Page 69 of From LA to London, With Love

Alfie typically went wild at the mention of a walk, but this time, he eyed me with trepidation.

After dressing, I grabbed Sophie’s phone, put Alfie’s harness on, and strode to Sophie’s house. I shoved her phone in the mailbox, anger flashing across my eyes as I looked up at her window.

As soon as I got home, I started throwing clothes in my suitcase and booked the first flight I found back to LAX, leaving early afternoon. I took the bare essentials. Jenny could do the rest.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

SOPHIE

“SOPHIE, your phone was in the letterbox,” Dad said, handing it over to me before sorting through the mail he’d brought in.

“That’s weird. I was wondering where it was. I must have dropped it on my way home last night. I guess some kind soul found it and saw this address on my driver’s license.” I checked all the cards I kept in my phone case were still there. Thankfully, they were.

I turned my attention back to Elliot, who was refusing to cooperate with my attempts to put on his jacket. We were getting ready to meet Chris and Alfie at the Castle for an afternoon walk and then have dinner there and stay the night. I couldn’t wait to see Chris again, especially after last night. I felt slightly giddy that we’d finally both said, “I love you”, and secretly pleased Chris had said it first. And it seemed like Chris had really enjoyed his birthday surprises.

I sighed happily. Since Chris had finished filming, things had been magical—being able to hang out with him every day, having his help fixing up both Pride House and my parents’ living room, and staying over at the Castle with Elliot and Alfie. Thankfully, things between my parents and Chris were more natural now that they’d spent more time together.

Gloves, jackets, and beanies finally on, Elliot and I made the familiar stroll to the Castle. I knocked on the door, expecting to hear Alfie’s excited barking and the pitter patter of his little feet racing to the door, followed by Chris’s heavier footsteps, but there was silence.

I knocked again.

Nothing.

I had a key, so I opened the door and peered in.

“Chris?” I yelled.

Everything looked normal. He must have gone out unexpectedly. I shut the door again.

I checked my messages. Nothing from Chris.

I tried calling him. It went straight to voicemail.

Worry crept over me. This was very unlike Chris. I started to imagine terrible scenarios. Had a crazed fan broken into his house and attacked him? Or maybe he’d been hit by a car getting food for dinner?

I opened the door again and walked around, peering in every room. There was no sign of him.

I sent him a text.

Sophie: Are you OK babe? We’re at the house and you’re not here. Please call me when you get this. I’m worried about you.

He’d probably just popped out and lost track of time, and I was completely overreacting. But it wasn’t like him to be late.

I pushed Elliot back down to my parents’ house, unease still simmering in my belly.

When I still hadn’t heard from Chris a few hours later, I called Jenny, but she didn’t pick up either. I started to seriously consider if I should file a missing person’s report.

Just as I settled down with a book after dinner in the newly refurbished living room my phone pinged, and a notification popped up. It was a message from Chris. Relieved, I opened it.

Chris: Don’t contact me again. I’m blocking your number.

All of the air was suddenly sucked out of my lungs. I stared at the message in shock. Breathe, Sophie. What the hell was going on?

I called Jenny again, and this time, she picked up.

“Hi, Jenny, do you know what’s going on with Chris? He wasn’t at his house this afternoon, and now he’s sent me a message telling me not to contact him again and that he’s blocking me?” I was holding in sobs, my voice shaking.

“I’m so sorry, Soph. I have no idea what’s going on. He dropped Alfie off at my place this morning and flew back to LA. He wouldn’t tell me what had happened, but his voice sounded really weird. Alfie and I are flying out tomorrow morning, and I’ve booked in removalists to pack up his house later this week. Did you guys have a fight?”