Page 38 of Never Let Go (Forbidden #1)

Chapter Thirty-Eight

CALEB

“ Y ou said what now? Are you asking for an ass whooping?” Theo laughs.

“Man, are you really that stupid? Come on, out of all of us, you’re the one who’s been in a stable relationship.

” Theo touches his finger to his chin as if to contemplate an idea and I’m contemplating punching him in the face.

“Hmm, maybe that’s where you went wrong? ”

“I mean, he’s not wrong, Caleb,” James pipes up. “You don’t tell a woman you’ve been dating for all of five minutes that you’ll take care of her?—”

“Unless she’s only out for your money, then she’ll bite your hand off,” Theo interrupts.

James gives Theo a dark look but continues, “Lauren sounds like a woman who can take care of herself. She’s not looking for a ‘daddy’ to support her. You fucked up, man.” He gives me a knowing look and leans back in his chair, tipping his beer toward me in a salute .

I woke up this morning and Lauren was gone.

She hasn’t replied to any of my messages or calls, so I had to call in Tweedle dumb and Tweedle dumber for crisis intervention at Bucky’s.

I would have gone to Noah, seeing as he’s usually the voice of reason but considering he knows all about Lauren and the fact she’s my student, we don’t exactly see eye to eye on the subject.

I run a hand through my hair before asking, “So what do I do?”

They both look at each other and reply in unison, “Grovel.”

I choke out a laugh. “That easy, huh?”

“If you want to make it right, then yeah, it’s that easy.” James shrugs.

I eye them both, an eyebrow raised. “When did you two get so smart on relationships?”

Theo pipes up, a shit-eating grin on his face, “Oh, we didn’t. We just know how to fuck up.”

I sit back in my chair, scared that the two biggest fuck boys I know called me out on my shit. The realization that I fucked up suddenly hits me and I sit bolt upright.

“There it is.” Theo points at me and laughs. “Dipshit figured it out.”

“I gotta go.” I grab my jacket from the back of my chair, Theo and James’ laughter echoing around me as I race out of the bar, and to my car.

The drive home is quick. I get to the front door, unlocking it as I call out, “Lauren, you here?” I dash around the house like my ass is on fire, checking every room. “Lauren,” I call out again, but I’m only met with silence.

I know she’s not working tonight so where can she be?

I head into my bedroom and stop, noticing all her things have gone—the toothbrush that was next to mine in the cup, gone.

Her makeup and hairbrush on the sink, gone.

I frantically run into the guest room hoping she’s just moved all of her stuff in there but it’s empty.

I pull my phone out of my pocket and dial her number. “Come on baby, pick up.” I pace around the room waiting for her to answer but it goes to voicemail. I try again, this time it doesn’t even ring. I sit down on the bed with my head in my hands.

“Fuck.”