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“You sure?”
Another nod.
“Say––”
“I’m fine,” I mouth, my gaze darting over to the speaker.
His grip disappears. “I love you.”
Digging my fingernails into my clutch, I choke back my tears and nod before heading to the hallway. Owen turns back to the podium, and I stare at the back of his head for a few seconds, then beeline it to the exit.
This––all of this––is just too much right now. I feel like I can’t breathe. Like I can’t see straight. Like I’m drunk on Owen, and my world is spinning out of control faster than I can handle it.
What does sure thing even mean? Is he really going to talk to Lucian about a job when I just barely got him back? Is he going to leave again? And what about him not being a freaking gym teacher anymore? What the hell is happening right now?
The handle is cold against my palm as I grasp it and yank the heavy door open before the cool air hits my cheeks. Where the hell am I going to go now? The hotel?
Gee, no thanks.
I just want to go home. Where there’s snow on the ground, and I have a job, and my family, and my life––all of it.
“Can I help you, miss?” the valet asks.
I wipe my nose and take a deep breath. “Yes, please. I need a ride to the airport. Any chance you could set that up for me?”
His gaze bounces around my face as if he can sense that I’m close to having a breakdown at the entrance of a fancy building with celebrities galore surrounding me. “Sure thing, miss. We have a shuttle right here.” He motions to a black SUV. “Do you have any luggage with you?”
I shrug one shoulder and showcase my almost-empty hands. “Just me.”
“Alright, here you go.” He opens the back door and guides me inside before relaying my destination to the driver.
I watch the banquet hall shrink in the distance as my phone buzzes with a text message.
Owen: Hey. You okay? Where are you?
Wiping beneath my eyes, I search for a lie that will give me some time to think, then type my response.
Me: There was a family emergency. I’m catching a flight.
My phone rings seconds later.
Hands shaking, I answer it.
“Hello?”
“Say? What’s going on?”
“Nothing. There was just an emergency, but everything’s fine. I just need to fly home and be with my family for a few.”
“I’ll swing by the hotel and pick up our stuff, then meet you at the airport.”
“No,” I tell him, my heart cracking at his thoughtfulness. “It’s fine. I promise. The game’s tomorrow. You need to stay.”
“I’ll cancel––”
Leaning my head against the window, I breathe, “I can’t let you do that, Owen. Seriously. I’ll just see you when you get home, okay?”
“Saylor, I’m coming home.”
