Chapter 23
CHAPTER 23
P aige woke late the next morning. Blake was gone, and the wall of pillows between them remained intact, but the sheets on the other side had definitely been disturbed, so he’d slept there. Besides, she hadn’t had any nightmares.
She skipped down the stairs, but didn’t see Blake or Tria anywhere. The front door opened.
“Yoo-hoo, are you two lovebirds up?” Ida called.
“Come on in,” Paige yelled back.
She entered the kitchen and found it strangely dark. She flicked on a few lights. A plate of muffins sat there and a dish covered in tinfoil, with a note on top.
Went for a drive. Won’t be home until late. The casserole needs to cook for thirty minutes at 350. Tell Ida and Phil that I’m sorry I missed them. There is a pitcher of mimosas in the fridge. -B
Paige turned on the oven and popped the casserole in, trying to ignore the sense of dread settling in her stomach. Blake had never left without talking to her before. He’d gone on drives alone, but he’d always asked her to go with first. She wasn’t sure what to make of this.
“Where’s Blake?” Ida sat on a stool with a flourish while Phil went to set up the yoga mats.
Paige forced a smile. “He’s off touring today.”
Ida raised an eyebrow. “And you didn’t want to go with?”
“No. I want to work on some paintings today.” She wasn’t going to open up and confess that she really did want to go with him. She missed him.
“Hmph. Okay. Well, I still want my mimosa.”
* * *
Paige was rarely lonely. She’d lived for nearly two years alone before Blake showed up, and she always managed to amuse herself. But the house felt empty all day long. She worked on her art, cleaned up, and went on two walks.
When the sun finally set, she turned on a movie.
Blake still hadn’t come home.
At midnight she finally went to bed.