Chapter 12

CHAPTERTWELVE

Jaxon

It’s early afternoon, and I’m sitting in my office, working on some training plans for new members, when my phone dings with a text from Baldy.

Is Liv with you?

I grin to myself at the nickname I gave Gunner in my phone. Sue me. Except, when I read the message, I frown before quickly checking the cameras on my second monitor to look for Liv in the dance studio or weight room. Maybe I missed her coming in, but no, Chase is wrapping up a class, and River is cleaning up the weight section. I assume Ryder is in Chase’s office next door.

No, she’s not with me, and she’s not in the studio. Maybe she’s still in class?

I wanted to pick her up from classes, but she didn’t go.

I quickly reply, feeling a sense of worry creeping in.

Haven’t seen or heard from her today. I’ll check with the guys and see if they know something.

I get up from my desk and make my way to Chase’s office next door. Ryder startles when I open the door, nearly falling off the chair he was lounging in, a confused expression on his face.

“Hey, have you seen or heard from Liv today?” I ask, trying to keep my tone calm, but he shakes his head.

“No, not since yesterday when she left our place. Why, is everything okay?” he asks.

I explain the situation to him, and he quickly gets up, grabbing his phone.

“Let me call her and see if she’s okay,” he says, dialing Liv’s number, but it goes straight to voicemail. “Her phone is off. That’s not like her,” Ryder says, his expression now more serious. I nod, feeling my own worry increase.

“Let’s check with the others and see if they know anything,” I suggest, but neither River nor Chase have heard from her today either.

“You don’t think she ran away again, do you?” Ryder asks, a worried expression on his face, but I shake my head.

“She wouldn’t do that. She promised. Something else is going on,” I say.

“Liam?” River asks. I don’t answer and instead pull out my phone.

They haven’t seen or heard from her either.

We need find her and make sure she’s okay. Today isn’t a good day.

I frown, and Ryder, who’s looking at my phone too, asks, “Why is today not a good day?”

On it. Why?

Just find her. Text me when you do. I’ll check the bars downtown.

“It’s early afternoon, and Liv doesn’t drink in public, so why would Gunner search the bars?” River asks.

“Because it’s really not a good day today,” Chase mutters, pulling at his curls as his face goes white. He gets on his phone and breathes out a “Fuck” when he finds what he was searching for. “Her family died a year ago today.”

We all fall silent.

“We are some fucking shitty boyfriends for not knowing that,” Ryder says, playing with his lip ring.

“That’s so Liv—she didn’t want to bother us with her grief,” River says with a huff, shaking his head.

“I think I know where she might be,” I say. We all pile into my Jeep and drive off to the beach.

* * *

As we pull up at South Beach Park next to her Mini, I catch a glimpse of her from afar, sitting in the same spot where we had our beach day. I nearly fall out of the car, I feel so relieved to see her. I send a quick text to Gunner before we walk over to her, trying not to startle her. Nobody else is near her, and she has her back to us, sitting on a towel and wearing sweatpants and River’s hoodie in the heat, her hair swept over one shoulder. Next to her lies an empty bottle of Jack Daniels and a boombox, which is quietly playing “Wake Me Up When September Ends” by Green Day. Fuck, how could we not know she washurting so badly?

As we get closer, she turns her head and sees us. Her eyes are red and puffy, tears are streaming down her face, and a sob breaks out of her. Without a word, I sit down next to her and wrap my arms around her, pulling her into a tight embrace. The guys join in, forming a protective circle around her. Liv sobs into my shoulder, and I stroke her hair, feeling a mix of guilt and relief that we found her. We sit there in silence for a while, just letting her know that we’re here for her with our presence.

Finally, she looks up at each of us, her eyes still watery but full of gratitude.

“I’m sorry,” she whispers. “I didn’t want to ruin your day.”

“You didn’t ruin anything, sunshine. We want to be here for you. We’re just glad we found you, and we’re sorry we weren’t here sooner,” I say.

The guys nod in agreement, all reaching out to stroke her, and Liv leans into my embrace once more.

“Can we just stay here for a bit longer?” she asks, sniffling.

“Of course,” I reply, squeezing her. “As long as you need.”

Just then, tires screech behind us, and a black Land Rover Defender comes to a halt next to our cars. Gunner jumps out of it and runs over to us. I let go of Liv, and she stands up, swaying a bit just before he picks her up. Her legs wrap around him, and he sits down with her straddling him between the guys and me on her towel, not caring about his suit and dress shoes. He holds her tight, cradling her head against his chest.

“I’ve got you now, Livy,” he whispers into her hair. “I searched the whole fucking city for you.”

“I’m sorry,” she cries.

“Don’t be. You’re not alone. Look around, there are so many people who care for you. You don’t have to go through anything alone anymore,” he says, rubbing her back.

“Everyone I love leaves me or dies,” she says, sobbing into his suit, and I glance at the guys to find all of them looking heartbroken and near tears themselves.

“We’re going nowhere, beautiful,” River says as he strokes her knee, his voice weak.

We sit there, watching the sunset and listening to Liv’s sniffling before she finally falls asleep in Gunner’s arms.

“Let’s get her home,” I say, standing up.

All of them stand as well, Gunner holding Liv in his arms. He looks at me and grimaces.

“I need to work tonight. I can’t afford to skip it, and I’m already late,” he says.

River steps forward and opens his arms, allowing Gunner to hand Liv over to him. I put a hand on Gunner’s shoulder and give it a gentle squeeze.

“Thank you for including us today. We’ll take her from here, and I’ll text you later to let you know how she’s doing.”

“Thanks, man,” he says with a nod before turning and walking to his car.

“God, do we have to like him now?” Ryder asks with a huff.

Chase chuckles before picking up the towel, boombox, Liv’s purse, and the empty bottle. He shakes it, making a face.

“Our girl can drink,” he says, and I grimace, feeling guilty that we didn’t notice Liv was struggling so much.

“Let’s go,” I say.

Chase hands Ryder Liv’s car keys so he and River can drive her back in the Mini while Chase sits in the Jeep beside me.

“We fucked up badly today, brother,” he tells me.

I nod. We sure did.