Page 41 of Contrition

My eyes cracked open, and I grunted as sunlight hit my vision immediately. After blinking a few times, I glanced at the clock and cursed. 11:11 a.m.

The time to make a wish.

I wished my wife was still in fucking bed with me. Even my brother would have been a comfort after last night.

My brother…

Jesus, I was going to rot in the absolute depths of hell.

But man, was it absolutely worth it to have the love of my life back in my life.

Sighing, I tossed the comforter off me and walked over to the suitcase. In seconds, my boxers were on, and I walked out into the living room space of the suite. Only, I nearly tripped over myself as I saw Theo sitting at the kitchen counter with his head in his hands, shoulders tense, staring down at something.

“What’s going on?” I asked, and he jumped. Any other time, I would have given him shit for the way he spooked so easily, but something felt wrong.

And where the fuck was Estrella?

He only shook his head.

I walked towards him and peeked over his shoulder. Right in his hands was a napkin with, undoubtedly, Estrella’s handwriting. I grabbed it from him without a second thought and read the words, smeared after being touched by Theo so many times, and my heart dropped into my stomach.

I’m sorry

It was too much. Too soon.

I’ll always love you too. Both of you.

Estrella

Theo sniffled as he wiped at his nose with the back of his hand. It was only then that I realized he had been crying. “We fucked up, man.”

I reread the words over and over again. As if there was any other meaning in the words.

As if I hadn’t done this exact same thing to her years ago.

I somehow wanted to tear the napkin in half, yet hug it to my chest at the same time.

Theo continued again, and his shoulders shook. “She’s gone. I asked the hotel staff if they had seen a girl with green hair leave this morning. They said yes.”

No.

No, no, no.

Fuck no.

I slammed the napkin on the countertop and stormed back into the room. In seconds, in both fury and panic, I had reached the side of the bed where my phone was on the charger and went to dial our media manager. If worse came to worse, I would be the asshole in the situation and pull the,our photographer dipped out on us, where is shecard.

A low blow.

But I meant it when I said I was never letting this girl go again.

Except, as I scrolled through my text messages to find her contact information, I stopped short at a group chat at the very top of my texts labeled “Heart Attack Helpline” with a picture of Theo’s contact info in it, too.

I clicked on it with a furrowed brow.

Unknown Number

Bet I scared you, didn’t I? Payback is a bitch.

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