The walk to my car takes less time than I thought. I hardly register the pain shooting through my leg as I get into Dora.
I slam my steering wheel and scream. I don't care how crazy I look, I just sit there and cry. I finally get the strength to start my car and drive the short distance to the apartment.
I do what I need to and put my key on the island along with a letter.
As I stand in the doorway, I take one last look around before closing the door for the last time. I walk downstairs and slide a letter under the door for Brett and Karianne.
After I load my stuff in the car I pull out my phone and see a text from Paisley.
Are you okay? I saw you at the coffee cart. You look like you had seen a ghost.
And another.
Scarlett. I just saw Luke, too. Are you okay? Please be okay.
Just as I finish reading her text, Luke sends me a picture of his baby. I smile. It does have his nose. I wipe the trail of tears off my cheeks. I make one final call and then power off my phone.
I sit in the parking lot of the gas station I just used to fill up Dora and weigh my options. My funds are limited, thanks to Mandy. I grip the steering wheel as I picture her smug face, and my knuckles turn white.
I pick up my phone and clutch it to my chest as I fight the urge to power it back on. To turn around and fix things with Luke. Instead I set my phone down and pull out of the gas station knowing exactly what I need to do.
As I hit the highway I can't help the tears as they fall freely down my cheeks. This is not how I pictured today, or my future going. This morning I woke up and had a best friend and a future with my boyfriend. Now I'm a broken mess.
I have to let Luke and Mandy be a family. I refuse to stand in their way, and I cannot be here while they grow together. I have to do this.
I look in the rear view mirror and see the "Welcome to Great Falls" sign get smaller and smaller.
Every mile closer to New York, is one farther away from Great Falls.
So I press my foot harder on the gas and leave the life I could only dream of behind.
YOU ARE READING
For Keeps
RomanceLuke wanted to be a soldier for as long as he could remember. Now, after an injury forced him out of the Army, he finds himself in Montana wondering what to do now. Scarlett fled her previous life and wound up in a quiet Montana town. She built up...
