My hands tightened on the steering wheel. “What elephant?” I asked, trying to act casually.
“I don’t know, the broken look you’ve been sporting, like you lost a part of yourself.”
I shook my head as I pulled around to the side of the house. With the snow coming and the plows working in the morning, it was best to park on this side and save the spots in the garage for the rest of our roommates. I didn’t mind my truck being here, and it wouldn’t be easy for them to find spots later in this storm.
“Have you talked to her?”
I sighed, my hands clenching. “No. I texted Elise to check on her, but she hasn’t replied. Although Nessa said that she’s talked with her, so I know she’s okay. Not today, however. I’m going to try again and hope she at least gets back with Nessa.”
“I can’t believe Corinne’s gone,” Pacey said, his voice hollow.
I let out a breath. “I can’t either. I know she was your friend.”
Pacey looked away, his voice low when he spoke. “She was. And she wasn’t supposed to die. It wasn’t supposed to be like this.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Yeah. Me, too. I hope you and Elise figure it out.”
“Hell, me too.”
We got out of the truck, each zipping up our jackets. The temperature had dropped in the ten minutes it had taken me to drive home, and I wasn’t looking forward to how cold it would get this evening.
“Are the girls staying tonight?”
“As far as I know. It’ll be a full house.”
“Yeah...”
“Do you know how you’re going to fix this?” Pacey asked, his voice low. “I mean with Elise.”
“I don’t know if there is any fixing it. She’s just so broken, at least according to her, and I can’t simply step in and make things better. Plus, I don’t want to be the guy who hovers and forces her to listen to me and then bullies my way into helping.”
“Maybe you can be the guy who’s sort of in the middle of that. One who helps even if she pretends that she doesn’t need you to.”
“Yeah, I’m going to have to find a way. Because I love her, Pacey.”
“I know,” Pacey said softly. “We all know.”
“Well,” I said with a dry laugh. “I just figured it out, and I’m pretty sure that Elise doesn’t know.”
“Somewhere deep down, she does. And maybe that’s part of why she’s scared.”
“That doesn’t help me feel any better.”
“Maybe not. But if you love her enough—and I know you do—you’ll wait for her.”
“Of course, I fucking will. It’s not over. I’m just giving her the space she needs.”
“Good,” Pacey said as we walked up to the front doors, stomping our feet to get the snow off.
“That’s damn good.”
We took off our shoes, and I visibly shivered as Pacey went directly to the fireplace. Nobody else seemed to be home, and I hoped they arrived soon. The roads weren’t getting any better—not even for a native Coloradan.
“You want to start some coffee?” Pacey asked.
“I can do that. Though I thought you’d want something stronger.”
“Oh, we can do that, too.”
My phone buzzed, and I looked down at it, frowning.
Nessa: Have you gotten ahold of Elise?
I frowned, typing quickly.
Me: No. Why? Is everything okay?
Nessa: Her parents said that she was on her way to talk to you, but I can’t get ahold of her. I wanted to make sure she was there. With the roads so bad, I’m worried.
My heart thudded, and I looked around. I called Nessa instead of texting back. “She’s not here. The house is empty.”
“Damn it. Will you check to see if her car is there or something? Maybe she fell asleep like Goldilocks in your bed while waiting for you.”
“Jesus, I hope so. Okay, I’m going to check. I’ll let you know.” I hung up, my hands shaking. I padded in my socks towards the back door and frowned when I saw her car.
“Pacey!” I called out.
“What? Talk to me.”
“Nessa said that Elise came here. Her car is here, but I don’t see her.”
“Shit, I’ll go check the rest of the house. But it’s quiet, Dillon. And she doesn’t have a key.”
“I know,” I said slowly, pushing down my fear. I ran down the back-deck stairs in the snow, wearing only my socks, and headed towards her car. It was empty, the engine cold, and I looked around, my heart thudding. “Pacey! Did she get in?”
Pacey was on the deck, shaking his head. “No. I’m going to call the girls. Maybe she went to them when she couldn’t get in. But how, given her car is here? And why would Nessa be looking for her, then? Fuck. It doesn’t make sense.”
“I’m going to check the grounds. I don’t know. I just have a feeling.” And it wasn’t a good one. It was too damn cold out here, and Elise was hurting. I needed to find her. Now.
“There’s an old shed out back behind those trees. Maybe she’s in there getting warm.”
I met his gaze, and then I ran, heedless of the fact that I still wasn’t wearing shoes. I could barely breathe, bile filling my throat. She had to be fine. She had to be. She was just staying warm.
And then I saw the spots of blood on the snow, and I ran faster.
“You’re going to tell me where he is. I need money. I didn’t mean to hurt you, but Jesus Christ, you scared me.”
“Please, just let me go. I promise I won’t tell anyone. Please.”
I nearly tripped because I recognized those voices.
Elise and…Dave.
Why the fuck was my father talking to Elise? If he hurt her—
Holy fuck.
I kept running, knowing I should call out to Pacey but not wanting to startle them. I got to the shed, nearly sliding in the snow over the pine needles. My socks were drenched, sticking to the bottoms of my feet, but I didn’t care. The door was open, and I could barely see what was going on. Elise sat there, blood caked to the side of her face as she held her knees to her chest, her whole body shaking. Dave stood in front of her, pacing, his whole body vibrating as if he were tweaking. He had a fucking knife in his hand, one of those hunter’s knives that I only saw on TV.
I didn’t know what to do, and yet, I knew I had to do something. Dave was obviously on something, and he wasn’t thinking clearly. And Elise was hurt.
I didn’t think. I just hoped to hell I wasn’t making a mistake.
“Dad?” I asked. I couldn’t say, “Dave.” Not when I wanted him to focus on me. Calling him by his first name would piss him off. Right? What the hell was he doing? What the hell was I doing?
Dave whirled, his eyes going dark. “You should have been here. Why weren’t you here?” And then Dave lunged. I ducked out of the way, ignoring the hot sting in my skin as the knife slid through. It was only a graze, but still, I shouted. And then Elise was there, pushing at Dave.
“Dillon!”
“Get to Pacey. Get out of here.”
“Not without you.”
I met her gaze over the other man’s head. Dave was on something that made him far stronger than he should be. I didn’t know what it was, but he was definitely tweaking.