Page 86 of Love Me In Color

His tearful eyes from last night were burned into my memory. They were a beautiful ocean blue as he held back tears. My heart shattered, and the pieces attacked me like shrapnel. I wasn’t sure what he expected or wanted me to say last night, but I didn’t say the one thing I should have.

I didn’t tell him I loved him.

“I didn’t say it back,” I whispered.

Gabby turned to me, stunned.

“Gabby, I didn’t say it back!”

“What do you mean?” Nathaniel asked.

“He gave me a whole speech about how much he loved me, and I just stared at him. He left and boarded that plane without me telling him I loved him!”

“So, what are you going to do about it?” Gabby asked, almost in a taunting tone.

“What can I do about it?” I racked my brain. “He’s gone.”

“Planes go both ways, Blake!” Gabby jumped with her idea. She pulled out her phone and started looking for a flight. Within seconds, she had a solution.

“There’s a flight that leaves in a few hours. If you pack and leave now, we can drive you to the airport, and you can make it.”

“You think?”

“Yes!” Nathaniel lifted me from the ground and ushered me toward my room. “Gabby, buy the ticket. Blake, change and pack. I’m parked out on the street, so that’ll be the easiest car to take.”

I did exactly how I was told. I grabbed a backpack from under my bed and started packing. I threw in a couple of changes of clothes, my toothbrush, contacts, and my laptop. I changed out of my pajamas and into more appropriate public clothes.

Gabby booked me the flight and called out that we had to go if I had any chance at making it. We locked the apartment door and almost ran to Nathaniel’s car. He risked a traffic ticket to get me there.

“Wait!” I turned back to Gabby’s open window at the drop-off point. “I don’t know where he lives.”

“Call Amelia!” they both yelled back.

“Right! I love you both. I could never thank you guys for this.”

“Blake, go!” Nathaniel yelled.

“We love you too!” Gabby called out as I ran through the doors to the terminal.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Saturday midday.

Six hours left.

The never-ending ring of the call echoed in my ears as I sat at the gate to catch my breath. She usually picked up the phone immediately. Maybe she didn’t want to talk to me after I broke her best friend’s heart.

“Blake?” Amelia questioned. “Sorry, I was in the yard. Is everything okay?”

There was a clattering of dishes in the background. Her voice was a combination of panic and expectancy.

“Yes, I just need a major personal favor. It’s about Parker.”

“What is it?” I heard her smile on the other end.

“I need you to send me Parker’s address.”

Amelia started laughing on the other end of the line, and Kate asked who she was talking to. She explained, and I could hear Kate laughing in the background.

---