Georgia

Chapter 9

Caroline

For the second time this week I'm laying here not wanting to open my eyes. To have that incredible unexpected night with a guy like Luke is still something I'm trying to wrap my head around. I look over at him laying next to me asleep, his chest rising and falling slowly as he breathes, his soft lips parted slightly. How did all this even happen? I think back to him touching me, kissing me, asking quietly if I'm ok, looking in my eyes telling me how beautiful I am.

My thoughts of the night are interrupted by the vibrating buzz of my phone. There's only one person who could be calling right now after I've been gone all night. My heart drops.

"Hello?" I whisper.

"You need to get down here immediately, Caroline Cynthia" My dad says in stern voice.

"Get down where? What? Where are you?" Confused I get up wrapping myself in a blanket and look out the window and there is my dad standing by his car looking like he is about to explode.

I am so embarrassed. I can't let Luke see all this. Who knows what my dad will say or do. I get dressed as quietly as I can, leaving his sisters jacket and boots. In the little bit of dust on the floor next to him I quickly scribble:

"I'll explain.
Call me 206-321-3456
♡ C"

I climb down the ladder slowly not wanting to face my dad. With a look of pure disappointment on his face he says "I don't even know what to say to you right now Caroline. Get in the car."

I don't look at him as we're driving back to the main road. I should've called or text to let him know I was ok but honestly I was too wrapped up everything going on. I didn't want the night to end.

My dad and I have had plenty of silent car rides but this silence is so full of anger it's killing me.

"I'm sorry." I say quietly still not looking at him.

"Sorry for what exactly, Caroline? Sorry for staying out all night with a man you don't even know? Sorry for not having the decency to call and tell me you were ok?" He shouts, gripping the steering wheel so hard his knuckles are white.

"I know enough about him to know I was safe. I should have called, I know. I'll apologize for that, it was irresponsible."

We pull up to the house. In a quick gruff voice he says, "I expect you to be packed and at the car in 20 minutes."

Packing my things I keep checking my phone, why hasn't Luke called yet? He has to be awake by now, wondering where I am.

In the car now, heading out to the interstate and Luke still hasn't called or text. In the back of my mind I keep thinking what if he doesn't call? That couldn't have been it. One perfect, sexy, fun, exciting night...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Luke

I open my eyes with a smile on my face, looking up at the morning sky I roll over feeling the space next to me is empty. Sitting up I see my sisters jacket and boots but no Caroline. That's weird. Where is she?

"Caroline?" I call out.

I drag my jeans to me from the floor and put them on, getting up to dust them off I look for my shirt. Looking out the window at the clearing ahead it's empty. Down at my truck I see that her shoes and sweater are gone. Where could she have gone? She wouldn't just leave. She couldn't. I wait by the truck thinking maybe she went for a walk or something.

After about 20 minutes I'm in my truck driving back towards the road. I keep looking to my left and right thinking I might see her walking but there's no one. My mind going back to holding her last night, kissing her, feeling her hands on my back, her legs wrapped around my waist pulling me close.

I drive to the house I picked her up at last night, there's no car in the driveway. I'm ringing the doorbell and knocking, hoping she's here, hoping she's ok, there's no answer. What is going on? She couldn't have left to go back home already. Everything I felt last night I know she did too. She wouldn't just leave without even saying goodbye at least.

I pull up to my mom and dad's not even remembering the drive I'm so distracted thinking about Caroline and where she is.

"Hey dad" I stop him as he's walking out the door. "Do you know if Mr. Boyer and Caroline have left already?"

"They were supposed to be headed out this mornin' not sure what time. What's goin' on?"

"We fell asleep up at the tree house last night after we were over at Carter's, I got up this morning and she was gone."

"You had her out all night?" My dad asks shaking his head. "Her daddy seems to be awful strict, Luke."

"It was nothing. She was fine. I just wanna make sure she's ok now though cause it don't seem like she's the type to just take off outta nowhere."

He pulls out his wallet, handing me Mr. Boyer's business card. "Give him a call if you want. I'm sure she's ok though."

Taking my phone out I call Mr. Boyer.

"Hello."

"Uh...Mr. Boyer, this is Luke, um Bryan...Tommy's son. I was just a little worried about Caroline and wanted to make sure she's ok." I stutter out.

"Caroline is fine."

"Do you mind if I talk to her for a second?" I ask trying to keep my voice steady.

"Actually I do. I'm not exactly sure what you think you were doing with my daughter but I do know that it ends here. Please do not try to contact her again. I would hate for this to effect my business relationship with your father." He says calmly and hangs up.

So that's it? All I get with that beautiful shy city girl is that one night...