Page 14 of Pucking Vacation

JENSEN

I blinked open my eyes, a smile already on my face. Damn, I slept well. Truth be told, since meeting Lynn, I’ve been sleeping like a baby every night. That was yet one more reason I couldn’t bring myself to cut things off with her completely.

Rolling over, I expect to find her nestled next to me in the bed, but I’m met with an empty pillow and a cool mattress. She’s gone.

Shooting up, I scramble out of bed and look around to see if her clothes are still scattered on the floor. “Lynn?” I call out, yanking open the bedroom door and stumbling out into the suite’s common areas. “Lynn? Where are you?”

Silence.

“No,” I murmur, shaking my head. “No, no, no, no.”

I turn and run back into my room, quickly get dressed, and reemerge with every intention of tearing through the resort to find her. As I pass by the kitchen area, though, a piece of paper sitting in the middle of the counter catches my eye. I snatch it up and see that it’s a note. A note from Lynn.

Jensen,

I’m sorry to do this. I wish it could be different, but I think this is the best, cleanest way to end things. I’m truly grateful to have met you and spent this week with you. You’ve given me an amazing experience and I’ll never forget our time together, but we both know whatever is between us wouldn’t survive in the real world. I hope you can understand and someday forgive me for leaving without a proper goodbye. It would be too hard and I would be too tempted to stay with you. It’s better this way. Trust me. Goodbye, Jensen, and thank you again.

Lynn

I stare down at the note, stunned. That was it? No number or email? Not even a last name I can use to find her?

It’s just over?

No, there still had to be a chance.

Crumpling the note up, I toss it in the trash and dart toward the suite’s door. Before I can open it, though, I hear heavy footsteps behind me and glance back in time to see Tyler stepping out of his room. He’s showered and dressed and gives me a surprised, raised-brow look.

“Where are you going?” he asks. “Aren’t we getting breakfast?”

“Sorry, I have to catch Lynn before she leaves,” I tell him. “I’ll explain everything later.”

“She’s gone, bro.”

I freeze, my hand squeezing the doorknob as I grit my teeth. Turning back to my brother, I ask, “Gone? What do you mean, gone?”

“They left for the airport,” he informs me. “About an hour ago, actually.”

My heart is racing and I’m suddenly nauseous.

“Her plane already left?” I murmur, as I stare at my brother.

He gives me a sympathetic look and nods. “Yeah. I saw the girls leaving when I was out for my run this morning. They were loading up into a cab. I stopped to say hi…or, I guess, bye.”

“What did Lynn say?” I whisper. “Anything?”

Tyler scratches the back of his neck, looking uncomfortable.

“Tyler,” I snap. “Tell me. What did she say?”

Sighing, he finally says, “She said she was sorry and that she hopes you understand. She said that it was only supposed to be a week. Nothing more.”

Nothing more. I guess I should’ve taken her at her word. Last night, though, I’d felt a glimmer of hope that she felt the same way I did. I guess I was wrong. Making my way back across the room, I reach the couch and drop down onto the cushions.

Tyler approaches me cautiously and asks, “You okay?”

I stare at the wall in front of me and slowly shake my head. “I’m not sure that I am. I… I really like her, Tyler, but she didn’t even leave me a phone number.”

Standing behind the couch, he reaches down and gives my shoulder a firm pat.

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