Page 48

Troy

T he drive to Elena’s felt too long and too short all at once. Every second dragged, but at the same time, I wasn’t ready for what would come next.

Seeing her again after all this time made my guts twist and my heart pound. I knew without a doubt I’d drop to my knees and beg her to take us back. To love us like we loved her. Nothing was off the table when it came to her. I’d do anything, and I knew Troy would too.

Chase had gotten us her address from the school records—a fact that made me feel like a complete asshole for not knowing it before.

We should have known where she lived. We should have been there for her over the years.

Instead, we had spent the last few weeks hoping she’d reach out. Hoping she wouldn’t slip away and not realizing she was already gone

Adrian was silent beside me, his body tense, his fingers curled into his hoodie sleeves.

He hadn’t spoken much since we got in the car. But I could feel his restless energy. It was the same energy that was currently fueling me.

I tightened my grip on the wheel and breathed out.

“You good?” I asked .

He let out a hollow laugh. “No.”

Fair enough. I wasn’t good either.

I pressed my foot harder on the gas, my pulse pounding in time with the rhythm of my thoughts.

“She might not be ready,” I said after a long pause. “We have to be okay with that.”

Adrian’s jaw twitched. “I know.”

“If she needs time?—”

“I know,” he snapped.

I glanced at him. His green eyes were stormy, his hands trembling slightly in his lap now.

“I just…” He sucked in a sharp breath. “I just want her to know. That’s all.”

I nodded.

“That we love her and that we miss her. That we’re sorry.” Adrian’s throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. “That we’re not giving up on her.”

“I know. Me too,” I whispered.

The second we pulled up, my pulse skyrocketed. We got out of the car fast, moving with determination.

I pounded on the door first, my knuckles slamming against the wood, sending shockwaves up my arm.

Answer, answer, answer. Fuck, please answer.

Adrian stood beside me, his entire body coiled tight. The wait felt like an eternity.

Finally, the sound of footsteps met my ears, and the door cracked open.

My heart fell when it was Zara and not Elena.

“Hey,” Zara said gently.

The moment the words left her lips, I knew.

I fucking knew.

Gone. She’s fucking gone. She’s run away.

“She’s not here,” Zara whispered, stepping back. “Come in.”

Adrian and I pushed into the apartment like we could find her hiding in the corners, as far away from us as possible. I had the delusion she’d simply told Zara to fuck with us. That this entire running away thing was a joke to get back at us for the years of shit we’d put her through.

Zara shut the door softly, turning to face us.

Adrian was pale, his fists clenched, his breathing sharp.

I forced my voice to stay even. “Where is she?”

Zara sighed, wrapping her arms around herself like she needed a shield.

“She left,” she said softly. “In the middle of the night. She called me this morning to say she needed to get away for her sanity.”

The words hit like a gut punch.

I took a step back, shaking my head. “What do you mean she left?”

“She packed her things and drove away. She said she doesn’t know when she’ll be back or even coming back.”

I stared at her. Her words were like a foreign language to me.

Adrian let out a sharp, bitter laugh, turning his back and pacing the living room.

“She found out about Amanda,” Zara continued, eyes full of sympathy. “It sent her into a spiral. I told her. She deserved to know."

I closed my eyes, regret settling like lead in my stomach.

“She thought it wasn’t real, didn’t she?” I whispered.

Zara nodded. “Wasn’t it?”

I ground my teeth together. “I did ask her to marry me, but I planned on breaking it off when I returned. I was never going to marry her. I jumped the gun and fucked everything up.”

Zara sighed and shook her head. “Her therapist convinced her it was just a trauma bond,” she said softly.

Adrian’s head snapped toward her, his eyes wild with anger.

“That’s bullshit,” he snarled. “That’s not what this is.”

I ran a hand down my face, frustrated beyond belief. Adrian turned his back on us, stomped to her living room window, and looked outside, his body trembling with anger.

Zara’s expression was gentle.

“She needs time,” she said. “She needs space. And honestly… I think you two do, too. What you guys went through was traumatic. Maybe time can put things into perspective. ”

Adrian whipped around, his face twisted with emotion.

“We don’t need help,” he snapped.

But I just…stood there.

Thinking.

Feeling.

And knowing he was wrong.

“Maybe we do,” I said quietly.

Adrian froze. His head turned toward me, his eyes full of betrayal.

“Troy—”

I lifted a hand.

“Think about it,” I said, voice rough. “We’re fucked up, Adrian. We can’t even sleep away from each other.”

Adrian swallowed hard, his fingers twitching at his sides.

I exhaled, looking at him. “If Elena wants to get help, then maybe we should, too,” I murmured. “So we can be the best versions of ourselves for her.”

Adrian looked away. His throat bobbed. His hands shook.

Finally, he nodded.

Zara’s smile was gentle and understanding. "I think that’s a good idea,” she murmured.

I cleared my throat, shaking off the weight pressing against my chest. “Do you know where she went?” I asked.

Zara shook her head. “No. But I’ll keep you updated if I hear anything.”

It wasn’t enough. It wasn’t nearly enough. But it was all we had, so we’d just have to fucking ride it out and hope for a miracle.

We left Elena’s apartment feeling hollow.

But as we stepped outside, Adrian turned to me, his jaw set, his eyes burning.

“We’ll get her back. ”

I nodded. “I know. It’ll just take time.”

He swallowed hard. “How long do we wait?”

I met his gaze, my chest aching. I didn’t hesitate.

“Forever.”

And for Elena, I knew we would.