12. Kray

12

KRAY

M y arm reaches for Cleo and comes down on an empty pillow. Groggy from sleep, I open my eyes. The other side of the bed is empty. The sheets are pulled up just below the pillow and smoothed down, nicely made.

I sit up quickly, listening for sounds in the apartment. But there’s nothing but silence.

“Cleo?”

Not bothering to dress, I get out of bed and stalk through to the living room.

It’s empty.

There’s no smell of brewing coffee and no sounds of Cleo humming to herself like she does in the mornings. I search the kitchen and entryway, then double back to the bathroom.

But the place is empty.

My gut clenches, an ominous feeling sitting heavy in my stomach.

I try to tell myself she’s gone out for milk or something, even though she drinks her coffee black. Then I notice her bag’s gone. And I know she’s gone too.

“Fuck.”

Somehow, while I was sleeping, Cleo packed up her belongings and left.

I go through the apartment again, just in case I missed something. That’s when I see the note stuck to the coffee machine, where she knew I’d see it.

Thanks for a fun night.

My apartment’s free again and I didn’t want to wake you.

Have a safe ride back.

Cleo x

“Fuck.”

I crumple the note into a ball in my fist.

Thanks for a fun night.

Is that all this was to her? A bit of fun?

I think back to the sex last night, how I tried to take it slow. I wanted to savor the moment of our first time together. But Cleo was hell-bent on riding me hard.

My cock thickens at the memory. I guess I didn’t resist too much. But maybe that’s all she wanted from me.

A bubble of anger rises up inside me, and I launch the note at the floor to ceiling windows. It bounces off the glass and rolls onto the floor and under the couch.

“Fuck.”

I better pick it up or my brother will find it and wonder what the fuck we were up to in his bed. I get down on my knees and retrieve the note.

I open it again, needing to see the words from her.

How could I have been so wrong about our connection? I thought she felt it too. I thought we shared something special.

Then it hits me.

Have a safe ride back.

Cleo thinks I’m leaving.

She thinks I’m heading back to the Sunset Coast. But the truth is, I’m not going anywhere unless it’s with Cleo.

I never told her how I feel. I didn’t want to overwhelm her, and now I’ve done the opposite.

She thinks I’m going to abandon her.

With my heart in my throat, I race to the bedroom and pull my clothes on.

I’ve got to find Cleo and let her know how I feel.