Please Forgive Me

Chapter 34 - Madison

Where did he go? I glance around and see a couple at the end of the hall. A group of people are gathered just across from them but no sight of Maxon. He wouldn't leave me here unless...

I look towards the men's restroom. I walk until I'm standing in front of it, contemplating whether he's in there or not.

Biting my lip, I decide I'll wait and see. A few minutes pass and no one comes out. I start getting restless. Where could he be? What if he—

The door to the restroom opens and I quickly push off the wall. A man who appears to be in his mid–fifties emerges.

"Excuse me." I stop him and he glances up.

"Yes," he says, adjusting the cuffs on his wrist.

"Was there anyone else in the bathroom by any chance?"

His brows draw together. "No, just me."

My heart sinks. "Oh, okay. Thank you."

"No problem." The man eyes me for a moment before I turn on my heel and walk off.

Where's Maxon?

I pull out my phone from my clutch.

Thank God I thought to bring it.

I send him a quick text.

Me: Where are you?

I stare at the screen. No bubbles signaling he's typing. No sign he's read it. Nothing. I try to will my heart to calm down.

Where was he? Could someone have pulled him away? A teammate? Coach, perhaps?

I head back to the ballroom, the only place I know here.

Standing near the door, I scan the sea of faces.

Maxon is tall so he shouldn't be too hard to find. I spot Luke at the bar with the black haired beauty, looking completely enthralled. The Coach. My eyes lock onto dark ones. Isaiah spots me. He gives me an easy smile but seeing as I don't return it, he starts heading my way.

"Hey." He greets once he reaches me. "Glad you guys made it. You look fantastic by the way."

"Thank you." I say dismissively.

He searches my gaze. "What's wrong? You look troubled." He looks around me. "Where's Maxon? He never leaves you alone or out of his sight. I would know."

I recall the first time I met Isaiah. We were in New York for Luke's birthday bash and Isaiah approached me. We were dancing when he suddenly kissed me. Maxon wasn't happy about that. At all. Of course, at the time I wasn't aware he had feelings for me but even so. If he were to see me talking with Isaiah alone he would throw a fit. And since there's no sign of him anywhere, I know something's very off.

"That's the thing." I whisper to him. "I can't find him."

"What do you mean you can't find him?"

I grab his bicep and pull him slightly away from the crowd. Since he's a linebacker, people immediately part.

"I told him I needed to use the restroom so he took me. While I finished he waited outside in the hallway. When I came out," I bite down on my lower lip again. "He wasn't there."

Isaiah stares at me a few moments, then whispers. "He might've gone to the bathroom?"

"And be there for this long?"

"Who knows? He might've gotten a massive case of diarrhea that one."

I smack his abdomen considering he's super tall. "Ow! I'm just trying to help."