Page 107 of Desolation

But I know the protocol.

I know I am supposed to stay here.

I talked it all over with Mr. Cartwell who was sad to learn Mari returned home. I filled him in on the details of everything that happened last weekend when we went to watch the sunset at the pier. I left out the part of her being a senator’s wife from Boston but he was able to understand the situation.

He is the one that convinced me to fly out here. He said I can’t let a love like what we have go. I know it’s the hopeless romantic in him. The man longing for the day he can go to heaven to be with his wife for eternity.

I know that I’m going to be in a shit ton of trouble when Jackson finds out but I don’t care. I need to see her.

When the wheels touch down in Boston I am practically sprinting to the rental cars. As I pull out of the airport, I call Mark again.

“Don’t tell me you did something stupid,” he says as he answers.

“Like what?”

“Like fly out here. I tried calling you multiple times after you called me and all went to voicemail. And now it’s after one in the morning and you are calling me.”

“I need to see her.”

“Jackson said no.”

“What if it was Charlie, man? Wouldn’t you do anything you could to see her again?”

I hear him grumbling into the phone. “I am going to pretend you didn’t bring that up, Stud.” He groans into the phone. “Ugh, Jackson is going to kill me.”

“Tell him I forced you to let me see her.”

“Yeah, he won’t believe that.”

“I’ll deal with the consequences.”

I hear Mark swearing in the background. “Fuck. Alright I’ll text you the address. I’m staying in the basement. There is a door on the right side of the house with direct access.”

“Thanks.”

“Don’t thank me yet. It’s not my fault if you get fired.”

“I’ll deal with it.” I hang up the phone and plug the address into the GPS as I fly down the highway.

I know this is stupid and I’ll probably get in a shit ton of trouble or fired but none of that matters.

I miss her.

The ocean isn’t the same without her around.

The last two weeks have been torture. I never thought I would need someone, need to feel a connection to someone but without her around it’s prevalent. I need her in my life. Period.

It’s nearly three in the morning by the time I pull up to the modest house. I park on the street and grab my bag. I find the door Mark told me about and knock softly.

I hear him shuffle around inside and swear before he opens the door.

“Hey.”

“I can already hear Jackson threatening me.”

“Good to see you too, Twilight.”

He hops on one foot as he turns on a light.