“I’m thinking of taking her on another hot air balloon ride to pop the question,” I told Preston as we stood in between our cars in the parking lot.
He shook his head. “Didn’t you say she freaked out the last time?”
“No, she almost freaked out. But she loved it by the end.” I shrugged. “I’m heading home,” I told him before getting in my car.
I headed in the direction of home, feeling anxious. The ring wouldn’t be ready for a few weeks, so I needed to be patient. I’d have to bide my time until I could propose to her the right way.
In the meantime, I would work my damnedest to convince her to move in with me permanently by either selling or renting out her Los Angeles home.
As I pulled into the driveway, I wondered where Lena’s rental car was. It usually remained in the driveway, just outside of the garage, until I got home.
When I got out of the car, an eerie feeling passed through me. Something didn’t feel right. When I entered the front door, the unease in my chest increased. There was a stillness about the house that told me she wasn’t there. She could’ve went to the store or out to an early dinner with Jodi.
But Lena often texted me when she was going out to eat with Jodi. She hadn’t texted me all day. She also hadn’t responded to a text I’d sent her earlier, asking if she’d eaten breakfast.
At first, I didn’t think much of it since she often got absorbed in her work, writing and producing for hours, losing track of time.
“Lena,” I called as I took the stairs two at a time. “Cin,” I yelled when my first call didn’t get an answer.
I pushed through the partially closed bedroom door and found it empty. The bed was made, and everything was neat and orderly. That was off because Lena never made her side of the bed.
On a hunch, I yanked open one of the drawers of my dresser that I’d cleared out months ago for Lena to use. My heart almost stopped beating when I saw that it was empty.
“Lena,” I yelled again, knowing I’d get no answer but not knowing what else to do.
When I turned around, I saw a piece of notebook paper on the bed. It was the same notebook paper from the book she wrote her songs in.
I snatched the paper, and again, my heart almost gave out.
Gabe,
I’ve decided to return to Los Angeles. Permanently. Please don’t come looking for me. It’s better this way.
Lena.
“Fuck that!” I growled, crumpling the paper and tossing it to the floor.
I bounded down the stairs and was out of the door within minutes of entering it. I had one destination in mind. I doubted Lena could have gotten all of her belongings out of my place by herself. Plus, she still had a few things left at Jodi’s house.
I hoped that I wasn’t too late and that she wasn’t on a damn plane already flying back to LA.
When I pulled into the driveway, a piece of my heart swelled to see Lena’s rental still there.
I hopped out of the car and ran past her rental, spotting the two suitcases leaning against the trunk. I didn’t even think about the small moving truck that sat in the driveway on the opposite side.
“Lena,” I called as I ran up the porch.
At the same time my foot hit the top stair, the door opened. Out came a guy I didn’t recognize at first.
“Who the hell are you?” I demanded.
His eyes widened. “Name’s Gus.”
I blinked, remembering him. He was one of the guys who helped move Lena into this place when she first got into town.
I didn’t have time to ask why he was there.
“Move,” I said bulldozing my way past him.
