AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My fingers shake as I reach for the note.
Cheryl says, “Since you guys were already in California, I just called Michael to relay the information. I kept the note just in case he lost it or couldn’t remember. I tossed it in the desk and just forgot about it.”
Tears fill my eyes. “What am I supposed to do with this?” I ask.
“Whatever you want, sweetie. This time, it is your decision on what you want to do withyourlife. No one is going to take this choice away from you.”
The room is spinning, and I feel like I can’t catch my breath. I need some time to think and get my thoughts in order.
“Do you mind if I go lie down?” I ask Cheryl.
“Of course not, sweetie. The room you used to stay in is still empty. Just go on up and lie down. I’ll check on you in a little while.” She gives a reassuring pat to my hand.
I do my best to stand up without falling right back to the ground. My wobbly legs are slow to move, but they get me up the stairs all the same.
Once I’m inside the bedroom, I shut the door and collapse on the bed. I’m so tired I can barely keep my eyes open, yet I feel like my brain is moving so fast that I might not sleep for days.
Mentally exhausted is the only way I can think to describe it.
My thoughts are so chaotic, but one thing keeps popping in my head clear as day.
Jonas.
And how I wish I would have told him about this little trip and asked him to come with me. I could really use his shoulder to lean on right about now.
I pull out my phone and see that I only have one percent of battery life left. I left my charger at home in my haste, and I don’t feel like walking all the way downstairs to grab one of Cheryl’s.
My fingers click away on the screen as I type the message as quickly as I can. Once it’s sent, it’s not long before my heavy eyelids win out, and I am fast asleep.
Chapter Forty-five
Jonas
“Where do you think she’s at, buddy?” I ask the dog lying on the couch next to me. He looks just as sad as I am.
This morning, I knocked on Andi’s door to make sure that she was alright and to apologize for last night, but she wasn’t home.
I debated using my spare key to go in and make sure she hadn’t run off for good, but I’m notthatguy. I’m sure she’s just hanging out with Tracy or something.
Or at least, that’s what I keep telling myself.
I pushed her too far last night. Far enough that she went and got utterly wasted to try to forget about it. I should be there for her and not lecture her about her decisions.
There’s a knock on the front door, and I practically sprint to open it, praying the whole time it’s Andi standing there.
But it’s not. It’s Jessie.
“Jessie?” I question.
“Hey, Joe. I just wanted to check and make sure Andi was okay. I knocked on her door, but she didn’t answer. Figured she was here with you.”
I step out of the doorway and back into the living room, and he follows me in.
“You figured wrong. I woke up this morning, and she had left.”
“Left. To where?”
“No fucking clue.”
