His Attendance

Jax POV

When I wake up, Dhalia and Blake are nowhere to be found. The first thing I think is that I’ve slept in. We’re supposed to be talking to Dhalia about her stepdad today, and I know after that conversation, she’ll probably want some space.

I head to my room, shower, and get dressed before making my way to the kitchen. As I walk in, I see them at the table, quietly eating breakfast. The room feels oddly subdued, like everyone’s waiting for the right moment to speak.

Dhalia is once again buried in a book while eating, and I know they’re finishing up her room today. We’ve ordered a ton of books for her—she deserves to have a personal library. I get lost in my thoughts while eating, and before I realize it, Chase nudges me.

“Sweetness,” he says, drawing my attention to Dhalia. She looks up from her book, setting it aside.

“What’s so important that we need to talk about him?” she asks, looking at us with a mix of curiosity and apprehension.

“He’s disappeared, or at least that’s