Chapter 74
***Ethan***
“Where is she?” Michael asks.
“She’s asleep… finally.”
“What happened?”
“I don’t know. She won’t tell me.” My brothers, Charlie, and
Brick all came back to check on her. I wish I had good news to give them, but I
can’t even figure out what’s going on. “Someone said or did something to her,
and when I find him, he’s dead.”
Josh stares at me, a calm understanding now visible on his
face. “It really is her, isn’t it?”
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell everybody.”
They all move closer to me in a show of support.
“We’re here for you. Anything you need, you can count on us,”
Andy says.
“Thanks, guys. I appreciate—”
Casey. I look to the house, sniffing the air. Her scent is
getting weak.
“What is it?”
Ignoring Taylor’s question, I take off running into the
house. When I get to my bedroom, the bed is empty. I rush to the window, and
her car isn’t in the driveway. She left? When I turn around, everyone is
staring at something in the middle of the bed. I walk back to the bed and find
a note under the credit card I gave her earlier. With trembling fingers, I pick
up the note.
Ethan,
I know this is the coward’s way out, but I just couldn’t
face you. You told me you love me. God knows I love you, too, but I can’t, in
good conscience, stay with you knowing I can’t give you what you need. You need
someone who can give you the life and future you deserve. As much as I wish I was,
I’m not that woman.
I’m sorry.
This can’t be right. What the fuck is going on? She can’t be
breaking up with me.
“What does it say?” Charlie asks.
“I just got dumped,” I reply in a flat voice.
She loves me. This can’t be right. I need to talk to
her. I push my way through the boys and hurry down the stairs. Footsteps behind
me tell me they’re following.
“What do you mean ‘dumped’? What did you do, big brother?”
“I didn’t do anything, Andy. I’m going after her. I’ll be
back.”