“I’ll miss you,” I call out, unable to bring myself to walk her out because doing so would solidify the reality of her departure.
“Me too, Danger… like you wouldn’t believe.” Without another word, I hear her sniffle, and then she turns and opens the door. My body slumps, and I run my hand through my hair, trying to fight back the urge to yell. Or destroy something. Maybe both, I’m not sure.
The door closes with a resounding thud, and with it, she walks out of my life, shattering my resolve and splintering my dark soul. The impact ignites the darkness, forcing it to flood through the rest of my body. My hands clench tightly by my sides. The harshness of my teeth grinding causes a faint squeak as they slide against each other.
Anger boiling over, I turn to the nearest wall, unleashing an almighty roar. I thrust my fist into the drywall. Particles of dust and wall crumble to the floor when my hand punches through the white paneling. I let out a groan, yanking my hand from the cavity and shaking it. The throbbing has me checking it over, and I’m not surprised to find my knuckles grazed and bleeding.
My girl has ventured out into a world that deems her worthless, nothing but a whore, but I know better.
Yes, I am aware of her past.
Hell, I despise it.
But I’ll be damned if I will stand here and believe that Lunar is anything but the gentle, fun-loving, tough chick that I know and lo—
I stop myself before the word forms in my mind.
It’s too soon to be entertaining those thoughts.
And with things the way they are, I can’t think like that. It’s detrimental to any outcomes headed our way.
It’s eight in the fucking morning. I have to focus, and I need a drink. Hell, if I weren’t so against drugs, I’d be snorting that shit right now, but I’ll have to settle for the next best thing.
A chat with my best friend.
I stride over to the bed, grab my cell, and dial Ryan’s number.
The phone rings and rings, and I feel like the fucker isn’t going to answer, but eventually, his sleepy voice echoes down the line. “Duuude, it’s like four in the morning.”
Shaking my head, I groan. “Ryan, it’s eight, and I need you. Shit’s hit the fan. Lunar left, and I need someone to talk me down.”
There’s rustling, accompanied by a girl’s moan. My eyes immediately roll before he finally asks, “Lunar’s gone?”
“A fucking reporter found info on her and the Savages. They’ve leaked fucking everything, painting her as a whore. Luke made her leave.”
“Fuck, okay! I’m getting dressed. I warn you, though, I have a hangover.”
“Ryan, come back to bed,” the female voice calls out.
“Woman, I don’t even know who you are. Can you like… make like a tree?”
I sit on the bed. “Thanks, man, sorry to interrupt.”
“Nah, don’t worry about it. I wasn’t up to anything else today, anyway. My head is fucked. I’ll be there in like two minutes.”
“Thanks, dude.”
I end the call to let him deal with hissituationbefore he helps me deal with mine, and I flop back on my bed, scrubbing my face with my hands.
Two minutes later, there’s a knock, and I slowly ease up off the bed, quickly slide on some sweatpants, and stroll to the door. Ryan looks like shit—the bags under his eyes are large and purple, and his hair looks like he’s been electrocuted.
“So the bitch in my room turned on the television, and it’s a fucking media circus. You shouldnotturn on the television right now. It is a shit storm.”
I stand aside and let him walk in. We wander down the short hall to my room, and he looks at the hole in the wall, then back at me, but doesn’t say anything as we sit on the couch.
“I know you liked Lunar, and I hoped you’d work out. She’s much better than Ella for you.”
“I like Lunar, but there was always a question mark over what happens when Australia is done. We never talked about it. I assumed she would stay here. She has her family, and I need to get back to my sister in the States.” I don’t address the Ella comment.
