I turned on the television to drown them out, but it only seemed to egg them on, the passion permeating the paper thin walls as I sat on the very edge of the bed, even Stanley appearing concerned as sizzles and woofs joined the ruckus behind us.
And when it finally fell quiet, I felt like I needed a cigarette.
But as screwed up as it was, the longer I sat in the room after sharing cold cherry toaster tarts with Stanley, I missed the distraction. Especially after a trip to the bathroom.
The television wasn’t helping, every news channel covering the Ever stunt on loop, so-called experts arguing in split-screen setups over the Parisian display. I couldn’t even get away from him watching reruns of old sitcoms, every storyline reminding me of something about Ethan. Ever. Whoever the hell he was.
I found myself twisted like a pretzel at the center of the mattress, the only section of bed that didn’t scream bloody murder when I breathed. Stanley laid against my side under the starched covers, steady snores replacing his usual snarls.
I gave in to the loneliness, turning to my phone, an explosion of notifications unleashed as it powered on. I skipped the wall of Ethan’s messages, not honoring them with attention.
Mom: Keely, I’m so sorry I let something stupid boil over the way it did. I love you. Please call me or Daddy. We’re worried sick.
I had to double-check the sender, shocked to see Mom apologizing. It only took, what, a month?
Dad: Keely. Ethan stopped by looking for you. Where are you? Please. We’re all worried sick. We love you.
A surprise teardrop sprang free at the message. At the image of the two meeting face to face in my mind. Dad unknowingly meeting an artist he’d admired for years. Or had Ethan told them everything? Had they asked him about the shitstorm that the Bold article unleashed?
I’m okay. We’ll grab lunch in a few days. I promise. I need alone time right now. Love you.
Somehow I wasn’t so sure alone time was what I needed based on the hollow feeling in my chest, but it was too late to back out. I’d already spent the money. I might as well get what I paid for. Even if it did come with a squeaky bed and freaky sex sounds.
I scrolled lower, one name stopping me in his tracks, a few short words filling the hollowness with fear.
Rick: Aw, trouble in paradise? Cute dog, by the way. A plane ride to NYC is faster. Just saying.
Ethan
An army fanned across Boston chasing a single goal: find Kee. Streets were combed, the private security’s connections stretching to an unofficial BOLO alert with Boston PD.
But no one found her.
My building’s security tapes showed her walking east with Stanley and a backpack, disappearing from view as she crossed the street out of range. That was all I had to work with.
I headed straight to Braintree after searching her apartment, but her parents hadn’t heard from her in weeks, her father Sean looking nauseous in the doorway when I gave him my name. He broke down when I said I couldn’t find her.
Even Marjorie fell apart, Kee’s ongoing rival reduced to sobs as guilt seeped from every pore. I knew Kee had her doubts about her, but she was every bit a mother in anguish at the news.
Next up was Bridget, but she, too, hadn’t seen or heard from Kee. She was hysterical in an instant, however, already a hormonal mess as she neared her due date. Telling a pregnant woman I couldn’t find her sister probably wasn’t the best idea, but I was desperate. I promised her I’d find Kee before she went into labor, and I intended to keep that promise.
I needed to find her. I was out of my mind with worry, snarling at every fucker who dared to call with an update that wasn’t we found her. It wasn’t acceptable. She couldn’t just vanish.
Even Jorge hadn’t heard from her, still sequestered in training across the country. He, like everyone else I’d contacted, was beside himself.
After hours of tail chasing, I was no closer to finding her and out of my mind with anxiety. She wasn’t answering texts or calls from anyone. I could handle her ignoring me, but the silence on her end toward everyone was deafening.
Part of me clung to the hope that she was hanging out at a coffee shop sipping on the world’s largest latte to calm down, but I knew Kee. I knew how much she valued friendship. Privacy. Honesty. I’d traipsed all over each. Combined with losing Lil, I wasn’t sure where she’d go or what she’d do.
So I went back to ground zero, scouring the penthouse for clues. A phone number. Another note. Anything.
I tore the place apart, dumping drawers, flipping cushions. Anything to gain control. Anything to keep me busy. Anything to distract myself.
But as darkness fell, a twisting in my gut reminded me that she was out there alone. Unprotected. Exposed.
What if the wrong person found her and carried out their threats?
I paced the halls, guilt ballooning in my chest. It was my fault. I should have known better than to think she’d forgive me. Had I really thought the awe of Ever would gloss over the fact that I’d lied to her for two years?
I didn’t deserve her.
But that didn’t mean I’d give up.
I just needed time.
Time to show her I wasn’t a monster.
Time to win her back.
* * *
I bounced from my place to Kee’s, intent on ripping through her apartment like a tornado for clues. It was eerie approaching the pitch-black brownstone, Lil always keeping at least one light on for Stanley allegedly, never one to admit she hated the dark.
Seeing it brought back the emotions of the morning, ones I swallowed down as I focused on the task at hand. I let myself into Kee’s
