Rain pounded hard against the windshield as Alex drove through the storm, his hands tight on the steering wheel. The wipers fought to keep his view clear, but his focus wasn't on the road, it was on his phone. He pressed Ethan's number again, one hand briefly leaving the wheel to try just one more time.
This time, the call connected.
Alex nearly dropped the phone in shock. "Ethan?" He said quickly, his voice tight. "Are you okay?"
Silence.
Alex's heart sank. "Ethan!" He called again, this time louder, panic slipping into his tone.
Then finally, a soft voice came through the line. "Alex..." Ethan's voice was shaking, barely audible. It sounded like he'd been crying, or like something was terribly wrong.
Alex's breath caught. "It's going to be okay. I'm coming—I'll be there soon, alrig
