When I arrived at the airport, I put my phone on silent.
I guess someone has woken up.
I wonder whathe’sdoing now?
Ishethinking of me?
Or is he fuckingher?
Anger bubbles away, and I set my cell back on the nightstand. I roll over and huff before Princess jumps on the bed, snuggling into my chest.
This is what I need.
My cell vibrates like someone is calling, but I close my eyes and hold on to the one thing in this world that’s never lied, cheated, or hurt me—my precious Princess Sophia.
Before I even have a chance to wipe away a stray tear falling down my cheek, I drift into black.
***
A commotion going on downstairs wakes me, and I’m beyond exhausted, so I don’t bother to listen, as I am sure Joseph will be handling whatever the issue is.
Footsteps and yelling are coming up the stairs, and I can no longer ignore them. I open my tired eyes and look at my bedroom door in time to see it fling open.Heis standing there, and Joseph is yelling athim. “Get the hell out of our house.”
I sit bolt upright ashiseyes lock onto mine. My breathing hitches, andhewalks into my room, shutting the door in Joseph’s face.
“How did you find me?” I ask breathlessly asherushes across to the bed. I’m too shocked to protest whenhesits beside me, caresses my cheek with his hand, and then rests his forehead against mine.
Why doesn’t that hurt?
My breathing is rushed, andhischest is heaving likehe’sbeen running.
“I willalwaysfind you, Dee.Until the end of time, remember?” he reminds me, his lips touching mine ashelowers me back to the bed. My hands scrunch inhishair as that all-too-familiar tingle ignites in my core wheneverhetouches me.
Hepulls away, our breathing rushed and hard, andhelooks me directly into my eyes.Hiseyes appear so full of remorse, and there’s also a bit of fear in them.
I hear knocking on my door, but I don’t break eye contact withhim.
Knock. Knock.
“Dee?” I hear Joseph call out, but I ignore him.
“Dee, baby, I’ve needed to tell you this for a really long time,”hesays, then swallows hard.
“Okay?” I whisper breathlessly.
Knock. Knock.
My heart is pounding. I know whathe’sgoing to say and how hard it is forhimto say it, but I can’t wait to hear the words fromhislips.
“Dee, baby, I love—”
“Sweetie, are you okay?” I hear Joseph say as the image ofhimfades, and my eyes open to see Joseph sitting on my bed, caressing my cheek. My heart splinters, and the shards stab into my chest wall repeatedly, causing all breath to vanish.
Even in my dreams, I don’t hearhimsay thosethree precious wordsI’m desperate to hear.
“Hey, it’s okay, Dee. It was just a dream,” Joseph declares before I wake fully.
Quickly, I close my eyes tight to try and get the image ofhimback in my mind, but it’s all for naught.He’sgone, and it’s like losinghimall over again.
