Downhill From Here (#1)

17. Tibby the Cat

Nathan's POV

Sunday, November 7th

9:08 am

I walked into the main lobby of The Black Mountain Resort, my eyes in search of someone. It wasn't too packed but I knew that in two weeks this place would be completely booked for thanksgiving.

Expensive fall decor made the place more alive somehow and I crossed the marble floors in my heavy boots and stopped at the front desk.

An old white woman sat behind a computer and once we made eye contact, her mouth fell open.

I smiled politely, "Hi, I'm..."I figured she already knew who I was by the way she blushed. Already I had felt some eyes on me since I'd entered. "...I'm looking for a worker here. Her name is Stevie."

She blinked at me with a smile and simply pointed down beside her.

My brows drew together in confusion.

"I don't think you understand what I mean, I'm--"

Stevie practically shot out from beneath the desk, placing a bunch of keycards on the top of the high table. She looked at the old woman and said, "Mildred, close your mouth. You'll catch flies."

Mildred tsked and they both shared dirty looks at each other before the old woman turned back to her task on the computer.

That's when Stevie fully turned to me and I looked at her for the first time. She was in her work uniform and her hair was in a low ponytail, the red parts tucked behind her ears.

But what struck me in the chest was her face.

She was without her usual dark makeup but instead had a bare face. I never noticed that she had freckles till now. Her eyes were red-rimmed and puffy and her nose slightly pink. Gone was her usual smirk and in its place was a frown.

It sent chills right through me. She had been crying recently.

"Hey, what's up?" Her voice sounded hoarse and so un-Stevie-like.

I leaned forward and my brows drew with concern. "What's wrong? Is everything okay?"

Her bottom lip quivered slightly and her shoulders reached her ears. She was silent.

"I came to ask you where Bowie was," I started, still looking at her carefully. "She skipped her morning workout session and didn't show up for practice. Ozias and I have been calling her but she won't pick up."

Stevie sniffled and rubbed her nose, looking away from me. "No one told you?"

I lowered my head to her height, fear eating up my very insides. "Told me what?"

She looked into my eyes, hers watering over.

A chill ripped through me as I thought of the worst possible scenarios.

"Told me what Stevees?" I asked again. "You're scaring me."

***************************************

9:20 am

I locked my truck door behind me and walked across the front lawn. Quickly, I made it to the front door and knocked.

No response.

I knocked louder but there was still no answer.

Lilo was at daycare till noon so I had some time to kill. The daycare was still new to me but gave me more free time to focus on Bowie's training.

What was great about it was that they respected privacy. With the right amount of money and agreements signed, Lilo's connection to me was private.

"Bowie!" I said knocking on the door with a heavy hand. Nothing.