My phone starts buzzing again and I carefully get out of the bed and riffle through my pockets before finally finding it. There are a dozen messages from my mother. My heart quickly speeds up, dread filling my gut.
What’s going on?
As quickly and as quietly as I can, I get myself dressed before taking my phone outside the room with me. I close the door behind me and call my mother.
“Duncan? Oh, I’m so glad I got ahold of you!”
“What’s going on? Is everything alright?”
“There’s been a bit of an accident. Your father tripped down the stairs and he’s in surgery right now. They think everything will be fine but they’re putting some pins into his hip and leg.” I don’t think I’ve ever heard my mother sound like this before. “Can you come? Please? I’m so scared, dear.”
“I’ll be right there,” I promise her before hanging up.
I turn back to the hotel room and realize the door is locked because of course it is! Fuck. Viktor looked so peaceful while he was sleeping. I don’t want to wake him up but I also don’t want him to think I just ditched him!
I take my mask off and hang it against the door knob. Then I riffle through my pockets again until I find a pen and my wallet. I pull out my business card and write a little note on the back, telling Viktor I had a family emergency but that I want to see him again. I hope that’ll be enough explanation for him to forgive me.
I slide it under the door and hurry outside to my car, my heart in my throat. Whatever happens now, the ball is in Viktor’s court.
Chapter Eight
Viktor
I wake up alone.
Reaching across the bed, my fingers find nothing but sheets. When I open my eyes, the bed beside me is empty. I look around, realizing with a start that Duncan’s clothes are gone.
I place my hands over my face, letting out a long groan. I rip my mask off my face, tossing it onto the ground where my own clothes are wrinkled and clumped in a pile.
Last night had been more wonderful than words can describe. I truly thought I had something special with Duncan. I truly thought he felt the same about me. So why the fuck did he run out this morning? Where the fuck did he go?
I try not to let myself get too worked up without knowing what’s going on for certain. For all I know, Duncan popped out to grab coffee or breakfast and he’ll be right back. Or maybe hehad to run off because of an emergency and he left me a note. The kind, soft man from last night wouldn’t just ditch me the morning after without a reason.
My phone buzzes somewhere on the ground and I groan as I get out of bed. I crouch down and find it, sending off a text to the group chat, letting everyone know that I’m okay. I tell them I’m going to take a quick shower and then meet them downstairs for breakfast so I can tell them all about last night.
I pull all of my clothes off the floor, tossing them onto the bed. There’s no notes on the desk or by the bed. Because it’s such a cliche to miss a note, I make sure to check the pillows, just in case. When I don’t find anything, my heart starts to properly sink.
Fuck.
Was I really that off about Duncan? Did I really think things were more serious than they were?
Jumping into the shower, I quickly wash off the leftover makeup and the smell of sex. The last thing I need is my shifter besties grilling me because their super noses can smell cum on my skin. I’m willing to share a lot with them but that feels just a little too much.
Once I’m clean, I get out of the shower and towel off. I look in the mirror and frown. I made sure to leave marks against Duncan’s skin, but I don’t have any myself. Running my finger over my throat, I suddenly wish I had something to remember him by.
No, I’m not falling down that hole of despair. Not yet, anyway. Despite not finding any evidence, I still can’t help but hold onto hope that this isn’t the end. I’ll see Duncan again, I just know it. Call it intuition or destiny or fate or whatever. The feelings in my chest for him are stronger than they have any right to be.
Duncan is mine and I’ll do whatever it takes to convince him of that.
Going back to the main room, I frown again. Shit. I don’t have any spare clothes in here. I left them all in the shared room with my friends. Looks like I’ll be doing the walk of shame this morning.
Fuck. Could this morning possibly get any worse?
I grumble to myself as I get dressed in my rumpled clothes. I double check that I haven’t left anything behind. I essentially tear the entire room apart, just making sure one last time that I’m not missing a note from Duncan somewhere. The longer I look, the further my heart sinks. Finally, I give up and make my way to the door. Just as I’m closing the door, I freeze.
“What?”
I see a flash of white moving with the door and my heart skips a beat. Leaning down, I pick up the business card that’s perfectly stuck under the door in a way that’s nearly impossible to see.
