Page 55 of The One

Me

I’m one of the owners of the company. HR is not going to argue with me when I tell them to reinstate your vacation time. Stop worrying.

Trista

I got an email from HR. Thank you, Rhett. I feel a lot better now.

Me

Any updates on Lainey?

Trista

She’s with a friend for happy hour. I’m sending a pic in a second.

Me

Male? Female?

Trista

It’s a woman who looks so much like her that they could be twins. They even smile the same, it’s wild.

My stomach churned as I read her last message, my hands balling into fists. There was a burning in my chest, like someone had dropped a lit match in a pool of gasoline and the flames caused the acid to rise from my gut and rush to my throat.

With my closed fingers, I pounded on the center of the fire, telling the food I had inside of me to stay in.

My eyes were closed when my phone vibrated with another message, telling me the picture Trista sent had come through.

I couldn’t look at it.

I couldn’t even be around it.

I left my phone on the desk, rolled back my chair, and walked out of my office.

As I passed Ridge’s door, I heard, “Hey, Rhett, are you leaving? I need to talk to?—”

I didn’t turn around.

I didn’t answer.

If he said anything more, I stopped listening.

I just kept going until I reached my car and slid into the driver’s seat. I shifted into first gear, and I peeled out of the parking lot.

Trista

She just finished moving into her apartment. Her cousin and dad helped carry all the boxes into the building. Now, she’s at a furniture store.

Me

Keep following her.

Trista

Even though you know where she’s living now?

Me