All the Feels (Spoiler Alert #2)(106)

So where in the world—

Oh. Oh, she knew exactly where he was. Or at least, she knew what he was doing.

“He’s walking somewhere nearby.” Closing the front door behind her, she squinted into the night. “Either on one of the trails or the secret stairs.”

She hoped the latter, because she didn’t particularly want to trespass onto closed, dark, unfamiliar trails, especially given the panoply of local wildlife Alex had noted.

“Okay.” Marcus let out a slow breath. “Why don’t you wait inside, or by the front—”

“I’ll go find him and call you once I do.” With a swipe and a tap, she activated her cell’s flashlight function. “Don’t worry. I’ve got this handled.”

A very loud groan emitted from the phone’s loudspeakers. “If you get hurt searching for him, Alex will fucking murder me.”

“I’ll protect you,” she promised, then promptly hung up on Marcus’s objections.

The motion-sensor lights illuminated overhead as she half walked, half ran to the side gate, which was—

Unlocked and wide open.

Well, he obviously had taken the secret stairs. He was also due for another lecture about his personal safety, and once she was done begging his forgiveness and throwing herself at his feet, she’d be giving it to him.

Along with her heart, hopefully.

The night was cool, but the steps were numerous and her pace rapid, and she was sweating by the time she reached the top of the Saroyan Stairs. His favorite spot on the mountain, with stars twinkling above, the lights of downtown Hollywood sparkling below, and greenery all around.

At the first sight of him, her knees almost dissolved beneath her.

He was alive and upright, at least, and that was two prayers to the universe answered.

Halfway down the stairs, he sat on one of the benches, arms looped around knees tucked tight to his chest, staring intently up at the velvety, dark sky. As far as she could tell, he hadn’t heard her approach. He certainly didn’t acknowledge her presence.

He was still. A man constantly in motion finally at rest.

Whether that was good or bad, she didn’t know.

When she took the first step down to him, another set of lights illuminated, puncturing his absorption. His head jerked in her direction.

At the sight of her, his lips parted, his eyes going wide.

She kept moving, step by step, allowing the rail to bolster her shaky legs. “Please tell me you’re not injured in any way. Marcus has been frantic, and so have I.”

“I don’t …” His brow creased. “What?”

“You didn’t show up in Malibu, and no one has been able to get in touch with you.” A dozen more steps, and she’d be at his side again. Where she belonged. “Marcus called me. We were worried you were sick or injured.”

“Shit.” His eyes squeezed shut for a moment, his jaw working. “I missed my damn flight, my phone died, and I completely forgot about Malibu.”

Four steps. Three. Two. One.

There he was, within her reach again. She sagged against the rail in bone-deep relief.

Slowly, his body uncurled, and his feet lowered to rest on the stairs. The unflattering light emphasized the shadows beneath his eyes, the shagginess of his hair and beard, the rumpled fabric of that long-sleeved, slate-blue Henley she loved.

She could ask him why he hadn’t bought or borrowed a charger. She could find out why he’d missed his flight. She could scold him for worrying the people who loved him.

Or she could ask the only important question. “Are you ill or hurt in any way?”

“I’m not sick.” His pause discomfited her. “And if I’m in pain, I brought it on myself.”

Oh, shit. “Alex—”

He mustered a pale shadow of his usual grin. “Don’t worry, Wr—Lauren. You won’t be seeing me in your emergency room. It’s not that kind of self-harm. I promise.”

What that meant, she wasn’t certain. But she didn’t see any obvious signs of illness or injury, and he didn’t appear to be in acute distress.

“In that case …” She lifted the phone clenched in her sweaty hand. “I need to text Marcus and let him know you’re okay.”

Once she’d sent the message and confirmed its delivered status, she looked up to find his tired eyes trained on her, his lips tight.

“Sorry you came all this way for no reason, but thank you for caring about my well-being.” His knuckles shone white as he gripped the bench on either side of his hips. “May I escort you back to your car?”

Now. She would do this now.

“No,” she said.

“But—okay.” His shoulders rounded, and he studied the stairs under his feet. “Okay. I understand.”

She shook her head. “I don’t think you do.”

Courage, Lauren.

She was important. To him, and to herself, which meant this was the right thing. Finally, finally, she was doing the right thing.

“I would have come to see you anyway. If not tonight, then tomorrow.” Sucking in a deep breath, she set her fists on her hips. “I have things I need to say, and it’s going to be hard for me, so can you please let me speak until I’m done?”

He inclined his head, now watching her carefully once more, his entire body tense.