Page 71 of Beneath the Blue Moon

***Ethan***

“Where is she?” Michael asks.

“She’s asleep… finally.”

“What happened?”

“I don’t know. She won’t tell me.” My brothers, Charlie, and

Brick all came back to check on her. I wish I had good news to give them, but I

can’t even figure out what’s going on. “Someone said or did something to her,

and when I find him, he’s dead.”

Josh stares at me, a calm understanding now visible on his

face. “It really is her, isn’t it?”

“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell everybody.”

They all move closer to me in a show of support.

“We’re here for you. Anything you need, you can count on us,”

Andy says.

“Thanks, guys. I appreciate—”

Casey. I look to the house, sniffing the air. Her scent is

getting weak.

“What is it?”

Ignoring Taylor’s question, I take off running into the

house. When I get to my bedroom, the bed is empty. I rush to the window, and

her car isn’t in the driveway. She left? When I turn around, everyone is

staring at something in the middle of the bed. I walk back to the bed and find

a note under the credit card I gave her earlier. With trembling fingers, I pick

up the note.

Ethan,

I know this is the coward’s way out, but I just couldn’t

face you. You told me you love me. God knows I love you, too, but I can’t, in

good conscience, stay with you knowing I can’t give you what you need. You need

someone who can give you the life and future you deserve. As much as I wish I was,

I’m not that woman.

I’m sorry.

This can’t be right. What the fuck is going on? She can’t be

breaking up with me.

“What does it say?” Charlie asks.

“I just got dumped,” I reply in a flat voice.

She loves me. This can’t be right. I need to talk to

her. I push my way through the boys and hurry down the stairs. Footsteps behind

me tell me they’re following.

“What do you mean ‘dumped’? What did you do, big brother?”

“I didn’t do anything, Andy. I’m going after her. I’ll be

back.”