Page 147 of The Promise Of Rain

But he only held me for a moment more before gently pushing me away and stepping back.

Eyes wild, he stated, “I need to get out of here for a bit.”

He shook his head and paced back and forth.“I’m in no shape right now—I’m angry—I need to think—Fuck!”

He stalked to the door.“I’ll call you, Jenny.”

I nodded.

But he left.

And he didn’t look back.

I stood in front of the window with my hands over my mouth as I watched his truck peel away from the curb.

Locking the door, I turned and went back upstairs.

In no time at all, I had both my suitcase and toiletries mostly unpacked.

All day long I waited for his call, my cell phone clutched tight in my hand.

My stomach grumbled but the thought of food made it ache.

I remembered that first meal I made him, how we ate chili at the counter.

Tears stung my eyes but refused to fall.

I remembered Ayana’s, and the night to follow.Standing on his stairs wrapped in nothing but his t-shirt and hope.

Inside, the blood in my veins slowly iced over.

I remembered the confusion clouding his eyes at his parents’ house.Would he forgive me for that?

I stared into space, the sound of my breathing loud in my solitude.

Where was he?

What was he doing?

Was he okay?

I couldn’t sit doing nothing.

Moving to the kitchen, I pulled out my sourdough starter and fed it before putting it aside to rise.

Next, I measured out flour and began the long process of making cinnamon buns.

By the time they sat cooling on the counter, the sun had finally set, calling an end to this hell of a day.

I set them on the cooling racks and left them.

I closed the blinds, double-checked the locks, and set the alarm on the security system Deacon installed.Unable to bear his scent on my pillows if he wasn’t with me, I laid down on the couch.With my cell phone clutched in my hand, I stared at the ceiling until I lost the fight to stay awake.

When it finally rang at 2 AM, I stabbed the screen to accept the call.“Deacon?”

“Sorry?”A female voice answered.“Is this Jenny?”

My blood ran cold.