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Then she needed sleep.
"Goodnight, Blondie." Isaac kissed the top of Katie's head. One last reminder he'd be there for her.
Always.
Chapter 39
Isaac thought he'd turned on the alarm before falling asleep but it was the sun that woke him up the next day. He had also expected to wake to Katie clacking away on her keyboard but the room was silent.
A pit formed in his stomach as his heart beat faster when he realized the room wasn't just quiet, it was empty.
He didn't want to turn over or say her name because he didn't want it to be true. If he looked—if he called out and she didn't answer, it would be real. But if he didn't move, if he just stayed in that moment he could believe she'd stayed.
Isaac worked up the courage. He took several, purposeful breaths hoping she'd just taken a bathroom break or went to the kitchen for a snack or something and not run off without a word about it.
"Please be there." Her computer or backpack. He didn't care what it was as long as he found something—anything that would tell him she hadn't left without saying goodbye.
Isaac sucked in one last breath before sitting up and looking at the big chair.
Empty.
The air roared from his lungs. Resting his hands on his drawn-up knees he sunk his head between them. The roar morphing into a cry as tears fell from his cheeks.
All this time, he'd thought she was different. He'd thought she wouldn't leave him the second after she got what she wanted from him. After he stopped being useful.
Sick rose to Isaac's throat. If he kept thinking about it, he'd spend the whole day with his head in a wastebasket.
Isaac swung his legs over the bed and stood. The floor seemed to shift under him. His head floating several feet above his shoulders.
Maybe she’d moved her stuff downstairs. Because he snored too loudly or talked in his sleep.
Holding on to that one, final hope, Isaac went downstairs.
Room to room.
But she was gone.
Gone.
Gone.
Chapter 40
Isaac had woken up to an empty house but it didn't remain empty for long. He hadn't even had time to wonder what to do about how Katie had left before his brothers barged in.
Evan led them barking orders about not leaving their shit in the lawn and making sure they got their shit off the bus because he wasn't going to lose his deposit.
"You're alive," Jake called over the commotion.
Several of the others slapped Isaac's shoulder or high-fived him on their way up the stairs. Only Jake ignored Evan's orders to take his stuff directly to his room in order to greet Isaac properly.
Jake grabbed Isaac's hand pulling him in for a bro hug. Their fisted hands clamped between their chests as they patted each other on the back.
"How was Cancun?" Isaac asked hoping to avoid having to tell Jake about his recovery.
"Could have been worse."
"Meet anybody?"
