48. June
Jake and Lachy are coming home tonight. They’ve been gone for only three days, but Ireallymiss them. They’ll arrive in the middle of the night, and the sensible thing would be to see them tomorrow morning, but I doubt I’ll get any sleep. I’m going to wait up to see them home safe.
But I have a plan to pass the time. Every year, Katrina and I knit sweaters,scarves, hats, and gloves to donate to homeless shelters across town. It’s already October, and even though the weather is pleasant, it’ll get cold soon.
I didn’t hear from Ryan all day. A part of me was hoping he’d call, or even text to apologize, but his silence speaks louder than words. Our fling has reached its expiration date. Maybe he liked me only when he was sharing with his friends. My heart is bruised, but I won’t let that sour my excitement about seeing his roommates.
I’m sorting through my knitting supplies when there’s a knock on my door. For fuck’s sake, if it’s Ryan again dead drunk, he’ll get a taste of a pissed-off Southern woman. Winston usually springs to his paws and barks whenever someone knocks, but it’s already past one in the morning, and the poor guy is half asleep. All he doesislift his muzzle a little, thenrestit on his paws again. Eros and Apollo don’t move from their beds.
I get up and stride to the front door. I do find Ryan standing in the hallway, but he doesn’t look drunk, he looks distressed.
My gut clenches. “Ryan? What happened.” I step back so he can come in.
When the light hits his face, I see tear streaks on his cheeks. “Melissa called me just now. It’s the team plane. It’s vanished.”
My heart constricts so tight, I can’t breathe. “H-how can it vanish?”
“I don’t know. What if Jake and Lachy are gone, June?” More tears run down his beautiful face. “What if they’re gone?”
“They aren’t gone.” I’m crying, too, when I pull him into a hug.
He hides his face in the crook of my neck and sobs loudly. “I won’t survive if they leave me too.”
I lean back and capture his face between my hands. “They aren’t leaving us.”
He doesn’t speak for a couple of beats, but he holds my stare. “I’m sorry I was a jackass to you, Peaches. I didn’t want to hurt you.”
Despite his ill-timed confession, his apology offers a balm to my heavy heart. “Don’t worry about that.” I drop my hands from his face and try to step back, but he holds me in place.
“I don’t want to lose you too.”
“You’re not going to lose me.” I rise on my tiptoes and kiss him hard, needing the connection so I don’t spiral. His tongue is as savage as mine. I can taste his fear and desperation, and they match my own.
Jake and Lachy can’t be gone.
They can’t.
*** TO BE CONTINUED ***