Page 14 of Suddenly Single

“Hey!” I leapt to my feet. “Where are you going?”

He froze, but didn’t turn around. Carter’s shoulders straightened, then he slowly got in his car, slamming the door shut. The waitress returned. “Do you know what you’d…”

Carter’s wheels spun in the gravel, and a moment later he was gone, taking my heart with him. I glanced up at the waitress, her head tilted and her lips pursed.

“Nothing. I’ll pay for the wine, and sorry about, well, everything.” I sighed, my eyes never leaving the fading taillights of Carter’s car.

When I drove past the main house most of the lights were off. “Where on earth is…oh yeah. Mom’s on a date with the judge.” At least someone’s love life was taking off. Carter’s car wasn’t there, and I prayed he was at the cottage.

A minute later, I parked in front of my dark house. Carter’s car wasn’t there, and I prayed he was all right. When Carter had fled the restaurant, I’d been tempted to call or text him. But I realized he probably needed some space, so I’d taken the long way home. What I hadn’t expected was for him not to be here. Where the hell was he?

When I got out of the car, I heard a crash coming from the back shed where we kept the trash cans. My heart raced, and I was halfway to the shed before I realized I didn’t have a weapon. What if it was a burglar, or worse? I let myself into the house, grabbed a knife out of the butcher block, then switched on all the outdoor lights. When I opened the backdoor, the little thief eyed me for a moment, then scampered off, leaving garbage in his wake.

“Fucking trash panda.” I sighed, then I sank to the ground next to the door. The knife fell from my hand as the first sob tore through my chest. Damn it, I loved Carter, but thanks to taking Mom’s advice, I’d made a mess of everything.

“Where are you? Please, Jesus, let him be okay.”

Chapter 8

Carter

Carytown was hopping as I drove through it. A line snaked around the corner from Babes, the local lesbian bar. Since it was Saturday night, it meant the drag kings and queens were hitting the stage. I used to go there occasionally before I met Asher, preferring the relative calm of being one of the few guys in a girl bar over hitting the gay bars. I always felt like a piece of meat at Thirsty’s and Barcode. When you walked into a boy bar, every man sized you up in not-so-subtle ways that creeped me out.

Since I was a child, I’d always fantasized about meeting my perfect match, getting married, and spending the rest of my life with him. Despite my outward appearance, I was very old-fashioned, and had never slept around. What I lived for was romance, nights spent in front of a roaring fireplace drinking wine, or being with friends and family.

“God, I miss the Yates.” I sighed, then pulled into the parking lot of my building. Despite the salon and my business being closed, the parking lot was nearly full thanks to partiers. They ignored the no parking after hours sign, and frankly, I didn’t have the energy to have all these cars towed.

I popped open the trunk, then got out of the car to get my overnight bag. After leaving Asher at that tragic restaurant, I’d raced home. Shit, I mean Asher’s home, and threw a few things in an overnight bag. It was just enough clothes to last a few days, so I could figure out my next move. After shutting the trunk, I looked up to the top floor of the old church.

“Welcome to your new home.” I forced my feet forward until I was climbing up the back steps. Before I married Asher, well, before I thought I was married, I’d lived in the loft on the top floor. It was a little cramped compared to the cottage we’d shared, but it would have to do for now.

I hadn’t set foot in the old loft in years. Mom recommended that I rent it out, but something always held me back. The thought of a stranger having access to the building when I wasn’t there turned me off. But maybe it had been a premonition of some sort. Like, I knew that one day I’d be back, living over my shop.

“Home sweet home.” I sighed, unlocking the door. When I switched on the lights, I could see a thick layer of dust covering everything. “I’d better call Florida and ask her if she knows an excellent maid.” There was no way I’d let Corinne work for both me and Asher. I didn’t want her reporting anything to Asher, and I was positive he’d pump her for information.

“Damn it, I feel like I’m getting divorced, and I was never fucking married to begin with.” I threw my bag on the couch and sank onto the cushions next to it. A puff of dust surrounded me, and I waved it away and coughed. Every cell in my body felt heavy, like there was a toxic sludge traveling through my veins instead of blood.

“There’s no way I’m falling asleep without help.” I sighed, then opened my bag and fished out a bottle of Benadryl. “I love you, Asher.” After shaking three tablets into my hand, I pushed myself off the couch and went to the tiny kitchen for water.

I turned on the overhead light, opened the cabinet over the sink, and recoiled. The few glasses I had were covered in dust. When I pulled one out, small dark pellets fell to the counter, and I jumped back.

“Shit. Fucking mice.” I shuddered. “Just a few hours ago, I lived on a grand estate. Now I live in a rodent infested apartment.” I turned on the water, and for a moment the water came out a mud brown color before turning clear. I rinsed the dust off the glass, filled it, then popped the pills.

“Where am I?”

My eyes fluttered open, and I reached for Asher, but found only a pillow. “Damn it.” I sighed, then reached over to the nightstand and grabbed my phone. It was nearly noon. I hadn’t slept this much in years, yet I still felt exhausted. There was a string of texts from Asher, and I reluctantly read the first one.

Where are you?

“Alone,” I muttered, then tapped on the next message.

Please let me know you are safe

I noticed the time he’d sent it. Two in the morning. Pressure built behind my eyes. Asher was genuinely worried. I glanced through the rest of them, and they were all the same. He sent the last message at six in the morning.

“Jesus, I hope he got some sleep.” I decided to text him a message, letting him know I was okay.

I am safe. Please don’t contact me unless it’s an emergency.

---