Page 142 of The Song We Lost

“I’ll bunk with you.” Rhett joked and then grunted as Jackson elbowed him, murmuring “Get in the SUV asshat.”

Rachel shook her head stepping into the group. “I will go with Bailey, I haven’t gone on a road trip in a long time and I can coordinate the best places for us to stay along the way and make sure you can enjoy the trip without being spotted.”

I still had a sinking feeling that I was missing something as we said our final goodbyes, but Sadie pulled my focus back to her and her excitement was contagious so I found myself smiling too as she snuggled up to my side and we watched the SUV’s leave, a quiet settling over the property.

That untethered feeling returned for less than a minute before Sadie was dragging me to her house asking how soon we could leave. With Cole and Rachel following behind us discussing logistics and best routes to make this trip everything Sadie dreamed of.

chapter 32

luke

. . .

Blonde hair glowing in the sunlight pulled me from the darkness.

I was home, wrapped in so much warmth.

Her warmth.

I followed her laugh, to the river where we used to spend the hot summer days. Where we first kissed and where I…

For a moment the warmth disappeared and I shivered… a darkness falling over me and then I felt like I was falling.. NO…. no. Bailey… my Sunshine… I need my…

“Luke…”

Bailey… where are you?

“Luke, I love you!”

Golden eyes came into focus, she was leaning over me, the sun creating a hallow behind her hair. Her eyes were so bright and warm and looking at me like I hung the moon. Looking at me like I was her everything. My heart hurt with how much I loved her.

Her laugh was like music, then her soft lips found mine… but then… it felt like she was slipping through my fingers… being pulled away.

No

“Luke, I love you. No matter where we end up. In a trailer like Sadie and I grew up in or a house big enough for all our babies… I love you…”

I love you sunshine… I….

I shivered. Why was I so cold?

I felt water splash against my face… but I wasn’t near the water anymore…

I was….

“Luke…”

Sunshine?

“LUKE!”

A icy cold splash of water had me gasping for air as I sat up and the room around me came into focus. I wasn’t home or with Bailey….

“Luke… for fuck sakes. How much did you drink last night?”

My eyes finally focused on my surroundings, on the sterile hotel room and on… Dave.

Not Bailey… not my warmth… my love.