Page 15 of Surviving the Darkness

I chuckle because for as long as I’ve known her, she has never been a morning person.

“I have urgent business to attend to in the United States, and I will be gone for the foreseeable future,” I tell her.

“What do you mean the foreseeable future? You have a shop here... How is that going to work?” she asks with a higher-pitched voice.

“It means I’m letting you take over the shop. I want you to run things how you see fit. You are already doing that, but now your boss will be in another country. I’ll still work with you through Zoom calls and emails. I’ll send over my designs for you and the crew and let you know about any clients who book through me directly,” I say.

“Thank you, Ethan, but I still don’t understand why,” she says in confusion.

“I have a dear friend who needs me, and I can’t let her down,” I tell her.

“Okay. Keep me posted with everything, please,” Anne says.

I reply with an ‘I will’ and then hang up. Now that business is taken care of, I need to pack and book a flight to the States. I’lltext Knox to see if he’s secured one. It’s been eleven years since I have been to the States. I wonder how much it’s changed.

Me

Hey, have you booked the flight yet?

Knox

Flight leaves at noon. Sorry for the short notice. Just booked the ticket.

Me

Thanks. When I get there, you’re getting a punch to the face. I hope you’re prepared.

Knox

I’d expect nothing less. See you soon brother.

I don’t bother replying as I get to work packing what I’ll need. As I’m organizing, I hear my front door open, and I groan. Fuck, I completely forgot about Cecily. I need to deal with her before I can do anything else. She walks into my room wearing a blue dress that is tight to her body with matching heels. If I wasn’t so worried about Meadow, I would probably toss her on the bed and fuck her. But no more. It’s time to end things before going to Meadow. I don’t want there to be any doubt with Meadow when I make her mine.

“Hey, baby,” Cecily says as she comes up and hugs me. I tense at her touch, and she notices. She pulls away, looking me in the eyes, a frown on her face.

“What’s wrong?” she asks.

“We need to talk,” I tell her.

I grab her hand and walk her toward the couch. I care for Cecily, but nothing will ever compare to my feelings for Meadow. Sure, it’s been years since I’ve seen her, but I know everything about her. I’ve followed her life throughout the years, wanting to make sure she was okay. I knew she moved to Florida and never told the guys, but I figured if Meadow wanted to be found she would tell them herself, although, I assumed they were already aware of where she resided.

“Listen, I care for you, Cecily, but nothing was ever going to change, I told you from the very beginning that I wasn’t able to give you more than a casual relationship. I’ll be gone for a little while, and I want you to find the happiness you’re looking for. But I know that isn’t with me,” I say as I sit across from her.

Cecily is a nice girl, and I’ve always been straightforward and honest about my feelings that I wasn’t looking for, nor wanting, a relationship. I don’t think she believed me. Either that or she believed she could change my mind. Sure, we’ve gone out to dinner, and she’s stayed at my place after a full night of fucking, but I couldn’t give her my heart, and I made that abundantly clear.

“You’re breaking up with me, Ethan? After all this time? Are you joking or something because this isn’t funny,” Cecily says with tears in her eyes.

I should feel bad, but she knew the score from the start. “Yes, I’m suppose I’m breaking up with you, if that is what you want to call it. We were never dating, and I’m sorry you believed we were. I never promised you a commitment, and you were made well aware of that,” I respond.

“I know you never said anything, but I assumed with how things were going that you had changed your mind. So, I was just a fuck toy for you? I can’t believe this. I spent a year with someone who doesn’t want me. I’m a fool,” Cecily says beforeshe stands up and walks out of my house. And hopefully out of my life for good.

Standing, I stretch my legs out and straighten my suit to ensure no wrinkles are present. Now that I’ve dealt with Cecily, I can focus on what’s important. Flicking my wrist to see my watch, I realize it’s already eight-thirty. Shit, I need to leave soon if I want to make it to the airport in time. Rushing through my house, I call my bank and inform them of my travel plans, pack my belongings in my suitcases, and call a car to pick me up. I could have asked Anne to drive me, but since she’ll be running the shop without me from now on, I don’t want to bother her for something like a ride to the airport. I send Knox a quick text while I wait for my ride.

Me

Headed for the airport soon. Let me know the moment you hear news on Meadow.

No response, but it’s late there. I think I have everything I need, and just in time, too, because I receive a notification that my car service is here. After locking the door and loading my belongings in the boot of the vehicle, I slide into the back seat. I rest my head on the headrest as the driver weaves through traffic. I have a long way to travel before I see Meadow. I just hope she is okay.

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