9. Audrey
9
AUDREY
I finally hit the share button on the graphic I’ve been working on all morning, then I stretch my limbs and stand up, shaking the soreness out of my legs from sitting so long. My head hurts from staring at the screen, and I walk to the window, pressing my forehead against the cool glass and looking down at the busy street below. It’s lunchtime on a Saturday, and a line of traffic is crawling by. Familiar buildings rise around me—glass and concrete. Somebody honks their horn in five long bursts, and I pull away from the window with a sigh.
It’s been a week since I left Weston’s cabin. After we said goodbye, I headed straight for Lila’s. I was happy to see her, but it felt like I spent the whole time forcing a smile and acting like leaving Weston was no big deal. I only stayed for one night, promising to visit again in a couple of months. Since then, I’ve been throwing myself into my work, practically chained to my laptop day and night as I pump out content for my clients. But no matter how much I distract myself, I know something is wrong.
Everything feels…different.
Ever since I came back to Denver, it’s as if the city has lost its sparkle. I used to look out at the glinting skyline and feel so much possibility. So much freedom. Now, all I seem to feel is emptiness. I’m in a city full of people, yet somehow, it feels far lonelier than the empty forests of Cherry Mountain, where the silent trees stretch for miles.
Obviously, the city hasn’t really changed. It’s still beautiful, still vibrant. I’m the one who’s changed. Ever since my trip, something has shifted inside me. I find myself longing for the quiet again, the wilderness, the rugged beauty. But most of all, I’m longing for Weston. I miss him so much it hurts. It’s a constant ache I can’t ignore. I miss Lila, too. Heck, there are lots of things I miss. Feeling at home in this apartment, for example, the way I used to feel before it was broken into. But it’s not just because of the burglary. Heck, I wish I could blame it all on that. But these feelings run so much deeper.
God, I need a coffee.
Ice caramel macchiatos are the only thing getting me through the day right now. One of the perks of living across the street from Starbucks. At least there’s one thing I still appreciate about living in the city. I pull on my wool coat, catching the scent of pine. It’s the same coat I wore the day Weston took me to the waterfall, and it still smells like the forest. For a second, it’s like I’m with him, back there on Cherry Mountain, the water rushing down, the sunlight streaming through the canopies. I can picture Weston’s warm brown eyes crinkling slightly as he looks at me, his beard grazing my chin as he leans in to kiss me…
Stop it, I tell myself firmly. Stop torturing yourself with these memories.
Just as I’m about to walk out the door, my phone beeps. I left it in the bedroom to charge while I worked, and I run to grab it, seeing Lila’s name light up my screen. My mood lifts slightly as I answer the call with a smile.
“Hi! You just caught me. I’m heading out the door right this minute.”
“Audrey! I’ve…trying…get hold of you.”
Her voice cuts in and out. The signal at her cabin isn’t always reliable, but despite the bad connection, I hear the urgency in her voice.
“Is everything okay?” I ask.
“Weston…to the cabin…address…” The line goes completely silent, then buzzes back to life. “He’s…way to…sounded desperate.”
Hearing Weston’s name makes my heart flutter, and I hold the phone tighter to my ear. “You’re cutting out like crazy. What did you say about Weston?”
The call drops, and I let out a groan of frustration, opening up my messaging app instead.
The call cut out. What did you say about Weston?
I see the dots move as she types. At that moment, someone raps on my front door, making me jump. Instantly, I’m on guard. Ever since the burglary, I’m jumpier than usual. It could be somebody trying to figure out whether I’m at home. Or worse, somebody waiting for me to open the door, holding a gun…
The knocking sounds again, harder this time. Just as I’m debating what to do, my phone pings with Lila’s message.
I said Weston came to the cabin this morning and asked for your address. He’s on his way to Denver right now! He sounded desperate…
Her message sucks the breath from my lungs. I read it once, twice. Then another knock sounds, and this time, I hear a familiar voice calling my name.
“Audrey!”
I fly toward the door, trembling so hard I struggle to turn the key. Then I wrench it open, almost stumbling backward when I see who it is. Weston is standing at the door of my apartment, wearing his usual flannel and jeans. His eyes are rimmed with purple bags, bloodshot as if he’s been struggling to sleep, just like I have ever since I left him. He towers above me, the familiar scent of spice and pine washing over me, and I don’t wait for him to speak. I leap straight into his arms, wrapping myself around him, emotion clogging my throat.
“I missed you,” I whisper, barely able to speak. This feels like a dream. It’s hard to believe that Weston is really here, flesh and blood beneath my touch.
“I missed you too, Audrey.” His voice sounds pained, and he squeezes me tight. “So fucking much.”