Page 87 of A Simple Truth (the Freckled Fate #2)

86

GIDEON

I held Finnleah’s letter tighter in my hand.

Anxious thoughts ate me alive like swarms of flies—not enough to kill, yet, enough to make me go permanently insane.

‘ I dream of you,’ she wrote.

Of us.

Of our family. Mine and her future. Together.

I impatiently rubbed my jaw.

I was overthinking it. I knew I was. I spent hours, hours pondering what to say, what to write, only burning all my drafts before deciding to hell with it all. To hell with waiting, to hell with my stupid letters, and the long distance.

To hell with it all.

I needed to see her.

My loud knock echoed off the wooden door. I took a step back from Xentar’s cottage, twisting on my feet as the thrilling anticipation of finally facing her reached my bones.

If I was royally screwing it up by coming here uninvited, there was no turning back now as the door creaked open. The speech I had come up with on the frantic flight here felt instantly absurd, now that I was just a step away from my lips plummeting onto hers.

Actions spoke louder than words anyway.

“Gideon…what a pleasant surprise...” Xentar gave me a tense smile, as his face paled at my appearance, making my fluttering heart pause. “We were definitely not expecting you tonight...” He swallowed, rubbing the back of his neck, and I bunched up my brows.

“Where is Finn?” I asked with my voice turning grave.

“A great question if I say so myself.” He rubbed his forehead, avoiding looking at me.

“Xentar…where the fuck is she ?” My heart filled with dread.

“She is gone...” he retorted, stepping away from the door and letting me in.