Page 114 of The Sound Of Us

Pepper and I creep out from underneath the counter. Pepper looks between me and the cupboard that contains the treats Eli buys for her.

Sniffing my tears back, I keep my footfalls as soft as possible as I make my way to the cupboard. Pepper walks close to my side, pressing her body to the side of my leg.

I give her a rub behind her ear, and she settles on the floor with her treat.

What do I do? I need to get to the bookstore. I need a fucking phone.

It takes me ten minutes to get myself to the window. Frank is nowhere in sight. He’ll check the bookstore next. It’s been forty minutes; he must have gone there and seen that I wasn’t there. I let myself out of the house with Pepper, locking it and stuffing the key into my pocket. The gun lies in my pocket, heavy. I feel like a criminal.

We race through the woods, but I have to stop now and then to catch my breath. When we come out by the back of the bookstore, I almost pass out. I’m so fucking tired, but there’s no time to rest. Easing myself and Pepper in through the back door, I rush to the steel cabinet, opening it as quietly as the old cupboard would allow.

Twenty-seven missed calls and eighteen text messages. I hit dial so fast my thumb vibrates.

FUCK. Voicemail.

I scroll through the texts, reading as fast as possible.

He woke up to me gone. His mother’s doctor had contacted him about his mother’s—oh my god—heart attack.

His mother had a heart attack.

He’d looked for me everywhere.

He’ll come back for me if I need him to.

His home address, his work address, the details of the hospital where his mother is having surgery.

And then… thirty minutes ago:

My mother is still in surgery, but they think she’ll be okay.

I’m sending you new flight details. It’s the earliest I could get. I just need to know you’re okay and that you and Pepper can get to the airport.

I’m so worried about you, Axel.

Five minutes ago:

Please be safe, Axel.

I shove my fist into my mouth to keep from crying out loud. I don’t deserve this. I don’t deserve him. I’ll give him nothing but pain and sorrow. I’ll be just a burden to him.

With fingers shaking, I open my emails.

Two tickets for Louisville for eight a.m. tomorrow morning.

My body wracked with new tears, I type.

I’m okay.

I’m so relieved your mom is going to be okay.

I’m coming to you, don’t come back.

I have to believe him when he says he cares about me. God knows he’s all and everything I ever wanted.

Pepper scratches at the door, but before I could stop her, the door swings open.

“Axel.” Casey’s eyes round and she pushes the door shut.

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