Page 115 of A Me and You Thing
“Where would she go, Sawyer? Think! After today, I can tell you right now that she thinks you’re in love with me. Think about it for a minute. You spent all day trying to calm me down. Then I basically accused her of being an unfit mother. You wouldn’t let her keep Josie, and we left without her. Of course she took off. She thinks she’s lost everything.”
Actually, that would be me. The biggest loser.
“Did she leave a note?”
“A note? I don’t know, I didn’t see one anywhere.”
“Go back to the house and call me when you’re there. She left a note, I’m sure of it.” He hangs up the phone, not waiting for me to respond.
Well, that’s the last thing I want to do. But I do it anyway because... it’s Quinn. I have to do this for her. Not for me, not for Sawyer. For her. ThenI’m outta here.
I rush back to the house, feeling mega worried about Quinn. All the drama has been too much for her. I wonder if she even realizes what Sawyer’s intentions are. I doubt it or she’d still be here. I walk in the door and call Sawyer, all while wondering why I’m doing this.
“Okay, I’m here.”
“Go upstairs to our bedroom. Check the drawer in the small table, the one with flowers on it.”
“What? Why would she put a note in there? You’d never find it.”
“Just do it, Bree. Please.”
I run up the stairs and open the drawer. Inside is a small folded piece of paper with Sawyer’s name scrawled on top. “How did you know?” Their connection is weird. There’s some kind ofthingbetween them that makes them inseparable. It’s always been there, since the moment they met. Shame on me for trying to come in between thatthing. I didn’t stand a chance.
“Just read it to me.”
My hands shake a little as I read the words Quinn penned. She’s so good. A thousand times better than me.
Sawyer is dead silent upon hearing her words. At first, I think we lost our connection.
“Hello?”
“I’m here.” He sounds weary. Not physically, mentally. “The cabin... she’s at our cabin. I’m sure of it. They’re doing Jordyn’s splint right now. I’ll go up there when she’s done. I’ll find her.”
I don’t think it through. I let the words out before I can talk myself out of them. “Let me stay with Jordyn. That way you can leave right away.” I love that little girl. I might have lost Sawyer, but I’ll never lose Josie and Jordyn. I know I’ll always have a special relationship with them. Sawyer and Quinn won’t deny me.
“Are you sure, Bree?”
“Yes. Just let me do this one thing.” This is my Melanie moment. It won’t happen again. That’s a promise I can keep.
“Thank you,” he breathes.
“I’m on my way.” I wipe a few tears from my face, knowing a good cry will have to wait until later. I have plenty of time to mourn my losses.
My whole life, actually.
Chapter Thirty-two
Quinn
I STARE OUT the window and watch the gorgeous Oregon landscape whiz past me. My heart is so heavy, it hardly registers. My thoughts have hopped onto a merry-go-round in my mind, going in circles. Round and round and round.
I don’t cry. I’m all cried out, dried up, and worn out. I feel utterly defeated. I lost everything the day I decided to go on the Nicaragua trip. My life is no longer available to me, at least not as I once knew it. I feared this very thing when I returned. I knew it was a possibility. I didn’t believe it, though. I’ve always known Sawyer loves me. In my heart, I knew he’d drop everything—or anyone—to be with me.I knew it. No doubts.
Turns out, I was wrong.
I remember Sawyer’s words in reference to the naming of his boat.It’s tradition. You name your boat after what your heart desires.
His heart desires Bree now. I’ve lost him. I know it just as sure as anything. Nothing has felt right since I arrived home. There’s a reason for that.
