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I always will be, and I need him to know that, especially after tonight.
* * *
I haven’t been able to get a hold of Lincoln all night or this morning.
I’m on the verge of calling the hospitals.
“Good morning.” I tap my fingers nervously against the reception desk and force a smile at the hotel receptionist.
I slide the key card across the black wooden desk.
“You kindly gave me a spare key for room 358 a couple of weeks ago. My boyfriend's father and his family are staying in the presidential suite here, but my key doesn’t appear to be working this morning.”
“Let me just check that for you.” The cheerful gentleman picks up my card.
After a few moments, he says, “Ah, yes, Mr. Black checked out in the wee hours of this morning.”
What?
“I’m sorry, say that again?” I blink a few times. He’s got that wrong, surely. His flight doesn’t leave until tonight.
“It says here he checked out at three this morning as his flight plans had changed.” The receptionist lifts his head and when he sees my face, his smile disappears.
He knows I didn’t know he’d left.
I try to remain calm. “Is his family still here?”
“Violet!” someone shouts from behind me. “He left!”
I slowly turn around to face the voice I know so well now is the voice that just confirmed my worst fear.
Knox.
He looks tired.
“I couldn’t talk him into staying. He made up his mind. I’m so sorry, Violet.” He looks so defeated.
Knox holds out his hand for me to take. “Please come with me. We need to talk.”
I can’t make my legs work. I’m frozen to the spot.
“He didn’t say goodbye?” I whisper inaudibly.
Eva, well, I think it’s Eva, appears by my side and shuffles me in Knox’s direction.
I feel hollow. Empty.
Like I have nothing to be cheerful about.
I knew today was going to hurt when we had to say goodbye, but as nauseating pain spreads through my body, I realize this must be what real heartbreak feels like.
“He didn’t say goodbye?” I say it again, not quite believing it.
“He didn’t know how to.” Knox takes my hand.
“He doesn’t want to be with me anymore?” I reply, my voice tormented.
“He does, he just doesn’t know how.” Lincoln looks so much like his father, it’s painful to look at Knox.
