1-800-Where-R-You: Book 6 "Rush Hour"

1-800-Where-R-You: Book 6 "Rush Hour"

Jess has always been okay finding missing kids. Okay, so it probably wasn't what she would have chosen had she had a choice, but it wasn't the worst thing that could have happened to her. Hell, with a push, she was even okay about finding Rob's little sister. But when, on the day of her wedding Ruth disappears, finding her proves more difficult for Jess. With the clock ticking, a stranded groom, and the fact that Jess' best friend is missing, everything is proving too much. And then something else goes wrong. Everything is proving far too much for Jess, and trying to beat the rush hour traffic to find Ruth, and get to the second emergency, Jess is pushed to every limit possible…

This is my take on Book 6, had there been one. Follows on from "Missing You", Book 5, set just under a year after.

Chapter 2

Lumbley Lane was considerably busy for a Saturday morning. Then again, if you count the fact that every living descendant from the Abramowitz's were pouring into my house as I watched from my third floor window seat, it wasn't surprising. It was of course, a day of celebration. An engagement party to be exact. And no, there was no celebration party for the engagement of Rob and me. It was for Ruth and Mike. Yep. My best friend and my brother. Engaged. Gross, I know. They got engaged a few months back, but they had to pick a time when they could both come home from school in New York for the party. I had a spell there for a while. New York I mean. And school. Music school. That was until Rob showed up asking me to find his sister. Half sister actually. That's kind of how the spark rekindled between us really. When I found his sister for him I mean. I ended up transferring to Indiana to get a teaching certificate to teach at my brother Douglas' special school, which I'm still in the process of doing. Finishing school I mean.

I twisted the gold engagement ring round my finger and my mind flitted back to the night we sealed the deal. In every way. Including how we broke it to my parents.

"Mr. and Mrs. Mastriani, I'd like to marry your daughter, if that's all right with you," I remembered Rob's exact words. "Well, I'm going to even if it isn't all right. But I'd prefer to have your blessing."

I smiled to myself at this trigger of the memory, just as a finger ran down the side of my neck and warm breath tickled my hairline. Did I tell you I gave up violence as an answer to my problems a long time ago? Okay, well I did. Just. But even now, certain nervous situations or things I am not expecting-like people creeping up on me trigger some sort of wire in my brain that tells me to punch the world out of the person. So, automatically my fist shot backwards, intending to pound into the person's nose, or close enough, when a strong leathered arm grabbed mine.

"Woah Mastriani," Rob said half-amusingly. I turned around to see him smiling at me, my wrist still gripped by his firm arm.

"I would've pummelled you," I said to him. It's true, I would've.

Rob raised an eyebrow. "Really?" he said. "You were totally spaced out."

"Yea well lucky for you, it was you I was thinking of," I replied.

"Nice outfit," he remarked, looking me up and down. Gingham. Dress. Yuck.

"Yea well," I sighed. "At aged nineteen-"

"Soon to be twenty," Rob pointed out.

"-Soon to be twenty," I reiterated, "My mom still picks my party outfits." Rob smiled at me and released my arm, taking my hand instead.

"I had an idea," he said, stroking my hand softly. I cocked my head to one side.

"Yea Wilkins what was that?" I asked. Rob frowned at me.

"Wilkins? Okay let's forget you used last name usage with me," he said. "I was thinking, seeing as your mom isn't exactly thrilled with throwing us an engagement party-"

"She's happy to throw a huge party for Mike and Ruth but not for ours," I cut in. Rob shrugged his shoulders. "So I understand if you want to leave early," I continued. "I might just join you."

Rob smiled. "Do you really think that'll be the best way for us to get into your mom's good books?" he questioned.

"No," I said, sighing heavily. I perked up a little bit. "Hey," I said. "We could just treat this as our engagement party too. Between ourselves." Rob shrugged again and nodded his head in agreement. "We could," he agreed. "Or I was thinking. We could have our own celebration now," he said, winking. I admit. My heart melted. Still.

I took a deep breath. "Well…"I trailed off. "I like your idea better. So…"

Rob grinned. Yep. He grinned. "Good," he whispered in my ear. "So do I." He began to kiss me slowly, then faster as he led me to the bed and we fell down on to it. "Mmm," I said. "You smell good."

Rob kissed my neck, all the way down to my collar bone. "New shower gel," he replied, removing his jacket.

"Oh so that's why I didn't notice you," I joked. Rob paused in lifting my dress up and frowned. "Mastriani," he said. "You cant possibly say that you smell me coming." I pulled him into a full kiss as he pulled my dress straps down. "Well," I said when we came up for air. "You do smell good." Rob cocked a smile as I undid his belt buckle, his jeans slipping slightly. "And you'd look so much better out of that dress than in," he said.

"Oh I know that," I said. "Happy engagement party lover," I said between kisses. Rob stopped again. "Mastriani," he said. "Can I please ask you refer to me how you usually do please? 'Wilkins' and 'lover' aren't in my book of Mastriani words and phrases." No it was my turn to stop. I paused from kissing his chest through his top. "So now you keep a book of my phrases too?" He removed his top and I still fluttered when I saw him bare. Mmm.

"Jessica!" a shrill voice said. I jumped and Rob and I sprang apart to see my mom, Ruth, Mike and Skip-Ruth's brother at my bedroom door. Horror and disbelief was written all over my mothers face.