Total pages in book: 185
Estimated words: 180510 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 903(@200wpm)___ 722(@250wpm)___ 602(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 180510 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 903(@200wpm)___ 722(@250wpm)___ 602(@300wpm)
I nod.
“She told Josie you said she needed to stay with her because there are bad people around. I certainly hope there aren’t any here today.”
“She what? She said that to Josie?”
Savannah nods.
“W-where are they?” My stomach twists into knots. I have a feeling. A terrible feeling.
“You can’t see Josie before the wedding, silly.”
I take long strides to the door. “Where are they?”
“Colten …”
As soon as I open the door, my world explodes. That feeling comes to fruition in the form of my daughter standing before me with confusion on her face, a short bob, and her long hair banded and hanging from her fist.
I can’t fucking breathe.
Reagan holds out her shaky hand with the hair. “J-Josie said I’m safe.” She’s on the verge of tears. “And s-she said she’s j-ust a star.”
I take the hair and pull her into my arms.
“She said t-to step backwards … and I … think she said there’s a galaxy.”
“I’m sorry, Button. Your hair will grow back.” I hold her at arm’s length again like I did when she showed me her dress. “Where is Josie?”
“What’s going on?” Isaac asks.
Reagan shrugs. “Her room? I don’t know. I unzipped her dress and came to give you my hair.”
“Stay right here. Don’t move.” I kiss her forehead and take off running.
“Colten?” Savannah calls behind me.
When I throw open the door to the lounge just off the ladies’ room, an unwelcome emptiness settles into my chest. She’s not here. She’s not in the building. I feel it. Fishing my phone from my pocket, I call her.
She doesn’t answer.
“Colten, where are you going?” Katy asks as I pass her on my way out the door to the parking lot.
I don’t answer her. I can’t.
Josie is nowhere in sight. She rode here with her parents, and their vehicle is here.
“Josie!” I scream, running my fingers through my hair. She’s gone.
Fuck … I can’t breathe or feel anything but my heart losing all control while I turn in a slow circle, my world spinning out of control.
She’s gone.
“She’s not answering her phone.” Isaac says.
I grip my hair tighter and continue turning in a circle.
“Nerves. It’s just nerves. She probably decided to walk around the block. She’ll be back,” he says.
Does he really believe that?
I don’t.
She’s gone. And I’m so fucking scared she’s gone for good.
“Where are my keys?” I search my pockets.
“Probably inside with the rest of your stuff,” Isaac says.
I run inside, grab my keys, and run back to my car, ignoring everyone saying my name along the way. They’re concerned the bride has cold feet. I’m worried her entire body could be cold if I don’t find her soon.
“Just hold on, baby … please.” I speed out of the parking lot, scouring the area. I can’t file a missing person’s report, but I can call Rains.
“Hey, I’m trimming my beard just for your wedding. Why are you calling me?”
“I need a favor.”
“What’s wrong? Your voice is shaking. Colten?”
I clear my throat, the thick pain of reality shrinking my airway. “Josie’s missing. And I need to find her.”
“It’s probably cold feet. Give her a bit. She’ll show back up.”
“No. You don’t understand. She’s not having second thoughts about marrying me. She’s …” I pinch the bridge of my nose, waiting at a stoplight. “She’s suicidal. If I don’t find her soon, we won’t find her alive.”
He doesn’t answer for several seconds.
“Are you—”
“I’ll get her picture out to everyone. Colten, what hap—”
“Thanks.” I disconnect the call.
Over the next three hours, I look everywhere. Rains gives me updates.
Nothing.
Her parents give me updates.
My mom waits at my house.
My brother waits at the church, even after the guests go home.
Her brother waits at her house.
“Colten,” Mom whispers my name when I open the back door and shrug out of my jacket, yanking at my tie to loosen it.
“We’ll find her.”
I shake my head.
“Yes. We’ll—”
“NO!” I pound my fists on the kitchen counter.
She jumps.
Then I swipe my arms along the granite, knocking everything to the ground. “FUCK!” My fist lands into the glass cabinet door, then the next, and the next. Blood runs down my arm. “SHE’S DEAD. SHE’S DEAD!” I grab a chair and hurl it through the patio door. “FUCK YOU, WINSTON JEFFRIES!”
“C-Colten …” Mom sobs, trying to approach me before I break something else.
When my gaze meets hers, I see it. The perfect reflection of my pain. Even if I stopped loving my father, she did not. He selfishly took his life, leaving her with nothing but a million unanswered questions.
“Colten.” She takes a cautious step toward me while I pant with the intensity of a rabid animal. When she wraps a towel around my fist, my torso curls inward.
“Noooo …” I sob.
She hugs me when I fall to my knees. No more promising everything will be alright. Nothing will ever feel right again.