CHAPTER FOUR

"I don’t think you should be alone tonight," Amy said softly, her voice filled with concern. "Please, stay here. Spend the night, and tomorrow we’ll figure out what to do next. It’s already late."

I shook my head, trying to force a smile, but it felt hollow.

"Thanks, Amy, but I don’t want to be a burden. Let me just go home."

Amy placed a hand on my arm, squeezing gently. "You could never be a burden, Rachael. Don’t be stubborn. I’ll prepare the guest room for you."

I hesitated, glancing at Ethan, who nodded in agreement.

"Amy’s right, Rachael," he said, his voice steady. "You shouldn’t be alone right now. Let’s get you something to eat, okay?"

"I’m not hungry," I murmured, slumping back into the couch. "Just give me the rest of the whiskey. I need to drown my sorrows. I can’t sleep, even if I tried. Let me just knock myself out and forget everything, even if it’s just for tonight."

Ethan exchanged a worried glance with Amy, but after a moment of hesitation, he handed me the bottle.

 "Tomorrow, I’ll help you find Jack. We can go to his parents’ house. Maybe they know where he is."

I shook my head, the weight of exhaustion settling in. "Thanks, Ethan, but I’ll take it from here. You’ve already done enough. In the morning, I’ll drive over there myself."

He didn’t argue, just watched as I poured myself another shot of whiskey. The burn was immediate, but this time, it felt numb compared to the ache in my chest. I poured another, then another, the world around me blurring with each swallow.

By the time I reached the fifth shot, I couldn’t feel anything anymore. The pain, the confusion, the heartbreak it all started to fade, swallowed by the warm numbness of alcohol. The edges of the room softened, and the voices around me became distant, like they were coming from another room.

Everything was slipping away. My thoughts blurred together, and before I knew it, the darkness swallowed me whole.

I wake up in a strange bed, my head pounding like a drum. It took a moment for my foggy brain to catch up. Where am I? I stare at the unfamiliar ceiling before the memories came rushing back. I was at Amy and Ethan’s house. I had drunk way too much last night, trying to drown out the chaos of my life. But the hangover, God, the hangover, was a brutal reminder that I was no longer twenty. Thirty really hits differently.

With a groan, I reach for my phone and squinted at the screen. It was early, but if I wanted to catch Jack’s parents before they left for work, I needed to get moving. My head throbbed with every movement as I swung my legs over the side of the bed, trying to gather the strength to face the day.

I stumble out of the guest room and made my way down the hall. The smell of coffee hit me as I entered the kitchen, finding Amy and Ethan already seated, having breakfast.

"Well, you two are up early," I muttered, rubbing my temples.

"I have a proposal due," Ethan replied, barely looking up from his laptop.

I raised an eyebrow, momentarily distracted. "I thought you worked for yourself."

Ethan looked up, grinning. "I do. But deadlines are deadlines, even when you're the boss."

It was still strange sometimes, thinking about how much Ethan had accomplished. He’d started his own software company a few years back, and now he was one of the most successful people I knew. He didn’t have to wake up at the crack of dawn to work, but there he was, doing exactly that. His dedication always impressed me.

"Are you okay?" Amy’s voice broke through my thoughts. "Want some coffee?"

"No, I am definitely not okay," I grumbled, clutching my head. "My head is killing me. But yes, I’d love some coffee. Strong, please."

Amy poured me a mug, and I gratefully accepted it. I took a big gulp without thinking and immediately regretted it. "fuck!" I yelped, pulling the mug away from my lips. "It’s hot! You could’ve warned me."

Amy smirked. "I didn’t think you’d take a giant sip like that without checking first."

Despite everything, I laughed, and surprisingly, so did Amy and Ethan. It was the first time I’d laughed since yesterday, well, since you know, the jack situation. The sound of it felt foreign, but good.

"I need to get ready," I said after a moment, setting the mug down carefully. "Jack’s parents live outside the city, and I want to catch them before they leave for work."

"Will you be okay to drive?" Amy asked, her brow furrowed in concern. "I can go with you if you want."

I shook my head, forcing a weak smile. "I’ll be fine. Don’t worry."

Amy didn’t seem convinced but didn’t press further. Instead, she stood and motioned for me to follow her to the master bedroom. "Let’s get you some clothes."

I trailed behind her as she rummaged through her closet, eventually handing me a soft chiffon top and a pair of jeans. "These should fit," she said, giving me a reassuring smile.

"Thanks," I murmured, taking the clothes and heading to the guest bathroom. I showered quickly, letting the hot water wash away the lingering remnants of the night before. By the time I was dressed, the coffee had kicked in, and I felt slightly more human. still fragile, but functional.

Back in the kitchen, Amy handed me the rest of the coffee. "Keep us updated on how it goes, okay?"

"I will," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. I grab my bag and keys, pausing at the door. "Thanks, Amy and you too Ethan. For everything."

They both nodded, their faces filled with concern as I step out into the crisp morning air. My mind was already racing with the unknowns ahead. Jack’s parents. Would they know where he was? Would they even tell me if they did? I had no idea what I was walking into, but I couldn’t sit around doing nothing. I had to find answers.

I had to find Jack. My jack.