I woke up alone in bed. I’d expected Desmond to stay so we could cuddle and spend more of the holiday together. Maybe I should have asked him if he had plans for Boxing Day. Or maybe I’d read far too much into the connection between us and gave myself to him without fully knowing how he felt about me. My heart squeezed as I tried to blink away the tears forming in my eyes. I really thought he was the one.
After taking a deep breath, I headed to the washroom, finding the overnight bag I’d given to Desmond on the counter. Socks might have been a better gift. I walked out to the kitchen to make myself a cup of coffee. With some tidying up and laundry to do, I would occupy my mind from his rejection. Or, at least, try to.
I grabbed the shirt he’d gifted me from the floor, ready to throw it out, when my door opened. Launching the shirt at the person who walked through, I raced to duck behind the island of my kitchen.
“Kane,” I heard through muffled laughter. “It’s me.”
I peeked over the countertop, spotting Desmond by the door with a paper bag in his hand and a carton with two cups of coffee. “Um, hi.”
He laughed again and shook his head. “I just went to grab us some coffee and breakfast. You seemed really tired, so I didn’t want to wake you. I sent you a text.”
I hadn’t thought to look at my phone, too heartbroken to want to look at others’ Christmas pictures or communicate with anyone. “Okay, thank you.”
After taking off his coat and boots, he brought the food to the counter. More sugary treats to go with my double cream, single sugar coffee that he somehow knew I liked. It didn’t matter sincefood eaten on holidays didn’t have any calories. That was what a lot of the celebrities at Desmond’s Christmas party had recited before putting cream-filled pastry in their mouths.
He moved closer to me and pulled me into his embrace.
Wrapping my arms around him, I smiled up at him. “I’m glad you’re still here.”
“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.” He kissed me, and I felt all the magic of our first kiss without any hesitancy.
Suddenly, his phone rang. He pulled away. “Sorry.” When he looked at the caller ID, his face paled. “Excuse me, I need to take this.” Answering the phone, he stepped out into the hallway and closed the door behind him.
I worried something had happened at work or to his grandparents who were on a cruise. Hopefully not, but I had no idea what would elicit such a reaction from him. I really didn’t know him that well.
When he came back in, he rushed right over to me and kissed my forehead. “I’m sorry, but I have to go. Something came up.”
No other explanation. No promise that he would call or text later. He didn’t even grab his coffee before he was out the door. Gone.
I rushed to my phone, looking up breaking news stories to see if something had happened that would take him away from me so fast. Nothing. Not even later in the day. No explanation or calls from Desmond, either.
He’d left me and I had no idea why.
Had his return in the morning with breakfast been a ruse to make me believe all was well between us before a friend called to give him an out? I had no idea. Even my simple text asking him if everything was okay went unanswered. Unread, too. I didn’t know what to think.
Chapter Fourteen
Desmond
Prison. Not a place I expected to spend my Boxing Day. I wouldn’t even call the place where I drove to, a prison. Inside the security gates, it looked more like a hotel with guards to me, the inmates roaming freely and dressed in regular clothing with only an ankle monitor to keep them from making a run for it. I guessed that was one of the perks of coming from money when you were a criminal.
When the call came about Conn, I didn’t know what to think. I was only told that there was a situation regarding him. Since my grandparents, aunt, and uncle were stuck on a boat on the ocean, I was the closest relative to deal with the matter. For a brief moment, I had hoped that my biological father had wanted to make some kind of amends. But that didn’t make sense since my grandfather had been their first contact.
At the gate, I showed my identification.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” the guard said before directing me where to park.
It wasn’t until I headed inside that I processed his words. My loss? Conn died?
I slowed my steps as I headed toward the next gate. The father I had never met was dead. That was what had brought me to the place where he’d lived out the rest of his life. Not a single request to see me or even an acknowledgement that I was his son. It wasn’t until he died that he needed me, that I was finally recognized as being related.
I hesitated before reaching the guard’s station. Why was I there? What pain did he want to put me through now?
“Can I help you?” the guard asked through the speaker.
I stepped closer. “I, um, I got a call about Conn Adan.”
“Ah, you’re his son.” The guard waved me forward, not realizing how much his words stung.
