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“So, she didn’t leave anything?”
“Just a note saying she had a family emergency. I call bullshit on that, but there’s nothing to disprove it.”
“What did you do to make her run away?”
“Nothing! Nothing that could be considered bad, anyway.”
Marcus sighs and rubs the back of his neck.
“Maybe it’s just one of those things, Luke. Maybe you should just pass it off as an experience that you’re not going to have again.”
“An experience?” I snort. “Did you just call Elle an experience?”
“What else can I call it? You had a night with her, and she ran off. You’re more than likely not going to see her again. So, just put it away in your memory. There’s no point in stewing over it and wondering what might have been.” He spreads his hands. “You might never see her again, after all.”
I don’t like hearing that, even though I know that he’s right. But it doesn’t make me feel any better. Right now, all I can think of is finding Elle. And from the way things are, she doesn’t want to be found.
Chapter 5 Elle
Two Months Later
I take a tiny sip of the water, and I feel my stomach churning. I hope I’m not going to throw up again. My throat is burning from doing it over the last few days, and my stomach feels empty.
Whatever I ate was doing a number on me. My boss isn’t going to be happy that I’ve got to stay at home tomorrow. It was either call in sick or I am going to be spewing up my guts every ten minutes.
I hate being ill. Hopefully, Carly and Ben will be able to find something to settle my stomach. I don’t want to be off work, but I may not have a choice at this point if nothing stops me from running to the bathroom more than I should.
There’s a ringing coming from somewhere? Is it really happening or have I started hallucinating? I rest the cold glass against my forehead, closing my eyes as the small respite soothes me. Then I hear that the ringing is still there. That is not a hallucination.
Sighing, I put the glass down and gingerly make my way through the house. It’s coming from the living room, isn’t it? I search around, but I can’t seem to find it. There’s no phone in sight.
Then I hear it under something. Sure enough, I pick up a cushion and find my cell phone. I don’t remember putting it there, but given how things have been going, anything is possible. I had been putting things down in obscure places and forgetting where I had left them for a while now.
I hate being out of sorts. For me, being sick is just horrible. It makes me feel like I have no brain and I can’t function properly.
The caller ID is a name that makes me smile. I answer the call as I ease myself onto the couch.
“Hey, Grandma.”
“I’m sorry, dear, if I woke you up.”
“No, not at all. I just couldn’t find my phone.” I press a hand to my stomach. “Although I might just go back to bed. Things are not great right now.”
“Oh, honey.” My grandmother’s voice feels like warm honey. It is soothing. “Do you want me to come to you and look after you?”
“It’s fine, Grandma.”
“Are you sure? You haven’t been very well recently, and I’m worried about you.”
“You don’t need to drive all the way over here to look after me. It’s too far.”
Grandma snorts.
“I may be pushing seventy in a few years, but I’m still healthy enough to drive a couple of hours to look after you. Someone’s got to do it, after all.”
I can’t help but smile at that. Grandma has been my rock recently. She is furious at Dad for cheating on Mom and getting married on the day of Mom’s funeral. From what Grandma told me, she verbally tore her son apart over his actions. Dad still stood firm on his decision, and he had even tried to get Grandma to meet Megan to get to know her, but Grandma had outright refused. Nobody else wanted to meet Megan, either; everyone loved Mom.
Dad had gained a wife and lost a family. I still can’t believe Dad would do something like this, and with a woman closer to my age. It feels surreal, like a dream I’m going to wake up from.
