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I’d known on some level that our time together would end at some point, but I’d thought at the very least it wouldn’t have happened so fast. I’d thought I’d get a phone number, that I’d get to see his life, that I’d get to say goodbye before he was ripped away.
The crushed expectations burned in my chest and a fresh wave of worry made my eyes hot.
What if he needed me right now and I wasn’t there for him?
Was he in trouble? Was he lost? If he were able to, he’d come back or call or something, wouldn’t he?
I took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. There was nothing I could do for him right now. I needed to worry about myself.
A lump wiggled a trail under the comforter, squeaking and snorting along the way.
I reached under and grabbed Miso. She wrapped her furry body around my wrist and chewed on my knuckle. I pulled her out and looked her in the eye.
“I have to focus on you and me now, Miso,” I told her.
She slowly stopped chewing on my knuckle and swiped her paw at my nose instead. Her claws caught my skin just a bit, but it barely hurt.
“Let’s get you back in your cage,” I told her.
I opened the door and set her inside, even though we both knew it was useless. The little latched door might as well not have been on there at all for all the good it did.
Miso raced up the ramps, dove into her hammock, and rolled onto her back, sticking her feet straight up in the air like a dead bug.
I got back to work, piling everything into my bag. Where did we go from here? I needed a job while I waited out the Resplendent hiring hold. That was the glimmer of hope that kept me going—everything was going to work out, and I was still only one step away from my dreams coming true.
Once I finished packing, I stared at my box, my bag, and Miso’s cage. It felt like so little. It was too insignificant to represent everything that had happened here, the life I’d had in this room.My time with Oscar.
He’d left his clothes behind, including the Deep Purple t-shirt. I’d never gotten the chance to play an album for him to see if he liked their music. I piled what little he’d owned on top of my costume box and told myself he’d come back for it.Back for me.
It took three short trips to carry my whole life down the hall. I placed everything in front of Layana’s door, then knocked.
A moment later, she threw open the door and grinned at me. She enveloped me in a giant hug.
“I would have helped you carry your things,” she said.
“You’re helping me right now.” She was helping me with more than just my belongings, with more than a place to stay. She was offering me her undying support, just like she always did, and I needed her now more than ever.
The TV was on as I situated my stuff in the corner.
“Hello, weasel.” Layana narrowed her eyes at Miso.
“Breaking news,” the television lady said. “Missing billionaire Oscar Carrington has been found.”
Layana and I both stared at each other, wide-eyed, before racing over to huddle around the television.
“She saidbillionaire,” Layana whispered. “With a B.”
As if millionaire with an M wouldn’t be just as shocking.
I shushed her, afraid to miss anything. I held my breath as the story washed over me.
“—reported missing after he didn’t show up to a family gathering by his brothers.”
Oscar had brothers?
Two attractive men who looked vaguely like Oscar stood together in front of a mansion. The blond one was speaking, but my eye was drawn to the other who looked slightly older, to the dark circles and concern on his face.
It was the same worry I’d been feeling ever since Oscar had disappeared from my life last night.
