Page 66 of Through the Five-Hole

“What do you mean?”I questioned, my stomach knotting in fear.

“This, I can’t do us anymore.I’m…I’ve got to go.”

She didn’t wait.She didn’t say another word.She quietly took her things and left the restaurant.

A Week Later

“She’s gone,”I muttered into the phone.

I could hear Dylan breathing, so I knew he hadn’t hung up on me.

Instead of coming straight home that night, I’d wanted to give Emma time to herself, and I needed to cool off as well.So, I’d gone over to Dylan’s for a bit.I’d shared what had happened and then I made my way back home.

I’d figured she’d have been in bed when I arrived home, but the house was empty.I’d thought maybe she’d gone out herself to be with the girls, but in the morning, I noticed all her things were gone.There wasn’t a stitch of Emma left in my place, aside from the furniture she’d chosen.

“Sorry, Colton, I really don’t know what to say,” Dylan said.

“Has Aurora heard from her?Or Lorelai?”

I heard Dylan whisper something to Aurora.“No, sorry, she hasn’t heard from her either.”

“Thanks, see you tonight,” I muttered, hanging up the phone.

Since she’d gone, my life seemed to unravel at a rapid pace.I was once again in the spotlight, first with the events from the restaurant but thankfully the good we’d created quickly wiped out the bad.

I walked into the changing room to see the guys all sitting there, huddled over quietly talking.The minute they heard the door open, they all looked up, a look of unease on all their faces.

“What’s going on?”I questioned.“Trouble with the plays for tonight?”I asked, making my way to my locker.

Once I turned my back, I heard whispered words, and then I felt a hand on my shoulder.I turned to see Knox standing right behind me.

“What?”I questioned.

“What you been up to today?”

I frowned.“Slept.”

“Ah, have a good nap?”he asked.

“It was alright, why?”

Knox shifted uncomfortably where he stood, giving me an odd grin.

“What is it?”I said, looking over his shoulder at the others.

“You know, Lorelai mentioned you haven’t seen her lately for treatment.She really wanted to check your back out before we play tonight.We should head on down there now.”

“Oh yeah?When did she tell you this?”I questioned.

“She messaged me ten minutes ago, said she couldn’t get ahold of you.Yeah, ten minutes ago.”Knox nodded.

I shook my head.These guys were up to something.

“What the hell is going on here?”

“What do you mean?”Knox asked again, shifting from side to side.

“Well, I just saw Lorelai twenty minutes ago, and since when do you dance as if you have pee?”