Shaking off Stone’s grip, I pace around the kitchen, trying to get my thoughts in check. I really can’t fuck this shit up again. At some point I’m going to be out of chances. No one gives an unlimited supply. I need to let things go and chase after what makes me happy. That has always been her. Always will be.

“I need to go.” I rush past Stone and through the living room, slipping on my leather jacket. “Tell me where she lives.”

He hesitates.

“Now dammit!”

“Uhh . . .” He closes his eyes in thought for a moment. “1623 Spring Drive.” I open the door and get ready to walk out. “Dude, you want me to go with?” he asks.

I turn back around. “Nah. I need to do this alone.” I give him a nod. “Thanks, man.” Then, I turn around and rush out the door, jumping in my truck.

I’m about two blocks away from Onyx’s street when it starts pouring outside. It’s coming down so hard that it’s making it hard to see out the window. “Fuck! Please be here.” I pull up in front of the house and jump out, leaving my truck running. I don’t want to waste anymore time being away from her. I can’t do it.

I run up to the porch and reach for the handle, but it’s locked, so I knock loudly, hoping that Onyx will answer. If it were unlocked then she wouldn’t have much of a choice.

A few seconds later the door opens to Sage. She steps out, holding her car keys. “Hey. What are you doing here?” She sounds a little panicked as she looks around. “I’m sorry-”

“It’s fine,” I cut her off. I don’t have time for this right now. “Where is she?”

She shuts the door behind her and holds her hand up in an unsuccessful attempt to block the rain. “I don’t know. We were talking and then she just took off on her motorcycle like twenty minutes ago. She seemed upset and in a hurry.”

Dammit! I hope she’s not caught out in this downpour.

“Fuck!” I punch the porch railing and fist my hair. “I’m going to find her. Where would she be at?”

“I don’t know. Maybe at Vixens’. She didn’t say . . . or maybe at Jade’s.”

“Alright. I have to go.” I grab her head and quickly kiss her on the forehead. “Love you.”

“Love you too, Hemy,” she screams after me as I run over to my truck and hop in.

Riding around, I start to panic at the thought of Onyx out riding in this weather. Two wheels on slick roadways doesn’t mix.  I would never forgive myself if something happened to her.

I pull up to Vixens’ and drive around the whole parking lot in search of my old motorcycle. My heart sinks when I don’t spot it anywhere. “Dammit, Onyx! Fuck, you better be at Jade’s.”

The rain doesn’t let up any as I pull back out onto the street and head over to Jade’s house. I pull up in front of the house that changed my damn life. If it weren’t for Jade’s birthday party then who knows when I would have seen Onyx again.

I notice immediately when I pull up that the motorcycle is nowhere to be seen, but I jump out anyway and run through the rain to the door. I knock as hard as I can, losing every bit of patience I have left.

As soon as the door swings open, I rush inside and look around. “Is Onyx here?”

Jade gives me a confused look. “No. What the hell is going on?” She watches me as I run my hand down the front of my face, wiping the rain off. “I haven’t talked to her all day.”

“Shit!” Without saying another word, I rush back outside and to my truck. Reaching in my pocket, I search for my phone, but come up empty. I must have left it on the kitchen counter at home. “Of fucking course!” I slam my fist into the horn before gripping the steering wheel and letting out an agitated breath. There’s only one last place to check and this is a long shot.

Back when we dated, she would surprise me by showing up at Mitch’s shop when I was working. She always loved watching me work and I loved having her watch. It was our place. We both made a lot of memories there.

Taking a chance, I head over toward Mitch’s shop, looking around for signs of her out on the street, but come up empty. It’s already past nine so the shop is closed. Mitch would have left at least an hour ago. That’s another reason I have a feeling she’s not there either, but I refuse to go home until I look.

When I pull up to the shop, I quickly park and jump out. I look around me, but don’t see the bike anywhere. Jogging, I turn around the corner of the building and freeze when I see Onyx standing there in the rain, leaning against the building. She’s soaked and more beautiful than if she were dolled up to perfection. The air gets sucked from my lungs at the sight of her and for this moment, I feel more alive than I have in years.

She pushes away from the building and looks at me. “I’ve been waiting for you,” she whispers. One sentence and my heart feels like it’s about to burst at the seam.

Well, she’ll never have to wait again. That is a promise. . .

Chapter Sixteen

Onyx

Keeping Sage from Hemy was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I just wish he would understand that I did it for Sage, because I love her like a sister myself and was only thinking of her best interests. I could never hurt her in any way. As much as I love Hemy, I had to think of Sage too. Hemy may hate me forever, but I did what I felt I had to do, even though I knew it would end up with him hating me in the end.

I just hope he’ll give me a chance to explain, because I don’t want to leave here without him. I never want to be without him again. I’ve lived day after day without him, years on end, and I can’t do it anymore.

I’ve been here for the last half hour or so thinking about us; thinking of all the time we have missed out on and it hurts my heart so bad knowing that I left him and let him down. It kills me. I was scared and young back then. I didn’t know what else to do but remove myself from the situation. I should have stuck around and tried to get him help, but I was just a kid trying to deal with something bigger than myself.

I walk closer to Hemy as he stands there in shock and relief, just looking me over as if he can’t believe that I’m here. “I was hoping you would come here. I’m so sorry. I wish I could take back what I did, but I can’t. You hate me and I don’t blame you.”

Stepping closer to me, Hemy runs his hands through my wet hair before pressing his forehead to mine, something he always did. “You’re wrong,” he whispers. “What if I told you I could never hate you, no matter what you do? What if I told you I have loved you since day one, but was too afraid to say it?”