Page 58 of Coastal Runaway

Keegan’s gone?

This didn’t make any sense. Not after last night. I thought she’d run before we had sex; I never fathomed she’d run after.

I took off up the stairs back towards her bedroom. When I swung open the door it almost looked like nothing was different but on further inspection, her suitcase was gone, along with her toiletries, purse, and keys.

Without hesitating, I ran towards her balcony that looked out over the front yard. Down the driveway, I could see the baby blue jeep that drove me to high school everyday, speeding away from the house. I watched her go, my feet cemented to the floor.

Gone.

Keegan was gone.

She filled my ears with pretty lies about how much I meant to her and then she left.

Just like my mom did.

My chest hurt so bad that I fell to the ground clutching it. A roaring sob left my body as I laid in the middle of Keegan’s childhood bedroom. This was why I didn’t open up my heart. It left room for someone to slip their ice cold hands around it just to crack it in half.

I stayed there for a while; long enough for Nolan to come looking for me. He sidled up next to me as I sat on the floor leaning against her bed with my elbows on my knees and my head in my hands. He took a deep breath and patted me on the shoulder, a silent gesture to confirm what I already knew to be true in my heart…

She’s never coming back.

twenty-five

Luke

Maeve stood in shock, “Oh my god, Luke…” She walked to me and pulled me into a hug, “I never knew.”

“You never asked.” I hugged her back, “it was like the moment that Keegan left, the entire Kelly family upped and followed her. Leaving me behind.”

“Except Nolan,” she whispered.

I nodded in agreement, “except Nolan.”

“What if he never forgives me?” I asked after we separated.

“He’s going to be hurt that you guys kept it a secret, but he’ll get over it. I mean when Keegan told me I wasn’t really shocked.”

I sighed with a nod.

“Can I ask you one thing?” Maeve asked, “why didn’t you chase her? If you loved her the whole time, why did you just let her go?”

I started pacing the kitchen. “and say what? ‘You ripped my heart out, but come back and date me, even though you don’t want to because if you did then you never would've left’?”

This was all my fault. She ran because she thought that I put her in the same category as all of my other high school one night stands. She had no idea that I was ready to make long distance work. She had no idea that I pined for her for years waiting for the right opportunity to be with her.

“That summer changed her,” Maeve said quietly, “she thought that she had to become someone else so people would value who she is.”

“That's ridiculous. She's perfect.”

“Yeah, I know that, and others do too. Just look at what she has been able to do through socials. People love her and it isn’t because she is a cheerleader, it’s because her smile makes you feel things.” She leaned on her elbows on the counter as I continued to pace, “I always looked up to her for not being afraid to be exactly who she was. It broke my heart when she ran away, and it broke her heart when you didn’t come for her.”

I felt hot all over. It never occurred to me that Keegan was there listening that morning. Never occurred to me that she ran because of a misunderstanding. I had to go find her to explain. I pulled out my phone as I headed to the front door.

Where are you?

She texted back almost instantly.

Ice Queen