Page 50 of The Beachside Rental

Please let her have him.Please let him be safe.

But when Jenna came to a stop in front of him, she was alone.“I’m sorry.”She raised her voice to be heard over the storm.“I didn’t see any sign of him.What about you?”

“No luck.I’m going to check the beach.”

When he turned to walk away, Jenna reached out and grabbed his arm.“Don’t go down there.It’s dangerous.”

He realized it.And he wouldn’t put himself in harm’s way unless it was absolutely necessary.“I’ll be okay.I have to go.”

“Then I’m going with you.”There was a firmness to her voice.

“Jenna, no.You can’t.I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

“And I don’t want anything to happen to you either.”

He sighed.“I can’t just leave him down there.”

There was a strained pause.“We’ll go together as far as the dunes.But we’re not going in that water.It’s way too dangerous.”

He nodded.“Let’s go.”

He wasn’t making her any promises because if he saw Gus in the water, he would do anything he could to save Gus.They were bonded.Gus was like the little kid he never had and might never have.

Jenna reached out to him, slipping her wet hand into his.She gave him a squeeze as they made their way around the beach house.

Simon squinted into the darkness.“Gus!”

He aimed his flashlight toward the dunes.He didn’t see any sign of his beloved dog.When he reached the dunes, Jenna held firmly onto his hand.It was like she could read his mind, and she wasn’t going to let him take any chances.

When he tried to pull his hand free of her grasp, she tightened her hold.They both used their flashlights to search the area.There was a lot of debris but no sign of Gus.

Simon refused to give up hope.They would find him.Gus had been his buddy through the worst chapter in his life—when his real identity had been made public.

Gus had been by his side when their home had been vandalized in the middle of the night.Gus was there and protected him when angry readers verbally assaulted him on the street for killing off their beloved character.

And now when Gus needed him most, he had let down his best friend.His shoulders drooped under the weight of guilt and grief.This was not how their story was going to end.He refused to accept it.

The next thing he knew Jenna wrapped her arms around him.Her touch was comforting, but as they embraced in the rain, his gaze continued to search through the darkness for any sign of Gus.Where was he?

Jenna stepped back and once more took his hand in her own.He noticed how cold her skin was.She needed to get out of this weather.Even though the thunderstorm had moved on, and the wind was lessening, it was still raining.And so when she gave a gentle tug on his arm, he reluctantly walked with her back along the path, around their beach house.All the while he willed Gus to be waiting for them on the front porch.

When they reached the front of the duplex, he flashed his light from one end of the porch to the other.There was no sign of Gus.

Simon came to a stop at the bottom of the steps.Jenna was already on the second step when she paused and looked at him.

“Go ahead,” he said.“I’m going to stay here.”

“You’re soaked and cold.You need to come inside and warm up.”

He shook his head.“I can’t.Gus is out here.”

She retreated down the steps.She pressed her hands to her sides, and she craned her chin upward.“I’m so sorry we can’t find Gus, but you aren’t going to do him any favors by staying out here in wet clothes.And if you’re like me, your feet are wet too.Now come inside.Get a hot, well, maybe lukewarm shower, and put on some dry clothes.There’s nothing more we can do until the sun comes up.Then I’ll pull together a search party.We will find him.”

Unless he got caught up in the flood waters down on the beach.Simon immediately halted his troublesome thoughts.He had to think positively.They were going to find him.

Whether Simon wanted to admit it or not, Jenna was right.There was nothing more he could do until the sun came up.He climbed the steps.

Jenna stood on the porch and watched until he’d gone into his unit.