Page 72 of Coastal Runaway

“I’m done, Luke. We’ve hurt enough people. I thought I changed but the moment you came back into my life, it’s like I lost all of the progress that I made and retreated back to the lost little girl I was in high school. I don’t want to be her anymore. I don’t want you anymore.” She turned on her heels and left me standing there. I watched her walk out the door, feet cemented to the floor unable to move. I could feel the panic rising in my chest.

I took a step forward when someone grabbed my shoulder to stop me, “it’s for the best, son. Let her go.” My father remarked from behind me.

I whirled on him and threw his hand off of me, “what have you done?” I shouted.

“I just made sure she was aware of the gravity of the situation.” He shrugged, completely calm.

“You knew she was listening didn’t you? Knew she could hear us in the office?” I was incapable of keeping my voice at a normal volume.

“I saw her peering through the door. I thought if she was so curious then she should understand who she is in bed with.”

“You’re such a sorry excuse for a man. You just cost me the only thing in life that has ever truly made me happy.”

“Look at you, pining after a girl who has no impactful social standing or influence. I knew that moving you to the East Coast was a mistake. I never should have let you hang out with those little brats so much as kids. They tainted your world view with all of their lowly ways,” he snarled, “real men know who to marry and the importance of marking their financial stamp on the world.”

“I think you should leave,” Mr. Kelly’s voice suddenly echoed through the lobby. I dropped my head and nodded about to head towards the door when he added, “Sean.”

My head snapped up and my father looked stunned, “what did you just say?” He was facing Mr. Kelly now.

“I think your time at KavTech is over,” he walked up next to me, “I have looked past your lack of quality leadership, and mediocre personality for a long time now, but I will not let you insult my family in my presence.”

“You can’t do that!” My father shouted.

“Watch me.” Mr. Kelly simply shrugged, “we haven’t been friends for a long time, Sean, and I have made more than enough money to buy out your shares. You’ll be hearing from my lawyers about the contracts and your, soon to be vacant, board position. Now please leave the premises before I have you escorted out.”

My father stomped out of the hotel shouting profanities like a toddler and it almost made me crack a smile. Almost.

I turned to Mr. Kelly, “I'm sorry.”

He shook his head, “You are not your father, son. His mistakes do not land on your shoulders.”

“I know. That’s not what I’m sorry about.”

“I’m not going to tell you that you haven’t made mistakes, Luke. Lying is wrong, and Nolan is going to be upset. But don’t stand here for one second and think I don't see the way you treat my daughter.”

“You knew?” I asked.

“I suspected,” he shook his head, “you two were about as subtle as a brick through a window.” He chucked at himself, “Go. Tell her how you feel. Keegan gets scared, but she loves hard. Don’t let that go.”

With a nod I took off out of the hotel door. I hailed a cab and my leg shook with nerves the entire ride back to the Malibu house. When the cab pulled up to the house the panic set in further. Baby Blue was gone. I hopped out of the yellow car and ran up to her bedroom.

I tore her door open only to be met with Nolan sitting on her floor with his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. I felt like I was having an out of body experience looking back at myself all those years ago. I looked up and saw her gold beaded dress laying flat on her bed.

“She’s gone,” he said without looking up.

“Where?” I asked, tears springing to my eyes.

Not again.

“I don’t know.”

I walked forward and dropped down next to him, “I’m going to bring her back this time.”

He nodded and leaned into me letting a sob escape his chest.

A few minutes later Maeve and Aiden walked in and joined us on the floor. I wrapped Maeve under my arm and she leaned on my chest. We all sat there in silence, still dressed up from the gala. Keegan would never understand the effect she had on the world. Without her it’s as if all of the joy and life had vacated the house leaving behind only an empty, hollow, shell of a building.

“I think I know where she’s going,” Maeve spoke up and our gazes all snapped to her, “let’s go get our girl back.”