Page 72 of Chasing Blue

I don’t know what’s hurting me more right now, Eden’s words or Jack and Asher’s betrayals.

My phone vibrates from my hoodie pocket as we pull into the car park below our building, and I can’t believe it’s my brother’s name on the screen.

“You have got to be fucking kidding me,” I whisper as I cancel the call.

“That’s my fucking brother, I bet Eden’s been straight on the phone to Sloan, and she’s called Ash.”

Zoe pulls into her designated spot, and we both just sit in the empty silence of the car for a few seconds.

“What an absolute shit show of a I. This entire weekend needs to fuck off,” Zoe says quietly. “I need to start calling clients and cancelling appointments . . .”

My phone vibrates with another call from my brother, interrupting Zoe. I hold it up to show her the screen, too exhausted for words.

“Just answer it. Tell him he’s a cunt and you’re too angry to talk to him right now. I’ll do it if you like,” Zoe offers.

Letting out a defeated sigh, I swipe to answer.

“I’m not . . .” I start.

“Scar? Scar please listen to me.” I know instantly that something’s wrong as soon as my brother says my name.

“What?” I ask cautiously, my voice sounding thick and raspy.

“Scar, Mum’s been in an accident. You need to get here, it’s bad, really bad. Can you come?”

I close my eyes and feel guilt almost crush my chest as my first thought is, how the fuck can this be my life.

“Scar?”

“Where? Where is she?”

“If you message me your flight details, I’ll come and get you,” Asher offers.

“No, no. You stay with . . .”

“Scar, she’s gone. She’s already gone,” my brother cries down the phone. “I didn’t wanna tell you over the phone, but I can’t . . . I don’t want to give you hope. She’s gone.”

I stare blankly out the window at my car in the spot next to Zoe’s as even more tears roll down my face and my mind goes blank. I can’t find the words, I can’t think.

“I can’t . . . I don’t know.” I have no idea what I’m trying to say, so I turn to face the only person in this world I have. “My mum’s dead, Zo. I need to get up to Palmers Bay.”

Passing the phone to Zoe, I wrap my arms back around my middle and attempt to hold myself together as the world around me falls apart.

CHAPTER17

Jack.

I pullup at our office to find a police car parked next to Milly’s. Unease spreads through my belly as I climb out of my truck. I’m running late, and I hate being late. On top of the drama of Eden showing up at our place yesterday, having her claim she had nowhere else to go, and putting her up for the night, I’ve also managed to lose my phone.

I’m pretty sure I put it down on Scarlett’s bench top when we kissed right before I left her place, but I’ve just swung by there and got no answer when I buzzed on the intercom.

When I walk into the office, there’s both a uniformed and plain-clothed cop sitting on the two-seater sofa we have opposite mine and Milly’s desks.

They’re both drinking from mugs, and my eyes slide between them and my sister as I hold the door open for Mick.

I watch the cops watch my dog before the plain-clothed stands and holds his hand out.

“Senior Constable Mike Edmonds. Jack, is it?” he asks as he holds his hand out. I return the gesture, and we shake.