Tied Together (The Cade Siblings Duology #1)

50. Alex

CHAPTER 50

Alex

It’s too quiet and still when I enter the flat. I set the shopping bag to the side and walk a bit further in, trying to figure out what’s going on.

“Alana?” I call out. Nothing.

I rush into the bedroom, but she’s not there either. Suddenly an image flashes before my eyes of her passed out on the bathroom floor, but I don’t find her there either. What is going on? I reach for my phone to call her, but it isn’t in my pocket. I haven’t had a need for it the entire time I’ve been out, so I didn’t realize it wasn’t with me.

I walk into the living room to see if it’s in there, but nope.

I head into the kitchen and that’s when I see it. My phone, and a note sitting next to it. Her handwriting is sloppy, like she was in a hurry, and my heart drops when I notice the ink is smudged from what looks like water. Was she crying?

I pick the note up, dread growing with every word I read.

Alex,

I went to a hotel for the night to think. I saw the email on your phone, I promise I wasn’t snooping I just thought it was mine, and I got scared. I need time to process before we talk. This isn’t me giving up. This isn’t me breaking up with you. I will be back, I promise, I just need a minute to think.

The name and address of the hotel is on the back of this note, and I have my phone with me. Please don’t reach out unless it’s urgent. I need a little time.

Lanie

Her use of the nickname I gave her at the end helps me breathe a little easier, but I’m still freaking out. I pick my phone up to try and figure out what could have upset her and cringe the moment I see the email from Heather. I curse under my breath. She probably thinks I’m planning on leaving her and my heart breaks at the realization. Everyone in her life has left, and I can’t bear the thought of her thinking I would. It’s not what she thinks it is, but regardless it is a secret I kept from her. This looks really, really bad and I want to respect her request for alone time, but I also really want to explain this to her.

I do the next best thing and click Charlie’s name, then bring it to my ear to wait for him to pick up. His flight should be landing right around now and I need him to come to my rescue.

“Hey man, I just landed. I’m grabbing my luggage and then I’ll go look for your fancy driver guy.”

“Hey Charlie, I’m glad you landed safe, that sounds good. I need you to do me a favor though.”

“What’s going on? You sound weird.”

“Alana left.”

There’s silence on the phone for a good ten seconds before he speaks again.

“What do you mean she left? What did you do?”

I explain the situation to him, but I leave out the news about her promotion. I want her to be able to share that with him herself.

The idea of her choosing to end our relationship when it only just started makes my skin crawl, but I cling to the words she wrote in her letter. This isn’t me giving up. This isn’t me breaking up with you. I will be back, I promise.

I give Charlie the address of the hotel and tell him I’ll give Marco a call and let him know as well. He doesn’t say much about the whole situation, which leaves me feeling uneasy. At this point, he’s my only in with Alana right now. I’m hoping he understands my situation and at least explains the whole thing to her, so she can have all of the information needed to make whatever choice she needs to make.

I walk into the bedroom after hanging up the phone and notice her pajamas are gone. Longing clenches my chest as I realize she must not be too mad at me, if she chose to bring those. I wish I could see her in them and pull her close. I already miss her and she hasn’t been gone for more than an hour or so.

I’m wandering aimlessly around the flat, too restless to sit still and mind running too fast to let me rest. Moving into the kitchen, I realize that she’s measured out all of the ingredients for the cinnamon rolls tomorrow and left me detailed instructions. My heart squeezes at her thoughtfulness and my eyes grow misty at the ghost of her floating around this space.

I finally sit down in the living room and turn on the television to a random Hallmark movie. I try to pay attention but I can’t. I’m counting on Charlie to comfort his sister and hopefully help me out in the process.