Page 77 of Roar for Me
“I’ll be fine. Let’s get going.”
At the airport, Duncan stayed with them as long as he could. Katie gave him a big hug when it was time to head to security.
“Have a safe trip,” he told her.
She gave her mom a smirk and stood a few yards away so Duncan could say goodbye to Aurora. Her pulse pounded as she looked into his eyes, her own feeling watery.
“Are you okay?”
“I didn’t sleep much last night.” She forced a quick laugh.
He brushed some hair from her face and leaned down to kiss her. She forced herself to duck her head at the last moment. He got the message. Distance, Aurora. Distance.
“Let me know when you’re home, okay?” He spoke in a whisper.
“I will.”
He was searching her face for some unknown sign. “I love you, Roar. And Iwillfix this.”
She shook her head. “Thank you for everything, Duncan.” She gave him one last look then grabbed a confused Katie on the way to the security line.
He stood there as they went through the x-ray machines and disappeared into the terminal, his heart tearing itself in two.
I’m falling in love with you,she had said.
They’d made love every glorious night, and he’d convinced himself she could see herself living there with him. Then he’d gone and fucked everything up.
A phone call from Carlos interrupted his thoughts. “Great news, boss! We have a meeting with Kaiser! They’re very interested in your latest idea.”
Duncan’s grin was empty. “That’s fantastic. I’m on my way into the office now. We’ll get right to work on the proposal. And Carlos? Tell the head of IT I need to meet with him as soon as I get there.”Dark circles be damned. Thishadto work.
Aurora released a weary sigh as she walked through the front door of her house. Back to reality, and a cold, empty bed. Katie dragged their suitcases upstairs while Aurora collapsed into her chair and pulled out her phone.
Aurora: We’re home. Thanks again for a lovely time, Duncan. I feel a lot better about Katie going to school there.
Duncan: Glad to hear. I have some news for you. Can you get on the webcam?
Aurora debated with herself. She couldn’t deny she missed him, but if she got on the webcam, she wouldn’t break this spell she was under. She closed her eyes and saw Jeff’s lifeless face from the dream once more.
Always and forever.She’d broken that promise enough for one life.
Aurora: I’m exhausted. I need some sleep.
Duncan: Okay, rest well. I love you.
He needed to stop saying that. She turned her phone off, then headed for the shower. She would wash him out of her hair, like the song inSouth Pacific, and Katie wouldn’t have to see her cry.
Duncan waited the next night, and the night after that, and the night after that, at his computer after work. But goddessofthebrokendawn did not sign on. By the fourth night, he stopped turning the laptop on. She would respond to text messages, but only with short replies. On the fifth night, he got her voicemail, as he had the last eleventy-dozen times he’d called.
“Roar, sweetheart, it’s me. Please talk to me. I’m so, so sorry. Let me fix this.”
Nothing.
Duncan sat on the edge of his bed, his head in his hands, fighting the siren song of the whiskey bottle. It had happened again. It was stupid to think they had a chance, when a thousand miles separated them, and she still hadn’t given him an answer about moving. She had pulled away from him, just like Mariah.
He started to sing his old lines fromThe Wizard of Ozto himself, his voice cracking. “I’d be tender, I’d be gentle, and awful sentimental, regarding love and art …” Tears stung his eyes and he choked on a sob. She was gone, and he was left alone again.
Well, she could have his heart. He didn’t need it anymore.
