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Turning my back on the scene, I closed and locked the door behind us. We sat down on the couch together since we all needed a moment to process the scene that had just unfolded.
Emma wailed like her heart itself had burst wide open. “I’m sorry for all this. I love you. I’m so sorry, Daddies.”
“No more thinking tonight. I’ve got you, darling. We’ve got you.”
Emma
Lying on Luke’s bed, freshly bathed, dried, and clothed in silky-soft pajamas caused pangs of guilt to run through me instead of relief.
Shawn called a few days ago and I thought it was one of the locations I’d applied to calling since the area code was Denver. I pretended he had the wrong number, but the experience shook me to my core. I immediately told Luke, but he wasn’t concerned. We were in the middle of Wyoming, after all, and I never went anywhere alone. It had been a fluke that Luke went inside for a few minutes.
Unfortunately, Shawn spotted me riding Lady. I should have waited for Lucas to walk her to the barn together, but I’d been lulled by the false sense of security.
If Shawn found me once, he would never stop chasing me. I couldn’t put my boyfriends in danger again. I had to be on my way.
I bundled up in multiple layers I selfishly selected from the clothing Elias had picked out for me. At least I would be warm on my journey.
My heart broke fully when I pictured Elias finding an empty bed in the morning. I’d be breaking my promise to him, but it was for the best. He did not need my drama. Besides, it had only been a few weeks. He would get over me and so would Luke.
This was never supposed to be my forever anyway. Another lie I artfully fed myself, but my heart was heavy.
I kept making poor decisions.
They both deserved someone wonderful. Someone more mature than me. Someone who had her shit together. Not me, who couldn’t even keep one measly promise to keep a low profile. Countless lies spun through my head, making it easier for me to leave.
Checking the couch, I saw Luke on one end and Elias on the other. They had promised to come to bed, but from the look of things—a bottle of whiskey on the coffee table and two lowball glasses—they had passed out after drinking. At least they had each other.
Glancing over at the clock above their heads, it read three in the morning. It was better to leave while it was still dark so I wouldn’t risk being found by Shawn.
Holding my hand to my heart, I whispered out loud, “I love you.” And then I left.
Lucas
“She’s not here!” Lee stormed down the steps, frantic. “It is four thirty in the fucking morning and Emma is gone. It’s cold outside. Where do you think she could have gone?”
We woke up at the same time, disoriented, groggy from sleep and over-imbibing on whiskey. It had been a rough night overall, but neither of us could have imagined waking up without Emma. I held up a hand, but Elias ignored me.
“Emma promised she wouldn’t leave and look what’s she’s gone and done!”
“Hey.” I grabbed him by the shoulders. “Breathe a minute.”
Shaking the cobwebs from sleep and the whiskey fog completely out of my head, I squeezed his shoulders. If we had gone to bed as promised instead of passing out on the couch, we’d likely not be in this situation, but I couldn’t let my thoughts drift when Lee was upset enough.
“It’s been a minute,” he grumbled.
“Maybe Emma needed some air, or she’s out in the barn.”
“Air!” Elias threw his hands up over his head. “Emma doesn’t need air when it’s twenty degrees outside.”
“We will find her.”
“I was so angry last night. Maybe she heard me ranting to you after we came inside.”
“No, Lee. She might think we believed the lies her ex-boyfriend was spinning. Or maybe she thinks running is better for everyone. Regardless, we did nothing wrong. You didnotdo anything wrong. I’m the one who got violent.” Hugging him to me, I forced a pause.
“You didn’t scare Emma. She loves you, Luke.”
“I know, which is why we need to go find her.”
