Page 58 of Bones

I send her a message saying that I love her and I’m not going anywhere. She doesn’t reply, not that I thought she would.

The worst part is, she doesn’t even know the whole story, and it’s all on me. I should have told her right from the start. Now I have to tell her everything, and she’s going to fucking hate me.

Why didn’t I listen to Skull?

If I weren’t scared of needles, I’d get that tattooed on my fucking forehead.

She’s going to forgive me, right?

This was all before I met her. I haven’t even looked at another woman in that way since I started stalking her.

That has to count for something?

I know how badly I’ve messed up by not being completely honest with her, but what we have is worth it. I’ll fight for us, no matter how long it takes.

It’s just a bump in the road.

Eventually, I doze off, sitting with my back against her front door.

When the sun rises, I wake up and check my phone.

Nothing.

I don’t want to knock on the door so early and wake her up, especially when she’ll probably be hungover. I’d already left a bottle of water and some painkillers next to our bed at the clubhouse, anticipating it.

I wait another hour, then decide to go and bring her a greasy breakfast. There’s nothing better after a night of drinking.

Only when I come back forty minutes later, her car is gone.

And so is she.

MEREDITH

I have no idea where I’m going.

But the second Bones leaves, so do I.

I didn’t get any sleep, so I packed my bag and decided I needed a few nights away to clear my head. There’s no way he’s going to give me any space, so I’m taking it for myself. About forty-five minutes into the drive my phone starts going off. Ignoring it, I find a hotel about three hours from my house and pay for three nights. I order some room service before checking my messages.

Six missed calls and five messages from Bones.

I open the Baddies group chat instead.

Xanthe

Meredith, are you okay? Ghost said he took you home.

Isla

Please check in with us and let us know you are okay.

Atiana

We are so sorry!

Ora

I’m going to kill Bones.