Page 41 of Under the Same Sky

“Thorin!” Mya yells. “Get your sexy ass out here, and come check this out!”

We wait, and after five minutes of no response, I start looking for him, only to come up empty. A young tech assistant comes from the reception area, and frowns. “Mr. Decker left about forty minutes ago, I thought he told you he had to go.”

“Oh. No, he didn’t, but thanks.” I walk back towards Mya. “He left.” I smile up at Luke. “He was probably tired. I’ll just catch him at the hotel, and show him the app when we get back to Texas.”

With the pleasantries out the way, Mya and I pack up our things, thank the team, and catch an Uber back to our hotel. My knee bounces the entire drive to the hotel, and when Mya grabs it, I jump.

“Relax. I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about.”

I don’t tell her that I have a feeling in my gut that Thorin’s actually on his way to the airport, and not the hotel. Because if she asks me why, I have no answer. The whole drive back, and in the elevator up to our floor, I hope I’m wrong, that he wouldn’t just leave. But when Mya follows me into our room, I see all his things are gone, and all he left me is a note that reads,

I’m sorry, I had to go. We’ll talk when you get home.

“What does that even mean?” Mya asks.

“I don’t know.” Something’s niggling at me, but I can’t place it. I try to shove it from my mind for the time being, not wanting to dwell. I learned the hard way that dwelling on things makes us act irrationally, and now is not the time to act out. “How about I bath this handsome man, and we grab an early dinner, just the three of us?”

“Psshh, a date with that little cutey patooty? I am in.”

For the rest of the night, I ignore my phone, order room service, and enjoy Mya’s company.

“So, we’re just about done with what we need to do in the city, but how about we spend one more day here? We can shop until we drop, go see all the sights.”

I think it over. Another day off doesn’t sound like a bad idea. In fact, it sounds perfect. I tell myself it has nothing to do with avoiding Thorin after what happened last night and today so many times, I almost believe it.

“I think Eli would love that.” I shake his little hand, and get a toothless grin.

“Just Eli, huh?” Mya teases. “You going to teach him to use that black Amex of yours? Spring is coming, and he’ll need a new wardrobe.”

“God, I probably need some new stuff too. Can’t remember the last time I went on a proper shopping trip, and actually spent a decent chunk of money.” I usually buy my clothes from the stores in Horseshoe Bay, mostly thrift store finds, even though I have money to buy clothes from designer stores in Austin. I’m not a big spender, much to Mya’s displeasure.

“Then it’s settled, tomorrow we’ll paint the town red, and make a dent in that bank account of yours. Right, Eli?”

He kicks his legs, and I kiss his feet. “Think you have his vote,” I laugh. “Besides, we might as well have a little more fun before the launch. I’ll deal with Thorin when we get back.”

I pull into the ranch’s driveway, surprised to find the lights on in the main house. Mya, Eli and I spent the morning shopping—I may have gone overboard with clothes for both him and I—and then we caught the late night flight back to Austin. It’s just over an hour’s drive to Horseshoe Bay, so by the time we arrive, it’s well past nine p.m. There are two other trucks in the driveway, Thorin’s and the one the guys bought to drive around in while they’re here, and a Lexus.

“Guess Thorin decided to have some guests over,” Mya says, unclipping her seatbelt when I put my truck in park.

“I recognize the trucks, but not the Lexus,” I remark. Unease slithers up my spine, but I ignore it, taking Eli’s carrier from the back seat. Mya makes quick work with our suitcases, and I haven’t yet taken a step towards my house when the front door of the main house flies open.

“Where have you been?” Thorin barrels downs the porch. “I’ve been trying to call you all day, Reese!”

“I accidentally left my phone at the hotel,” I lie. I actually switched it off. “We decided to spend the day in the city.”

“No shit,” he snaps. He looks disheveled, his hair haphazardly thrown into a bun, bags under his eyes.

“Watch your tone,” Mya warns.

Thorin glares, and I feel my pulse skip, my own anger warming my veins.

“You didn’t think to let me know you’d be spending the day in the city?” He asks me.

“You left, did you expect me to just drop everything and follow you?”

He folds his arms across his chest, his white shirt stretching taut over his chest. “I left you a note. The least you could have done is let me know you’d be coming home later than planned.”

I scoff. “The least I could have done? That’s rich. Last I checked, my comings and goings have nothing to do with you, and I repeat, you left.”