“Phoebe, wait,” Beau called as I rushed by.
I didn’t look back, but it sounded like he was following me when he called my name again.
“Beau, what about Abby?” Mitch shouted after him.
“Yeah, I’m coming,” I heard Beau say as I raced away through the night.
Angel could find me in our suite.
By the time I reached the little cabin we shared, she was already waiting.
“So?” she asked when I walked in.
“Don’t ask. We’re leaving.” I threw my suitcase onto the bed and started to fill it again.
“That good, huh?”
I threw some more of my clothes onto the pile. “He thought Max was my boyfriend. He thought I’d just used him. Now that I know that, I set him straight and we’re on the same page.”
“Well, that’s great, isn’t it?” She put her hand over my suitcase, as if that could stop me leaving.
“No, it’s not great. It’s bullshit that doesn’t matter. It doesn’t make a difference.” Ignoring her hand, I kept shoving everything I could into my suitcase while I ranted.
“How can you say that?”
I stared at her disbelievingly. Had she forgotten already? Everyone seemed so ready to forget the other two people involved: Xavier and Cassidee. “Because regardless of what misconceptions he had about me, there’s one truth I can’t ignore. His pregnant fiancée.”
“Oh. Right.” She played with the ends of her long hair.
I stopped and stared at her, giving her the best bitch brow I could. “Yeah. ‘Oh. Right.’ I don’t know what you expected out of this retreat, Angel. I know you were just trying to help, but it’s made things worse.”
“I’m sorry. I just didn’t want you to settle.”
I sighed before moving again. “At least I know why he’s been such an arse. Hopefully that’ll stop now. Maybe we can even be near each other again without tearing each other apart. Maybe he’ll even leave Xavier and me in peace. Now are you coming with me, or am I hitchhiking back to Mooresville?”
“So you’re going back to be with Xavier?”
It was clear by her tone it was the last thing she thought I should do. But she didn’t know heartache like mine.
“Yes. I’m more convinced than ever that safe is easier. Safe doesn’t hurt. Besides, I can’t break the heart of the one guy who’s always been sweet to me.”
“Are you sure?”
My hands continued to move as fast as possible to pack everything away. “Positive. Now are you coming or not?”
“Of course I’m coming. Just give me a minute to pack.”
I closed the suitcase and zipped it up. “I’m sorry I’m wasting two nights of your money.”
“Girlie, all I wanted you to do was talk to him. Now you have, my job here is done.”
“Even if I’m not planning on getting back together with him?”
She rounded the bed and cupped my cheek. “It was never about you being together with him. It was about you sorting out what’s in here.” She pressed her hand over my heart. “Now, I can be ready in just a few minutes, but it’s late and it’s a long drive. Are you sure you wouldn’t rather stay until the morning and drive when it’s not so cold and dark? When there’s less chance for an accident.”
She had a point, much as I hated to admit it. I just wanted to be gone. “Fine, but we leave first thing in the morning. No matter what. And the moment I get home, I’m going to Skype Mum and tell her to kick Max’s arse for me.”
“Deal.”
DESPITE MY BEST intentions to leave when the sun came up, Angel tempted me into staying for a little longer with a stack of pancakes drowned in syrup.
“What is it with everyone trying to fatten me up whenever I’m here?” I asked.
“What can I say? I like to make sure I feed you while I can because I know you can be a little forgetful when it comes to feeding yourself.” She wisely chose to stay silent on who else the “everyone” could have included.
“You make me sound like I’m incompetent,” I muttered around a mouthful of pancakes.
She laughed. “Not incompetent, just focused. When you’re studying a track, you become a machine.”
I couldn’t argue, because she was right. She knew me too well.
“Now, I know you wanted to head home immediately this morning, but I heard about this beautiful waterfall a few miles from here and I was thinking maybe we could go for a run?”
“I don’t know . . .”
She gave me her puppy dog eyes as I trailed off. “I really wanna get some photos. Who knows when or if I’ll ever get back here?”
“Fine, but only if we can order a picnic and stay away for the day.”
A grin lit her face as someone knocked on the door. “One step ahead of you.”
She opened the door just enough to greet whoever had arrived—I didn’t dare look—and grabbed a backpack from them.
“You’ve got to be kidding me. So much for me having a choice.”
She had the decency to give me a sheepish grin. “I figured even if we were leaving, we could use some food for the road.”
“Sure you did. For that, you can carry the pack.”
“Ha, you’ve got a deal.”
We both got changed into comfortable clothes for our run. True to her word, she donned the backpack with the food, but then tossed me her camera bag which was probably heavier anyway.
“Thanks,” I said sardonically.
“Well, you were the one who complained about me trying to fatten you up. Now’s your chance to work off the pancakes.”
It took a while to get away from Beau’s property, but Angel had obviously been up early because she had the inside word on a trail that would lead us to the road and from there up to the waterfall.
As we always did when we had a chance to work out together, we pushed one another harder and faster than either of us would have done alone.
“Least it’ll be all downhill on the way back,” I joked as we stopped for a breather.
We’d been away from the resort for almost six hours by the time we got back. The photos Angel had taken were worth the trip though. Plus, punishing my body to the point of exhaustion had actually worked wonders on my mind. It’d been quiet for the first time in a while.
“You wanna dress to the nines and be my date for dinner?”
I didn’t even think about it before agreeing.
We showered, did our hair and make-up, and slipped into our evening dresses. It was far over the top for the on-site restaurant, but we didn’t care. It wasn’t the first time we’d done something similar.
When we made the trek from our cabin to the restaurant, I kept my eyes peeled for Beau. Thankfully, I didn’t see him again.
I did however spot Cassidee through the window of the restaurant as she rushed past. She had her hair pulled up off her face and looked as exhausted as Beau had when she raced down the path I knew led to the kitchen of the restaurant. Her stomach ballooned out more than ever. She didn’t acknowledge Angel or me as she rushed by again with a tray from the kitchen.
I frowned as I considered the possible reasons Beau might have left it up to her to get meals from the kitchen. None of them were good. I wanted to ask someone whether Abby was okay, but reminded myself that it wasn’t my place to care.
“You okay?” Angel asked.
“Uh, yeah.” I nodded, trying to hide my distraction as best as I could.
After dinner, Angel and I made sure we had everything packed up ready to check out early the next morning, and fell into bed together, exhausted from the day.
ANGEL AND I slept in until almost nine before heading straight for checkout. Even if she’d wanted to push me to stay a little longer, we couldn’t. She was due to catch her flight that afternoon.
“Thank you for dragging me on this vacation,” I said. It was a reluctant thanks, but I had to admit that I was in a better place for the experience.
“You missed a bit of that thank yo
u,” Angel teased.
“Is that right?”
“Yeah. You missed the bit where I was right. And you were . . .” She trailed off, leaving the word hanging between us. The silence lingered.
“You were . . .” She flourished her hand to prompt me to finish her sentence.
“You were right, and I was wrong. I hadn’t really talked to Beau, not properly.”
She held up her camera and snapped a photo of me. “A Reede admitting they were wrong. That’s a moment I have to capture.”
Although it would usually have been a moment for us to laugh and joke, the mood in the car turned sombre. She placed her camera back in its bag and rested her head on my shoulder. I rested my cheek on her hair for as long as I dared. Neither of us needed to say the words that rested heavy in the car. We’d miss each other.
Not wanting to spend the hours-long drive in a funk, I put on a playlist filled with nostalgic songs. Before long, we were singing and car-dancing to all our favourites.
The rest of the drive went the same: we vacillated between trying to claim our last moments of fun and feeling the pressure of her impending departure. I couldn’t help but be reminded of my last few hours with Beau, which brought all the revelations we’d shared to mind.
While I drove, I settled into my own mind, running every interaction I’d had with him through the filter of the new information I had. Some things that had seemed so callous and horrible actually made more sense with the idea that he’d thought I had cheated on him in mind.
Beside me, Angel had my tablet and was playing with something.
“Pheebs, you need to see this.” Angel’s voice was a quiet whisper as she stared at the tablet.
“What is it?”
“Can you pull over? Please?” Her quiet words terrified me.
As soon as it was safe, I pulled over to the side of the road. When I glanced over at her, I saw the website header for one of the gossip sites.
“What trash are they posting this time?” I reached out for the tablet.
“Just read it.” Her voice was quiet as she passed me the tablet. Worried.
Shit.
As soon as my eyes hit the headline, I saw why.
Stock Car Driver Beauregard Miller Rocked by Tragedy.
My heart was wedged firmly in my throat as I read the accompanying article.
A death in the family.
The interruption of our little moment sprung to mind. Followed by Cassidee fetching dinner the night before. And Beau’s complete absence the day before and as we’d checked out.
Dear God. Abby.
Was that the reason he’d been at the Georgia property so much lately? Had her health been deteriorating? No wonder he hadn’t wanted me there. Especially the way things had been between us. My chest burned and my stomach twisted. I was going to be sick.
Deep in my core, my heart ached with an agony a thousand times worse than anything he’d ever inflicted on me. My thoughts turned to my own little sister and how I’d felt at even the worry we might lose her. If something had gone wrong with her . . . it would have killed me. I couldn’t even imagine how I would have coped if I’d had to spend time at her bedside watching her slip away bit by bit.
The details in the article were sketchy, focusing on Beau’s career, resort, and his stress rather than the specifics of what had happened to his foster sister.
“I have to go back down there,” I murmured, barely aware I was talking aloud as I dropped the tablet in Angel’s lap. Half of my mind was already back on the road and driving back to Georgia. A day and a half had passed since Mitch had called Beau to Abby’s side. When had it happened? How long had Beau been dealing with the pain of his loss? I tried to draw in a breath, but it caught in my throat. “I need to help. I need to go back. I—”
Another attempt at drawing in a breath ended in a pained wheeze. I put my hand to my spinning head. Family was the most important thing, and Abby was the last of Beau’s. He needed support. He needed me to do whatever I could for him.
Angel’s hand came to rest over the top of mine. “Breathe.”
She waited until I met her gaze and then drew in a deep breath before releasing it slowly. When she did it again, I took the hint and followed her lead, drawing oxygen deep into my lungs. When I let the breath go, I nodded to let her know I was okay. Or at least, I would be okay enough for the moment.
“I need to go back, Angel.”
“I know. But you need to stop first.” Her tone was forceful. Solid. She rarely pulled the protective crap with me, so it stilled me instantly.
“I have to go to him.”
“I’m not denying you that, girlie.” She grabbed my hands and met my gaze. “If you think that’s for the best, then that’s what you need to do. But you’re not going to be any good to him wrecked.”
“I can’t imagine the pain he must be in.” I was still itching to spin the car around and get back to him. Until I realised the more immediate concern. “Shit, I’ve gotta get you to your flight.”
“That’s not important. You can drop me at a bus stop or something if you need to.”
“No. I’d be no good to anyone if I’m stressing about whether or not you got to your flight in time.”
Releasing my hands, she stroked me soothingly, running her hand over my hair and neck.
“Would it be terrible of me to leave you at the airport early?”
She stopped stroking and cupped my cheek. “Of course not. I understand. You just do whatever you need to do.”
“Okay. First Charlotte Airport. And then back to Lakemont.”
“You’re not going to go home first?”
I shook my head. “Why bother?”
“Have you got enough medication to last?”
She knew I always packed extra—there would be nothing worse than for me to be caught out and stuck somewhere with no access to life-saving medication—but I appreciated her worry. “I’ve got enough for another week on me.”
“And are you going to be okay driving back there tonight?”
I shrugged, unable to lie to her. “I don’t know, but I can’t not go back. I won’t sleep tonight anyway. I need to know that he’s okay.”
“I know you do.”
I pushed the car as hard as I dared to get Angel back to the airport while she jumped on the phone and booked me a room at Beau’s resort. When I pulled over to drop her off, I climbed from the car and held her tight. “I’m sorry this is the way I’m saying goodbye. I thought we’d be sipping coffees together right up until the last possible moment.”
“I know. But that’s what life is. It’s unexpected and it’s messy. You just need to roll with the punches.”
Even though I knew I needed to get going, I didn’t want to let her go.
“Have a safe flight.”
“Drive safe.”
Tearing myself from her, I climbed back in the car and called Xavier on hands-free.
When he answered his phone, his voice came in a rush. “Phoebe, thank goodness. I’ve missed you. Are you home now?”
“That’s what I’m calling about. I’ve just dropped Angel at the airport, but something’s come up and I have to go back to Georgia.”
“Is this about him?”
“I’m not getting into this now, Xav.” I rubbed my fingers over my brow. “I don’t have the time or the patience to deal with anything right now, okay? I just . . . I need to get back.”
“Are you breaking up with me?”
I wanted to scream at him to get a clue. That it was life and death. Instead, I sighed and worked to reassure him. “No. Of course not, Xavier. I just need to do this. I’ll be back in a few days for the feature with the Racing Hub, so we’ll catch up then. Okay?”
It was clear by his sigh that he wasn’t happy with what I’d said, but he didn’t argue. “I want to see you, Phoebe, but I’ll wait. I’ve got all the time in the world. All the time you need. ”
“Thank you, Xav. That means the world to me.
I just, I can’t abandon a friend. Not when he needs me.”
“So it is about him?”
The jealousy crap was too much for my fragile state. “Let’s go back a step to where you were happy to wait. Please?”
“I’ll see you in a few days.” He issued the words and then hung up before we could argue any more.
Why I was risking the relationship that had been consistent for the one that could only be called rocky at best, I’d never know. All I knew was that I needed to be in Georgia and my heart was already halfway back there.
I’d set my course and needed to get stuck on it regardless of the consequences.
IT WAS AFTER dark by the time I got back to the hotel. Unlike the last arrival, I didn’t pause at the entry. I wasn’t overwhelmed with memories of my time there last summer. All I had was one prevailing thought: I had to find Beau.
I needed to know he was okay.
Grabbing my suitcase from the back of the car, I raced for the reception. I dropped my bag as soon as I hit the landing, and then leapt for the after-hours phone.
“Hello?” It wasn’t Beau that answered. With everything going on, I hadn’t expected him to, but that didn’t mean I didn’t feel a slight stab of disappointment at the more unfamiliar voice.
“It’s Phoebe. Uh, Phoebe Reede. I’ve got a room booked.”
“I’ll be right there.”
I turned my back on the door and shoved my hands deep into my pockets as I waited for Joe or Mitch to come check me in. My gaze travelled over the dark lake and for the first time since arriving, I was struck by the reality of what I’d done. It had been an instinctive need to be back with Beau in his time of need, regardless of the personal cost.
“Phoebe, come in,” Joe greeted as he opened the door behind me.
“How is he?” I asked, not even caring whether I should have tried to act unaffected. My heart ached too much to pretend not to care about Beau.
Joe frowned, and for a moment I didn’t think he was going to answer me. Finally he raked his hands through his hair and shook his head. “He ain’t great. He’s spent most of the last two days makin’ arrangements. Now . . . well, now he’s drunk near a bottle of Fireball and he ain’t talking to no one.”
Phobic (Phoebe Reede: The Untold Story #2) Page 24
