Fake Dating The Enemy

23

Elizabeth

I wake up, alone. I think nothing of it, assuming he's taking advantage of the fact that this house sits on the beach. I get out of bed, getting dressed before heading downstairs. I make my way into the kitchen, seeing Luke and Ashley.

"Morning." I say, smiling wide. Luke clears his throat.

"So, I seen Thomas' note."

"What note?" I ask, turning to open the cupboard for a glass.

"His note about having to leave? And that he'd be back in time for the rehearsal dinner before the wedding next month?" My body freezes. He left? Without saying anything to me? Play it cool, Lizzy.

"Oh." I say, gaining my composure. "Yeah, he told me last night he was needing to head back home to deal with things. I didn't think he left already." I turn back around, noticing Luke and Ashley sharing a look.

"Elizabeth-" Luke starts, but I cut him off.

"I'm going to go take a shower. We can catch up later, alright?" I head upstairs, rushing into the bedroom to grab my phone.

I try texting him. No reply.

I try calling him. Voicemail.

How could he leave? How could he do that without even saying anything to me? My heart cracks, and I start to hyperventilate. Oh my God, did he even mean it when he said he loved me? Tears start to fall down my face as I sob hysterically. A knock at the door pulls me from my mental spiral. I wipe my eyes.

"Come in." Ashley steps into the room, shutting the door behind her.

"He didn't tell you he was leaving. Did he?" I immediately begin to sob, and she rushes over, pulling me into a hug.

"How- How could he do this to me?" She runs a hand over my back, soothing me. "We had sex for the first time and we said we loved each other." She pulls back to look at me.

"Elizabeth, I'm so sorry. I'm sure there's a good reason for why he up and left. Did you try calling him?"

"He won't answer. Oh my God, I'm so stupid." She shakes her head, wiping my tears.

"You're not stupid. You're in love."

"Please don't say anything to Luke. I don't want him to know." She nods, hugging me tightly.

"I promise I won't say anything to him until we figure this out." I take a deep breath and let it out, shakily. "Hey, why don't we go out today? Just the two of us?"

"I- I don't know. I think I just need to be alone."

"I understand." She offers me a small smile. "But I'm here if you need me, okay?" I nod, and she gives me one more hug before slipping out into the hallway.

"Is she alright? What did she say?" I hear Luke ask.

"It's not my place to say anything." Ashley says.

"He hurt her, didn't he? That mother fucker."

"Luke, calm down."

"How am I supposed to calm down? That's my sister. I can see right through her when she's lying. She didn't know he left." My heart continues to break.

"Luke, she needs time to be alone. Please, respect that." I hear them walk back down the hallway, and I fall onto the bed.

How could he do this to me? Did he regret last night? Did he only say he loved me because I said it? My mind races a million miles a minute, and I can feel a panic attack settling in. What's worse is the one person who always makes them stop is the one who caused it.

*

"Elizabeth?" Luke calls, knocking on the door. I haven't left the room all day. "Dinner is ready if you're hungry." I don't have it in me to respond. A heavy sigh is heard through the door. "Can I come in?"

"Yeah." I say, hearing the door open. I hear his footsteps getting closer, and he sits down on the edge of the bed.

"Listen, I don't know why he left, but I'm sure he had a good reason for it."

"A good reason?" I snap, looking at him. "Luke, we said that we loved each other last night. What good reason would he have to want to leave after that? He obviously doesn't love me. He left because he regretted it."

"I don't think that's true. You have to remember I know both of you better than I know myself. Thomas has a messed up mind, Elizabeth. If he starts to overthink anything, he runs away. I'm sure it has nothing to do with you personally, but more the idea that, maybe, he isn't good enough for you."

"But he is." I say, tears falling down my face. "He's the best thing for me. I just wish he could see that." Luke pulls me in for a hug.

"Come on, come eat dinner. You haven't eaten all day."

"I'm not hungry." I roll over, and he sighs.

"Elizabeth, you need to eat." He says, but I don't respond. "Alright. Well, you know where to find us if you need anything." He gets up and leaves, shutting the door behind him. I reach for my phone, hoping I had some kind of communication from Thomas.

Nothing.

I try calling him, but I get his voicemail. I try a few more times, but reach his voicemail each time. I call one more time. Voicemail. Again. This time, I decide to leave a message.

"Thomas? It... It's me. Well, obviously you know that. I- I just want to know why you left. Did I do something? Did I scare you off by saying I love you? Because if so, I'm sorry. I'm not sorry for loving you, but I'm sorry if I made you feel rushed into saying it back. Please... just call me. I miss your voice. Please." My voice cracks at the end, and I end the call.

I spend the rest of the night sobbing into my pillow. I grab the pillow next to me, his scent still on it. I hold it close as I try to fall asleep, but it's no use. It's not the same. It's not him.