He watched me in the rearview as we sat on the airstrip. “I’m giving serious thought to going back. Don’t leave her, and at night make sure she locks up and turns the security on before you leave.”
“I know, you told me like ten times already bro. Now get out. The sooner you leave the sooner you’ll be back.” I ignored his snarky ass and got out.
I dragged my feet like a toddler all the way to the plane, not believing how hard it actually was to leave her behind. I didn’t even know I had this shit in me.
I got the biggest fucking grin on my face when I got off the plane hours later and saw that I had missed a text and a voicemail from her. I called her right away and just that easily, at the sound of her voice, I felt settled.
ANNABELLE
I got up the next morning and he wasn’t there. I knew it even before I opened my eyes, his warmth was missing. Rolling over I felt his side of the bed, his bed, and it was already cool to the touch.
Then I remembered the night before and my face went up in flames. I buried it in his pillow, inhaling his scent and it all came rushing back. His hands, his tongue, his lips and all that he’d done to me and me him.
I got up and headed into the shower, his, after debating with myself whether or not I should go back to my own room. That was before I found the note he’d left me.
“Sorry baby, I didn’t want to wake you, you looked so peaceful. Plus I liked the idea of leaving you in my bed. I want you to sleep here while I’m gone. It might be the only thing that keeps me sane while
I’m away from you.” The note was short and sweet and went a long way to lifting some of the sadness left by his absence.
I took a nice long shower before making myself breakfast. As I sat looking around his fancy kitchen loneliness hit me like a physical ache in my chest. I missed him.
I didn’t think twice before picking up my phone and calling him, just to hear his voice on the recording. I left a bright flirty message, then I sent him a text.
The only thing that brightened my day was the fact that I was going to be busy getting the school ready. After breakfast I grabbed the full set of keys he’d had made for me and headed out the door.
I had Tony’s number of course, but felt a little bit off about having him at my beck and call. “Going somewhere?” I screamed and jumped a foot in the air at the sound of his voice coming from right behind me as soon as my feet hit the sidewalk.
“Where were you lurking?” He pointed to the car as he led me over. “I figured you’d pull something like this and since I know you have to get to the club I knew it would only be a matter of time.”
I allowed myself to be placed in the backseat, what was the point of fighting? He’d only get his way just like his friend.
“Do me a favor.” He looked back as he turned the key in the ignition. “Take it easy on me. If Max knows you went out on your own he’d have my ass. Don’t make my job any harder than it needs to be.”
I nodded my head and pretended to be searching for something in my bag. It’s true I’d come to know Tony a little bit, but we’d never really interacted with each other and it felt kind of weird without Max here.
That feeling didn’t last long as he struck up a conversation about his sister and his new niece. Next thing I knew I was accepting her number and we were pulling up to the club.
I kept busy until around mid morning when I finally heard from Max. “Hey baby did the guys show up?” I looked through the door at the men who were installing the bars.
“They’re almost done. Why didn’t you wake me up this morning?”
“Didn’t you get my note?”
“I did, but next time wake me.”
“Next time. There isn’t going to be a next time.”
“How come?” I felt warmth suffuse my chest and that giddy feeling I suppose all women get when having this kind of conversation with their significant other.
“Because I miss you. It feels like I left a limb in New York. I’m very tempted to come right back.” Just hearing those words gave me an immense feeling of power and eased the ache in my chest.
“You’ll be back soon, besides I’m going to be busy the next couple of days, so I won’t have time for you.” I said tongue in cheek.