AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Why? He didn’t say anything…” Utter disbelief and devastation fill me with what he’s saying.
Sam nods. “He didn’t tell me either until right before he left.”
“Why?” I ask again, this time in a more demanding tone.
He shakes his head. “I didn’t understand it either.”
Sam looks at my bags, then back at me. “Are you going somewhere?”
Agony fills me when I realize I have nowhere to go, and no one to turn to. He’s gone.
“I was going to ask to stay here. Things aren’t good at home.” I break out in a sob, realizing how stupid I sound right now.
“Come here.” He pulls me to his coveralls, and I shake with sobs as I put my arms around him.
“I’m sorry…” I choke back another sob. “I better go.”
“You’re not going anywhere. Come on.” He walks me to the stairs. “You can stay here. It’ll be okay.”
“Why did he leave me?”
He sighs and shrugs, looking defeated.
“Where’s Evan? Does he know?” I wish this was a joke, and they were all pranking me, but I know deep down that they’re not.
“Evan shipped out this week, too.”
My heart shatters. Maybe he’ll realize he made a mistake and come back for me. I’ll just stick to the plan, and he’ll come back, I reason.
“If I go to New York early, can I stay here until Goldie can take me?” I swipe my eyes with the back of my hand.
He nods. “We’ll figure it out. I’ll help you.”
Maybe he’ll call. He’ll explain everything, and it’ll all be a big misunderstanding. “Did he leave a note or anything for me?” I ask as I continue to try to understand.
Sam just shakes his head.
This can’t be happening. We had plans. We were going away together. He never said anything about joining the Army. This feels like a terrible joke.
thirty-two
SJ
Now
“What’s wrong?”I ask as I take the steps two at a time, wondering why Callie is at her cottage and not at our house, where she belongs.
Goldie waits for me on her porch. Her arms are across her chest, and she looks upset. She shakes her head, her bright eyes red and filling with tears. “I’m glad you’re here. Callie’s being ridiculous.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, handing one of the bouquets I’m carrying to Goldie.
Her eyes soften as she reaches out to lay a hand on my arm. “Thanks for the flowers. She got really upset today and thinks she needs to slow things down with you. She says she’s the cause of Bear and Sam getting hurt and her dad keeping you from coaching.”
I turn and find Callie sitting on the porch chair, her face in her hands as if she’s been crying.
“What’s going on?” My mind processes things quickly, but I want to know all the facts before reacting.
“I feel like you were doing really good before I came back.” She shakes her head. “And then because of the people of my family and Thad, you almost lost everything. Your dad and Bear,” she whispers. “I don’t know what I’d do if we lost them. I know it’s not directly my fault, but by association, you seem to be almost losing everything that means the most to you, and that’s not fair.”
