Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23868 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 119(@200wpm)___ 95(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23868 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 119(@200wpm)___ 95(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
When I grab my purse my phone slips out. I pick it up knowing I can’t turn it on here because Sawyer might be able to see where I’m at. I’ll have to wait until I’m outside of the hotel or somewhere farther from here.
Guilt eats at me as I walk into a pharmacy, but I can’t focus on that right now. All I need to do is focus on getting a test and getting out of here. Standing there in front of the wall of pregnancy tests, I decide to grab two different types.
“Crap,” I hiss when I slide my card through the machine at the self-checkout.
It’s not until after I use it do I realize it’s the wrong one. It’s too late now so I grab the tests and don’t bother with the receipt. I’m rushing out of the pharmacy because I know I’m likely busted. Sawyer will be watching for transactions, and he’ll see the location of the purchase. Deciding that now is probably a good time to check my phone, I turn it on.
The screen barely has time to light up before a million texts and missed calls begin to show. I don’t have a chance to read anything before it starts ringing in my hand. I clear the call without looking to see who it is and then send Sawyer a text.
I’m safe.
Once it goes through, I power off the phone and shove it into my purse. On the way back to the hotel, I keep looking over my shoulder. If he shows up, I need to be tucked away in a room and not roaming the streets where he could spot me.
I stop at the front desk and confirm another night, but I’m not sure if I’ll stay. I don’t want to be rushed to check out, but maybe I can’t stay in one spot for too long. When I make it back to my room without being caught, I let out a deep breath.
Then for some stupid reason I burst into tears. All I want to do is go home.
Chapter Eight
SAWYER
The speaker phone in my car is loud as it rings, but eventually Katherine picks up. “Hey, Sawyer.”
“Listen, don’t hang up,” I hurry to say because she’s done it a few times already. “It’s been two days. You’ve got to tell me where she is.”
She doesn’t say anything, and there’s a long silence that follows. My eyes ache from lack of sleep, but I don’t care. Rubbing them with the heel of my hand, I catch a glimpse of myself in the rearview mirror. I haven’t slept or showered or eaten since Chloe ran off. I tried going home, but I can’t be there without her. I’m starting to go crazy, and I know Katherine has information on her. Maybe she talked to her and Chloe told her where she was going.
There was one charge to our joint card yesterday, but it was to a pharmacy. I called the credit card company and got the address of the store, but there are several places in the area where she could be. Or it could have been a stop on her way out of town. The possibilities are endless, and I have no idea where to start.
Since the charge, I’ve been driving around this part of town hoping to see her. It’s an endless loop, but I keep telling myself that eventually she’ll come home. She has to. Right?
“Sawyer—”
“Please, Katherine. Please. She means everything to me.” I’m not above begging. I’m not above selling my soul to the devil himself if that’s what it takes to find my wife.
“I think she needs space.” There’s softness in her voice, but she’s not giving in. “Go home, Sawyer. Give her a couple of days.”
“I can’t.” How am I supposed to go home when I know she’s out here hurting? The thought of Chloe in pain is a nightmare, and knowing I caused it is worse. “I want to make this right.”
“Then give her the time she needs,” Katherine says, and then I hear her cover the phone and mumble something to someone else. A moment later, Bruce gets on the line.
“How are you holding up?” He’s gentle when he asks, and I have the feeling of being a wild animal and people approaching me cautiously.
“Not so good,” I say honestly as I make another turn around the block and pull over. “I’m driving in circles.”
I can hear his footsteps, so he must be walking away from Katherine. “Everything will be okay. We know how much Chloe loves you.”
“She left her ring on the nightstand.” Seeing it there was like an arrow through the heart. “I’m not so sure.”
“Listen, Sawyer.” He hesitates and then lowers his voice. “Try Tenth Street.”
“What?” I’m not sure I heard that right.
“Yeah, she just needs some space. Another night or two will do the trick. Yes, I think you’re right, a hot shower would be good too. Just give me a call.” Bruce is talking like we’re having an entire conversation and then it dawns on me that he’s told me where Chloe is. Katherine must have walked in on him or followed after, but he’s told me to try Tenth Street.