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“She’s pretty shaken up, but I think there’s more to it than just thejob.”
Shit!Just what had Maddie told the P.A.? And how far had Sam gone with the info? He’d just curbed a major media blowout with Ariahn Jessler, would he need to worry about stopping another?
Sam answered his unasked question. “I offered to listen, but she didn’t want to talk aboutit.”
Micah blew out the air he’d been holding. “Thanks, man.”
“I didn’t do it foryou.”
“I didn’t mean to imply that you did. But it means a lot to me that you were there for her.” He leaned against the door and did something he never did—opened up to someone. “She hasn’t been answering my texts or calls.”
Sam shrugged. “She probably needs some time to herself.”
“Yeah.” Micah ran his hands through his hair. Sam was probably right. But he couldn’t let her retreat from him completely. He had to get back to the hotel. He needed to be there for her, to comfort her. “Thanks for tellingme.”
Sam started to leave but turned back at the door. “Micah, don’t fuck itup.”
“I’m trying not to.” But he was afraid he alreadyhad.
* * *
Micah knewthe moment he opened the door that the room was empty. It felt too quiet, and void of the presence that filled any space Maddie occupied. He looked anyway, in the drawers, in the closet, for traces of her. But there were none. Not even a note. Just the faint cling of her apple scent that seemed to be everywhere—in the bed sheets, in the closet, in theair.
His chest tightened. He sat on the edge of the bed—the bed that felt too big for just one person—and lay back. He’d done it. He’d fucked up. He’d known she was upset when he saw her, her eyes filled with tears, pained by words he’d said. Why didn’t he fucking go afterher?
He slid his phone out of his pants pocket and pushed redial for the hundredth time that day. He didn’t expect her to answer, but he couldn’t give up. Notyet.
It rang four times. Then, just as he was about to hang up, she answered.
“Micah?”
He sat up. “Maddie!” Relief washed over him. “Thank God. I’ve been trying to get ahold of you allday.”
“Oh.” She sounded distant, far away. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worryyou.”
“No, Maddie, I’m sorry.” He needed to apologize, he just wasn’t sure what to apologize for first. “I didn’t know about Beaumont. Do you want me to get your jobback?”
“No!” She softened. “Please don’t. It’s fine. He’s a prick anyway.”
“He is.” Say it. Tell her you’re sorry about the reporter. Tell her you didn’t mean it. Tell her you love her. “Maddie—” This was so awkward over the phone. He paused, suddenly aware of echoing background noises. “Where areyou?”
“I’m at the airport. I’m going home, Micah.”
“Oh.” Shit. The weight on his chest returned.
She cleared her throat. “Look, I’m sorry I didn’t call earlier. I just wanted to get out of there, youknow?”
“Uh, yeah.” He rubbed his hand over his face. Why should she stay? Her job was the only reason she was in Colorado.
But he’d hoped she’d stay for him. Instead she’d run. Did he blame her? Hadn’t he run from her first? “Yeah, I getit.”
“But I wanted to say thank you for the past few weeks.” Her words were stiff and rehearsed. “I had a really funtime.”
Fun?Micah resisted the urge to throw his phone. Sure, they had fun together, but they had experienced so much more than that. He knew he hadn’t imaginedit.
Fuck, he wasn’t trying hard enough. “It doesn’t have to be over, Maddie,” he said softly. “What I said to that journalist—”
He heard an intercom announcement in the background. “Hey, I have to go. They’re boarding my flight.”
“Wait, Maddie!” He paused, making sure he could still hear her on the line. Stay. He wanted to ask her to stay. But he chickened out. “Can I callyou?”
“Of course.” Her voice cracked, but she recovered. “Talk to yousoon.”
Then she wasgone.
He threw his fist into the bed. Hard. Even though her words said differently, she’d just shut him out. That phone call, the reason she’d finally answered—she was telling him goodbye.
He should have gone afterher.
