70. Definitely Gone
SEVENTY
Definitely Gone
STEVE
Steve enjoyed his usual breakfast at Baba’s with Kiro and Derek after a quiet shift, not that they’d ever use the Q-word to describe it. If they did they might jinx themselves. Anna hugged them after they ate and sent them on their way.
Steve made his way across the square toward home and toward Tara. He looked forward to their dinner plans. It would be one of their last nights together before she returned to Chicago.
In the four short months since he’d met her, he’d completely fallen for her. He wanted to tell her. He had to tell her.
And he would tell her tonight.
Enjoying his good mood, he stepped into Between the Lines, with the familiar jingle as the door opened. Helen was helping a customer, so Steve searched the store for Tara. Helen was still busy, so he strode toward the office. He peeked into the office to find it empty and with the lights out.
Returning to the front, he stood patiently by as Helen rang up a customer. When she was done, he tapped the counter. “Hi, Helen.”
Helen smiled. “Hi, Steve.”
“I’m looking for Tara. Is she out running errands?”
Helen’s shoulders sagged. “Steve.” Rounding the counter to face him, she grabbed his arms and met his gaze. “I’m so sorry, honey, but Tara returned to Chicago yesterday after taking Tiffany to the airport.”
Feeling as if he’d been punched, Steve took a step backward. “She what?”
“She…” Helen creased her brows and dropped her arms. “Didnt she tell you?”
Steve held up his hands and took another step back. “No.” He turned toward the office, then changed his mind and turned back toward the front, pausing long enough to thank Helen. “I didn’t know.” He left the shop without another word. Halfway up the stairs to his apartment, he pulled his phone out of his pocket and texted Tara.
Steve: Back in Chicago?
Three dots appeared on his phone then disappeared. They appeared again, then disappeared again.
“Shit,” he said to the wall. “Come on, Sugar.”
Three dots appeared once again, and this time a message appeared.
Tara: Yes.
Fuming, he took a couple of breaths before responding. How could she leave him like that?
Steve: No goodbye?
Tara: I’m sorry, Steve.
Tara: I thought a clean break might be easier for both of us.
Steve: For both of us, huh?
Tara: We’d already decided against long-distance
Three dots appeared again, then disappeared. Then reappeared.
Tara: I’m sorry.
Steve: Me, too.
Steve smacked the wall and ran up the rest of the stairs. He unlocked his apartment door and pushed it open so hard it slammed against the wall. A dish breaking snapped Steve’s attention in time to see Nick back up against the counter, his eyes wide in fear.
“No. Ste…Stevie… don’t…,” he couldn’t get the words out. Nick dropped his gaze down to his broken dishes on the floor. “I’ll clean it up…”
Steve stopped where he stood and closed his eyes. He extended his hands. “It’s okay. You’re okay.” Steve shut the door as gently as possible. “Shit. I’m sorry, Nicky. I didn’t mean to scare you like that.” He placed his bag on the floor, and hung up his coat.
The fear on his brother’s face let Steve know that while Nick may be clean, he wasn’t over the trauma he endured at the hands of the men who held him against his will for so long.
Steve gestured toward the floor. “Here. Let me fix you a new breakfast.”
Not wanting to further frighten his already shaken brother, Steve inched his way toward the kitchen just as Nick let go of the counter. Steve placed his hands on Nick’s shoulders and looked him right in the eye. “I’m sorry, Nicky. Are you okay?”
Nick nodded in response as Steve pulled him into a quick hug.
“I’m sorry. I’m having a bad day.”
Nick’s sad eyes met Steve’s.
“Tara’s gone, Nicky,” Steve said. “She left without saying goodbye.”
This time, Nick pulled Steve in for a hug. “I’m sorry.”
“Me, too, little brother. Me, too.”