Page 19 of Crossing the Red Line
There it was.She really believed this had all been fake.I could only imagine what she’d do when she found out it was true.
“Lucas?Do you not want to?”she asked.
There wasn’t a bone in my body that didn’t want to, but before I could say anything, she tore her eyes away from mine and looked around the room.I could see the tears forming.She swallowed hard and then turned those tear-filled eyes my way.
“It’s okay, I get it.It’s not like I haven’t been in this position before.In fact, it’s been more often this position than the other.”She forced a weak, embarrassed laugh.
I felt her hand slip from mine as she turned away from me and carefully climbed up the two stairs from the sunken living room to her bedroom door.
I didn’t know what emotion I was feeling.What I knew was that I didn’t want her to walk away from me thinking I didn’t want her.
“Ella…” I called out as my voice cracked.
Only she didn’t turn toward me.With her hand on the door, she stopped.
“Don’t worry Lucas.I understand.”
What did she understand?Before I could ask, before I could even realize what it was she thought she understood, she’d slipped in behind her bedroom door and closed it, and all I could hear were her deep sobs coming from the other side.
I lay in bed,staring up at the ceiling, like I’d done most of the night.The rest of it, I’d tossed and turned.I let out a sigh, then slipped from the bed, throwing on my grey sweatpants before making my way to the washroom where I splashed water on my face before heading out to make us both a coffee.
There was no doubt in my mind we needed to talk this morning.I dried my face, took a deep breath, and made my way out of my room.Her door was still closed, the lights were all off.She was probably feeling it this morning, I thought as I made my way toward the small kitchenette and flipped on the light.
I filled the coffeemaker and flipped the switch on and leaned against the counter, my mind filling once again with thoughts of us from before and now.The feeling of that first kiss, once again, then holding her in my arms the other night, then the sound of her voice as she screamed my name as she climaxed, the feeling of her nails digging into my back.
“Fuck it,” I muttered and pushed myself off the counter and made my way over to her door.
Throwing the door open, the room was dark.The only light spilling in was the light from the kitchenette.Making my way over toward her bed, I sat down on the edge, gently running my hand over to where I’d expected her to be lying only to feel nothing but the bedding.
I leaned over and flipped on the light to find the bed was empty, not even slept in.I frowned and looked around for her bags, but they, too, were gone.
I frowned and got up off the bed and headed toward the bathroom, to find all her stuff gone from there too.She’d left.
I rushed out of the bedroom and to my room, grabbing my phone from my charger.There was nothing from her, or anyone for that matter.I grabbed my shirt, throwing it over my head, and took off toward the kitchen to shut off the coffeemaker.
Running toward the door, I slipped my shoes on and was about to pull the door open but stopped dead when I saw a piece of paper folded taped to the door with my name scribbled on it.
I pulled it off and opened it.As I read what she’d written, I sank to the floor.With my heart in my throat, I realized I was too late.
She was gone.
Chapter Nine
Ella - One Week Later
I satacross from Aurora and Lorelai, sipping on my coffee while they sat there talking about some upcoming announcement at work.I was sure I’d read something in my email about earlier in the week about it but really had paid little attention.
It had probably been one of the worst weeks I’d had since I’d started working with the team.I’d called in sick for two days, and the days I was there I’d hidden in my office, refusing to see anyone.I’d monitored all my calls, weeding out any calls that came from Lucas.He’d even tried to come by and see me, but I told my assistant to tell him I was in another meeting.
“You alright, Ella?”
I looked up to see Aurora staring my way with concern.
“Yeah, just got another one of those headaches again,” I lied.
I’d told them I’d been getting super odd headaches and that was why I’d been off work for two days.I wasn’t sure they’d believe it, but they hadn’t pushed for any more information.They’d both just wished me well.
“Maybe you should come and see one of us.Perhaps you’ve slept on your neck wrong,” Lorelai offered.
