36. Auden
Iblink as quickly as I can to stop myself from crying because I’m just that pathetic I’d cry over false realities. A part of me knew that this was too good to be true. It told me to enjoy the breathtaking sex while it lasted. I had a feeling it would be over just as quickly as it started. I will not let Storm leave and hurt Heath’s little heart. It wouldn’t be fair and I’d feel so selfish. This is the decision Storm has to agree with.
“Hi, sweetie,” Lorie says, taking my hand. “Isn’t it just lovely here?”
I force a smile, making my dimples show. “It’s so tranquil.”
She has this look on her face. She wants to ask me something but doesn’t know how to do it. She had the same look when she found out about Sean and I losing our virginities at fifteen. The same look when she stroked my hair in the waiting room at the hospital, waiting on news of my dad. And the same look when I stole my dad’s password for work and hacked into the data system to find Frank’s information.
“Is it true that boy is moving in with you?” she asks, tucking hair behind my ears. She always does this. She says it hides the chiseled features I have. “I heard Maddison and Rick talking about it.”
“No.” I shake my head. “Storm and I were talking about it so that this little fling wouldn’t be so short-lived, but it’s a long shot. Not something we’re prepared for, I don’t think.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you were involved with him?” Lorie asks, chuckling, then grows serious by the saddened look on my face. “Are you all right?”
“I’m just peachy.”
“Talk to me.”
I sputter, looking at the sky as tears well in my eyes. “I don’t know what to say, Mom. On one hand, I feel like I shouldn’t have come here because if I didn’t, I wouldn’t have met him and leaving wouldn’t hurt so much. Then on the other, I’m so happy I did because I met him and got to experience what it would be like to spend my time with him. Then I see his family and I can’t expect him to leave his family. It was a stupid idea we thought up last night during pillow talk. That’s all it was. A fantasy,” I say, wiping the escaping tear from my cheek.
She pulls me into a hug as Stevie makes her way to us. “Things have a way of working themselves out, you’ll see.”
“Sorry to interrupt, but we’re heading into town for a little while. Frank has to check in at the general store. You’re more than welcome to join us,” Stevie offers, glancing between my mother and I.
I nod, smiling at my mom. “We can check out the shops in town.”
Being away from here is exactly what I need right now. I have to get away from this situation before I cry for real. I want to be selfish and keep Storm to myself so that we can be happy, but Heath’s saddened face is all that’s running through my mind.
I don’t even have the time to make it to my parents’ car; Storm is already outside waving us down with a confused and concerned look on his face. A part of me was hoping I’d be able to slip into town and pack up my things, then silently slip out before Storm tries to stop me. He won’t be able to stop me, though. I’ve made up my mind.
He jogs over to us. “Hey? Where’re you guys going?”
Lorie grins. “Frank has to go to the general store, so Auden suggested we go into town to do some shopping.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Storm asks me.
“You were with Heath.” I swallow thickly. “I’m not going to separate the two of you for me.”
“Nonsense.” Storm smiles, taking my hand. “I’d do anything to spend more time with you.”
I sigh. “Storm.”
“We have less than a day left until you gotta leave.” He lowers his voice, walking me to my parents’ car. “I’m not wasting a minute away from you.”
“I feel like we should just end—”
“Nope.” He shakes his head, interrupting me as we approach my father.
I let out a rush of air as Storm opens the back door for me. I scoot to the other side so that he doesn’t have to go around and buckle up. He sits in the middle seat, placing his hand on my leg and squeezing.
I take my phone out and look at him, hoping he’ll take his out as well. He does. Great, this whole “ending us” thing is going to be so much harder knowing how well we understand each other.
ME: Storm, what’re you doing? Don’t you think it’ll be easier just to cut things short? The longer we continue this the harder it’s going to be when we say goodbye.
STORM: I don’t wanna say goodbye.
ME: I’m not letting you move with me and break your nephew’s heart.
STORM: He’ll understand.
ME: No, he won’t. I’m sorry, but I won’t let you do it.
He squeezes my leg even harder and leans into me.
STORM: Just give me today, babe, please.
So, I do. I give him today and as soon as the sun sets, Storm will be but a distant memory I wish I could hold onto.
***
We hold hands, he steals kisses, and we share glances the entire time my parents and Stevie are window shopping. The shops are not Manhattan shopping like we’re used to. They’re homely. Cute is the better word for it. A lot of the clothing is handmade by a few of the ladies in town. Aside from Walmart and a couple of clothing stores by inexpensive designers, there isn’t much to do.
“Come here,” Storm whispers, yanking me into one of the dressing rooms.
I gasp. “What’re you doing?”
“I want to kiss you,” he says softly.
I bore into those eyes. “Why?”
“I don’t want this to end.”
“It has to. We agreed, we’d let this go on for the week and then we’d call it quits.”
“Then we didn’t remember? We planned our life. I got a job, Auden,” he says softly through gritted teeth. “I don’t wanna call it quits.”
Tears form in my eyes, trying my hardest to blink them away. He has them, too. His face is red, so close to mine we’re sharing each other’s air. He frowns, holding onto my face.
“I’m not breaking that little boy’s heart.” I choke a sob. “We barely know each other, anyway. It’s better this way—”
“It’s not.”
“Storm.”
“Auden.”
“Let’s not do this now, okay?” I say, right as the curtain whips open to my mother.
Lorrie gasps, chuckling. “Interrupting something?”
I shake my head. “No.”
Storm clears his throat and takes a step back. “Where’s Glenn?”
Lorie points at the café. “Having a caffeine break. He drinks more coffee than he drinks water.”
He chuckles, looking at me. “Wanna get a coffee?”
I shake my head, smiling at my mother. “I’m kind of tired. I’m going to be sleeping at Storm’s tonight. Need all the rest I can get to make it to rehearsals tomorrow.”
She pulls me into a hug, seeing the gloss in my eyes.
I sniff, releasing her. “You and Dad can take the BnB. Enjoy the breakfast tomorrow, too. Stacy makes a mean carrot muffin.”
Lorie pouts. “You sure you want to leave so soon?”
I shrug. “It’s been a long emotional week, Mom.”
I need to get out of here. If Storm and I continue to speak intensely like this, we’re either going to break down or scream at each other. We have to do this in private. And cutting this trip short is the only thing I can think of.
Lorie kisses my cheek. “Call me when you leave, sweetie. I’m always up before the sun.”
I nod, walking away as Storm says his goodbyes.
Storm and I don’t speak as we walk to the general store, although we do hold hands. It’s comforting knowing that he’s not going anywhere. That he wants to uproot his life for me. But it’s too much to ask for from someone I’m still getting to know.
Frank is in the back writing something on a clipboard when we approach. He smiles at us and glances at our hands before clicking his pen a couple of times. “What can I do you for?” he asks, putting the clipboard down.
“I’m heading out. I want to get some rest before my drive home,” I say, already feeling the tears rise to the surface.
“Do you have to leave so soon? I feel like I just got you back.”
“I know.”
Frank nods and pulls me into an embrace, letting out a shaky breath. We remain as such for a couple of minutes before he lets go of me and sniffs. I never thought I’d want to stay here and get to know my birth father more than I have in the last few days.
“This isn’t goodbye, y’know,” Frank says, chuckling. “This is an ‘I’ll see you later’.”
I wipe my cheeks. “I’ll text you the details for my housewarming.”
He pulls me in for another hug. “I’ll be waiting.”
I have to leave, but I really don’t want to. This entire week has been surreal. An eye-opener. In my twenty-four years, I finally am complete. I don’t want to say bye yet. I’m not ready, either. But I have to. Millie means a lot to me, and I’d do anything to ensure she’s calm on her big day. But holding my birth father and listening to his racing heart, gives me a reason. So, I hold on for another few minutes until a customer rings the bell at the counter.
I chuckle. “Think that’s my cue.”
Storm puts his hand on my shoulder. “C’mon, baby, let’s go pack your bags.”
“Call me next week,” Frank says, leaving a kiss on my head. “I want to know all about your new job.”
“I will,” I say, taking Storm’s hand and walking out of the general store.
A nice goodbye. It’s sweet and heartfelt.
A goodbye worth knowing it’s not truly the end, but really just the beginning.