail. Heck, she can’t even call one because they don’t exist. It’s at least thirty miles to the nearest bus station. Someone had to have helped her. That’s my missing clue.”
Beau sat down on the sofa across from me. “Her mama called that friend of hers at the beach, right?”
I nodded, closing my eyes. I’d met Jewel. There was no way she just dropped everything and hauled ass that quickly to Grove to pick up Lana. No possible way. Even if she’d wanted to, she couldn’t have pulled that off.
“She hadn’t heard from her. Lana’s mom said she was positive. She’d talked to Jewel herself, and the girl didn’t have a clue. Nor was she really worried about it.”
Beau frowned. “Her friend didn’t care that she was missing?”
“You haven’t met Jewel. She’s interested in partying and guys. That’s the extent of her concerns. I spent an entire meal trying to keep her hand off my dick. Trust me. The girl is shallow.”
“Just because she’s a party girl doesn’t mean she isn’t loyal to her friends. You spent what, one meal with her? I don’t think that’s enough time to decide about a person’s loyalties. She annoyed you, but Lana doesn’t seem like a girl who’d put up with someone who had no good qualities. She’s pretty damn guarded. If she calls Jewel a friend, then there is something about Jewel you don’t know.”
Beau had a point.
“You know, you’re right.” I stood up and reached for my phone. I had Lana’s mother’s number on my speed dial.
“Who you calling?” Beau asked, leaning forward with his elbows resting on his knees.
“Lana’s mom. I need Jewel’s number.”
Beau nodded. “Now you’re thinking.”
* * *
After getting Jewel’s phone number and assuring Lana’s mom I’d call her if I found out anything, I quickly hung up and dialed the number she’d give me.
“Hello?” a bright chipper voice said after the third ring.
“Jewel? This is Sawyer Vincent,” I replied.
“Ooooooph, well, isn’t this a surprise? I don’t recall giving you my phone number, Sawyer Vincent. Did you miss me so much you went to the trouble of hunting it down?” she cooed into the phone. Beau was wrong about this. I was already cringing. The chick had my number and the ability to annoy the shit out of me.
“Uh, yeah, well, I’m hoping you can help me out—”
“Anything you want, I’m sure I can accommodate. I’m very talented with my hands . . . and mouth.”
She didn’t know how to take a hint. That much I was sure of.
“Have you spoken to Lana recently? Has she called you? I know her mom has called you and you didn’t know anything, but I’m desperate. I need to find her. If there is anything you know please, please tell me. I need her. Please.” I stopped begging and prayed silently this phone call wasn’t in vain.
“Uh, wow. Um, what the heck happened with you two? I mean, her mom called and was worried, and I thought maybe Lana had taken off because of her dad or something. I’ve been expecting her to call me, but she hasn’t yet. Is this your fault? Did you hurt her?”
The small ray of hope I’d had was extinguished. I’d known better than to think Lana had run off to Jewel. Besides, it was impossible. Who would have taken her to Jewel? This girl really didn’t have a clue.
“I need to speak with her. I need to see her. If she calls you or you have any idea where she could be, would you please call me? I’ll pay you for your trouble; just please let me know if you can think of anything. I’m not looking for her for her mother’s sake. This is for me. Just me.”
“Ooooookay, Sawyer Vincent. I’ll be sure to let you know if anything comes up. But dang, I’m curious now. Did little Lana Banana snag herself a guy finally? I hope so ’cause the girl is way past due.”
Gripping my phone tighter, I worked on controlling the need to tell the bitch off, for the sole reason that I couldn’t burn that bridge.
“Just call me if you hear anything, okay?” I repeated.
“Sure, sexy. In the meantime, you could come visit me. I’d make you real happy. I’m staying at Kiva Dunes condos on West Beach. Unit one oh three. My room is at the far corner and looks straight at the water instead of the windows facing the pool.”
I tuned her out as she drawled on. The girl didn’t have a clue. “No, thanks, just, if you hear anything. Thanks.” I pressed end before she could tell me how happy she could make me.
“Well?” Beau asked.
“She knows nothing. Your guess about her having some winning qualities was way off course.”
“Huh” was his only reply.
Chapter 21
LANA
The music was thumping outside my window, and the strangers filling up the living area of the condo were getting louder. I would think that, since this was a condo, people in the other units would complain. But apparently this was a party hub. The speakers out at the pool were blasting dance music. I could hear the same noise going on over my head. The entire place was crazy. It wasn’t a large building. It had, at the most, thirty units and, according to Jewel, they were all used by their owners. They weren’t rented out. I closed my blinds to give me a little privacy. Three different people had already knocked on my door. After the second knock, I stopped answering. They were drunk guys with equally drunk girls looking for a place to have nasty, unprotected, disease-infested sex. Shuddering at the thought, I went to the priva
te bathroom attached to my room. I was thankful for that small area of peace.
“Open this door right now, Lana!” Jewel yelled, banging on my bedroom door. Great, she was already drunk and going to force me to party.
Sighing, I headed to open the door and get it over with. I just wanted a long, hot bath.
Jerking the door open, I started to tell her I wasn’t interested, but she barged past me and slammed the door behind her. She locked it, then spun around to face me.
“What the hell did you do to Sawyer Vincent?” she demanded, a look of awe on her face.
I didn’t want to talk about Sawyer. “I told you I don’t want to talk about him.”
“Well, you’re going to because I just lied out my ass for you while the boy begged and pleaded with me to call him if I heard from you or had any idea where you might be.”
He’d called Jewel?
“When? Just now? He called you?” I asked, confused.
“Yes, he called me. Sexy southern drawl and all. He was pitiful I tell you. Pi-ti-ful. What did you do? Can you give me lessons? ’Cause girl, you must have rocked his world.”
Sinking down onto the bed behind me, I stared up at her, shaking my head. Why would he be calling me? He had Ashton now. Couldn’t he just be happy? Why would he be begging Jewel for help? For Ashton’s sake. That was the only thing that made any sense.
“What did he say exactly?” I asked.
Jewel propped one hand on her hip and shook her head. “Oh no. You don’t get to ask the questions first. I do. I ask and you answer. Then, and only then, will I tell you what was said between us.”
Dang.
“Please, don’t make me do this. I don’t want to talk about him.”
“No more begging. I’ve had my fill for the night, thank you very much. Now talk.”
Just thinking about him made me anxious. How was I supposed to talk about him? Standing up, I began to pace in front of the bed. I could do this. I wanted to know what he said to Jewel and what she said back, because if Jewel had let anything slip, I needed to pack up and leave. I didn’t want Ashton or my mom showing up here.
“I’ve been in love with Sawyer Vincent since I was a kid. He has been in love with Ashton for just as long. They broke up about seven months ago because she fell in love with his cousin Beau. Don’t ask me why, because I can’t figure it out. Sawyer is perfect. Beau is . . . well, Beau is a heathen . . . but he is insanely in love with Ashton.”
“Wait, both of these boys are in love with Ashton?” Jewel asked.
“Yep. Always have been,” I replied, then took a deep breath before I went on. “I thought that once Sawyer had time to get over Ashton, I would step in and make a move. Try to get his attention.” The hurt, painful laugh that escaped me bordered on a sob. I hated my weakness when I mentioned his name.
“I did this whole makeover thing in hopes of attracting Sawyer. It was well past time for me to stop looking like a mouse anyway. I did it because I wanted to be a girl who could catch Sawyer’s eye. And it worked. He noticed me. But it wasn’t enough.” Please, God, let that be enough for her. I didn’t want to talk about this anymore.
“Okay, so if it wasn’t enough, then why is the boy begging me to help him find you? Because from the way he sounded, you got to him a lot more than you think,” Jewel assured me.
I was going to have to tell her everything, or she’d end up assuming the wrong thing and tell him where I was.
“I’m sure he did. Because when Ashton wants something, Sawyer will move mountains to get it for her.”
“She’s with Beau, right?” Jewel asked.
Turning from her so the tears stinging my eyes were hidden, I shook my head. “No. Beau cheated on her. I was really shocked, because he is so completely infatuated with her, but she had proof. Soon as she found out, she ran to Sawyer. He dropped me like I was on fire, and let her run straight into his arms.” Sniffling, I wiped at the tears that had managed to escape. Then I looked back at Jewel.
“You mean he’s desperate to find you because Ashton is upset that you left?”
All I could do was nod.
“Damn,” Jewel muttered, and then an angry scowl came over her face. “I’m going to beat her pretty little face in.”
“Jewel, no. Don’t blame Ashton. None of this is her fault. She can’t control the fact Sawyer loves her. They were a couple for three years. He’s her safe place.”
“This sucks balls. You know that, right?” The disgust on her face almost made me smile. Almost.
“Yes, it does. But I walked into this. I took a chance.” Shrugging, I walked over to sit back down beside her on the bed. “We both know it was time I started taking chances. I crashed and burned, but I learned from it.”
Jewel wrapped her arm around my shoulders and pulled my head against her. “Ah, damn. This sucks.” She sighed. “I won’t tell him anything. He did beg and plead with me to call him if I heard from you or I thought of somewhere you could be. He said he ‘needed’ to find you. I was mistaken with his anxious tone. I figured you’d wrapped the boy around your finger and gotten angry with him and left him high and dry. I didn’t realize he was trying to ease some other girl’s guilt. She may be your cousin, but I am not a fan. Just sayin’.”
We sat in silence for a while. Finally I sat back up. “Thank you for lying. I have complete faith in your acting abilities.”
Jewel smirked. “So you wanna run off to LA with me? We could rock that town. You and I.”
A real laugh managed to bubble up, and I shook my head. “Not right now. Maybe someday soon.”
“Come out here and party. Forget everything. Drink one of my tropical drinks. I have one I make with coconut rum that is to die for.”
I wasn’t ready. “Give me a few more days?”
“Sure, babe.”
SAWYER
Sawyer was always the Vincent boy worth fighting for. He’s the special one.
I reread that last line for what felt like the hundredth time. I was packed up and headed to Florida. It had been over a week, and no Lana. No sign of her. No text. Her phone still went directly to voice mail. She’d called her mother again to check in, but the number had been unknown and her mother hadn’t been able to trace it. All I knew was she was alive. That small amount of knowledge kept me from losing my mind. I lived for those calls from her mom telling me what Lana had said. It was my only connection to her, and, although I wasn’t a fan of her parents, I was starting to have an odd sort of affection for her crazy mother. She did love Lana even if she sucked at showing her. The woman was definitely controlling, but Lana was doing a number on her then and I was willing to bet that relationship would be forever changed for the better.
Folding the note Lana had left Ash into the worn creases where I’d opened and read it and then folded it again, I slipped it into my pocket. I didn’t go anywhere without it. Having it close to me reminded me that when I found her, I could fix this. She’d misunderstood, and it was my fault. If I’d have opened my eyes and realized I was in love with the girl, that wouldn’t have happened. Unfortunately, Lana hadn’t known. She thought I still loved Ash.
“Sawyer, you ready?” my dad called from the foyer. I wasn’t ready. I didn’t want to leave Grove. What if she came back and I was gone? Besides, how the hell was I supposed to concentrate enough to throw a football? The week was going to be a disaster.
“Coming, Dad,” I called back. I grabbed my phone so I could look again at the picture Ash had texted me from our trip to the mountains. Lana had been hiking up the rocks toward the waterfall in Cheaha, and Ash had snapped a picture of her just as she’d glanced back laughing. It was the only picture I had of her. I’d had it printed and framed so I could keep it by my bed. Some nights staring at it was the only thing that kept me going. I slipped my phone into my pocket. I had my note and my picture. It would have to get me through the next few days.
When I got to the bottom of the steps, Ethan was standing in the foyer talking to
my dad. His eyes met mine and something felt off. There was something I was missing.
“Ethan?”
He shuffled his feet. “Hey, Sawyer I, uh, forgot you were heading out today.”
I hadn’t been to a field party, or anywhere else for that matter, since Lana left me. “Yeah, practice is starting up.”
“I came by to ask you something, but it can wait until you get back.”
“You’re here now, might as well ask.”
God help him if he asked me if Lana was available. I’d break his damn neck.
“Uh, it’s about Lana . . . ,” he began.
I looked over at my dad. “Can you give us a sec, Dad?”
Frowning, my father nodded, grabbed one of my bags, and headed outside.
“What about Lana?” I asked, making sure he heard the warning in my words.
Ethan sighed. “Not sure how to ask this . . . ,” he began.
“I’d choose my words carefully, bro,” I replied.
He nodded. “Yeah, I’m getting that loud and clear.” Clearing his throat, he shifted his feet again. “Do you, uh, love her? Lana, that is.”
The fact he’d felt the need to clarify it was Lana he was asking about pissed me off. I didn’t like her being compared to Ashton. She was so much more than what I’d had with Ashton. There was no comparison.
“Yes,” I said in a clipped tone.
“I mean, do you love her more than—”
“Don’t you fucking say it,” I said with a snarl. That was a cliff Ethan didn’t want to step off. His eyes widened in surprise.
“Okay. I get it.” He backed away and moved toward the door.
“That’s all you wanted to say? Find out if Lana was available? You know she left me, right? No one can find her.”
Ethan swallowed hard and shook his head slowly. “Uh, no, I mean I heard something. I wasn’t sure.”
“I gotta go if that’s all you needed.”
Ethan turned and headed out the front door. “Good luck in Florida. I’ll, uh, see ya when you get back. Looking forward to hearing about it. The rest of us are going to have to live vicariously through you and Beau now. Since our football days are over.”