Coastal Runaway (Coast to Coast #1)

Thirty-Three

thirty-three

Luke

I had been wandering around for four days unable to function.

I missed Keegan.

I missed her smile, her laugh, her sarcasm. I had never met someone who was as infuriating as her in my entire life, yet without her it’s like a piece of my soul was missing.

I was pathetically checking her Instagram feed every ten minutes hoping that I would get a glimpse of her. Confirm that she was okay, but there hadn’t been a post in days.

Maeve came up with a plan and set it into motion that first night, but I was given strict instructions not to leave the house. I was going stir crazy. I think I watched She’s All That at least ten times. I kept pacing the halls hoping that Keegan would call or walk through the door.

Nolan had mostly avoided me and my antics since the night Keegan left. We hadn’t talked about it and I gave him his space. Aiden was over both of us. He spent most of the time out in the garage working on a new project and stated that he didn't want to be bothered.

A knock sounded at my door. I walked over and opened it to find Nolan standing in the hallway with his hands propped against the door frame.

“Hey,” he said, “can I come in?”

I nodded and opened the door further. He sat in the desk chair across from my bed but I remained standing, arms crossed.

“I owe you an apology,” he said, “actually I owe you both an apology but Keegs won’t answer my calls.”

I let out a breath and dropped my arms, “yeah, I think I owe you one too,” I sighed, “look, I’m not sorry for falling in love with her. I have loved her for longer than you will ever understand. But, I am sorry for hiding it from you.”

He nodded, “I didn’t handle it the best.”

“Well, if I had walked in when you did, I probably would’ve freaked out too.”

“I was in shock, although looking back, it isn’t as shocking as I thought.”

“We weren’t as subtle as I thought we were.”

“I just can’t believe you lied to me for years, man. We never lie to each other.”

“I know, but we were trying to figure it out and it was complicated. If we screwed it up, well, this would happen.” I motioned between the two of us.

“So, you love her?”

“So much, man.”

He lowered his head and took a deep breath, “okay.”

“Okay? ”

“Yeah, but, like, don’t kiss her in front of me.” He gagged.

“I don’t think that’s going to be a problem. She made it pretty clear that she’s done with me,” I said, sitting on my bed.

“Don't be an idiot,” he scoffed, “do you know how long it took Keegan to get her light back when she ran away? Halfway through the first semester we considered having an intervention for her. She moped around like a shell of a person who had no direction. I don’t want to go back to that.”

“I didn’t know it was that bad.”

“Yeah, Maeve eventually worked her magic and time helped, I think. But also, ever since you showed back up here, Keegan stopped trying to be perfect and actually started living again. It started to feel like old times.”

“I felt it too, but I have no control here.”

“Don’t let her go this time,” He looked me in the eyes, “Chase her as far as you have to.”

I nodded and we both stood. Nolan pulled me into a hug and said, “and if you break her heart, they’ll never find your body.” He slapped my back hard enough for me to cough.

“Noted,” I croaked and we burst out into laughter. Some of the tension left my body, but I knew I couldn’t fully relax until I had my girl back in my arms and brought her home.

We separated and decided it was time to pull Aiden out of his hole. When we got to his workspace with a couple of beers, he cracked a smile.

“Oh, thank god, I really want to go back into the house,” he laughed and sipped his beer, “anyone know what this plan is that Maeve is cooking up?”

“Nope.”

“Not at all.”

“Oh good, this will be fun then,” Aiden laughed and gestured for us to follow him back into the house.

The three of us talked the rest of the night like old times. I told them about me and Keegan’s relationship, minus the intimate details of course.

These guys were my family, I should’ve known I could confide in them. Should have known that they supported me. But when you grew up with a father who was incapable of loving you, and a mother who chose not to love you, you learned to guard your heart from pain.

That’s probably why Keegan and I were drawn together in the first place. We both understood each other on a level that no one else ever would. She held the key to my black heart, and I was going to hold a flame to her icy one.

Later that night, after one too many beers, our phones pinged simultaneously.

Maeve

Plan FPJ is a go.

Nolan

FPJ?

Maeve

Freddie Prince Jr.? Did you not listen to the plan?

Aiden

Did you even tell us the plan?

Nolan

FPJ is hot.

Maeve

Are you drunk?

Actually, don’t answer that. Just get your asses on a plane tomorrow morning.

We’ll be there.