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“What do you mean you’re coming home… like, for a visit?”
“No, like, for good. I booked the flight before I called you, and now I’m letting you know.”
“When?”
“Tomorrow. Maybe you could pick me up from the airport?”
“I will,” Brody chimed in. “Just text me the info.”
“Thanks.”
“Is Chase coming with you?” Shelly asked, though she already knew the answer.
I hesitated a moment as my heart wrenched out of my chest for the third time that morning. “No. He is staying here.”
“Did you guys have a fight?”
“Yes, but that’s not why I’m leaving.”
“It’s your drinking.” It was a statement, and not a question.
I choked back a sob. “I’m scared, Shell. I started something and I don’t think I can undo it.”
“You will. You can do anything.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because I’m your best friend. I know you can do anything. You just need to get your mind straight again. How is Chase handling this?”
I closed my eyes, trying to get the image of his crestfallen face out of my head. “He’s…”
“Heartbroken,” Brody stated.
“Yeah.”
“Well, text me your flight information, and we’ll be there tomorrow,” Shelly said quietly.
“Okay.”
“Love you, Frog.”
“Love you, too, Toad.” I pressed the red button on the screen, and let my phone fall onto the mattress. I pulled the covers back over my head, and closed my eyes. I spent my last day in LA alone, alternating between sleeping and crying. It was fitting, I guess.
As I rolledmy luggage towards the security guard, the knot in my stomach made its way into my throat.
“Sir, you can’t go past this point without a boarding pass.”
I sat my luggage upright, and turned to Chase. This was the part I had been dreading.
His usual spirited eyes looked so dull today, like all the color and life had been drained out of them. All that remained were two cold grey stones staring back at me. He had not said a word to me since we woke up this morning.
I wrapped my arms around his neck, inhaling his scent in the hopes that I could take it with me. “Chase Brooks, I love you more than you can ever imagine.”
Reluctantly, his hands wrapped around my midsection. “I don’t want to do this.” His voice was low. “I don’t want to say goodbye to you.”
“Don’t say goodbye. Just say that you love me. Say that everything will be okay, even though we’re going to be millions of miles apart. Say that you’ll call me and text me whenever you can. Say that you won’t forget about me.”
A tear slid down his cheek. “I could never forget about you.”
