But there’s no response.

“Sorry, I don’t think she’s in there.”

I nod and walk farther down the hallway to the next bathroom, and ask another woman to do the same.

Still no answer.

What the fuck is going on?

I wake Kat’s phone up and check it, to find not just my last text, but about ten others from the girls. I don’t like invading Kat’s privacy, but hell, maybe she bailed.

Unlikely, but possible.

The first message is from Kat to the girls.

You guys! Mac had my parents fly in for my bday. We spent the afternoon with them. And you won’t even guess where we are now! We’re at the Ad

She didn’t finish the message before it was sent. Next comes a bunch of questions from Mia and Riley.

Where are you?

Have you been drinking? Your message cut off.

And then they get worried.

Seriously, what’s going on? You can’t leave us hanging like that.

As I’m scrolling through, the phone starts to ring, Mia’s name lighting up the caller ID.

“Hello, Mia.”

“Mac? What’s going on? We got a weird text from Kat, and now we can’t reach her.”

“I don’t know,” I reply, and scrub my hand over my face. I’m starting to panic, but I have to stay calm. “I brought Kat to the Adele concert tonight, and she said she had to use the bathroom. She didn’t come back, so I went to find her. I found her phone on the ground by the bathroom, but I can’t find her anywhere. Do you know where she might be?”

“She’d be with you, Mac,” Mia replies, worry heavy in her voice. “She’s crazy about you, and Adele is her favorite. She’d go right back to her seat.”

“Fuck,” I mutter, and keep my eyes on the people around me, looking for her. The concert has started, so there are few people walking about now. “I’m not sure what to do.”

“Go back to your seat to see if she came back. If not, ask an employee if they can send people into the restrooms to yell for her. It’s faster than you doing it yourself.”

“Good idea. And if she’s not here?”

She pauses. “We find her.”

I nod and set off toward our seats. “Thanks Mia.”

I click off and make my way down to our seats as Adele sings “Someone Like You.” The crowd is happy and energetic, soaking up every note, every word.

But all I can focus on is Kat, and finding her. Holding her. Making sure she’s safe.

She’s not in her seat as I’d hoped. So I climb the stairs again and find a member of security.

“Excuse me.”

The tall man turns to me. His name tag says tibble. “Yes?”

“I’m trying to find my girlfriend.” I explain the situation, amazed that I’m as calm as I am because inside I’m screaming.

Where the fuck is she?

“Do you have a photo of her?” he asks.

“Yes.” I show him the photo on my phone. “Do you want me to text it to you?”

“That would be great. I’ll send it to my guys and we’ll search the bathrooms to make sure she didn’t have to go in search of a shorter line.”

“Perfect,” I reply in relief, and send him the photo. “Can I stick with you while we wait to hear?”

“Of course.” He sends out a message on his phone, then speaks into the radio on his shoulder. “Attention. I just sent a photo of a woman who is missing. Her boyfriend is looking for her. Her name is Kat. Please check all restrooms and food service lines and report back ASAP.”

We stand here for what seems forever as one by one reports come in that she’s not here.

She’s not here.

The hair stands on end all over my body as I realize that Kat is nowhere to be found.

“Where could she be?” I mutter, and pace back and forth. “I’m going to call the cops.”

“They won’t do much,” Tibble replies. “She hasn’t been gone for twenty-four hours, and we have no evidence of foul play.”

“She wouldn’t walk away,” I reply in frustration.

“You can try, but I used to be a cop, and I’m telling you, they won’t be able to do much.”

I dial 911 and speak to the operator, repeating the story.

“I’m sorry, sir, if she hasn’t been gone for twenty-four hours, there’s nothing we can do.”

“Shit.” I sigh and drag my hand down my face. “Thanks anyway.”

“I suggest you go home,” Tibble says. “We’ll keep looking here, and if we find her I’ll call you right away. In the meantime, you should call her family and friends to find out if they’ve heard from her.”

“I have her phone,” I remind him. “She must have dropped it.”

“We have this covered,” he repeats. “You’ll do better to go have friends and family help you. She’ll turn up. Are you sure you didn’t say something to piss her off and she split? Women can be sensitive.”

I shake my head. I know he’s trying to lighten the mood, but it’s not working.

“She was fine. It’s her birthday. We were having a great day.”

“Damn.” Tibble shakes his head. “She’s around here somewhere. We’ll find her.”

I nod and walk away, torn. Part of me wants to stay and continue to look for her here. This is where I last saw her. But Tibble’s right, he and his team can keep searching here, and I can see what I can find at home.