17. Hazel

Chapter 17

Hazel

I stared at Emily’s wedding photo with a deep frown. Olivia stood in the background with a smile on her face. She was at the wedding. She knew Emily was married. There was no doubt about that.

So why did she omit that fact? Why didn’t she mention that Emily was married? Her husband was the obvious suspect in this case so why would Olivia not tell us about him?

I reached for the coffee on my table and absentmindedly brought it to my lips. The hot liquid scorched my tongue and spat it out. Thankfully, I didn’t drink a lot, so it didn’t make a huge mess.

“Careful, Hazel,” Kira said as she scrunched her nose. “You almost got coffee on my shirt. This is silk. It stains easy.”

I stared at the distance between our tables. They were beside each other but the space between them meant it wasn’t possible for me to get coffee on her. Only if I had projectile vomited, the coffee would it have touched her. I wasn’t even facing her direction when I spat it out. I bit back an inappropriate reply. “Thanks for your concern, Kira.”

“You’re welcome.”

I wasn’t surprised she didn’t pick up on my sarcasm and I didn’t bother to explain it to her. There was someone else that was far more important. And that was Olivia.

I needed to find her. I’d tried calling, but the calls weren't going through. I sent her messages, but she never responded. Every attempt to reach her had been futile.

The only thing I hadn't done was go to the police precinct to ask about her. She was the only witness in a missing person’s case, so they had to know where she was. After trying her number a few more times, I gave up and decided to check the police precinct.

But first, I called Ian so he could join me. “Hey, Ian. Are you busy?”

“Hi, Hazel. How are you?”

“Um… fine.” It felt weird to hear him ask how I was doing. We typically skipped the formalities when we spoke. “Are you busy?”

“Not really. What’s up?”

“I can’t reach Olivia. I don’t know if I should be worried that something might have happened to her too or if I should take this as a sign that she was involved in Emily’s disappearance.”

“What do you need me to do?” he asked.

“I was to stop by the police precinct and see if they know where she is.”

“Will they give you that kind of information?”

I shrugged but then I remembered he couldn’t see me. “I don’t know but it’s worth a try.”

“All right. You’re in your office, right?”

“Yes.”

“Stay there. I’ll come pick you up.”

And the weird got weirder . Since when did Ian offer to drive down here just to pick me up? We could just meet there.

He cut the call before I could protest. He probably knew I was going to. As I waited for Ian, I felt a strange urge to look at myself in the mirror. I pulled out a compact mirror from my bag. I fixed my hair, rubbed some powder, and reapplied my lip gloss.

“Are you expecting someone?” Kira asked as she peered over my shoulder.

“No. Why would you ask that?”

“You’re getting all dolled up like someone you like is about to pick you up.”

“That’s crazy talk. I wouldn’t… I don’t… There’s no way I would—”

My phone rang, freeing me from this torture. I’d never been so happy to see a phone call from Ian. Unfortunately, Kira saw it too. She gasped so loudly, that I was certain Ian heard it from outside.

“Is Ian Carter the guy you were getting dolled up for?”

“Stop saying ‘dolled up’. I just put on a bit of lip gloss. And lower your voice before someone hears you,” I said. I looked around to make sure no one heard what she said. The last thing I needed was the people at my office thinking I was going on a date with Ian.

“Is he coming up here?” Kira asked, excitedly. She reached for her bag and started adjusting her makeup.

“I’ll ask him.”

I tossed my phone into my bag and rushed out of the office. I met Ian waiting downstairs by his car. “Let’s go before she gets here,” I said.

Ian walked to the passenger side of the car and pulled the door open. For a moment, I just stood there looking confused. “You want me to drive?” I asked, still confused.

“No. I’m opening the door for you.”

And the weird got even weirder. “Why would you do that?”

“I just want to.”

“Thank… you.” I slipped into the open car with a deep frown. You would think his kindness would make me happy, but it felt strange coming from Ian. I had no idea why he was acting so weird, but I chose not to question it. At least for now.

We had something far more important to deal with. I stared out the window as Ian drove to the precinct. I kept going over every interaction I had with Olivia in my head. Were the signs always there? How did I not notice that she was lying?

I’m supposed to be a reporter. Sniffing out the truth was my job but Olivia played me like a faulty drum set. She lied about Emily’s marriage. Who knows what else she was lying about? What if she had a hand in what happened to Emily?

I didn’t want to make too many assumptions because there was another possible scenario. Olivia was nowhere to be found. She could be in trouble. Maybe the person who took Emily came back to get Olivia. I was accusing her but for all I knew she could also be a victim.

I pressed my head against the window and sighed. Hopefully, I will get answers soon. Ian pulled into the driveway of the precinct, and we stepped out. I walked in front while he followed behind me.

And maybe it was because I was too busy worrying about Olivia but somehow, I missed a step. I felt my ankle bend, and I knew I was about to land on the floor. Hard. I gasped and tried to steady myself, but I just couldn’t find my balance.

Strong arms wrapped around my waist, steadying me and pulling flush against a hard chest. I looked down, and I saw Ian's arms wrapped around my waist. I looked up and our faces were inches apart. For a moment, I just stayed there, in his arms, lost in the feeling of having him so close.

Then I broke out of my trance and shoved him away. “What are you doing?” I asked.

“You almost fell.”

“And so?”

Ian looked at me like I was crazy. “I wasn’t going to just let you fall.”

“When we were kids, you shoved me off my bike when I rode past you.”

“That was several years ago, Hazel. I’ve grown since then. One would expect that you would have done the same but…”

He didn’t finish his sentence. It was as if he didn’t want to insult me. Ian was reaching astronomical levels of weirdness today. He’d never held back on my account before and neither had I. and he’d certainly never reached for me because I was about to fall.

Again, I decided not to question it. We were at the police precinct. Olivia should be our priority right now. I walked into the building and headed straight to the detective's office. I’d spoken to him a few times through the course of the investigation, so I knew where to find him.

Detective Howard was not pleased to see me. He never was. I was the woman who stopped by often to remind him that he needed to find Emily as soon as possible. I also stopped by to see if I could get any information out of him. He’d never disclosed anything about the case to me, but I was hoping he’d be more inclined to do so today.

Maybe after I told him all the information I’d discovered, he would tell me what he had as well. “Detective Howard! I’m glad I caught you.”

“I’m not.”

I forced a smile even though deep down I wanted to reach across the table and strangle him with his tie. That would probably land me in jail. I wished I’d come across his partner, Detective Finch instead. Finch was always out on the street, chasing leads while Howard sat behind his desk stuffing his face with donuts. It was no surprise that I had more respect for the former man. At least Finch was still trying to find Emily. Howard had mostly given up.

“It’s always such a delight to see you,” I said, still smiling brightly. Ian and I took a seat opposite the detective.

“Look, Miss. Jones, I—

I cut him off before he could make an excuse to make me leave. “I can't find Olivia anywhere. Do you have any idea where she might be?”

“I can't disclose that information.”

“Yes, I had a feeling you might say that which is why I came with some information of my own. It’s something you must know. Emily is married.”

Howard didn’t look surprised by the news. If anything, he looked bored. “I know.”

“You know?”

“I’m a detective. Of course, I know.” Ian scoffed from his seat and Howard glared at him before continuing. “Emily was married, but she got divorced. It was a pretty messy separation from what we found out.”

“What else did you find out?” I asked.

“I can't tell you that.”

I sighed. “Can you at least tell me where Olivia is? Please, I'm desperate. She came to me for help and now I can't find her anywhere. I’m worried something might have happened to her, too.”

It was Howard’s turn to sigh. He reached into his drawer, brought out a small piece of paper, and scribbled on it.

“Here. That’s where she said she would be staying.” He handed me the paper and then turned to Ian. “Keep her safe, please. If she keeps putting herself in danger, one of these, she’s going to get hurt.”

“Aw, I didn’t know you cared, Howie,” I said as I placed both hands on my chest with mock affection. “And I can take care of myself.”

“Please just leave my office.”

“Isn't he a treat?” I asked Ian as we walked out of the detective’s office.

“Sure is.”

We drove to the address Detective Howard gave us. It was a small house on the outskirts of town. It stood alone with a barren garden surrounding it. It didn’t look like anyone had been there in a long time.

“Why would Olivia stay at a place like this?” I asked, not really expecting an answer.

“Maybe it was all she could afford.”

That was certainly possible. “I wish she had come to me instead.”

It was quite late when we got to the house and the sky had already begun to darken. The cold night air pushed out the afternoon heat, making me shiver. I rubbed my hand over my bare arms to warm myself up.

I was about to walk into the building when I felt a jacket drape over my shoulders. I turned around, and I saw Ian standing behind me. “Did you just give me your jacket?”

“Yes,” he said casually as if he hadn't just done the strangest thing ever.

“Okay. What the hell is going on? Why have you been acting strange?”

“I haven’t been acting strange.”

“You asked me how I was and offered to pick me up. Then you opened the car door for me and caught me in your arms when I almost fell. As if that wasn’t weird enough, now you’re giving me your jacket. What is going on? Are you dying or something?” As I spoke, I slipped my arms into his jacket. It was really cold out here.

“I’m not dying.”

“Then what is wrong with you?”

“There’s nothing wrong with me,” he said.

I was starting to get annoyed. “Just tell me the truth! What is going on? Why are acting this way when—

“I know about your crush on me!”

Silence fell between us. It took me a while to find my words. And when I did, all that came out was, “What?”

Ian sighed and looked up at the dark sky as if he was regretting his decision to tell me the truth. “My mom told me that you have a crush on me.”

“Correction, I used to have a crush on you. That was a long time ago. A very long time ago,” I said.

“I was pretty surprised when I found out. I didn’t know you ever had those kinds of feelings for me.”

“Well, like I said, it was a very long time ago, and it only lasted for a week. It was the week after we met before I really got to know you. Thankfully it didn’t last long because I found out how pretentious you are and the crush just faded away.”

Ian glared at me. “Pretentious?”

“Yes.”

“I’m pretentious? That’s rich coming from you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked.

“It means that if anyone is pretentious here, it’s you! Always going out of her way to appear better than everyone else. You and your darned savior complex that makes you simply unbearable to be around!” he was shouting now, and I was glad there was no one else here to witness it

“Oh, I’m sorry that I like to help people. Forgive me for not being self-centered like you!”

“Now I’m self-centered as well as pretentious. At this point, you’re just throwing words around to deflect from the fact that you have a problem!”

I scoffed and stepped forward. He was taller than me which meant I had to look up as I spoke but that didn’t deter me in any way. “I’m the one with the problem? You’re the guy with his head so far up his ass that he can't see that there are other things more important than he is!”

“Other things like what? Your delusional attempt to save the world?” He rolled his eyes before looking at me again. “You know, for a woman so far up on her high horse, you’re pretty short.”

“Butt-head!”

“That was real mature of you, Hazel. Real mature.”

I groaned in frustration. “You’re so annoying!”

“And you’re incredibly overbearing!”

We both remained silent after that. Our breaths became the only sound in the quiet neighborhood. We just stood there, staring at each other, our breaths mingling. I saw the moment his gaze dropped to my lips. My breathing became more rapid but this time it wasn’t because I was angry.

His eyes met mine again, and I saw anger and desire swimming within them. I was certain he could also see the same in my eyes. I drew in a sharp breath when he lowered his head. All rational thought left me when his lips claimed my own.

My hands went up to his neck, and I pulled him closer to me as the kiss intensified. Ian wrapped his arm around my waist and drew me to him so that my chest collided with his own. Not even the cold air could pass between us now.

The cold I’d felt earlier was a distant memory. In Ian’s arms, all I felt was warmth and passion. I found myself surrendering to the passion he gave me, my body melting against his own as I clung to him.

This wasn’t supposed to happen, but I couldn't bring myself to stop it, not when I was enjoying every minute of it. Our lips moved together in sync, none of the awkwardness or confusion that typically accompanied a first kiss. It was as though we’d done this before, or we were always meant to do it.

Ian pulled away slightly and kissed his way down my neck. “Ian,” I moaned his name when his teeth grazed my skin. I should have felt mortified but nothing else seemed to matter. Nothing but the way he made me feel in that moment.

He lifted his head and met my lips again while his hand combed through my soft curls. I didn’t know how long we stood there, kissing. All I knew was that I didn’t want this to end. I loved the feel of his lips on mine. I loved—

A car zoomed by blasting loud music. The sound was a bucket of cold water that pulled Ian and me out of this strange trance. We pulled apart; both our eyes wide as we contemplated what had just happened.

“Hazel, I—”

“We should go,” I said, cutting him off. “It’s late. We can check for Olivia some other time.”

I didn't wait for him to respond. I walked to the car and got in. Ian stood there for a minute longer before he walked over. He got in the car, started it, and drove away.

I kept my gaze glued to the window as he drove. I couldn’t bring myself to look at him. The second his car stopped outside my apartment building, I rushed out and ran into the building. It was only when I was safely behind my apartment door that I realized I’d forgotten to give him back his jacket.

And it wasn’t the only thing he’d given me this evening. I lifted my hands to my lips. They still tingled in the aftermath of the kiss Ian had given me. I still couldn’t believe I kissed him.

What was I thinking?